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Search results for author: John Purcell
About John Purcell
While still in his twenties, John Purcell opened a second-hand bookshop in Mosman, Sydney, in which he sat for ten years reading, ranting and writing. Since then he has written, under a pseudonym, a series of very successful novels, interviewed hundreds of writers about their work, appeared at writers’ festivals, on TV (most bizarrely in comedian Luke McGregor’s documentary Luke Warm Sex) and has been featured in prominent newspapers and magazines. Now, as the Director of Books at booktopia.com.au, Australia’s largest online bookseller, he supports Australian writing in all its forms. He lives in Sydney with his wife, two children, three dogs, five cats, unnumbered gold fish and his overlarge book collection. His novel, The Girl on the Page, was published by HarperCollins Australia in October, 2018.
Book Review: Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar
John Purcell reviews Lucy Treloar's award-winning Salt Creek. Read more
Last Day: WIN a Pulp! Classics book pack valued at $150.
Order any Pulp! Classic by May 31st and go into the draw to win the lot! Read more
REVIEW: The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
John Purcell and Caroline Baum review 'The Natural Way of Things' by Charlotte Wood, recipient of the 2016 Stella Prize. Read more
Goodbye and Good Luck to The Incompetent Cook (aka Andrew Cattanach)
I want to write a bit about my friend and colleague Andrew Cattanach. Read more
Umberto Eco passes away
Umberto Eco was kind enough to write some very readable, yet incredibly erudite, novels for people like you and me to read... Read more
Harper Lee dies aged 89
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a very rare thing, a truly life changing book. Read more
REVIEW: Maestra by L.S. Hilton
The buzz around this book is incredible. It has been sold into so many countries around the world I have lost count. In the tradition of Fifty Shades, Gone Girl, and Girl on a Train, Maestra by L.S. Hilton has all the hallmarks of a bestseller. You’ll be seeing people reading this on planes, trains, buses, down at the beach, in parks – wherever people have a minute to sneak in anoth... Read more
REVIEW: Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift
Mothering Sunday reveals Booker Prize Winner Graham Swift to be a master at the peak of his powers... Read more
REVIEW: Stoner by John L. Williams
Review by John Purcell I completely missed the talk about Stoner by John Williams. Originally published in 1965 to critical praise and few sales it sank like a stone until 2003 when it was rediscovered and celebrated as an American classic. I don’t know what I was doing at the time. Probably sitting in my second-hand bookshop reading and taking no notice of the world. Blissful memories. W... Read more