The Animals in That Country

This was.... an odd ride. It was completely unique and I wasn't sure where the story was going to take me but I had a fun time on the way. A pandemic rips through Australia and those effected have the ability to understand animals. People aren't sure if they're hallucinating or conversing with animals but the whole country has gone mad. People start liberating animals from zoos, sanctuaries, and farms and the whole continent is a madhouse. Jean has worked at a sanctuary for years, alternating between showing tourists the dingoes and watching her granddaughter. She's not your typical grandma though. She's an alcoholic, who loves chain smoking, and swearing. Jean gets along better with animals then she does with people (her granddaughter being the exception) and she's actually looking forward to catching this disease. She wants to talk to her dingoes. Only she has no idea what she's in for and she's in for one hell of a messed up journey. Unique and mildly terrifying - do we really want to know what the animals are saying?

The Last Anniversary

I'm rounding up from 3.5 stars because I really needed some fluff and this hit the spot even if it didn't hit all the right notes. I'm a sucker for Liane Moriarity's writing style and I enjoy her charismatic and slightly over the top characters. When Sophie discovers that her ex-boyfriend's aunt has left her her house on Scribbly Gum Island she is confused but elated. She'd always had a soft spot for beautiful island - the fact that it was home to Australia's greatest unsolved mystery was just a bonus. Told in alternating perspectives from a myriad cast of wonky characters - The Last Anniversary is a tale of adapting to change and coming to terms with the past. For years those on Scribbly Gum Island have lived with the secret of the disappearance of Alice and Jack Munroe. Now that there is a new resident on the small island who isn't family - will the secret escape? Fortunately, Sophie is more interested in finding true love and having a baby before she hits 40 (it's approaching so quickly!). The interactions between all the characters is wonderful, absurd, and fun. A light fluffy read that is enjoyable despite being a little over the top. 

Melody Finch

Fans of Disney's The Rescuers, the crocodile hunter, and Zoobooks (the magazine for kids) will eat up this inventive and educational middle grade adventure story. Set in Australia's Murray Darling Basin; Melody Finch follows a young girl who has just been magically transformed into a Diamond Firetail Finch. A drought is slowly crippling the rivers and the surrounding ecosystem that all the animals, birds and insects rely on. Melody finally begins to realize just how important the rains are to the wildlife and she begins to appreciate all the nature around her no that she has a bird's eye view of what is actually going on. Storms finally come bringing blessed rain; but Melody must fly from Charleville to the Coorong to tell her grandmother not to sell the Isabella, a boat that's been in the family for generations. With the drought crippling the tourism economy her Nana Bell needs to make ends meet - but if the rains reach her in time she won't have to. The journey to Coorang will take Melody days to complete but now that she's made new friends the time seems to "fly" by. A wonderful way to introduce children to Australian wildlife; at the conclusion of the novel there is even a little encyclopedia outlining all the animals, birds, and insects that Melody encountered on her journey. Fun, fanciful, and wholesome - a well written adventure story that kids will eat up. 

Truly Madly Guilty

In the same vein as her previous novel, Big Little Lies, this fast paced novel will have readers screaming "What Happened!" the entire time. Alternating chapters show what happened after "the barbecue" and what happened the day of. Although the day of chapters start at the beginning of the day so it's not clear until the end of the novel what actually went down at the ill fated bbq. We see the characters all trying to go about their lives after some "disastrous" event took place, but the suspense is built up and keeps the readers trying to puzzle together what in the world went down. Just when you think you may have an inkling of what happened Liane Moriarity flips it around and you're back at square one. She is truly a master of suspense and in the most light hearted way possible, it's such a fun read and the characters are very well developed. An excellent new book from her. I can't wait for more!

The Night Guest

I don't remember who recommended this book to me but I was not a fan. This was one of those books I started reading without knowing anything about the plot or storyline. Bad idea.

The story follows this elderly lady, Ruth, as she slowly loses her mind to old age. She starts hearing noises at night and is convinced there is a tiger lurking in the hallway. Soon after, a bossy woman named Frida, invites herself into the house and tells Ruth the government has sent her as part of a program for the elderly. Things go downhill from there. Frida uses Ruth's frail state to take advantage of her. While it's clear that Frida develops a soft spot for Ruth and admires her, it's obvious that she plans on milking this poor old lady for all she's worth by exploiting her aging mind.

While it was beautifully written, I didn't feel that this story did anything for me. I just felt bad for the old lady. Read at your own risk.

Glitter and Glue

A funny and heart-wrenching memoir about the bond between mothers and daughters, and how sometimes it can take a lifetime to understand. Kelly's childhood and relationship with her mother isn't typical, but then again, whose is?

When Kelly decides to travel the world for a year, she finds herself in Australia for 5 months and with a limited cash fund. Desperate she takes a job nannying for a widower and his two young children. As she helps rear the children she begins to learn things about her own mother in the absence of the childrens.

This memoir will have you laughing out loud and tearing up chapters later. What a great read.

The Husband's Secret

Man I powered through this book, it took me no time at all to finish it! It wasn't a super challenging read, but at the same time it wasn't a mindless chick romance either, this had substance.

The story all centers around a letter. A letter that has remained hidden, forgotten, and unopened for over a decade. When Cecilia stumbles upon the letter in the attic addressed to her in the event of her husband's death, she is intrigued, but she decides not to open it... at least for now.

The letter will change lives, isn't that what the truth does? If it's opened it has the power to draw many seemingly different people together. The truth changes everything.

If you're looking for a quick, exciting, page turner then this is the book for you. With plenty of plot twists and a fast paced storyline this novel will have you turning pages at breakneck speed. Very innovative and fresh. A very enjoyable read.