Book Review: The Diemen Alexander by Marie Heitz

 The Diemen Alexander

by

Marie Heitz

Publisher: Clan Destine Press

Publication date: 16th October 2023

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 316

RRP: $32.95AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Diemen Alexander

The Diemen Alexander is a science fiction / fantasy genre mash-up.

 

After a fire rips through Kunanyi (Mount Wellington) Luke is gripped with guilt as it was exactly what he had wished for as his final school photography 'ecological nightmare' project.  

Taking a trip up the ravaged mountain Luke finds a small lizard amongst the devastation. Not wanting to leave it there to die he takes it home to feed and water it. The lizard now named Alexander, eats everything Luke offers. He is surprised he can eat so much and seems to be growing just as fast.

After lots of research Luke suspects that Alexander may be a modern-day Tasmaniosaurus Triassicus. Now he must find out more and also protect Alexander from ruthless profiteers.

 

I loved the concept of the story. Alexander was so little and cute it was easy to fall in love with him and I could see why Luke would do anything to protect him. As Alexander grew the story became darker - themes of dominance, anorexia, murder and child abuse emerge.

Heitz raises moral questions about who gets to judge whether people are fit to live and whether humans are protecting animals or dominating them.

 

I read a few reviews that stated they found the book humorous. Maybe it's just my sense of humour but I didn't see any humour. I actually found the story quite dark. I would classify it as a science fiction thriller with moral undertones.

 

Science fiction fans will enjoy!

 

my rating 3.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐½

Book Review: One More Time by Mandy Magro

One More Time

by

Mandy Magro

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 7th June 2023

Genre: Romance

Pages: 352

RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: One More Time

Mandy Magro has written a heart-wrenching and meaningful story about life, love and second chances.

Charlie Wilson is attending his ex-wife's 70th birthday party. His life has not been easy, he has many regrets and the 'what ifs' play heavily on his mind. fate steps in and magically gives Charlie a second chance at life.

One More Time is not your normal love story. There are lots of I love yous and sweet endearments however Mandy Magro has thrown everything at her characters to test the bounds of their love and sometimes they break.

I love that one of the main characters is a Vietnam veteran, there aren't enough stories about these brave and underrated soldiers.

With themes of PTSD, survivors guilt and alcoholism and the effect this has on relationships. PTSD and survivors guilt not only destroys the sufferer's life but also the lives of those who love them and Magro shows this with candour and compassion. There are also strong themes of love, forgiveness and not giving up on each other.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Mandy Magro lives in Cairns, Far North Queensland, with her fiance, Des, their daughter, Chloe Rose, and their two adorable pooches, Sophie and Sherlock. With pristine aqua-blue coastline in one direction and sweeping rural landscapes in the other, she describes her home as heaven on earth. A passionate woman and a romantic at heart, Mandy loves writing about soul-deep love, the Australian way of life, and the wonderful characters who call the country home.

 

Book Review: How to be Remembered by Michael Thompson

How to be Remembered

by

Michael Thompson

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

 

Publication date: 28th February 2023

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

 

Pages: 352

 

RRP: $32.99AU (Paperback)

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review of How to be Remembered

As soon as I heard about How to be Remembered I couldn't wait to read it, and Michael Thompson didn't disappoint.

 

Every year, on his birthday, Tommy's life is reset. Everything about him disappears and everyone forgets him. On his first birthday his parents awake to a strange baby in their house, the presents wrapped the night before gone, no baby toys or clothes. The police take Tommy to Milkwood House, a foster care home. 

 

Can you just imagine every year you are the new child at the foster care home, obviously dropped overnight by child services, there is no paperwork, nothing. Every year you have to start over as the new child at school, introducing yourself to your friends.

 

How to be Remembered is a beautiful and heart-wrenching story of belonging, leaving your mark, falling in love and the fear of being forgotten.

 

I love magical realism, you just have let go and believe in the unbelievable. Michael Thompson has cleverly plotted this imaginative debut and I just loved going along for the ride. 

