Our latest reviews

Angel Arias by Marianne de Pierres

Reviewed by Holly Harper, Children's Book Specialist

Earlier this year, I encountered the dreaded ‘reading slump’. I felt like I’d had my fill of paranormal young adult fiction, and couldn’t possibly read another page. Any more vampires and I’d go batty.

Then I came across Burn Bright

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Triptych by Krissy Kneen

Reviewed by Emily Laidlaw, freelance reviewer

Krissy Kneen left readers breathless with her bold and sexy debut, Affection, and while I’d urge everyone to give it a go, I’m somewhat guarded in recommending her follow up, Triptych. Bluntly put, if incest and bestiality don’t…

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Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Reviewed by Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton

We are inundated with post-apocalyptic books at the moment, so when I saw this new one I thought it was another in a long line. But then I read the blurb and was immediately intrigued.

Our heroine, Alex has run…

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Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Reviewed by Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton

In a lot of children’s books, the good guys are perfect and the bad guys are just plain evil with no reasoning behind it. This book, however, is a seriously good exception.

The Empyrean is a starship en route to…

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Bullets & Lullabies by James Rhodes

Reviewed by Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton

I’ve been hearing a lot of this name recently, James Rhodes. At first I thought, wonderful, another pianist to join the legions of already recorded, but then I met him. When I put the CD in the computer a video…

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Sunburnt Aftertones, Chamber Music of Katy Abbott

Reviewed by Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton

I went to a concert in September of contemporary music ensemble, Syzygy at the Melbourne Recital Centre expecting to hear crazy modern repertoire that would stretch and interest me. This I got, but what I wasn’t expecting was to be…

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The Guitar by Milos Karadaglic

Reviewed by Phil Richards, Readings Carlton

Milos Karadaglic (pronounced: Mee-losh Kah-rah-dag-lich) is the new rising star of the classical guitar. His first CD is a mixture of pieces from Albeniz, Tarrega, Domeniconi, Theodorakis, Llobet and Granados. Many of these works have been performed before, but don’t…

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Borodin: Symphonies Nos. 1-3: Gerard Schwarz & Seattle Symphony

Reviewed by Phil Richards, Readings Carlton

Borodin, who was a chemist, essentially composed part-time, which is why his first symphony took five years to complete. But as it is said, all good things come to those who wait. These are works full of beautiful melodies –…

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Breathing Lessons: Music for Saxophone Quartet: New Hudson Saxophone Quartet

Reviewed by Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton

Most people outside of conservatoriums don’t hear any sort of woodwind quartet regularly, but recently a number of high quality saxophone quartet recordings have been released. Breathing Lessons is the next one that, for any discerning listener of contemporary repertoire…

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Ravel: Piano Trio/Brahms: Piano Trio: Streeton Trio

Reviewed by Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton

Have you ever heard of the Streeton Trio? I hadn’t until I saw the line-up for the 2011 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition – and it turns out they’re the only Australians to make the cut this year. My attention…

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