Book Reviews on Beattie’s Blog

My blog started out as a writer’s blog and along the way it has morphed into a travelogue.   I thought it time to bring the focus back to literature and what better way than to showcase the book reviews that I have written over the last couple of years for Graham Beattie’s blog.

I am extremely grateful to Graham for giving me a voice as a reviewer, something I really enjoy and feel confident in doing because of the experiences I have had in belonging to no less than three book groups.

In a small country like New Zealand it is difficult for reviewers because we are a small literary community and there are many connections.   I’ve had my share of both good and bad reviews and the only important thing that I require from a review is that it is the truth from that reader, how they respond to the work and integrity is all we can ask for, not specifically praise.

I would never review a book simply to appease an author, and so my reviews are my response both as a reader and writer (always enthusiastic, and entirely my own opinions, except of course, when I quote my terribly clever book club friends).

If you get time, and any of these titles appeal, or indeed you have read them, do let me know if you agree, disagree, like or dislike.   The reason for a blog is of course, to encourage feedback and conversation about the things we writers and readers all love – books.

(And of course, I shall continue now and then to feed you photos of my travels – of course I will).

Book Reviews:

‘The Hare with Amber Eyes’  by  Edmund De Waal

‘The Forgotten Waltz’ by  Anne Enright

‘Too Many Zeros’ by  Geoff Palmer

‘Talking with Sartre’ by John Gerassi

‘Slightly Peculiar Love Stories’,  Rosa Mira exceptional ebooks (edited by Penelope Todd).

‘The Absolutist’, by John Boyne

‘The Larnachs’ by Owen Marshall

‘Hokitika Town’ by Charlotte Randall

‘Bird Cloud’ by Annie Proulx

‘A Gate at the Stairs’ by  Lorrie Moore

‘Just Kids’ by Pattie Smith

‘Their Faces Were Shining’ by Tim Wilson

‘Nothing to be Frightened of’ by Julian Barnes

‘As the Earth Turns Silver’ by Alison Wong

‘Lovesong’ by Alex Miller

‘Like Being a Wife’ by Catherine Harris

‘The Slap’ by Christos Tsiolkas

‘Mansfield’ a novel by C.K. Stead

‘The Cookbook Collector’ Allegra Goodman

‘In Tearing Haste – Letters between Deborah Devonshire and Patrick Leigh Fermor  edited by Charlotte Mosley

‘Dead People’s Music’ by Sarah Laing

‘The Believers’ by Zoe Heller

‘Villa Pacifica’ by Kapka Kassabova

‘Tigerlily’s Orchids’ by Ruth Rendell

‘The Vault’  by Ruth Rendell