John Lampard
[4.5 stars] It's grim at times, but a dark humour permeates the story, and the biting sarcasm, particularly as the three friends evaluate each other, and the people around them, often made me laugh out loud. I saw parts of myself in the foibles and faults of each character. A great read.
[3.5 stars] A fascinating scenario, Jane Austen is sent forward through time to find a marriage partner. An enjoyable read. For instance Jane (may I call you Jane?) trying to negotiate the tube in latter day London was equal parts harrowing and hilarious (haven't we all been there?). On the downside, I thought a subplot involving the hint of a romance between another character and a librarian to be distracting, annoying even. It felt a little too contrived. Otherwise a page-turner.
You could probably say this book is set across three timelines, and looking for the parallels between the events in 1922, 1981, and what's close to the present day, gave the story its intrigue. Or that's what I thought, though it's entirely possible I missed the point. Those familiar with the inner suburbs of Sydney, including Redfern, will feel as though they are right amongst the happenings of the 1981 story. 3.5/5 (can't give half star ratings).
Interesting narrative structure. Some of the threads were a little difficult to keep track of at times.
Slow burning family drama set on Sydney's northern beaches twists and turns over two time-lines separated by twenty years, before reaching a slightly anti-climactic conclusion. A riveting read nonetheless.
(3.5 stars) beautifully written with lush setting descriptions that make the reader feel they are present. Certainly an absorbing story with a few interesting twists/surprises, but I have to admit I was expecting some bigger turn of events.
(4.5 stars) Some chapters were hilarious, especially the ones about Karen, and Millie's neighbours. Did anyone else see a little of themselves in those characters?
Warning, spoiler follows. I enjoyed this. It appealed to my dark sense of humour. Dickon Broom is not a nice man but I couldn't stop laughing at the way the author belittled him. The job interview, his wandering thoughts during that, and his reaction to the outcome, were a particular highlight.
What does it say about a book when the names of the characters, Jett, Catch, Bronco, etc, (something that bothered some readers, though not so much me) are more colourful than the characters themselves?
Jett's neighbour has been murdered, and together with friends and contacts, Jett sets out, by way of a long winding road, to try and bring the killer to justice.
The story has its moments (I'm not referring to the romantic aspects, any of them), but I read through to the end to see whodunnit. In that, there was some intrigue I thought.
I wish we could give half star ratings, because I would rate this 4.5/5, rather than 4/5. (I save 5 star ratings for truly exceptional works).
(3.5 stars) slow burning drama set in Melbourne and Sydney, with the NSW Central Coast town of Budgewoi making a welcome cameo! Though well written, I found this dissection of grief harder to digest the more I read, as the over-abundance of day-to-day details slowed the pace to a crawl at times. The scene jumps, that initially lent charm to the story, seemed more abrupt, and confusing, later on.
