Category: Australia and New Zealand 5 out of 5s

Richard Flanagan’s — Death of a river guide *****

Richard Flanagan’s — Death of a river guide *****

Alijaz is a river guide on the only remaining Tasmanian River that has not been dammed—the Franklin. In an attempt to save a tourist who’s fallen into the river, Alijaz gets trapped in the rapids. While he is entombed underwater, his dreams take him on an unforgettable journey.

Beautifully written, I didn’t want this story to end while at the same time, hoped Alijaz would survive.

Tim Winton’s — The shepherd’s hut

Tim Winton’s — The shepherd’s hut

After Jaxie’s abusive father accidently dies and Jaxie fears he’ll be blamed, he escapes into the Western Australian wilderness. Desperate for water, he comes across an abandoned shack with a water tank. But as he explores the lonely countryside, he soon discovers he is not the only one who’s run away from their past, nor is he safe once he discovers an even bigger secret. In an isolated region where there are no witnesses, lawlessness can take hold.

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lan Duff’s — Both sides of the moon *****

lan Duff’s — Both sides of the moon *****

Alan Duff’s— Both Sides of the Moon *****

Because Jimmy’s father is a Pakeha and his mother Maori, he struggles to discover where he fits in. After his mother leaves to live with another man, Jimmy turns more to his uncle who tells his about his Maori family history. This is a heart wrenching read, but a telling narrative of a family caught between two cultures.

Charlotte McConaghy’s — Migrations

Charlotte McConaghy’s — Migrations

Franny is a cleaner at a Galway university when she sneaks into one of Professor Niall Lynch’s lectures about birds. Birds are one of her passions, along with wandering and the sea. Not long after their next encounter, they marry, but Franny can’t stop wandering, and Niall is depressed by the destruction by humans who’ve caused most animals to become extinct. Franny is on a pilgrimage to follow the last remaining birds — the Arctic terns — from the northern hemisphere to Antarctica. She meets Captain Ennis who unwillingly allows her board his ship in Greenland. But Franny has demons — she sleepwalks, and memories of a life in Ireland haunt her. Will there be any terns left if she reaches Antarctica? And can she find solace from the secrets she keeps about her criminal past?