Blog Has Migrated

This blog has now migrated over to my website: www.helenmckenna.com.au/blog
I am leaving this blog active, however as links to my book reviews up until 2013 are listed on the Australian Women Writer's Challenge database.
Otherwise head on over to my website to see the latest blog entries.

Australian Women Writer's Challenge Completed

Once again I have loved being involved in the Australian Women Writer's Challenge in 2013. Setting my target a little higher than in 2012, I am happy to report that I have made (and exceeded slightly) my goal in a more timely fashion this year. (Last year I was reading until the 31st December). My goal was 55 books read and 40 reviews - I made it to 58 read and may get through another one before the end of the year. My review goal was right on at 40.

I have read a mixture of genres this year, although once again Contemporary Fiction has been my main category. My favourites in this group were The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (really loved it), House For All Season by Jenn. J McLeod, Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty, Sisters of Mercy by Caroline Overington and Last Summer by Kylie Ladd.  In historical fiction I loved two of Kate Morton's books - The Secret Keeper and The Forgotten Garden as well as Amanda Curtin's Elemental. In the biography/memoir genre my top picks were Cliffy by Julietta Jameson and How To Do a Liver Transplant by Kellee Slater. In psychological thrillers Dark Horse by Honey Brown, The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald and Blood Secret by Jaye Ford held me captive as I frantically turned the pages. Melanie Casey's Hindsight introduced me to paranormal crime fiction and I look forward to reading more from her. In saying all that though, I have enjoyed all the books I have read for the challenge this year. There were none that I started and could not finish - those mentioned above stood out just a little above the others.If you read my Goodreads ratings, you will see that most of the books I read rated a solid 4, which to me is a satisfying, entertaining and very enjoyable book.

Great Aussie Reads Challenge Wrap Up

My Great Aussie Reads challenge incorporates the books I have read for the Australian Women Writer's challenge, plus those written by Australian male writers. As I will summarise my AWW books in a separate post, I will concentrate only on those by male writers in this post.

I am not sure why, but basically all my GAR books by male writers are non-fiction - with a fairly even distribution of biography/memoir and true crime. I didn't deliberately set out to only include those genres, but perhaps that is just my reading preferences playing themselves out.

Book Review No 40: The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I came across The Cry, but within moments of starting the book I knew I would fight to put it down. Fortunately for me a train journey allowed me to devour most of it in a single session.

Joanna faces every parents nightmare when her baby son Noah refuses to settle during the long flight between Scotland and Australia. Frowned upon by fellow passengers and flight attendants alike for the constant screaming, Joanna is at the end of her rope. Mentally she feels herself losing it, not realising the events of this horrible flight will be played out in a court room months later.

Book Review No: 39 Outback Heroines by Sue Williams

When most people think of the outback the images that usually come to mind involve dust, heat, isolation and rugged stockmen carving out a life in one of the most unforgiving environments on earth. But the truth is that women do now and always have played an enormous role in outback life. As well as the more traditional roles of nurse, teacher, governess or shopkeeper - outback women have always been able to turn their hands to almost everything that men do.

For those of us who live in the city or even larger regional areas it is difficult to fathom the hardship outback life can bring. For a women, it is even more difficult as they still have to battle long-held sexist stereotypes as well as deal with the demands of raising children. Yet dotted in these tiny towns are inspirational women who refuse to be beaten by the hardships outback life can bring.

Book Review No: 38 One Piece of the Puzzle by Justine Ford

Murders are always shocking in our society, even more so when they happen close to your own community. Yet despite the massive media attention at the time of the crime and shortly afterwards, these crimes often fade from the public memory as time moves on. Within a few months, media attention focuses on something else and unfortunately sometimes police resources are similarly redirected. Yet behind the scenes there are a band of dedicated detectives who work tirelessly to solve homicides and sometimes with some luck and countless hours of painstaking investigation these cases are solved.

While One Piece Of The Puzzle covers a difficult subject matter, it is a very readable book. Examining twenty of our most chilling murders over the past few decades, it reveals how sometimes the smallest piece of evidence can be the "one piece of the puzzle" needed to solve a crime. While sobering to be reminded of these sad cases, it is good to know that justice was eventually done for each of these victims.

