Ada carries separate selves within her. When a traumatic experience crystallises the selves into something more powerful, Ada’s life shifts in a dangerous direction. Our September October book club discussion is about Freshwater, a semi-autobiographical novel by Nigerian writer, Akwaeke Emezi. We talk about multiplicity and the character’s experience with alters, and the role ofContinue reading “October Book Club: Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi”
Tag Archives: trauma
Q&A with Mark Mupotsa-Russell on The Wolf Who Cried Boy
Six-year-old Henry believes his life is a fairytale. He’s a Star Prince, his mum is a Star Queen and they’re hiding from Henry’s father, the mysterious ‘Wolf King’. When news arrives that his Grandma is gravely ill, Henry and his mum must take a road trip across the country and back into the Wolf King’sContinue reading “Q&A with Mark Mupotsa-Russell on The Wolf Who Cried Boy”
Review: Exploring healing in Jade Timms’ ‘Golden’
Golden is a warm-hearted optimistic story about friends and friendship and art and beauty—and the power of letting yourself be loved… When you work in the juice bar of your small coastal town. When your twin brother is the fun one with all the friends. When something happened a year ago that you can’t talk about,Continue reading “Review: Exploring healing in Jade Timms’ ‘Golden’”
Review: ‘The Hitwoman’s Guide to Reducing Household Debt’ is a highly entertaining debut
I met my husband on the same day I committed my very last murder. There’s a joke in there somewhere, about ending two men’s lives. Olivia Hodges used to do horrible things – back when she worked for a Spanish crime syndicate – but she fled that life and moved home to Australia, building aContinue reading “Review: ‘The Hitwoman’s Guide to Reducing Household Debt’ is a highly entertaining debut”
Review: The quiet emotional force of The Burrow
Amy, Jin and Lucie are leading isolated lives in their partially renovated, inner city home. They are not happy, but they are also terrified of change. When they buy a pet rabbit for Lucie, and then Amy’s mother, Pauline, comes to stay, the family is forced to confront long-buried secrets. Will opening their hearts toContinue reading “Review: The quiet emotional force of The Burrow”
Emma Lord: Grief, Trauma, and the Apocalypse l Author Interview
Priscilla and Elise sit down with Emma Lord to discuss her debut novel, Anomaly. The novel follows teenager Piper Manning, who wakes up after an apocalyptic pandemic alone – and with an uncontrollable power. We talk about the depiction of grief and PTSD, Piper’s isolating experience in the aftermath of a pandemic, Anomaly‘s cast ofContinue reading “Emma Lord: Grief, Trauma, and the Apocalypse l Author Interview”
What is left unsaid in Sharon Kernot’s ‘Birdy’
Maddy is mute. Since the Incident she has barely spoken. And now she and her mother and brother are staying in a farmhouse on an old apricot orchard not far from town. It’s a chance to rest and recuperate – or a way to hide further away from the world. Alice is waiting. Since Birdy,Continue reading “What is left unsaid in Sharon Kernot’s ‘Birdy’”
S3E6. Girl in Pieces Review
How do you pick up the pieces after life has served you enough trauma for a lifetime? Charlotte, aged 17, is trying to recover in a world that owes her nothing, but has taken so much. In our season 3 finale, we dive into Girl in Pieces‘ representations of self-harm, hospitalisation, and unhealthy relationships, andContinue reading “S3E6. Girl in Pieces Review”
Review: Exploring humanity in Jacinta Halloran’s Resistance
As a family therapist, Nina is the ultimate listener. Yet this is of little use with her latest clients, the Agostinos, who have been mandated to see her after stealing a car and disappearing into the outback. For support with the case, Nina meets with a supervising therapist, Erin. What they unearth in their sessionsContinue reading “Review: Exploring humanity in Jacinta Halloran’s Resistance”
Interview: Robyn Dennison on Blind Spot
When Dale stumbles into a bedroom at a party and sees a drunk girl being undressed by a group of guys, he backs away and runs. He’s pretty drunk himself, but he knows what he saw. Why didn’t he stop them? Why did he run? Blind Spot follows Dale as he grapples with the aftermathContinue reading “Interview: Robyn Dennison on Blind Spot”
Novel Feelings 