Book Recommendations Archives

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU9-8muvjtU&rel=0] I was surprised and saddened to hear that Marian Keyes, the woman dubbed ‘the queen of chick-lit’, the funny and brilliant author of such enduring classics as Watermelon, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, Rachel’s Holiday, and Anybody Out There, had stopped writing because she was crippled by depression. ‘I c... Read more

Kate Cuthbert, Editor of Booktopia’s Monthly Romance BUZZ has asked me to read the five romance novels featured below. She knows that I don’t read romance novels. I’ve read 19th century romances but I have never finished a Fabio-covered romance. She ardently (I can use ‘ardently’ in this context) believes I haven’t fallen in love with the romance genre becaus... Read more

Love is… What? What the hell is it? My definition of love is only one of billions. As is yours. Love doesn’t always come to us on a Hallmark card. Sometimes it comes dressed in a clown suit. Sometimes it looks like a lasagne or smells like smelly feet. Sometimes, what we think is a just a vigorous game of Twister is, in reality, the most romantic moment of our lives. Love can be sad... Read more

Love is everywhere. Love with a small ‘l’, that is. Little loves. Cheaply bought. Easily lost. It’s time to reset the benchmark. We shouldn’t be satisfied with any old love… Let’s be brave. Let’s go for all or nothing. Let’s hold out for BIG LOVE. What’s BIG LOVE? Oh, you poor, poor thing… there, there. Help is at hand. BIG LOVE, an in... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Matthew Green (aka Matthew Dicks) author of Memoirs Of An Imaginary Friend, Unexpectedly, Milo and Something Missing Ten Terrifying Questions ———————— 1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled? I grew up in the small town of Blackstone, Massachusett... Read more

In Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Green has done something quite remarkable. He has written a tense psychological thriller and at the same time, a warm and moving story about life, death, love, loyalty and destiny. Read more

I’m Aboriginal. I’m just not the Aboriginal person a lot of people want or expect me to be. The story of an urban-based high achieving Aboriginal woman working to break down stereotypes and build bridges between black and white Australia. What does it mean to be Aboriginal? Why is Australia so obsessed with notions of identity? Anita Heiss, successful author and passionate campaigne... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Alain de Botton author of Religion for Atheists, The Consolations Of Philosophy, The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work , Status Anxiety and many more… Ten Terrifying Questions ——————- 1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled? I was born in Switzerland, raise... Read more

The Booktopia Book Guru asks Peter Allison author of Whatever You Do, Don’t Run,  Don’t Look Behind You, But…  and now How to Walk a Puma Six Sharp Questions  ————————– 1.    Congratulations, you’ve a new book – How to Walk a Puma – what is it about and what does this book mean to you? This book shakes me out of... Read more

This is a particularly sensual novel, and in that respect, it fits very well into that bush setting. The reader feels the ooze of the soil under hoof, smells the diesel of the red Fergy in the shed, hears the plop of the milk in the pail. And when it comes to longings of a more human kind, Tiffany's sparse and unsentimental style is both deft and poetic. Read more