Book Review No 37: Love, Sweat and Tears by Zelie Bullen

Growing up on the outskirts of Perth, Zelie realises early on in life that she has a natural affinity with animals. From a young age, she feels a strong connection and spends a lot of time being around all kinds of creatures. Although she does not qualify to study Vet Science or Zoology at university, Zelie instead enrolls in an Agricultural Science Diploma, with the hope of eventually upgrading into a uni degree. Although still a teenager, Zelie has spent a lot of time experimenting with different training methods for animals and has had a lot of success, just going with her own instincts.

While Zelie has no doubts about her chosen career field, her personal life is another story. From the tender age of eighteen, she begins a series of brushes with tragedy that no one person should have to endure in a lifetime, let alone in a few short years. First her boyfriend's brother is killed in a car accident, then her beloved sister and then her father dies (whom she has just started getting to know after being distant for many years). Needing some time out and a change of scenery, Zelie puts study on hold and moves to the Gold Coast with the hopes of one day training the horses in the Outback Spectacular.

Reading and Reviewing Challenges - Nearly There!

Yeah I know you don't want to hear that we are now officially into the final quarter of 2013 - but we are. So I thought it was time for another update with my reading and reviewing challenges for  the year.Unlike last year where I found myself scrambling at the last minute and reading a large pile of books in the final weeks of 2012, I am happy to report that as at this time I am running ahead of schedule. Yay!

I have read 52 books (towards my target of 55) and reviewed 36 (target 40) for the Australian Women Writers Challenge. It will be nice to end at a more leisurely pace. I haven't quite decided on my last three books but as always I know I am spoilt for choice with what is out there. The reviews list for the year continues to grow and every time I look on there I discover at least one book I've never heard of. It is so nice to have an ever growing pile of books to choose from. You can check out the list of reviews at the AWW website: http://auswomenwriters.weebly.com/index.html

For the Great Aussie Reads challenge, I am at 60 books read with a target of 65 - so once again I am pretty close. You can check out the website at http://www.greataussiereads.com

Flashback

While book number two is taking longer than planned, I am happy to announce that I have released a mini volume of three short stories entitled Flashback. At this time it is only available as an Amazon e-book but I am looking to other formats in the coming months.

Amazon link: click HERE

Book Review No 36: Blood Secret by Jaye Ford

Rennie Carter had spent her whole life running from a violent past when she arrived in the sleepy town of Haven Bay. Initially planning to stay a short while (as always), she was not prepared for the possibility of falling in love with local man Max. Life with him is so good that finally Rennie puts down some roots and allows herself to live a "normal" life for a while.

Despite her contentment Rennie is always on her guard and her instincts smell trouble when she and Max are involved in a road rage incident one evening. When Max goes missing a mere few hours later Rennie feels her old fears rushing back to grab her by the throat. Fighting her own instincts to run, she sets out to find Max but in the process realises she is not the only one with skeletons in the closet.

Book Review No 35: How To Do A Liver Transplant by Kellee Slater

It is always interesting to read about people who grow up in the same town as you did, especially those who go on to do incredible things in their life. Brisbane surgeon Kellee Slater is one of those people.

Growing up in a very average family, Kellee did not dream of being a doctor from a young age. Initially planning to become a home economics teacher, it was only on the advice of her school guidance counselor that she even applied to study medicine at UQ - the day before her university preferences were due. From that moment on Kellee's destiny was to become first a doctor, then a surgeon and finally a highly specialised liver transplant surgeon.

Book Review No 34: No Place Like Home by Caroline Overington

Having read her previous books, I am used to Caroline Overington's unique yet highly effective story telling style - so it was no surprise that No Place Like Home was told through the voice of a middle aged man. And as always she totally nails the character - in this case a Catholic Priest (and police chaplain) named Father Paul Doherty.

Father Paul gets a call about a siege that is underway at Bondi's popular Surf City Shopping Centre. It is a very unusual situation - after all things like that rarely happen in laid back (and exclusive) Bondi. What is even odder is the instigator of the siege - a former Tanzanian refugee named Ali Khan - has made no demands and seems just as perplexed by the whole situation as the four hostages holed up with him in a lingerie shop.

Book Review No 33: Closed For Winter by Georgia Blain

Elise has lived most of her life in the shadow of her sister's disappearance from an Adelaide beach one hot summer's day. Although she was on the beach too, she did not see what happened to Frances. There are no clues, no evidence - just a gaping hole in the life of Elise and her mother, a hole that continues to haunt them both twenty years later.

Elise lives her life desperately blending into the shadows, careful not to be noticed or offer an opinion. She keeps a photo of herself and her sister taken that fateful summer and replays the day in her mind over and over. Her mother Dorothy has become obsessed with missing child stories, buying every newspaper available and cutting out any similar stories.

