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Fresh From the Mind
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THE BEE STING: PAUL MURRAY
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY LITERARY FICTION The Bee Sting would have to be one of my all-time favourite novels. It’s a poignant and unflinching portrayal of a family—the Barneses— in turmoil. They reside in a small town in Ireland during a time of financial chaos and against a background of climate change and environmental stress. It delves into…
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AND MRS ARBUTHNOT: PATRICIA FINEBERG STONER
GENRE: ROMCOM (?)/SATIRE And Mrs Arbuthnot is at first glance, fluffy-light, whimsical and possibly based on Oscar Wilde’s character of the same name. It’s presented as a volume of twelve connected short stories about a difficult and temperamental woman and her interactions with the community of Gorehampton in West Sussex, and the frustrations of modern living.…
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HERE ONE MOMENT: LIANE MORIARTY
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY FICTION I read ‘Here One Moment’ in about three days, even though the early stages of it were quite heavy-going and could perhaps, have been more concise. Stick with it and the rewards will be worthwhile. It’s a departure from Moriarty’s usual chick-lit format but still showcases her excellent character-development talent with a…
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The Power of Storytelling: Turning Inner Struggles into Character Arcs
Writers love to write plot twists; we revel in the next jolt of excitement.…
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There ain’t no cure for the Summertime Blues
I hate the story summer tells, and the way I never seem to belong…
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The Arctic’s hottest spot: Reykjavik—36 hours in the coolest season
36 Hours in Reykjavik: The Cool Capital “Greenland is actually white because it’s full…
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Insights gained on a Trafalgar Tour of Christmas Markets
It isn’t safe to visit Bethlehem in December, so the next most Christmassy experience…
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A Sacred Sanctuary in the Mountains: The Essence of Real Japan
It is early spring in Japan. We are to the west of Mount Fuji,…
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The Cusp between the years in Tuscany
After Rome, the most bucket-listed part of Italy is probably Tuscany. I spent New…
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Lenses on Lilac: Jacarandas in Ipswich
Where I live, in South East Queensland, there’s a saying that when the Jacarandas…
Margaret R Kelly 