This will hurt me...

Camp Falls, Tasman National Park, the Tasman Peninsula. October 2013. A Greyhound of a Girl , Roddy Doyle: This is the first of Roddy Dolye’s books that I’ve read that he’s written for younger readers. In many respects it is ‘typical Doyle’, but with a distinctly softer edge in terms of language and overall ambiance. That said, the narrative voice is distinctly Irish and I didn’t find the change undermined my enjoyment of the novel. Given the central themes of death, ageing and regret, the author does a great job of communicating a sense of tenderness and understanding without resorting to condescension or the hackneyed metaphors often seen in this kind of thing. Essentially a tale of love and death across four generations of women in one family, the blurb sums it up nicely: "One of them is dead, one of them is dying, one of them is driving, and one of them is just starting out". I enjoyed it, you might too. Recommended. C+.

Boat alone. The Tasman National Park, Tasmania. October 2013. We Have Always Lived in the Castle , Shirley Jackson: This is a dark little book that – like a lot of Shirley Jackson’s work – explores the idea of persecution of people who are ‘different’. It is a tricky read full of strangeness and goings on where the moral lines are not clear and the narrator clearly unreliable and quite a bit unstable. Despite a multiplying sense of unease and malevolence, the book also explores concepts of love and devotion. Immensely macabre elements are treated as unremarkable; the sense of agoraphobia is virtually unrelenting. Yet the language is deceptively simple, and the almost dreamlike ‘otherness’ both real and imagined. Together, social class and actions in the past divide the family at the centre of the book and the narrow-minded townsfolk, but just how strange and different the sisters are is beyond them. Of course, we the reader have an insight that they do not, and the type of horro...

Henry at work. Geilston Bay. September 2013. The Winter Queen , Boris Akunin: A story of murder, suicide, deception and disguise that hurtles through pre-revolutionary Tsarist Russia. Crafted with care, Akunin weaves some beautiful expression and a series of exotic historical settings - primarily Moscow, Saint Petersburg and a quick jaunt to the seedier side of London in the mid-1870s - together with a wonderful series of well developed characters that really does feel like Tolstoy tackling a murder mystery. I loved it. A .

The view from the top. The summit of Mount Wellington. September 2013. 100 Essential Things You Didn't Know You Didn't Know , John D. Barrow: This book explores one hundred conundrums, questions and queries through the lens of mathematics. The book runs through infinite monkeys banging out Shakespearean plays on typewriters, your odds of winning the lottery, horse races, divorce, Google, game theory, infinity and chaos; there is much to enjoy here even if Maths is something other than your strong point. While the book is (happily) not dumbed down at all, it remains jammed to the brim with equations sure to make you squirm. C+ . Life at the top. The summit of Mount Wellington. September 2013.

Hippolyte Rocks #1, Tasman Peninsula. September 2013. The Dare , John Boyne: A simple tale from the perspective of a twelve-year-old boy, it does a realistic job of constructing a compelling story about how one simple moment can change a people's lives forever. C . The far south, Tasman Peninsula. September 2013.

Tasman National Park Coastline #1, Tasman Peninsula. September 2013. Longitude , Dava Sobel: A bit of background first: the "longitude problem" was one of the trickiest practical and scientific dilemmas of the eighteenth century. Lacking the ability to measure longitude made sailing around on unchartered oceans decidedly dangerous. For example, in October 1707 the English navy lost 2,000 men after the Admiral misgauged their position (by quite some margin). Even more bittersweet was the fact that the very same Admiral had earlier hanged a seaman who – having illicitly kept his own careful log – challenged those who argued that the fleet was in safe waters. This disaster in particular prompted the English government to establish a Board of Longitude and it offered £20,000 – an immense amount for the time – for a solution to the greatest problem of the day. The quest to solve the riddle of longitude is at the heat of this book, which is in alternated moods a history of ast...