You will fall in love with Tommy and ride his ups and downs wanting him to succeed and build a life. There may be tears, okay there will be tears. 😭

 

I'm excited to see what Michael Thompson comes up with next!

 

My rating 5 / 5 💖💖💖💖💖 

About the author

Michael Thompson has been a successful journalist, producer and media executive for the last fifteen years. He lives in Sydney with his wife and two young children. How to be Remembered is his first novel.

 

Book Review: Royals by Tegan Bennett Daylight

 Royals

by

Tegan Bennett Daylight

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

 

Publication date: 3rd May 2023

 

Genre: Young Adult

 

Pages: 280

 

RRP: $19.99AU (Paperback) 

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

 

My review of Royals

Royals by Tegan Bennett Daylight is probably not a book I would normally pick up, however I was sent a request from the publisher and it sounded a little quirky, and I enjoy books that are a bit different.

 

A group of teenagers find themselves locked in a shopping centre, all technology frozen. I loved the concept of this story! The teenagers don't know each other and there are no phones, which means no texting, no Snapchat, no Instagram. They are going to have to talk to each other, face to face!! 🤯

 

Tegan Bennett Daylight has used a group of Western Sydney teenagers as her protagonists. I think the author is showing a side to these teens we don't often hear. They are responsible and basically kindhearted. A  group of kids who wouldn't normally hang-out together were forced to rely on each other. 

The story bogged down a little in the middle and it was a little contrived with its range of diversity but I was happy to let that all slip by because I loved the magical realism element and how the teens opened up to each other and that the whole story was so quirky and we weren't given any reason for the whole thing. The book finishes and the reader is still left with a why. When I finished reading I was like "what just happened"!! 

 

My rating 4 / 5    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended age: 12+

Allusion to sex

Underage drinking

About the author

Photograph © Tegan Bennett Daylight

Tegan Bennett Daylight is a writer, teacher and critic. Her books include the Stella Award shortlisted Six Bedrooms and the novels Safety and Bombora.  She lives in the Blue Mountains with her husband and two children.

 

Book Review: The Lolly Shop by L, B & E Hackney

The Lolly Shop

by

L, B & E Hackney 

 

Publisher: Self-published

Publication date: 6th July 2021

 

Genre: Children's chapter book

 

Pages: 142

 

Format read: paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

About the book

 

Join in the magic with Bax and Ethan as they make sweetness and mayhem in their lolly shop.

These lovable characters solve many problems with their special magic, loving and caring, working hard and having fun. Unfortunately they also create unexpected problems when their sweets have real magic added. Follow their triumphs and despair as they help their family through rough times.

 

My review

 

The Lolly Shop is a cute story about two boys who, wanting to help their parents out financially, make their own lollies and sell them in their lolly shop. 

The boys accidentally mix magic powder into a batch of lollies and when they taste the lollies they start to float. Thinking what great fun this is they start to mix the powder with different lollies and get different powers, such as speed, invisibility and super jumping.

 

The lolly shop was popular before but now everyone wants to try the magic lollies.

Much fun and mayhem ensues with the children playing tricks with their magic abilities. However the magic also helps some children overcome their fears.

Parents and teachers start to complain. What will the boys do to keep the children and the adults happy?

 

The Lolly Shop is fun, crazy and magical. Dot loved every minute of the story and it elicited many giggles as i was reading. I loved the interaction between the two brothers.

The two boys prove that they can work hard and keep up with their school work whilst they have a bit of fun with the magic lollies.

 

The story promotes imagination, teamwork and community spirit.

 

Recommended for 4 - 8 years

 

Dot's rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Lauren lives in a seaside suburb of Brisbane. She lives with her beautiful man, Geoffrey and their two boys Baxter and Ethan.

Together they love exploring, trying new things, laughing and being amongst nature.

 

Another pastime of theirs is story telling. Whether it be a bedtime story, a campfire story or a road trip story - they love each taking a turn and seeing where the story takes them.

They love their animals at home. They have chickens, fish, cockatiels and a recently adopted dog.

