Kathryn's Inbox

Twenty-seven year old schoolteacher Kaede has a knack for encountering mysteries. Her beloved Grandfather, whose mind is still sharp despite having Lewy body Dementia, has a knack for solving them, in this heartwarming and often philosophical novel from Japan. Beautifully translated into English, we read as Kaede relies on her grandfather's help to solve all kinds of things, such as how did an extra student appear in Kaede's classroom? How did a teacher disappear from the school during a swimming lesson? However, between these mysteries two things soon become clear. First of all, innocent Kaede is slowly getting caught up in a love triangle with her two male friends. Second, something, or someone, is a threat to Kaede and her grandfather's safety ... This was an enjoyable read. I read this over the space of a few weeks, reading one section and then something else before starting the next. This proved to be quite an enjoyable way to experience the novel as the philosophical ...

Australian comedian and former school teacher Bron Lewis takes readers on a roller coaster ride of emotions in her memoir of motherhood and mental illness I'm Not Mad (Anymore).  I found this one to be hilarious in places--seriously, she got away with throwing her report cards in the bin in high school? I also found it to be heartbreaking in others, particularly the account of the days that followed the birth of her son Ari. I think that this one will have a special place in the hearts of young mums, particularly those who need someone to remind them that they do not have to be perfect and yes they are doing their best. Recommended. Thank you to Affirm Press for my copy of I'm Not Mad (Anymore). 

With a title like Swearwolves how could I possibly resist this new middle grade novel by Aussie author Steve Worland? Who cares if I'm a grown adult. I loved the idea of this, of a pre-teen girl who, after she moves to a new town, is bitten by a pack of wolves and then she finds herself completely unable to stop swearing. The concept is hilarious, original and just full of mischief. And comes complete with the tagline The book your parents probably don't want you to read.  (This is, of course, something of a contrast to Steve Worland's previous novel Paper Planes  an equally fantastic novel, but the kind of thing that parents and grandparents would very lovingly buy for their children.) This was a fun read. I enjoyed the twist on the plot of a the lonely new kid in town who finds her pack in the most unexpected of ways. When the novel opens, we meet Luna Wilkinson as a fairly typical kid. She's new in town, lonely and extremely keen to get a part in the school play whe...

The trial of Erin Patterson and the horrible, unthinkable crime that she was charged with and eventually convicted of, is one that both horrified and captivated many people, not just in Australia but across the globe. Why on earth would anyone invite their relatives for lunch and poison them? Particularly when there was no obvious motive? In The Mushroom Tapes  three Australian authors Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein, follow this baffling crime. Each author is acclaimed for their narrative non-fiction, that offers a considerable amount of nuance and depth. Garner most notably with This House of Grief , Hooper with The Arsonist and Krasnostein with The Trauma Cleaner. The tapes form their discussions with each other about the crime. On what they focused on during the trial, what they made of Erin Patterson and how they made sense of it, if at all. The Mushroom Tapes is a very different take on true crime, focusing on the reactions of the three authors. They do n...

Tom Rob Smith's latest offering Twenty Years Together is beautifully told meditation on commitment and authenticity within a relationship. The year is 2012. Living in London and working as a nurse, Danny, an idealistic type who wears his heart on his sleeve, wonders if perhaps his relationship with Luis does not gain the respect or recognition by the people in their friendship groups. Danny blames this on the fact that when they first got together twenty years ago, relationships like theirs were often kept under a cloud of secrecy. But in 2012 things are changing for same sex couples, with civil partnerships now an option in England and same marriage legal in Luis' home country, Spain. Danny wonders if by getting married, their relationship will be solidified. Luis reluctantly agrees to Danny's proposal and initially readers are led to believe that Danny is the one who is acting idiotically. Then it turns out that calm, quiet Luis has his on insecurities and a past that he...

I bought a book. Groundbreaking, I know. An avid reader who writes book reviews going to her local Big W, finding a book with an intriguing blurb, buying it and bringing it home. What next? Maybe we'll find out the true identity of Banksy or the local amateur theatre company will do something daring like putting on a performance of The Importance of Being Ernest or ... Yeah, okay. I'm in a silly mood. Anyway, I bought a book. It was a fantasy romance, or romantasy as the genre is better known, it was titled Her Hidden Fire and it was authored by Cliodhna O'Sullivan. It had a pretty, gold foil cover. It was in the Young Adult section, but I'm perfectly comfortable with being an adult who occasionally reads books that are intended for children and young adults. And the blurb suggests that this one could be fun. It promises magic, a hint of romance and a female lead who has magical powers that she well, isn't supposed to have.  Then, when I arrived home, I noticed so...