Dune - Frank Hubert
Hodder and Stoughton 1966
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Synopsis
Hubert creates a world where planets are ruled like countries and the reining families are all members of an interplanetary business. Dune tells the story of competing monarchies, the Atreides and the Harkonnens, the power of religion to influence actions and how important water can be to politics and survival on a desert planet.
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My Review
I know I am conforming a bit to the whole fad of only reading a book because I saw it was coming into the movies… Oh well!
Dune was a difficult book to start if I am honest. Herbert has so many plotlines and backstories woven in that it took a bit of unravelling and would take even more to try and convey what the full story is about. In the first few pages of this book, a plot is revealed to the reader, that the main characters are unaware of. A plot by one ruling family to assassinate another. It is an interesting perspective, watching the main characters navigate a situation that the reader is already aware of. This perspective continued as the book went on, with the reader knowing more than the characters as they navigate hardship, manipulation and the dangerous planet they have to survive on.
The absence of formal chapters was also a new experience for me as a reader, with sections of the book being separated by the inclusion of quotes from a historical text… a historical text recounting the events that are currently taking place. Time also lurched forward with years passing in a few pages. Whilst this left me feeling lost at times, it was interesting to see how Herbert introduced key characters in the final sections of the book that had been born and grown up whilst you had been reading.
I enjoyed reading a sci-fi book that challenged me to concentrate in order to remember all the little details. This book is by no means a light read but I think that if you are looking for a truly immersive experience then give it a go.
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Related reads:
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Handmaids tale by Margaret Atwood @therealmargaretatwood
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Synopsis
Hubert creates a world where planets are ruled like countries and the reining families are all members of an interplanetary business. Dune tells the story of competing monarchies, the Atreides and the Harkonnens, the power of religion to influence actions and how important water can be to politics and survival on a desert planet.
---------
My Review
I know I am conforming a bit to the whole fad of only reading a book because I saw it was coming into the movies… Oh well!
Dune was a difficult book to start if I am honest. Herbert has so many plotlines and backstories woven in that it took a bit of unravelling and would take even more to try and convey what the full story is about. In the first few pages of this book, a plot is revealed to the reader, that the main characters are unaware of. A plot by one ruling family to assassinate another. It is an interesting perspective, watching the main characters navigate a situation that the reader is already aware of. This perspective continued as the book went on, with the reader knowing more than the characters as they navigate hardship, manipulation and the dangerous planet they have to survive on.
The absence of formal chapters was also a new experience for me as a reader, with sections of the book being separated by the inclusion of quotes from a historical text… a historical text recounting the events that are currently taking place. Time also lurched forward with years passing in a few pages. Whilst this left me feeling lost at times, it was interesting to see how Herbert introduced key characters in the final sections of the book that had been born and grown up whilst you had been reading.
I enjoyed reading a sci-fi book that challenged me to concentrate in order to remember all the little details. This book is by no means a light read but I think that if you are looking for a truly immersive experience then give it a go.
---------
Related reads:
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Handmaids tale by Margaret Atwood @therealmargaretatwood
Memorial – Bryan Washington
Atlantic Books 2020
Synopsis
Mike is leaving for Japan to look after his estranged father, who is dying. Meanwhile Mike has left his boyfriend Benson with his mother who has flown from Japan to visit him. Great timing. In his debut novel, Memorial, Bryan Washington (@bry.washing) dives into both sides of Benson and Mike’s haphazard relationship. The couple were barely talking before Mike left; connecting only through food and sex. Now they are thousands of miles apart.
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My Review
I was absorbed by the intensely realistic characters and almost diary-like writing of Bryan Washington’s novel, Memorial which opens a window into the murky waters of a millennial relationship.
As a first-time author, Washington really hit the mark with his character development. Whilst I loved diving into the lives of Benson and Mike, and meeting Mike’s mother through Benson’s eyes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the novel’s storyline wasn’t going anywhere.
However, I came to realise that the seemingly mundane plot of this novel was what made it highly relatable for me. This is because Washington addresses the seasons in our lives, where the paths we choose don’t always make sense. Highly thought-provoking, this novel made me think about my own life and where I am going, even during the hazy reality of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Being able to identify and empathise with the novel’s central characters, whose lives are so different from my own, demonstrates its appeal for a wide audience.