 

For many years Lauren worked in aviation however the pandemic put a stop to that so together they decided to put pen to paper and wrote this story. 

Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21

 

 

Book Review: The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

The Cat Who Saved Books 

by

Sosuke Natsukawa

translated by Louise Heal Kawai 

 

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Picador 

 

Publication date:  14th September 2021

 

Genre: Fantasy / Contemporary Fiction

 

Pages: 224

 

RRP: $19.99AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

Bookish high school student Rintaro Natsuki is about ewto close the secondhand bookshop he inherited from his beloved grandfather. Then, a talking cat named Tiger appears with an unusual request. The cat needs Rintaro’s help to save books that have been imprisoned, destroyed and unloved.

Their mission sends this odd couple on an amazing journey, where they enter different labyrinths to set books free. Through their travels, Tiger and Rintaro meet a man who locks up his books, an unwitting book torturer who cuts the pages of books into snippets to help people speed read, and a publisher who only wants to sell books like disposable products. Then, finally, there is a mission that Rintaro must complete alone . . .

 

My review

 

I really thought I would love this book about a boy and a talking cat and how together they were going to save book, however it fell flat for me.

 

After his grandfather's passing, introvert Rintaro skips school and hides away in his grandfather's secondhand bookstore immersing himself in his favourite books. A talking tabby cat appears and asks for his help to save all books by completing three quests.

On each quest Rintaro must stop someone from doing what is perceived as mistreating books, by debating his views. He draws on ideals taught by his grandfather to complete these quests of words and principles.

 

I found the quests quite boring and the problems encountered not really that monumental. Maybe I'm missing the big picture but for me it was marred by airs of superiority. If we don't read classics, over and over, we don't love books?

 

There were some wonderful quotes about books teaching us compassion and empathy and how through books we can learn about other people and other places.

I enjoyed Rintaro's growth, through the quests he gained confidence and started to think about his own life differently and believe in himself.

 

Faultlessly translated by Louise Heal Kawai the words flowed effortlessly.

 

I am certain this philosophical Japanese fantasy will be loved by many. Just not me!

 

My rating 2 / 5   ⭐⭐ 

 

About the author

 

Sosuke Natsukawa is a Japanese physician and novelist, born in Osaka Prefecture in 1978. He graduated from the Shinshu University Medical School and practices medicine at a hospital in the largely rural prefecture of Nagano. His multivolume debut novel, Kamisama no Karute, published in 2009, won several prizes and sold over three million copies in Japan. The Cat Who Saved Books is set to be translated into over twenty languages around the world. 

 

 

Book Review: Euphoria Kids by Alison Evans

Euphoria Kids

by

Alison Evans

Publisher: Echo Publishing
Publication date: 4th February 2020
Genre: Young Adult / LGBT / Fantasy
Pages: 247
RRP: $19.99 AUD
Format read: Paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via B Fredericks PR

Ever since the witch cursed Babs, she turns invisible sometimes. She has her mum and her dog, but teachers and classmates barely notice her. Then, one day, Iris can see her. And Iris likes what they see. Babs is made of fire.

Iris grew from a seed in the ground. They have friends, but not human ones. Not until they meet Babs. The two of them have a lot in common: they speak to dryads and faeries, and they're connected to the magic that's all around them.

There's a new boy at school, a boy who's like them and who hasn't found his real name. Soon the three of them are hanging out and trying spellwork together. Magic can be dangerous, though. Witches and fae can be cruel. Something is happening in the other realm, and despite being warned to stay away, the three friends have to figure out how to deal with it on their own terms.

Although not the intended readership, I absolutely loved this magical and tender story.

Alison Evans has a wonderful way of expressing feelings and emotions.

Iris is a plant child. They grew from the ground. The child of Clover and Moss. They know they are different. A non-binary child that talks to the fairie, Saltkin, in the garden.

“I didn’t want to be a strange baby made of plants, but it hasn’t caused any problems. I don’t know if anyone else can tell.”

Babs is trans-gender, a witch left a spell on her that makes her invisible. Life can be lonely when you are cursed with bouts of invisibility but one day Iris sees her and a friendship begins. Iris can see that Babs is made of fire.

