A life-size, paper mache Shrek donkey, on rollerskates, ridden by a bloke dressed as Xena: Warrior Princess – that’s the strangest thing I’ve seen on the side of the road…until now. Actually, the donkey isn’t even in my top five of weird things I’ve seen during the graveyard shift at the Roadhouse. The Roadhouse is a local icon situated a …
‘The trick to telling a lie is to keep it believable. There has to be some truth in the lie. And don’t elaborate with too much detail.’ I want to please my dad but my mother told me it was wrong to lie. Dad must sense my hesitation because he crouches down and puts his hands on my shoulders. ‘Sometimes …
‘Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who’s the biggest loser of them all?’ The answer is clearly the single, unemployed 47-year-old, disguised as a drowned rat, staring back at me in the public toilet mirror. Clumps of hair stick to my forehead. One of my false eyelashes is missing. And my Zimmermann silk-chiffon dress clings to me like wet toilet paper. …
I came across Catching Teller Crow as part of a research project looking for young adult fantasy novels set in small town Australia. Dealing with some hefty themes of grief, colonial history and violence – told mainly through the eyes of a girl who happens to be dead – this isn’t the kind of book I’d normally gravitate to. Also, …
‘It’s over.’ It felt good saying it out loud and finally putting an end to the torture. At the same time I know it probably comes as a shock to you. ‘Don’t get me wrong, we had a great run.’ It wasn’t a lie. We have shared so much together. We travelled the world. We had some serious adventures. ‘Do …
We all have one. You know, a frenemy. Mine was Natasha or Na-taaar-sha. The middle syllable is an elongated ‘ta’, as in ‘ta, ta, dahling,’ air kiss, air kiss. It’s not to be confused with the sound, ‘tash’, like ‘pash’, and you are to never call her just ‘Tash’. I called her that once in fourth grade and she ghosted …
‘You’re on it!’ ‘Are you sure?’ My voice trembles and sweat clings to my palms. I don’t have the guts to check the list myself, not after last year’s disappointment. ‘It says it right here, “Rose Adamson”.’ My best friend, Jill, jabs at the computer screen with her shellac nails, decorated with tiny Christmas trees. I dare to take a …
‘Supervisor!’ The officious sounding voice rings out over the incessant dinging of the bell on the counter. I pop my head over the top of the cubicle, startled to find my shire council colleagues have vanished into thin air. ‘You there,’ the owner of the voice points at me. Other words follow at breakneck speed but they’re lost on me. …
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a magical masterpiece. Central to this story is a library, which alone makes it a must read in my “books” (see what I did there?). With a sprinkle of magic, some expertly drawn characters and beautiful words, I was hooked! About the Book Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is …
I’m finally getting around to sharing more of my recent reads – another sublime book from Tabitha Bird. I had big expectations after reading the beautifully crafted “A Lifetime of Impossible Days” and was delighted that “The Emporium of Imagination” was equally good or perhaps better. I’m in awe of Tabitha’s ability to bring magic, wonder and heart-warming characters to …