I'm a bit late to the party with this one: it seems like only yesterday that I put it on my TBR. God Forgets about the Poor by Peter Polites: anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/30/g...

Catherine Chidgey's macabre new novel of the near future is uncomfortably like today: anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/26/t...

Co-winner of the Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Prize, Killing Tully Herbert by Philip Canon is intense reading: anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/25/k...

Co-winner of the 20/40 Prize, Becoming Mrs Smith is entertaining insightful reading. anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/24/b... Tomorrow, my thoughts about the co-winning book, Killing Tully Herbert by Philip Canon.

My new blog post on Harry Kressing's strange, unsettling novella, THE COOK. readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2026/10/23/t...

The Cook – Harry Kressing

The Cook by Harry Kressing is a strange, unsettling, and compelling tale of power, influence, and class privilege, imbued with a fable-like quality.

readersretreat2017.wordpress.com

Ideal for readers looking for a quick read that covers both the NF component of #NovNov (Novellas In November) and #NonFicNov26 Nonfiction November!  anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/23/s...

Hmpf. The German Ward by Pip Williams... anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/22/t...

Winner of the SA Lit award for an unpublished MS, Salt Upon the Water (2025), by Lyn Dickens went on to be nominated for the 2026 Miles Franklin award. anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/20/s...

Catherine Chidgey honoured as Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate 2026 anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/20/c...

Yay! One of my favourite books has just won the 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize. Congratulations to Bernice Barry for The Names of the Hare! Find out more at anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/16/2...

I haven't read many novels in verse: my thoughts about Libby Hathorn's Through a Glass Darkly: anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/15/t...

For the #1949Club, my thoughts about High Valley by Charmian Clift and George Johnson: a search for identity in the high mountains of Tibet: anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/13/h...

A fascinating look at making a living in the Chinese gig economy anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/11/i...

Based on real events, a novel of extraordinary courage and determination from C18th Italy: A Single Witness by Christine Balint anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/09/a...

One from a while ago, but it's still in print and it's very worthwhile reading: The Orphan Gunner by Sara Knox anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/07/t...

A beautiful collection of ecobiographical essays: Silence is My Habitat by Jessica White: anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/04/s...

Vale Hilary McPhee (1941-2026): her contribution to Australian literature will never be forgotten. anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/03/v...

#6Degrees this month anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/03/s...

One of my favourite prizes and always just in time for #NovellasInNovember 2026 20/40 Finlay Lloyd Prize shortlist announced anzlitlovers.com/2026/10/03/2...

A contribution for #ShortStorySeptember from the Library of America: The Black Dress by Dorothy West anzlitlovers.com/2026/09/29/t...

From 1955, a fascinating short novel by Ruth Park, and a rare example of a story tackling class- and race-conscious barriers in 1920s NZ: deceptively a nostalgic comic novel, Pink Flannel a.k.a. Dear Hearts and Gentle People is more than that. anzlitlovers.com/2026/09/28/p...

Kim from Reading Matters loved Amanda Curtin's new novel Six Days too: readingmattersblog.com/2026/09/26/s...

‘Six Days’ by Amanda Curtin

A simple act of kindness puts an expat Australian’s fragile Parisian life and security at risk.

readingmattersblog.com

One of the most enlightening books of LitCrit that I've ever read, accessible to ordinary readers like me, and a delight to read if you're fascinated by the novels of John A Scott, as I am. From Poet to Novelist, the Orphic Journey of John A Scott by Peter D Mathews anzlitlovers.com/2026/09/26/f...

Does anyone else get those stupid spam messages from a Silent Book Club that wants to feature my book? What book? Do they mean the book I wrote about Indonesia in 1992 for students?? Is AI not programmed to look at my About page to learn that my name is not ANZ?

NT Book Award winners anzlitlovers.com/2026/09/24/2...

Yay! The Names of a Hare has been shortlisted for the 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize! anzlitlovers.com/2026/09/23/2...

I'm bingeing on Robert Seethaler: anzlitlovers.com/2026/09/23/t...

Once again Robert Seethaler delivers a thoughtful reflection on life anzlitlovers.com/2026/09/20/t...

To coincide with #ShortStorySeptember, I’ve been reading a biography of Australia’s first significant female short story author, Barbara Baynton: anzlitlovers.com/2026/09/19/b...

I have been waiting, not-so-patiently, for a new novel from one of my favourite Australian authors, Amanda Curtin, and here it is: anzlitlovers.com/2026/09/12/s...