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Bibliophile: Shaneel Lal shares their story in ‘One of Them’

Bibliophile: Shaneel Lal shares their story in ‘One of Them’

One of Them Shaneel Lal Allen & Unwin Shaneel Lal is not a household name in Australia, but in New Zealand they have been a prominent campaigner against conversion therapy and a leading voice for transgender rights. At 23 years of age, they just published their autobiography detailing their childhood in Fiji, their teenage years […]

Bibliophile | ‘Learned by Heart’ remembers the love of Anne and Eliza

Bibliophile | ‘Learned by Heart’ remembers the love of Anne and Eliza

Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue Picador It was 1805 when Eliza Raine, under the guardianship of her father’s friend, went to an elite boarding school in York. Her recently deceased father was English and her mother was Indian, and probably still alive but not acknowledged because the relationship was seen as being taboo. At […]

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Zoe Terakes to publish short story collection in 2024

Zoe Terakes to publish short story collection in 2024

Publisher Hachette Australia has announced the acquisition of Eros: Queer Myths for Lovers, a collection of short stories by Australian actor Zoe Terakes. Hachette’s Senior Non-Fiction Publisher Scott Henderson struck the deal with Zoe who was introduced to Hachette via their publishing scout partnership with renowned Australian screenwriter, producer, author, journalist, and broadcaster, Benjamin Law. […]

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Bibliophile | ‘Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl’ offers modern Penny Dreadful

Bibliophile | ‘Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl’ offers modern Penny Dreadful

Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl by Fiona Britton Allen & Unwin Set in Sydney in the 1830s, this novel is reminiscent of the Penny Dreadful publications that were produced in the United Kingdom between 1830 and 1870. Costing one penny, this cheap sensational fiction was far more accessible to the working classes who had […]

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Bibliophile | Gabbie Stroud ponders ‘The Things That Matter Most’

Bibliophile | Gabbie Stroud ponders ‘The Things That Matter Most’

The Things That Matter Most by Gabbie Stroud Allen & Unwin Boltford, in Central New South Wales, was like a movie set for a rural drama. It was divided by a bridge – “Housos and Blacks and factory workers on one side. And now refugees too. Everyone else on the other side.” Lionel Merrick had […]

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Bibliophile | ‘The Honeymoon’ takes a dark turn in Kate Gray’s latest

Bibliophile | ‘The Honeymoon’ takes a dark turn in Kate Gray’s latest

The Honeymoon by Kate Gray Welbeck Bali was the perfect place for a honeymoon, until a huge storm rolled in and dropped a month’s worth of rain in two hours when it wasn’t even the rainy season. The sudden change of weather had caught everyone off guard and a surprising amount of people were out […]

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Bibliophile | ’12 Steps to a Long and Fulfilling Death’ by Sarah Smith

Bibliophile | ’12 Steps to a Long and Fulfilling Death’ by Sarah Smith

12 Steps to a Long and Fulfilling Death by Sarah Smith Ultimo Press If Stacey had know she was going to die on Friday night, she might have done things differently but it actually took quite a long time for her to realise that she was dead. She did feel lost and aimless, but that […]

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Bibliophile | At 108, choreographer Eileen Kramer says ‘Life Keeps Me Dancing’

Bibliophile | At 108, choreographer Eileen Kramer says ‘Life Keeps Me Dancing’

Life Keeps Me Dancing by Eileen Kramer Macmillan Eileen Kramer has had a most vibrant and extraordinary life and, at 108 years of age, she is surrounded by creativity and friendship while she busies herself choreographing and designing costumes for her latest dance routine to be filmed and screened in coming months. Born in Sydney’s […]

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Bibliophile | Karin Slaughter’s new thriller examines a horrifying reality

Bibliophile | Karin Slaughter’s new thriller examines a horrifying reality

After That Night by Karin Slaughter Harper Collins Warning: This review has details of sexual assault which might be distressing to some readers.  Dr Sara Linton was working in the Emergency Department at Atlanta’s only public hospital where she usually dealt with gunshot wounds, stabbing, car accidents, overdoses and quite a few heart attacks. It was […]

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Bibliophile | Bundjalung author Shauna Bostock is ‘Reaching Through Time’

Bibliophile | Bundjalung author Shauna Bostock is ‘Reaching Through Time’

Reaching Through Time by Shauna Bostock Allen & Unwin Primary school teacher and Bundjalung woman Shauna Bostock decided to trace her ancestry as far back as she could to make a stronger connection with her cultural heritage and find out about the lives of her ancestors. She searched Australia’s written historical records, which were started […]

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