Life inside a whale, and other notable books to read this week
Historical fiction, crime thrillers and mental health feature on this week’s list of Notable Books to read this week.
In the coastal town of Pacific Pines we are introduced to neighbours Kaya, Estella and Bec, three mothers desperate to get their sons accepted into a competitive institution. But what lengths will they go to for their children, particularly when an ex-student is involved in a hit-and-run incident? The unveiling of secrets and the collapse of carefully curated facades reveals no household is as perfect as it may seem. Ali Lowe tells this story at a thrilling pace from several points of view. After delivering her brilliant debut, The Trivia Night, and follow-up The Running Club, Lowe has hit the trifecta with this book. It is immersive and compelling, and you will be left thinking about it for days.
This incisive debut from Queensland-based Georgia Harper announces her as one to watch. A close-to-life thriller set in the near future, it does what only the best speculative fiction achieves, forcing us to reflect on our society’s current state. Harper’s background as a psychologist, experienced in working with victim-survivors and violent offenders, clearly has informed her writing, imbuing it with an authenticity that makes its critique of power and the justice system all the more compelling. Equal parts moving, thought-provoking and deeply unsettling, this skilfully written page-turner will stay with you long after you close the book.
Get ready for the journey of a lifetime: New York Times bestselling author Daniel Kraus is back with a thriller that follows scuba diver Jay deep into the belly of a gigantic sperm whale. The premise sounds zany – and it is. But it also makes for amazingly poignant reading. From within this highly imaginative, otherworldly setting, Kraus delivers a moving exploration of grief, the father-son relationship, suicidality and its vital flip side, the will to survive. With the clock ticking as Jay’s oxygen supply dwindles, this page-turner brims with the kind of urgent revelations that can be made only under the most intense pressure. Whalefall is unlike anything you have read before.
Diane Armstrong’s latest historical novel is inspired by the astonishing true story of siblings Sarah and Aaron Aaronsohn, from Zichron Yaakov, who became part of a spy ring to defeat the Turks in World War I. While researching their lives, Armstrong wondered “whether there was room for a novel. I decided there was. Nonfiction presents objective facts, but by fictionalising their story I hope to provide an emotional and imaginative dimension to their experiences which would breathe life into the historical facts.” She certainly has breathed life into this incredible tale, which is meticulously researched and superbly written, if ultimately tragic.
Anne Buist is chair of women’s mental health at the University of Melbourne and the author of five psychological thrillers. Graeme Simsion’s debut novel, The Rosie Project, has sold more than five million copies. Buist and Simsion co-authored Two Steps Forward and now they are back together to deliver The Glass House, the first in a planned series. Set in an acute psychiatric ward, it follows trainee psychiatrist Hannah Wright as she learns on the job at Menzies Hospital. It is structured in an episodic way, with each chapter focusing on a different patient, but Hannah and her colleagues are there throughout. It is a masterfully told, character-driven novel that will have you laughing and crying in equal measures.
Award-winning author Ouyang Yu came to live in Australia in mid-April 1991 and has since published books of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, literary translation and criticism in English and Chinese. His first collection of stories in English explores the heartbreaks of becoming Australian, and what it means to move between cultures as a father, husband and writer. The stories are set in China and Australia and include a couple dealing with their adult son’s new English name, two men exchanging “love letters” between Shanghai and Montreal, and a lonely man who spends Christmas Eve in search of a new life. Ouyang’s tender voice encapsulates the migrant experience with heart and humour.
When Beth wins the lottery, she wants to spend it on something special for her grandmother. All Elise wants is to track down her first love, Gerry, who to Beth’s surprise is a woman. This gorgeous work of heartwarming escapism has a little bit of everything for everyone: queer romance, hetero romance, women in STEM, conservation, domestic drama and mid and latter-life coming-of-age. Debut author Rhianna King takes readers on a delightful journey from Western Australia to Britain and some charming English love interests. While there are gut-wrenching moments, this is ultimately a feel-good read that reminds you to seize the day – no matter your age.
Since publishing her 2018 bestselling debut, The Lace Weaver, Lauren Chater has established a name for herself as one of Australia’s leading writers of the genre. She followed The Lace Weaver with Gulliver’s Wife and The Winter Dress, demonstrating a thrilling talent for excavating women’s stories from history and restoring them to their rightful place at centre stage. The Beauties is a shining addition to Chater’s growing list of historical novels. Set amid the streets, theatres, artist studios, opulent courts and private parties of London, Paris and The Hague during a time of upheaval in the 17th century, it delves into how power defines relationships behind closed doors and on the public stage.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy — charming and crackingly funny
Now widowed and in her fifties, Bridget Jones navigates love, loss, and ‘labial lockdown’. Hugh Grant steals scenes, Emma Thompson delivers comic gold, and wet-shirted romance lives on.
Which empire introduced coffee to Europe?
What fish is used in Worcestershire sauce? Which two film sequels have starred Robert Carlyle? Test yourself.