Illywhacker – extraordinary Australian tour de force

Photo of the cover of the novel Illywhacker, by Peter Carey.

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July 6, 2025

Illywhacker – extraordinary Australian tour de force

A sweeping, comic romp through 20th-century Australia, Illywhacker is a novel of lies, dreams and cultural unease, with one of the most unreliable narrators you’ll ever meet.

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Photo of the cover of the novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

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July 5, 2025

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

A gothic gem of paranoia and sisterly devotion, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a haunting tale of isolation, memory, and misfit resilience. Shirley Jackson at her best.

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Photograph of the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport.

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July 3, 2025

Digital Minimalism – digital overload, a powerful critique and cure

What happens when we take back control from our devices? Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport offers practical, sometimes radical steps to reclaim time and live with intention.

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Photograph of the book Orfeo, by Richard Powers.

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July 2, 2025

Orfeo – a seamless fusion of music and biochemistry

Can music tell a story all by itself? Orfeo by Richard Powers asks that and more in this moving, intelligent novel of fugitive composers and sonic salvation.

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Photo of the book Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.

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July 1, 2025

Four Thousand Weeks – the anti-productivity book

A smart, funny, and philosophical response to modern burnout, Four Thousand Weeks encourages us to stop optimising and start living intentionally. An essential read for time-strapped humans.

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Photo of the cover of the novel Station Eleven

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June 30, 2025

Station Eleven – this prescient post-pandemic novel remains very relevant

A novel of quiet power and striking imagery, Station Eleven looks beyond apocalypse to ask what makes life worth living. A thoughtful, artful take on the end of the world.

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Photo of the cover of The Lost Rainforests of Britain

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June 29, 2025

The Lost Rainforests of Britain – an enlightening call to arms

Guy Shrubsole’s The Lost Rainforests of Britain uncovers a forgotten ecosystem and inspires hope for its revival. A rousing blend of memoir, myth and manifesto.

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A photograph of the cover of Otherlands

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June 28, 2025

Otherlands – an outstanding example of literary science

A poetic tour through Earth’s forgotten past, Otherlands takes readers on a stunning journey back through 550 million years. Haunting, immersive, and deeply humbling.

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Photo of the cover of the book Holiday, by Stanley Middleton

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June 27, 2025

Holiday, Stanley Middleton – confronting the discomfort of inaction

A quietly introspective novel set in a fading seaside town, Holiday by Stanley Middleton follows a grieving man’s attempt to make sense of his life, marriage, and identity.

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