RaveThe Nerd Daily... takes an uncompromising look at a time when the White Australia Policy governed the country and among the various acts under it, was the denial of citizenship to Aboriginal people citizenship, instead placing them under the legal guardianship of a local Protector. For this reason alone, the book is important ... Despite it being set amid a terrible and shameful part of history, this is an uplifting novel. It is about the fact that people are kind to others when there is no benefit to themselves. It is about the fact that the love of family is so powerful, so strong, that it can move mountains and defy corrupt systems. In the words of Birch’s daughter Siobhan, who officially launched the book, it is about the fact that at a time in history when people were given legal licence to do awful things to Aboriginal people, not everyone did. It is a book about the purity of love between kin, and the solidarity between people that makes life not merely survivable but ultimately, enjoyable ... Birch’s writing style is truly engaging. It immediately draws the reader in, presenting the elements of the story in a way that makes them deeply riveting from the first pages. Moreover, he writes with a deft touch ... I can only recommend that you go out and buy a copy of this book.
Max Barry
RaveThe Nerd DailyIf I had to pinpoint what it is about the originality of [Barry\'s] works that delights me so, I think it’s the depth of thought that has gone into the construction of the premise, and the roundedness of the characters who guide us through the idea and situation he’s exploring, even if the characters aren’t necessarily that likeable ... And the premise is not at all let down by the execution, as so often happens with exciting concept books. Barry’s writing is compelling; I had to force myself to put the book down ... the writing drags the reader into the story, morbidly curious as to what’s going to happen next. This is the other thing that’s worth noting; as with all of Barry’s stories, the plot developed in genuinely unique ways. Combined with really solid pacing which keeps the narrative moving, it meant that I ploughed through the book in only a couple of days, ultimately finishing it in an afternoon. While it could be argued that the tone at times seems inconsistent, it was one of the things I found kept me so compelled by the text; I was never bored ... If there was one point of critique I had to raise, it would be the protagonist, Felicity ... I found it difficult to empathise with the vague sense of dissatisfaction she felt toward various aspects of her life... even as I understand that this sense of existing in her life rather than making active choices and appreciating what she has was part of the point ... However, given the book’s interesting premise and the very competent writing, such things are easily forgiven. If you enjoy science fiction, murder mysteries/thrillers, or both, this is definitely the book for you. Barry has not disappointed with this latest offering.
Elsa Hart
PositiveThe Nerd Daily...offers up a delightfully enigmatic murder in an interesting setting: 18th Century London, amid the culture of collectors of natural history ... Hart has clearly done a significant amount of research in constructing this world, painting a comprehensive and immersive portrait of London at the beginning of the 18th Century. Not only does it mean she vividly conjures the miasma of smog that blanketed London at the time, but she evocatively describes the obsession and competition that underscored the hobby of the wealthy in the form of collecting ... By and large, Hale’s writing style is clear and enjoyable with descriptions that vividly evoke the scene and atmosphere of her setting ... However, Hale’s writing could at times tend toward the purple. Those sections dragged down the pace of the events and I had to push to get through one or two patches ... On the whole, The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne is a thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery with just enough difference from other novels of similar genres...that makes it an engrossing read. It places enough of the pieces to the mystery before the reader that they are engaged in creating a solid hypothesis as to who is responsible, however it ensures right to the very end that there are still questions that mystify the reader, and leaves them desperate to have answered.
Erin Morgenstern
RaveThe Nerd DailyErin Morgenstern’s second novel is an achingly beautiful love letter to stories and their power ... The decision to alternate the chapters with the short stories made the book genuinely interesting to read. While it initially slowed the pace, as the links across the stories become more overt, it was a genuine delight to read them. Additionally, each story was quite lovely in its own right so with that in mind, the slow pace actually served to make me savour the delicacy of the writing and reflect upon the contents of each short story rather than simply rush back into the primary narrative. Moreover, the overlapping stories have themes in common in addition to ultimately contributing to the resolution and explanation of the story, creating a rich tapestry that builds to a crescendo that truly augments the denouement of The Starless Sea ... The Starless Sea is a literary triumph; a beautiful story told in the most delicate of ways.