The Devil's Kitchen #1, Tasman Peninsula. October 2013. The Testament of Mary , Colm Tóibín: For those of the Christian faith, I can see how this novel is a provocative work, but me – who accepts the existence of Jesus the historical figure (if not the Son of God) – it is an evocative and memorable depiction of Mary as I understand her: a mother who lost her son to a pretty gruesome end. In a chronological sense, Tóibín sticks close to the Gospels; but rather than the meek, blessed construct of the New Testament, in this reimagining Mary is an angry, solitary older woman still seeking to understand the events that become the narrative of the New Testament and the foundation of Christianity. As such, she has no interest in collaborating with the authors of the Gospel struggles with the actions and motives of her son’s disciples. The story is familiar, but this work manages to convey a startling intimacy. Given the magnitude of the tale, Tóibín’s book is surprisingly understated...

Gull! Lindisfarne. August 2013. Where Angels Fear to Tread , E.M. Forster: A cutting exploration of the prudish, snobbish, self-important ways of a certain English class. It ends on an incredibly depressing note, but the story probes concepts of morality, virtue and the nature of prejudice. You'll enjoy disliking the characters. B . Hello Mum , Bernardine Evaristo: Simple words of truth about the life of an inner kid. The street talk is simple, accessible and authentic, but the story a bit ho-hum. D . Around the World in Eighty Days , Jules Verne: Circumnavigate the World in 80 days? Amazing! I enjoyed it very much. B- . The Book Boy , Joanna Trollope: Well constructed small tale about a woman's attempt to learn to read. Sufficiently empowering, if a bit piecemeal. C- .

Pretty little flower blossom. Natone Street, Lindisfarne. September 2013. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls , David Sedaris: A new book! That's a rare thing these days. Like the one I reviewed last week, this is a hit and miss collection of essays and anecdotes with enough of a light touch to keep things ticking along. Worth a look. B- . Two Views , Uwe Johnson: A book very much of its time, this novel is essentially about the divisiveness of East and West Germany. The tale of two lovers (acquaintances would perhaps be closer to the mark), what the reader faces is an immense accumulation of detail to build the two "views" while two people endeavour to reach each other. The politics remains in the background, but remains a ubiquitous presence. I can't say that I particularly enjoyed reading this, but can recognise the skill. C+ . The Handmaid's Tale , Margaret Atwood: This is not the first time I've read this, but I'm not sure that I find myse...

Polite. East Derwent Highway, Lindisfarne. August 2013. The Gardener from Ochakov , Andrey Kurkov: I had been anxiously awaiting the latest from my favourite Ukrainian author, and it didn't disappoint. A time-travel adventure (a theme this week) with a light touch, I'm not sure whether Kurkov is satirising or indulging in a bit of post-Soviet nostalgia. As we often see in Kurkov's books, there is a clash of the mundane - tracksuits, minibuses, homemade vodka - and the surreal - knife-wielding gangsters from 1950s Soviet Union. I really enjoyed it. B+ . The Time Machine , H.G. Wells: The classic of the genre, it's a surprise to see just how much the story is interwoven with Darwinian and Marxist theory. The 19th Century was one hell of a trip! I reckon that it stands up. Well worth your time. B+ . Me Talk Pretty One Day , David Sedaris: A collection of essays by Jerri Blank's brother (that's who David Sedaris will always remain in my heart). Some of the ...

Moshi Monsters. The kitchen bench, Geilston Bay. August 2013. The Housekeeper and the Professor , Yōko Ogawa: A Japanese novel that intersperses memory with pure mathmatics. I really liked it. B+ . World War Z , Max Brooks: The retelling of the Zombie War as written by the son of Mel Brooks. It was better than the movie sounds. C+ . Out Stealing Horses , Per Petterson: A bittersweet Norweigen bit of nostalgia. The central narrator, at the end of his life, removes himself out to the country and dwells on his memories. It's a restrained but powerful book. I loved it. A+ .

An attempt at HD. A look out over Norfolk Bay. Historic Coal Mine Site, Saltwater River, Tasman Peninsula. August 2013. The Lady in the Lake , Raymond Chandler: It was okay, if a bit 'paint by numbers'. C . The Unguarded House , Heinrich Böll: a.k.a. Haus ohne Hitter or Tomorrow and Yesterday , this was probably regarded as the first of Böll's 'classics'. Utilising a shifting narrative voice, this is a moving novel that explores the ways in which members of different generations assess their pasts and their collective futures and get on with living. Set in Germany and written just a decade after World War Two, this is a harrowing portrait of learning to deal with the ghosts of the past and the uncertainty of the future. I really loved this one and couldn't recommend it more highly. A+ . Norfolk Bay, Tasman Peninsula. August 2013.