I enjoyed watching the friendship between Iris and Babs develop and also the introduction of the new boy, a trans-gender who hadn’t yet discovered who he was.

“Here’s a boy, not sure of his name or what he is made of. Iris grew from a seed under moss, brimming with new magic. And me, a fiery mess of a girl, crackling when I walk. I forged my own name. I’m invisible sometimes, but I know who I am.

He just needs time. I hope he knows that.” - Babs

Babs’ words are filled with such confidence and compassion.

The characters grew and developed. There was no mention of bullying and the teens were responsible, caring and respectful of their parents. In turn the parents were supportive. It was such a heart-warming thing to see these loving close-knit families.

The magical element of the story is captivating. The teens live on the edge of the National Park and within the park is The Realm, a dark place they are warned to stay away from.

As Babs is drawn to the forest the tension mounts, making this a story that is hard to put down until you know the final conclusion.

Euphoria Kids is a tender, touching story seeped with magic bringing to life the earth, the plants and all things magical.

I finished this book wanting more!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 

My Rating   5/5

Photo credit: Goodreads

Alison Evans is the author of Ida, which won the People’s Choice Award at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2017.

Their second novel, Highway Bodies, was published earlier this year and they are a contributor to new anthology, Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories.

They are based in Melbourne. 

 




This review is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie Author Challenge 

#AussieAuthor20  

 

Book Review: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Exit West

by

Mohsin Hamid

Publisher: Penguin Books
Publication date: 7th March 2017
Genre: Literary Fiction/ Magical Realism
Pages: 229
Format Read: Paperback
Source: Courtesy of World of Books

 

In a city far away, bombs and assassinations shatter lives every day. Yet, even here, hope renews itself, welling up through the rubble. Somewhere in this city, two young people are smiling, hesitating, sharing cheap cigarettes, speaking softly then boldly, falling in love.

As the violence worsens and escape feels ever more necessary, they hear rumour of mysterious black doors appearing all over the city, all over the world. To walk through a door is to find a new life – perhaps in Greece, in London, in California – and to lose the old one for ever . . .

What does it mean to leave your only home behind? Can you belong to many places at once? And when the hour comes and the door stands open before you – will you go?

 

Exit West is not a novel I would normally pick up to read. It was the Fairy Book Club’s chosen novel for August/September book of the month. It’s always good to go out of your comfort zone and read something different.

The story follows two young people, Saeed and Nadia, in an unnamed country on the edge of collapse. The economy was sluggish and the militants had taken over control of the city.

Nadia and Saeed meet and start a chaste relationship. Nadia’s independence and rebellious streak is a stark contrast to Saeed’s conservative personality.

The story centres around the collapse of their country and the appearance of black doors which are portals to other countries. This is the only magical realism in the story. Thousands of people are fleeing poor countries, under siege, in search of a better life.

Mohsin Hamid gives his readers an omniscient point of view which shows the feelings of the natives and the immigrants, without judgement and quite often without emotion. He reflects the fear from both sides and portrays the real struggle of displaced people who only wish to live in safety. Over time, as they move from country to country, trying to fit into a world that views then with fear and suspicion, we observe Nadia and Saeed’s changing relationship.

At times characters flit into the book, tell their story then are gone. I’m not sure whether these vignettes were of any benefit to the overall story.

I did struggle to stay focused on the overly wordy sentences. Some well over a page long!

Exit West is a story of our time for our time.

*Thank you to The Fairy Book Club and World of Books for my copy to read.

                            🌟🌟🌟 

My rating  3/5  

Photo Credit: Goodreads

 

Mohsin Hamid is the author of four novels, Moth Smoke , The Reluctant Fundamentalist , How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia , and Exit West , and a book of essays, Discontent and Its Civilizations .

His writing has been featured on bestseller lists, adapted for the cinema, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, selected as winner or finalist of twenty awards, and translated into thirty-five languages.

Born in Lahore, he has spent about half his life there and much of the rest in London, New York, and California.