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Related reads
#sallyrooney - Conversations with Friends
@naoisedolan - Exciting Times
Synopsis
Mike is leaving for Japan to look after his estranged father, who is dying. Meanwhile Mike has left his boyfriend Benson with his mother who has flown from Japan to visit him. Great timing. In his debut novel, Memorial, Bryan Washington (@bry.washing) dives into both sides of Benson and Mike’s haphazard relationship. The couple were barely talking before Mike left; connecting only through food and sex. Now they are thousands of miles apart.
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My Review
I was absorbed by the intensely realistic characters and almost diary-like writing of Bryan Washington’s novel, Memorial which opens a window into the murky waters of a millennial relationship.
As a first-time author, Washington really hit the mark with his character development. Whilst I loved diving into the lives of Benson and Mike, and meeting Mike’s mother through Benson’s eyes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the novel’s storyline wasn’t going anywhere.
However, I came to realise that the seemingly mundane plot of this novel was what made it highly relatable for me. This is because Washington addresses the seasons in our lives, where the paths we choose don’t always make sense. Highly thought-provoking, this novel made me think about my own life and where I am going, even during the hazy reality of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Being able to identify and empathise with the novel’s central characters, whose lives are so different from my own, demonstrates its appeal for a wide audience.
---------------------------------------------
Related reads
#sallyrooney - Conversations with Friends
@naoisedolan - Exciting Times
How To Endo -Bridget Hustwaite
Allen & Unwin 2021
Synopsis
For 12 years Bridget Hustwaite suffered from severe abdominal pain, heavy periods as well as fatigue, bloating and nausea. She was finally told her diagnosis…endometriosis. But even then, the challenges of being ignored and misunderstood by the medical establishment continued. Bridget has shared her experiences, and the stories of other “endo warriors” on radio Triple J. Now Bridget has combined her own research with that of industry experts and her thriving community of Instagram followers to create a guide. A guide for the yet to be diagnosed, the diagnosed and the loved ones who support them.
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My Review
My Review
From the first time I saw this book pop up on Bridget Hustwaite’s Instagram (@endogram), I was dying to get my hands on it. This book made me laugh, made me think and most of all made me cry. Effortlessly readable, I flew through this one.
Breaking down the medical jargon and the misnomers, Hot to Endo gives readers the tools they need to empower themselves to seek a diagnosis, even when doctors turn them away. As a friend of an endo warrior, I found this book accessible for not only endometriosis sufferers but also their friends and family. Bridget also shines a light on the impact of privilege in the medical world on people of colour and transgender people. It’s so important to raise awareness to ensure that everyone is being heard and
properly diagnosed.
properly diagnosed.
It has been a long time since a book shocked me to this level. I loved reading and learning from this book
and would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat.
and would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat.
Top End Girl, by Miranda Tapsell
Hachette 2020
Synopsis
Top End Girl is a compelling memoir about love, family, country, and the Australian entertainment industry. After growing up in Darwin, Miranda Tapsell (@misstap) pursued her love of drama and became one of Australia’s best-known actors. But her journey and success were dampened by the lack of Indigenous representation on Australian screens as well as negative narratives surrounding First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Rather than waiting for change, Miranda co-wrote, produced and starred in her own movie, which explored the importance of returning to your roots and family.
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My Review
My Review
This memoir has to be one of my all-time favorite reads. Top End Girl was insightful, whilst also being vulnerable and raw. Miranda Tapsell (@misstap) used her comedic voice to create a compelling narrative, which is brimming with determination and creativity. The inclusion of notes and messages from her husband, which she embedded within the chapters, gave this memoir a fun informality.
Miranda provides rich detail about her family and her culture. From growing up as a proud Larrakia Tiwi girl to pursuing her dream in the big city, she experienced many ups and downs.
Witnessing the depth of her love, loss and determination to achieve her dream made this memoir a quick and enjoyable read.
Witnessing the depth of her love, loss and determination to achieve her dream made this memoir a quick and enjoyable read.
Whilst I felt that Miranda tried to cover a lot in her book, which potentially led to some areas being given less attention than they deserved, I still loved it.
