I will admit upfront that the author is a friend of mine and I probably wouldn’t have found this book otherwise. I have, however, been telling every one I know to read it -simply because it’s good ! And it’s the first in a trilogy, which means we have more good reading to come ….

I love a good saga and Colleen McCullough is a master at them. Like many of her novels, this one starts elsewhere and ends up in colonial Australia and follows a whole generation through numerous trials and dramas. It’s compelling, even if it’s not fine literature.

This has been a very popular book in Australia and I’ve been on the waiting list at the library for months. Naturally then reading the actual book was a bit of a let down. Partly because I’ve see a couple of interviews with the author and heard the best punch lines and partly just because my expectations were so high. Don’t get me wrong – its the fascinating story of a boy who arrives in Australia as a refugee on a boat and goes on to become one of the best known comedians in the country. Some of the stories made me laugh out loud and some were incredibly sad. Definitely worth of reading.

I enjoyed this book although it was incredibly depressing. It tells the story of a couple. After a mystery illness, the husband suffers a permanent memory loss that slowly destroys their relationship. It’s a true story and very difficult to reconcile. I felt alternate sympathy and a sort of slight angst at what those people were going through.

Jodi Picoult’s books always make me slightly uncomfortable but this was worse that the rest, given that it deals with the aftermath of a high school shooting. I felt complete terror at the thought of being that child’s mother. I was also a bit perplexed by the secondary storyline and wasn’t entirely convinced about the twist at the end. Of course, it’s a can’t-put-down book nonetheless.

Can’t go past some chick lit list on holidays … This is classic chick lit. Dissatisfied girl seeks meaning in her life, which involves being in a relationship, and her friends have their own little complexities to deal with. Definitely worth a read if chick lit is your thing.

I have to admit to reading this book mainly because I liked the title. Can’t go past some nice alliteration. It was an amusing tale of a man who is, naturally, fat, forty and fired and decides to take some time off and become a sort of stay-at-home dad and sort of follow his dreams to learn to swim and get fit and various other things. It’s a good read but glosses over some emotional bits and of course, a predictable ending.

Sushi for beginners earns the illustrious title of being the first ebook I have read. The generous people at Booku gave me a $100 gift for being one of the first people to like their page on Facebook. And then they had a sale on Marian Keyes books. I thought I had read them all, but I found a couple I hadn’t yet discovered and as chick lit as they are, they are perfect for taking on holidays. Especially with children who interrupt frequently and prevent me from reading anything requiring too much thought. Of course, then again, those pesky flight attendants asking you if you’d like another glass of wine are just as frustrating