OUR FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

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‘As with each of Brooks’ books, the historical detail is astonishing, and you can’t escape the sense that this is really and truly the way things happened. The barns, the barbers, the drawing rooms, the streets, are all skilfully and convincingly drawn. The cruelty of humankind towards animals, as well as the cruelty of humankind towards itself feels real. This is a huge book, with enormous themes, beautifully and engagingly written. Expect it on all the prize lists this year. Brilliant!’

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OUR CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

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‘Sulari Gentill – author of the excellent Rowland Sinclair series – has written a standalone literary mystery that is delightfully self-referential: it constantly reminds you of its fictional scaffolding while making you, somehow, even more invested in the story. This is a clever, twisting piece of meta-crime writing that will have you scouring layers for clues and finding in the pages the joy of a truly original read.’

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OUR NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH

Eat Weeds by Diego Bonetto

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‘Bonetto begins the Great Weed Tour of 2022 in his own backyard, before heading out to woodlands, seasides and riverbanks. Along the way he picks various seaweeds, mushrooms, greens and leaves. Each ‘weed’ is photographed and discussed alongside recipes featuring the plant. Eat Weeds: A Field Guide to Foraging is a cookbook, as well as a walking tour, that celebrates our past and hopefully our future.’

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OUR KIDS BOOK OF THE MONTH

Open Your Heart to Country by Jasmine Seymour

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‘This is a visually stunning picture book; Seymour’s distinctive illustration style of combining printmaking and painting with digital collage results in delightfully deep blues and purples, contrasted with a variety of bright flowers, birds and other wildlife. I was drawn to each character, deep in concentration in their connection to Country while they swim, dance and perceive the world around them.’

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OUR YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE MONTH

My Spare Heart by Jared Thomas

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‘This is a tender story about the struggles of growing up. Phoebe is dealing with a lot: dividing her loyalties between her parents, confronting the ignorance and racism of her fellow students, experiencing her first crush, and of course, making it onto the local basketball team.

My Spare Heart is a powerful and crucial story by a First Nations YA writer that explores alcoholism, racism, sexual assault, bullying and family dynamics.’

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CHILDREN’S CLASSIC OF THE MONTH

Is There Anyone Better than Henrietta? by Martine Murray

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‘Henrietta is a little girl with an enormous personality and a vast imagination; she’s a fireball of passion, one of a kind!

Finally, all four of these hilarious stories are collected together in one book, a delectable treat for a whole new generation of readers who are about to discover that there really is no one better than Henrietta! These outstanding read-aloud stories are perfect for anyone ages five and up.’

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CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE MONTH

Fable: Works for Solo Harp by Australian Women Composers

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‘As I listened to Fable, I recognised a couple of tracks from my many years of listening to ABC Classic, but there was also a spiciness to some of the repertoire that I found myself enjoying. Wondering what was giving these works an extra kick, I discovered that all the pieces on the album are by Australian composers – not only that, they are also all by women.

I’ve listened to this album many times while writing this review, but each time I get something new – just the way it should be.’

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