PositiveReadings (AU)Disorienting, dreamlike ... This psychedelic haze of a novel is an exploration of music, life, love and existentialism. It is a short book, but it contains countless inexplicable images that leave you starved for more. The surreal prose pours from the page like the melodies of a lullaby, making you listen to the subtle notes of self-discovery and of the difference between living and existing.
Barbara Kingsolver
RaveReadings (AU)Kingsolver reimagines and recaptures the soul and spirit of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield in her breathtaking new novel ... [Demon] talks through his experiences to the reader in a conversational manner, bringing a mischievous magnetism and wily sense of humour that warms your heart and imprints the character in your brain long after putting down the book. He is a hero worth rooting for ... A wondrous coming-of-age story worthy of comparison to its inspiration.
Mieko Kawakami, trans. by Sam Bett and David Boyd
RaveReadings (AU)All the Lovers in the Night delivers the Osakan author’s signature emotional punch in a simpler yet beautiful way ... As we learn more about Fuyuko’s past and the heartbreaking events that led to her seclusion, we find more similarities between ourselves and Fuyuko than we expected. There is gratification to be found here, in Kawakami’s understanding of how difficult it can be to move forward and take the next step, even – and most especially – when that means stepping out of your comfort zone ... All the Lovers in the Night is a marvellous treasure. Kawakami’s gentle, tranquil prose will sweep you away as you follow this story.
