Posts tagged “I for Isobel”

I for Isobel by Amy Witting First published by Penguin Books Australia, 1989. My rating: 5 of 5 stars Just another unhappy family, but this one has Isobel in it. At the beginning of I for Isobel, we are introduced to a mistreated child living with a mostly-passive and nearly-invisible father, a favoured older sister who is usually indifferent to her, and a mother who is an out-of-control wreck of an abuser. That is an accurate character statement, but it doesn’t tell you much about who Isobel is as a person. And what makes this book work is entirely dependent upon the person of Isobel: dreamy outsider, devoted reader, and (eventually) aspiring writer. There are lots of stories and lots of families like…

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My Spring-Summer Reading List for the AWW Challenge 2013

td Whittle

Posted on September 27, 2013

Now that the year is three-quarters done, I have only just learnt about the Australian Women Writers website and its AWW 2013 Challenge, which involves selecting a quantity of books written by Australian women, to read and (optionally) review by year’s end. If, like me, you are arriving late to this solo party, there is still time to mix yourself a drink and curl up on the couch with a good book. Also, you needn’t be Australian — or a woman — to participate. I have signed up for the “Miles” level, named after Miles Franklin, one of Australia’s most highly-acclaimed women writers. Aside: If you’ve never read My Brilliant Career, you can download it free on Project Gutenberg: link. In 1979, Gillian…

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