Solito by Javier Zamora
Solito offers a unique and important glimpse into the immigrant experience and is perfect for book clubs not afraid of discussing gritty topics with challenging and emotional themes, and real-world…
Book Reviews
Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris
One thing that struck me upon reading this book is the amazing life that these creative and inspiring women lived while they were suffering great deprivation during their long captivity….
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
First Lie Wins is the perfect choice for book club if you are looking for a thriller that will keep you guessing at every turn. At first, this novel seems…
Psykhe by Kate Forsyth
This is a captivating historical fantasy novel which intricately weaves together mythology, magic, and the power of storytelling. There are lots of books written about mythical heroes from Zeus and…
The Rewilding by Donna Cameron
BOOK REVIEW This is a riveting tale with a timely message. Central Coast based author Donna Cameron’s novel, The Rewilding, is set in present-day Australia, much of it on the…
The Way We Are by Hugh Mackay
This book is written by experienced author Hugh Mackay, an Australian social researcher and psychologist. It explores various aspects of contemporary Australian society, including its culture, values, relationships and the…
Hope by Rosie Batty with Sue Smethurst
BOOK REVIEW The thought of a child dying is every parent’s worst nightmare and I believe, like many, I would want to cease to exist. But for a child to…
Night Watch by Jayne Phillips
BOOK REVIEW This novel won the Pulitzer prize for literature. I always find it incredibly interesting to see how readers scored the major prize winners; often there seems to be…
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
BOOK REVIEW We all know about the assassination of Tsar Nicolas II and his family and the story of the fabled Duchess Anastasia who supposedly escaped and was immortalised by…
Khaki Town by Judy Nunn
Book review – As part of an initiative called Central Coast Reads, the brainchild of Words on the Waves, all the reading groups, book clubs and centres on the Peninsula…
Knife: Meditations after an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie
Book review – In his newly released memoir, Salman Rushdie opens up about his near-fatal assault. The novelist talks about his PTSD and coming to terms with losing an eye…
Coast novelist takes a humorous look at the world
Long-time Central Coast resident Jon Blackwell has released his latest novel, Trevor Trumpet, the Peoples Prophet. A previous CEO of the Central Coast Area Health Service, Workcover and, more recently,…
Black Duck, A Year at Yumburra by Bruce Pascoe with Lyn Harwood
Book review – Bruce Pascoe needs no introduction as he is considered to be the man behind the book that changed the nation – Dark Emu. It is now a…
Words on the Waves program launched
The Words on the Waves Writers Festival has officially launched its program for the 2024 event, to be held from May 29-June 3 at various locations on the Woy Woy…
Yellowface by R F Kuang
Yellowface is a thought-provoking exploration of identity, culture and privilege, with the author RF Kuang delving into the complexities of race and representation through contemporary storytelling. The novel challenges the…
Joy Moody is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne
The most underrated book of 2023 was a cozy crime by Kerryn Mayne called Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder. It sort of got lost in all the gloss and…
Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is an American writer who published her first book in 1963, and has since published 58 novels, a number of plays and novellas, and many short stories,…
Words on the Waves announces more guest authors
Words on the Waves has released the names of its second wave of guest speakers as the writers festival approaches. The festival will be held from May 29-June 3 at…
Gorokan author’s latest book
Gorokan author Mike Doyle has released his second book, following the success of his debut novel A Sinner’s Tales of the Second Oldest Profession, which sold all over the world….
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
Lola in the Mirror is a moving, blackly funny, violent, heartbreaking and beautiful novel of love, fate, life, death and all the things we see when we look in the mirror:…