Breakfast! The kitchen bench, Geilston Bay. August 2103. The Things They Carried , Tim O'Brien: a loose collection of vignettes centreing on a platoon of American soldiers in the Vietnam War. Some people really do hate this book, others love it. Count me with the latter. Harrowing. A . A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick , Jonathan Swift: Political satire at its best. There is a reason that this is considered part of the canon. A .

Boats at rest. Constitution Dock, Hobart. July 2013. The Vikings , Kenneth W. Harl: One of my first forays into the audiobook world, Harl takes us through everything that you could possibly want to know about Vikings. An interesting - albeit weighty - diversion. B . The Tiny Wife , Andrew Kaufman: An odd little book that tries just a little too hard to be odd. Redeemed somewhat by a nice twist. C .

Life underwater. Clifton Beach, June 2013. Once Were Warriors , Alan Duff: Very dark, very gritty. It's a far bleaker portrayal of life for marginalised Maoris in modern New Zealand than the successful film. Domestic violence, urban violence, poverty, drugs, alcoholism, unemployment, gang warfare, rape, physical and mental abuse, suicide, gender, identity, race and culture are just a few of the subjects explored in gritty fashion. I'm not sure whether reading this is more akin to getting punched in the face or kicked in the guts. One of the two, anyway. A- . Maggie: A Girl of the Streets , Stephen Crane: Urban grit, 1893 style! Originally refused by all publishers because of sexual frankness, it might seem tame to the modern eye but remains shocking enough. C+ .

Duck feet (from below). Geilston Bay. July 2013. I'm back on the buses again, which ups the time I have to read. This is always nice. After The Wall , Jana Hensel: I'm always up for an East German generational memoir, which is Hensel's goal here. What differentiates this one from many of the others is that Hensel reflects on the very last of that generation, those that were at the tail end of their childhood at the fall of the Berlin Wall and whose teenage years coincided with the process of reunification. I'm not certain that this translation helped (it was packed full of jarring Americanisms), but was an interesting-enough reflection. C . Grendel , John Gardner: A fascinating novel that retells the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf from the perspective of the monster and - quite successfully - explores (among other things) the nature of good and evil; man's capacity for violence; finding meaning in the world; and the power of literature and myth. I really enj...

Political comment. Elizabeth Street, North Hobart. July 2013. Master Georgie , Beryl Bainbridge: This book won a lot of prizes, and it isn't hard to see why. Novel represents a unique glimpse at a character from a prism of lenses formed by those around him. This conceit works well and it allows Bainbridge to really explore three very different narrative voices. Not for everyone, as the author showcases a real mastery of technique here that can be quite challenging at times. However, if you love reading, you should love this book. A . The Second Tree from the Corner , E.B. White: A collection of literary miscellanea, some dated, some prescient. Uneven. C . Poodle Springs , Raymond Chandler (and Robert B. Parker): Private dick settles down, but circumstances won't let him. This was Chandler's last novel, incomplete at his death and finished by Parker. It's okay, if somewhat hackneyed. C .

Letter. East Derwent Highway, Lindisfarne. July 2013. The Moon is Down , John Steinbeck: Wartime propaganda at its best. By all accounts it was quite a success in occupied Europe during WWII. I can see why. The American critics hated it at the time. B- . A Clergyman's Daughter , George Orwell: Perhaps Orwell's most lesser-known work. He apparently left instructions that after his death it was not to be reprinted. After reading it, I can see why. D .

Ezra tries to get out. Clarence Aquatic Centre, Montagu Bay. June 2013. New Finnish Grammar , Diego Marani. Slow, but well-constructed meditation on language, memory and identity. Well worth the depressing mood. B .

A shag on a rock. Flowerpot Point, Blackman's Bay. June 2013. The Gift Of Stones , Jim Crace: A tale set as a small village of tool makers in the Stone Age is pushed aside by the emergent Bronze Age. Crace has created an evocative tale of the impact of change on ordinary people through the eyes of a couple of beautifully constructed characters. Lovely stuff. B+ .