Book Review No 32: Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi

Originally known as Amanda Rogers, Portia de Rossi had her first major movie role in Sirens with Elle McPherson and Hugh Grant. A couple of years later she had her big break in Hollywood with a role in the top rating TV show Ally McBeal. Outwardly Portia was living the dream of any young aspiring actress, but behind the scenes she was in the savage grip of Anorexia Nervosa - an eating disorder that would dominate her life for many years to come.

Growing up in Geelong, Portia (then Amanda) had dreams of stardom and was driven to try modeling while still a teenager. Although she enjoyed a somewhat successful career, Portia was riddled with self doubt - an affliction that would continue to haunt her despite her star being on the rise. Portia's other "shameful secret" was the fact she was a lesbian - something she went to extraordinary lengths to hide from the Hollywood gossip columns.

Book Review No 31: Traces of Absence by Susan Holoubeck

Still struggling to come to terms with her father's sudden death, Dee's daughter Corrie decides to defer university and spend a year in Argentina. Although the pair have a fractured relationship at that time, Dee is encouraging of this plan. Having hosted an Argentinian exchange student whose family is willing to return the favour, she believes Corrie will not only be safe and but also have the space and distance to work through her grief. When Dee receives the news that Corrie has disappeared without a trace, she is devastated and horrified at what may lie ahead.

Book Review No 30: Hindsight by Melanie Casey

Although I have read a lot of crime fiction, I have never read a title in that genre that also included a paranormal element. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Melanie Casey's debut novel Hindsight, but it didn't take me long to realise it was a captivating story that kept me involved from start to finish.

Cass Lehman's terrifying gift which allows her to temporarily experience other people's deaths (if she is in the exact vicinity it happened) has kept her locked away at her family home for much of her adult life. Living in a small town she can negotiate her way to various safe areas but does not dare venture too far afield. Yet at the age of 28 she realises she wants to experience more of the world, no matter what the consequences.

Book Review No 29: After The Fall by Kylie Ladd

Kate and Cary and Cressida and Luke are two professional couples living in suburban Melbourne. They have become firm friends over time and often socialise together. Both are still childless and are caught up in the busy lifestyle of their careers with the occasional getaway for fun. But then something happens - Kate and Luke discover a mutual attraction that quickly flares into a full blown affair. And naturally, after that, nothing can ever be quite the same again.

This story is told in an alternating POV, which allows the reader to gain an insight of all four main characters. Also the chapters are almost like diary entries in that they are raw and honest comments and answers to the questions you as the reader want to know. This weaving between characters was done seamlessly and in such a way that did not impact on the flow of the story.

Book Review No 28: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley

This was simply the most amazing story on so many levels.

Back in 1986 five year old Saroo made a last minute decision to accompany his older brother on a short train trip to a nearby town in rural India. Although he was supposed to be babysitting his baby sister, Saroo risked his mother's wrath and left his humble home, not realising just what a journey he was about to make. Instructed to wait on the platform by his older brother, young Saroo was scared and confused when his older brother failed to return in the specified time. Deciding to make his own way home he hopped onto a waiting train - a train that would end up taking him half way across the country and far, far away from his family.

Book Review No 27: Cliffy: The Cliff Young Story by Julietta Jameson

Having recently seen the ABC telemovie of the same name, I was eager to read this book when I came across it. 

It's hard to believe it was 30 years ago that a 61 year old potato farmer from Victoria won the heart of the nation when he not only "shuffled" his way from Sydney to Melbourne in Australia's first ultra marathon - but won by a huge margin. Suddenly this shy, unassuming man was thrust into the national spotlight and the legend of Cliff Young was born.

Book Review No 26: Every Parent's Nightmare by Belinda Hawkins

While most Australians will be very familiar with the Chapelle Corby case, very few have probably heard of Jock Palfreeman. Yet Jock is living the same nightmare as Chapelle, he is currently stuck in a foreign prison for a crime he believes he did not commit and has very little hope of being released within the next decade.

Like thousands of other young Australian travellers, Jock set off for his big adventure back in 2006. Not one to stick to the normal tourist trail, Jock preferred to find off the beaten track places to visit, often volunteering and sleeping rough in his efforts to experience another culture. That was how he came to end up in Bulgaria. Having visited the country before, he was keen to head back and visit friends for the Christmas break in 2007. Unfortunately that decision set him on a collision course with an evil crime that left a young man dead.