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Newtown Review of Books
@newtownbooks.bsky.social
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Sydney's original online review of books, established March 2012 by Jean Bedford and Linda Funnell. We are a free and independent site for book reviews. Find us at https://newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/
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Newtown Review of Books @newtownbooks.bsky.social · Nov 24
Hello BlueSky! We’re a free and independent Sydney-based book review site, regularly posting reviews of fiction, history, politics, memoir, biography and crime. Looking forward to discovering bookish friends here on BlueSky. 💙📚
newtownbooks.bsky.social
ICYMI this week's reviews:
Robert Goodman on Claire North's new sci-fi Slow Gods
Ann Skea on Thomas Schlesser's art history novel Mona's Eyes
Braham Dabscheck on Luke Kemp's Goliath's Curse: The history and future of societal collapse
Find them at newtownreviewofbooks.com.au
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of covers of books Slow Gods by Claire North, Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser and Goliath’s Curse by Luke Kemp.
December 5, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"a work of the highest order. He has examined a myriad of complex aspects of the human condition, including whether or not we are heading towards extinction."
Braham Dabscheck reviews Luke Kemp's Goliath's Curse:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/luke-kemp-go...
@lukekemp.bsky.social
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book Goliath’s Curse by Luke Kemp, reviewed by Braham Dabscheck in the Newtown Review of Books.
December 4, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"for anyone who loves art, this book is a delight."
Ann Skea reviews Thomas Schlesser's novel Mona's Eyes:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/thomas-schle...
@europaeditions.bsky.social
#ArtHistory
#ThomasSchlesser
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser reviewed by Ann Skea in the Newtown Review of Books.
December 3, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"In her latest book... North moves into the realms of modern space opera, and once again brings something new to the table... [using] her science fiction stylings to consider large, real-world issues."
Robert Goodman reviews Slow Gods:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/claire-north...
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book Slow Gods by Claire North, reviewed by Robert Goodman in the Newtown Review of Books.
December 2, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
ICYMI this week's reviews of two new novels from Australian authors:
Amelia Dudley on Keshe Chow's dark fantasy For No Mortal Creature
Annette Hughes on Erin Hortle's second novel A Catalogue of Love
Find them at newtownreviewofbooks.com.au
#AustralianAuthors
#NewFiction
#BookReviews
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of covers of books For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow and A Catalogue of Love by Erin Hortle.
November 28, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"the exhilaration of surfing is crafted with such precision, it’s hard to believe Neika is the work of Hortle’s exceptionally vivid imagination... irresistible."
Annette Hughes reviews A Catalogue of Love:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/erin-hortle-...
#AustralianAuthors
#Fiction
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book A Catalogue of Love by Erin Hortle, reviewed by Annette Hughes in the Newtown Review of Books.
November 27, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Reposted by Newtown Review of Books
asauthors.bsky.social
We are pleased to announce that entries are now open for the 2026 ASA/HQ Fiction Prize, offering one winner a publishing contract with HQ and a $10,000 advance against royalties. Entries close on 30 January 2026!

Find out more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/2026-as...
2026 ASA/HQ Fiction Prize now open - Australian Society of Authors
The ASA and HQ, a publishing division of HarperCollins, are thrilled to announce that the 2026 ASA/HQ Fiction Prize is now open for submissions.
www.asauthors.org.au
November 26, 2025 at 4:46 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"gripping, full of misunderstandings and their often terrible consequences ...this is a beautiful, original story about grief, letting go and finding your place."
Amelia Dudley reviews Keshe Chow's new novel For No Mortal Creature:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/keshe-chow-f...
#ghosts
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow, reviewed by Amelia Dudley in the Newtown Review of Books.
November 25, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
ICYMI this week's reviews:
Braham Dabscheck on Richard Denniss's Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us
Ann Skea on Nicola Barker's latest novel TonyInterruptor
Find them at newtownreviewofbooks.com.au
#BookReviews
#NewBooks
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of covers of books Dead Centre by Richard Denniss and TonyInterruptor by Nicola Barker.
November 21, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
TonyInterruptor is "often very funny and it certainly demonstrates the dissembling, self-delusion and dishonesties of our everyday lives."
Ann Skea reviews Nicola Barker's new novel:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/nicola-barke...
@grantabooks.bsky.social
#NewFiction
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book TonyInterruptor by Nicola Barker, reviewed by Ann Skea in the Newtown Review of Books.
November 20, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
Great evening at @gleebooks.bsky.social to hear Don Watson discuss The Shortest History of the United States of America. The history, the contradictions, the violence, the energy, the rhetoric of freedom, the racism - and the overturning of conventions by the current president.
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of Don Watson, author of The Shortest History of the United States of America, at Gleebooks Image of book The Shortest History of the United States of America by Don Watson
November 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Newtown Review of Books
austcrimefiction.org
Some #YeahNoir Reviews today:

A House Built on Sand, Tina Shaw: tinyl.co/3zHG

Ōkiwi Brown, Cristina Sanders: tinyl.co/3zHH

The Mires, Tina Makereti: tinyl.co/3zHJ

Different, yet there's something about the threads in all of these that resonates.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
The book cover for A House Built on Sand by Tina Shaw has a "sticker" on it 'Winner Michael Gifkins Prize' and the quote 'A beautiful story, this tangled yarn of dementia and love - harrowing, haunting and tender. Michelle Elvy, author of The Other Side of Better' This image is a painting looking down towards a pale green sea washing over yellow and pink tinged sand. The image of the book cover for Ōkiwi Brown by Cristina Sanders includes the tagline 'From the bestselling author of Mrs Jewell And the Wreck of the General Grant'. The image is a dark beige background with a series of black "cutouts" around it including a noose, saw, pen, male figure, dog, bird, building / house, whale tail, and a bottle. The book cover for The Mires by Tina Makereti has the quotes 'a work of art. Laura Jean McKay', 'A truly magnificent novel. Shankari Chandran' and 'poignant, earnest and lyrical, this story will settle in your bones. Maxine Beneba Clarke' The image has a maroon background with an "inset" in the shape of a face with hair flowing behind. The inset is coloured by water, with a kingfisher type bird flying downwards, a small lizard in its beak. There are reeds and the feeling of movement in the water.
November 19, 2025 at 1:40 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"a clear and concise examination of the timidity of Australian politicians to tackle major issues central to Australia’s long-term needs."
Braham Dabscheck reviews Richard Denniss's Dead Centre
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/richard-denn...
@australiainstitute.org.au
#AustralianPolitics
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book Dead Centre by Richard Denniss, reviewed by Braham Dabscheck in the Newtown Review of Books.
November 18, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Reposted by Newtown Review of Books
phunockery.bsky.social
Reading this right now and it's just as T. Kingfishery as I was hoping. I love her, her world building and her stories. She brings a bit of magic with every book she writes.
November 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
ICYMI this week's reviews:
Ann Skea on Mariana Enriquez's memoir Somebody is Walking on Your Grave: My cemetery journeys
Amelia Dudley on T Kingfisher's new novel Hemlock and Silver
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au
@grantabooks.bsky.social
@torbooksuk.bsky.social
@tkingfisher.com
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of covers of books Somebody is Walking on Your Grave by Mariana Enriquez, and Hemlock and Silver by T Kingfisher.
November 14, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"This novel is not just for fellow plant biologists or anyone else fascinated by poisonous plants.. It’s hilarious and charming and heartbreaking."
Amelia Dudley reviews T Kingfisher's Hemlock & Silver:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/t-kingfisher...
@torbooksuk.bsky.social
@tkingfisher.com
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book Hemlock and Silver by T Kingfisher, reviewed by Amelia Dudley in the Newtown Review of Books.
November 13, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Reposted by Newtown Review of Books
austcrimefiction.org
Today's review is the excellent Softly Calls the Devil by Chris Blake (who has hidden form in writing excellent novels)

tinyl.co/3xNh

Told in a brisk, no nonsense tone that is richly interlaced with laconic humour & compelling observation, this delivers.

#BookSky ⚡📚💙
#CrimeFiction
#YeahNoir
The image of the book cover for Softly Calls the Devil by Chris Blake includes the quotes 'World-class crime fiction. Craig Sisterson' and 'A cracking crime tale. JP Pomare'. The image is of a wide blue green river, with small rapids, in a deep rocky gorge with wild bush atop the cliffs.
November 12, 2025 at 4:19 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
Mariana Enriquez is "an amusing, thoughtful and well-informed companion" as she details her fascination with cemeteries.
Ann Skea reviews Mariana Enriquez's Somebody is Walking on Your Grave: My cemetery journeys:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/mariana-enri...
@grantabooks.bsky.social
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book Somebody is Walking on Your Grave by Mariana Enriquez, reviewed by Ann Skea in the Newtown Review of Books.
November 11, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
ICYMI this week's reviews:
Bernard Whimpress on Brian Stoddart's Playing the Game: How cricket made Barbados
Braham Dabscheck on David Price's The Shameful Isles: The true story of north-west Australia’s fatal experiment with medical apartheid
Find them at newtownreviewofbooks.com.au
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of covers of books Playing the Game by Brian Stoddart, and The Shameful Isles by David Price.
November 7, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"an important book that deals with difficult – and shameful – issues."
Braham Dabscheck reviews David Price's The Shameful Isles: The true story of north-west Australia’s fatal experiment with medical apartheid:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/david-price-...
#AustralianHistory
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book The Shameful Isles by David Price, reviewed by Braham Dabscheck in the Newtown Review of Books.
November 6, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"an important work and essential reading for anyone who cares not only about the direction of West Indies cricket but the future of the global game."
Bernard Whimpress reviews Brian Stoddart's Playing the Game: How cricket made Barbados:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/brian-stodda...
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book Playing the Game by Brian Stoddart, reviewed by Bernard Whimpress in the Newtown Review of Books.
November 4, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
ICYMI this week's reviews:
Naomi Manuell on John Banville's gothic historical novel Venetian Vespers
Linda Godfrey on Andrew Pippos's new novel The Transformations
Find them at newtownreviewofbooks.com.au
#NewFiction
#BookReviews
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of covers of books Venetian Vespers by John Banville, and The Transformations by Andrew Pippos.
October 31, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"Pippos offers a nuanced and insightful exploration of second-generation migrant experiences ... and the transformative impact of love."
Linda Godfrey reviews the new novel from Andrew Pippos, The Transformations:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/andrew-pippo...
#AustralianAuthors
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book The Transformations by Andrew Pippos, reviewed by Linda Godfrey in the Newtown Review of Books.
October 30, 2025 at 12:14 AM
newtownbooks.bsky.social
"Evelyn Dolman, the book’s narrator.. is a writer, a self-deluded scribe whose comeuppance is a delight to witness."
Naomi Manuell reviews John Banville's new novel Venetian Vespers:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/john-banvill...
@faberbooks.bsky.social
#HistoricalFiction
#CrimeFiction
#BookSky 💙 📚
Image of cover of book Venetian Vespers by John Banville, reviewed by Naomi Manuell in the Newtown Review of Books.
October 28, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Reposted by Newtown Review of Books
michaeljongen.bsky.social
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/garry-disher...

I’m currently enjoying this
GARRY DISHER Mischance Creek. Reviewed by Karen Chisholm - Newtown Review of Books
Senior Constable Paul Hirschhausen and his small community are once again put to the test in the fifth of this outstanding rural noir series.
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au
October 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM