tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43270110023148356042024-03-18T08:00:32.449+10:30Kathryn's InboxKathryn White.
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Author. Book critic. Blogger. Poet. Cat lover. INTJ. Caffeine junkie. Insomniac.Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.comBlogger2593125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-45712759194373782172024-03-18T08:00:00.001+10:302024-03-18T08:00:00.247+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Yev-7Lt--/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Yev-7Lt--/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Yev-7Lt--/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-21255208634976975392024-03-14T08:00:00.001+10:302024-03-14T08:00:00.131+10:30Review: Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qELA4gX5ylOv8SvUbgZcKIFWmhMJFnt1hin2EpGfLWWkHw0pOzoE_mtkDoFs6FLSoIQhFmaGUSrGJBHwBEBzhQDhySpReXj42vq0hbNtYUlGjbnEnrx3YnnTprHS35wcdwaRb4vM6qZTF0QORC9cGjDm2xYaELTKlY7hrchlnd8oud4xCFS_lkmXD4xd/s3024/IMG_2256.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qELA4gX5ylOv8SvUbgZcKIFWmhMJFnt1hin2EpGfLWWkHw0pOzoE_mtkDoFs6FLSoIQhFmaGUSrGJBHwBEBzhQDhySpReXj42vq0hbNtYUlGjbnEnrx3YnnTprHS35wcdwaRb4vM6qZTF0QORC9cGjDm2xYaELTKlY7hrchlnd8oud4xCFS_lkmXD4xd/s320/IMG_2256.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Under what terms and conditions should people be allowed to come out? Is it fair that some people have an easier time than others? Those are the questions at the heart of <i>Imogen, Obviously</i> the latest novel from bestselling American author Becky Albertalli. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Imogen is at her heart, a people pleaser. But is that the reason why, after her sister and best friend come out, she decides to up her ally game, joining her high school's LGBTQI+ club and becoming a bit part of the group? There, she makes friends with Gretchen, whose own coming out has been traumatic and eventually led her to changing schools. And when she discovers on a visit that her best friend Lili, who came out shortly before leaving for college, has lied to her new friends, not only claiming that she came out in high school but that Imogen is her ex-girlfriend, Imogen goes along with it. Then, just to complicate matters even more, Imogen finds herself falling for Tessa, a girl from Lili's college and she starts wondering is she really was heterosexual after all ...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While this novel remains light and loveable, it most definitely is not up there with some of the author's early novels. Rather than being a sweet coming out story like <i>Simon Vs the Homo Sapien Agenda</i>, or a novel about what it means to stand up for yourself and date who you want like <i>The Upside of Unrequited,</i> this feels more like a critique of queer spaces. Gretchen and the lack of acceptance that she directs toward Imogen feels very infuriating and one-dimensional, and the character is given little room to grow. The plot itself is fairly convoluted--it is difficult to believe that Imogen is that much of a people pleaser and that by the age of eighteen she has not learned to tell people to fuck off occasionally. Or that Imogen would assume that Gretchen was correct at all times, when she was surrounded by so many other supportive people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I suspect that much of this novel was influenced by the author's own heartbreaking experiences of being forced to publicly come out before she was ready and not on her own terms and the discourse that surrounded those events. I can understand the impulse to write about it, however, I feel that she would have been better off developing this as a multi-character story that looked at the vastly different lives and experiences of LGBTQI+ teens in 21st century America.</div>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-63357940268911409232024-03-12T08:00:00.001+10:302024-03-12T08:00:00.146+10:30Review: Three Women by Lisa Taddeo<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhVabYEVsRJAR9h6o8pCfMFa8yEHpseSipZA-4xgOWcjZko4_D6qoqV7Qsno3DwGfKkqhiQ0RAmlJch2fyzBtRf8MRhLD_5PSQyNnJxjhFUUriFraAeXExjAo8kUf_ewQxMDj3Hi5CIrAp8vRNNaxrl-g1Oqu97CEDzJ4HuOiy4qmvVrhxjEJg11SfMPd/s3024/9E138BF0-CF1C-4762-9FEF-221A823FA48F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhVabYEVsRJAR9h6o8pCfMFa8yEHpseSipZA-4xgOWcjZko4_D6qoqV7Qsno3DwGfKkqhiQ0RAmlJch2fyzBtRf8MRhLD_5PSQyNnJxjhFUUriFraAeXExjAo8kUf_ewQxMDj3Hi5CIrAp8vRNNaxrl-g1Oqu97CEDzJ4HuOiy4qmvVrhxjEJg11SfMPd/s320/9E138BF0-CF1C-4762-9FEF-221A823FA48F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Reader, be warned. <i>Three Women</i> is not easy reading. Is it compelling, however? Absolutely. Journalist Lisa Taddeo takes the difficult private lives of three very different women and turns it into a nonfiction novel and study of female sexuality. There is Maggie, who was sexually abused in high school by a teacher who is regarded as a pillar of the community, Lina who was drugged and raped by three boys at a party and later finds herself in an unhappy marriage and pining for her first boyfriend and Sloane who sleeps with other men while her husband watches. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Compiled over eight years, the author tells the stories of the three very different women, who have never met, who live in different parts of the United States and who have little in common, but for the fact that their sexuality is controlled by the people around them and fodder for gossip and discussion by others. There is an interesting look at class--Sloane who has money and who is married--is afforded a greater level of respect in her community (even while they judge her) than Maggie. The look at how the legal system treats people like Maggie is utterly horrific as are many parts of her story. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although this book is about sexuality, it is also interesting look at agency, class systems and who in the community is afforded respect and on what terms.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Recommended.</p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-77104698302183550482024-03-11T08:00:00.001+10:302024-03-11T08:00:00.140+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0i7xrVLQ2G/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0i7xrVLQ2G/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0i7xrVLQ2G/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-58404524118889912352024-03-10T08:00:00.001+10:302024-03-10T08:00:00.133+10:30Review: End of Story by Kylie Scott<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s5HIKLsun_I3y830FXVwvsjIyD6qARs6RiM13VJC3GWmyyKdnlWujzH8duYHHatYIqg7LMBD4hMO4swrBJyWiPSfp7U63NRtdnfm_kgkTcg5f-cUtDjnBy-9xNyQQsBNzPOsQJd34ktbPyQdmFukQ9bMHuNUyrVLxl874fshVOxYWUuMuemuNCzzIaN2/s2894/IMG_2012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2894" data-original-width="2894" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s5HIKLsun_I3y830FXVwvsjIyD6qARs6RiM13VJC3GWmyyKdnlWujzH8duYHHatYIqg7LMBD4hMO4swrBJyWiPSfp7U63NRtdnfm_kgkTcg5f-cUtDjnBy-9xNyQQsBNzPOsQJd34ktbPyQdmFukQ9bMHuNUyrVLxl874fshVOxYWUuMuemuNCzzIaN2/s320/IMG_2012.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Aussie author Kylie Scott serves up a romance with an intriguing premise in <i>End of Story. </i>Susie has inherited a beautiful house from her aunt. A beautiful house in need of restoration. She hires the best company in town to do the job, and one of the builders just happens to Lars, the best mate of her ex. Susie and Lars aren't exactly friends and Lars was one of the witnesses to Susie's very humiliating break up with her ex. If that wasn't complicated enough ... whilst pulling back wallpaper Susie and Lars discover a divorce certificate, dated ten years in the future with both of their names on it. What is going on? Is it a sick joke? If it is real, then why is Susie feeling more and more attracted to Lars when a relationship between the two of them is doomed.<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This one had a great premise and there are some truly fun moments. However the novel is let down a little by the pacing--it is very slow. It also becomes very obvious, very early on that Susie and Lars would work well as a couple, despite their differences. The part about the divorce certificate is never properly explain and that gets a bit infuriating. As is--and perhaps this criticism is highly subjective--the fact that yet again I am reading a novel written by an Australian, who lives in Australia and it is set entirely within the United States and all of the characters are American. A big part of the reason I read Australian novels is to see my culture reflected in print and the American setting is a big letdown. I get that authors need to make a living and the American market is more lucrative than the Australian market, but it is frustrating. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">While this was not a perfect read for me, there are some fun moments and Susie and Lars are likeable characters who are easy to cheer for.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Perfect for fans of Kylie Scott.</p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-26561690133659395322024-03-04T08:00:00.001+10:302024-03-04T08:00:00.134+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0lZxjprrAR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0lZxjprrAR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0lZxjprrAR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-50833436584459708362024-02-26T08:00:00.001+10:302024-02-26T08:00:00.242+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0rFtHbrT1L/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0rFtHbrT1L/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-28396669148813980282024-02-22T08:00:00.000+10:302024-02-22T08:00:00.379+10:30Review: Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6nXY0YL2XK5UyIaqRzhcYg8esBqp3Ic-C8FRqOzxZ15xzA1jGg3z6Zk0RR1e_e-k4yAT8ke5BtM-p5HCCNImS5-nHp82epf7I9oobb43rFYkRk8D2r9wGJa8TIGxQCs9orcBVbCfYjfjmQZQ06bYpMPBroGwRLZEM_cJWZsdPvnW8wsxVp5-acOgTcyL/s2883/8065E0C4-3D24-47C8-847D-32C2EF87FB07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2883" data-original-width="2883" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6nXY0YL2XK5UyIaqRzhcYg8esBqp3Ic-C8FRqOzxZ15xzA1jGg3z6Zk0RR1e_e-k4yAT8ke5BtM-p5HCCNImS5-nHp82epf7I9oobb43rFYkRk8D2r9wGJa8TIGxQCs9orcBVbCfYjfjmQZQ06bYpMPBroGwRLZEM_cJWZsdPvnW8wsxVp5-acOgTcyL/s320/8065E0C4-3D24-47C8-847D-32C2EF87FB07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Meet Noah. All he wants in life is romance. There's not much of that happening in his life--he's grown up as a closeted trans kid in a place where people like him aren't accepted. And so, he hits on a solution of sorts. He'll create a website filled with cute stories about how trans people met their partners in unusual circumstances and get their happy ending. The only problem is that he is claiming that the stories are all true ... and just as he moves to Denver to stay with his brother for the summer, a troll exposes his website as fraudulent. Lucky then, Noah has just has his own cute meeting with Drew, who is intrigued by the site and comes up with an idea--he and Noah will have a fake romance that they can post online, thus convincing everyone that the site is real. What could possibly go wrong?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, everything, including the plot. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately <i>Meet Cute Diary</i> starts out as a YA novel with a fun premise. The main character is a bit entitled, but as these things normally end with such people learning their lesson, I was willing to keep cheering for Noah. And to be fair, Noah does learn some valuable lessons. The difficulty is how this book is plotted--the plot does a bit of a one-eighty midway through. There's no build up or suggestion that this might be the case in the blurb, the cover or in the first half of the book, which feels more infuriating than entertaining. Consequently, the book feels messy and never quite packs the emotional punch that it should.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This book is interesting for its portrayal of a trans teenager, especially when the focus isn't on coming out or transitioning, but that in itself isn't enough to hold a poorly plotted story together.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not really recommended.</div>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-70400610965370431122024-02-20T08:00:00.020+10:302024-02-20T08:00:00.292+10:30Review: I Don't by Clementine Ford<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmA-58W6y141KNueYJ5r8zwdwUlqjgEB12nYTkDWcyDss5EpYUakEi_0RTsE9kMUOq2XnUlYNy0nDhwKPJ01U-yJINWVPbqr5SI8OEfxuph8-_WvXDIMqOQ5wjH8-dQLfHAD8F8EgEZ0Tcn_sAc67-1lDif3Sws8ooyeEbpq1lLugtA4-hzF6Y_Dn0WMI/s2906/4895FFE4-FA43-448C-A38D-3DD3C26864E8.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2906" data-original-width="2906" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmA-58W6y141KNueYJ5r8zwdwUlqjgEB12nYTkDWcyDss5EpYUakEi_0RTsE9kMUOq2XnUlYNy0nDhwKPJ01U-yJINWVPbqr5SI8OEfxuph8-_WvXDIMqOQ5wjH8-dQLfHAD8F8EgEZ0Tcn_sAc67-1lDif3Sws8ooyeEbpq1lLugtA4-hzF6Y_Dn0WMI/s320/4895FFE4-FA43-448C-A38D-3DD3C26864E8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Australian feminist and author Clementine Ford takes a look at the history of marriage in <i>I Don't</i> and makes a provocative argument against an institution that was never originally about romance. The book makes an ambitious claim, that it not only wants to prevent marriages, but to end them. Ford takes a deep dive into the history of marriage, its relationship to the church and most importantly of all, probes whether marriage is in a women’s best interest. Like any work by an author who believes in what they say, and who has done extensive research to back it up, it is very difficult to argue with the case presented in this book. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am familiar with the author's previous work. Sometimes I agree with what she says, and sometimes I disagree and, unsurprisingly, this is a reflection of my feelings about <i>I Don't. </i>It is hard not to feel angry when she shares accounts of women who are humiliated on their wedding day with casually cruel acts by the groom disguised as 'comedy', whether it be by smashing the wedding cake, holding up a sign that says 'help me' as the bride walks up the aisle or a supposedly funny speech that degrades and belittles the bride. And why wouldn't these women run? Clementine Ford also takes a look at the myths designed to keep women in their place, whether it be witch hunts from days gone by or their modern variant--that of the crazy cat lady. Women, Ford argues, have been taught to fear their own freedom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am in awe of the scope and depth of her research--Ford goes deep into the history of marriage. She also busts contemporary myths around the traditions of white dresses and diamonds, and how weddings have become a huge commercial enterprise. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As perviously stated, I do not agree with everything in this book--and this is in spite of the fact that there were moments when I found myself cheering, or the more confronting moments, when I found myself nodding my head and muttering, "yep" to things that I had never given much thought to before. My personal opinion is that marriage is an individual choice, and that did not change. (However, the word choice is important here.) Many of my friends and relatives have wonderful, happy marriages; many are single and are living happy and fulfilled lives. Both experiences are equally valid. As is the experiences of friends and relatives who have gone through divorces. Life is messy and nothing is ever one size fits all. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Recommended.</div>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-72888589303376791352024-02-19T08:00:00.001+10:302024-02-19T08:00:00.239+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0v_cMZLpJ2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0v_cMZLpJ2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0v_cMZLpJ2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-29034447844810622872024-02-17T08:00:00.001+10:302024-02-17T08:00:00.293+10:30Review: The Witch by Polly Esther Rayon<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic89yry_gLIQbJMxARlhKaJGptvw1U05eZSSYR4M-LMJZNqBnr17ftwvsDQW9DS-05oCA7mTipoceuTCn6QYUfn6P5nt9qhlkJaIP8_IN21_Jwf8Eko7USrXblwKYruZkI3CbwhooOQnrI3PTqOpugXo4DOfN57J7JqaEBU6SRcuCmmtIO28_slBObikmX/s2752/IMG_1993.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="2752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic89yry_gLIQbJMxARlhKaJGptvw1U05eZSSYR4M-LMJZNqBnr17ftwvsDQW9DS-05oCA7mTipoceuTCn6QYUfn6P5nt9qhlkJaIP8_IN21_Jwf8Eko7USrXblwKYruZkI3CbwhooOQnrI3PTqOpugXo4DOfN57J7JqaEBU6SRcuCmmtIO28_slBObikmX/s320/IMG_1993.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The first novel in Sweet Valley satire series <i>Saccharin Valley Twits and Fiends</i> was so well done that of course I just had to read the sequel. This volume satirises classic <i>Sweet Valley Twins</i> title <a href="https://sweetvalley.online/sweet-valley-twins/sweet-valley-twins-3-the-haunted-house/" target="_blank">The Haunted House</a> and the whole thing works so beautifully well that I found myself laughing out loud in multiple occasions. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In this one, the kids at Saccharine Valley Middle School have become convinced that the old Morrison Mansion, the one that has never been mentioned before in the series, is haunted. Everyone is afraid of the place, including twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wastefeld. When Fallon Morrison moves in to the mansion and enrols at Saccharine Valley Middle School, it follows that everyone thinks she is a witch and bullying soon becomes rife. Then, it turns out that Fallon may very well be a witch ... and she's intent on getting her revenge on these meddling, bullying kids.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This one was pure fun. I like the way that it pokes fun at the original series, whilst offering a new, believable and, ultimately, satisfying, adventure. The author shines a light on certain troublesome aspects of the original series, in particular how much bullying went on and remained unaddressed, with key characters rarely getting their comeuppance. Unsurprisingly, Piper, an original character and a key player in the Saccharine Valley series, makes a return and I'm surprised by how much I love this character and I'm finding myself cheer for her more and more.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Highly recommended.</p><p><br /></p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-71717225984227050462024-02-15T08:00:00.005+10:302024-02-15T08:00:00.131+10:30Review: Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVFTEDqqx6rL0QC3FsH9X7WyNPAP6Y5BlKgVlayWxW7SWbmkC0bXAUNHCOhPWqBNBEd9zTSKMEYCtukVXmyqKOIcyDTvE4h5RjUIdazm1kjqDQ-BK8OrqYv0xKHfMAopsqCQUbO4e9k-cFfTj5C_-9BmRcGVEVgps2HseJ20T7fX6FEEh7-T3Jl4f8KFs/s3024/IMG_1110.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVFTEDqqx6rL0QC3FsH9X7WyNPAP6Y5BlKgVlayWxW7SWbmkC0bXAUNHCOhPWqBNBEd9zTSKMEYCtukVXmyqKOIcyDTvE4h5RjUIdazm1kjqDQ-BK8OrqYv0xKHfMAopsqCQUbO4e9k-cFfTj5C_-9BmRcGVEVgps2HseJ20T7fX6FEEh7-T3Jl4f8KFs/s320/IMG_1110.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I picked up a copy of the first novel in the Boys of Tommen series assuming that it was set in a university. Turns out that I was wrong. The characters are all in high school, though as per the note in the front, the novel is pitched at readers over the age of eighteen. The setting is quite dark and topics addressed include alcoholism, physical abuse and bullying. The romance, pairing a fifteen year old girl who is small for her age and described as having a childlike appearance with a boy who is physically mature, sexually active, who invades her privacy and is not far from his eighteenth birthday seems questionable. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After suffering through years of bullying at school, some of which put her in hospital, Shannon has transferred to a private school, one so expensive that her mother has to take out a loan to pay all the fees. Things are going well, she has friends at her new school, there are strong anti-bullying rules in place and everything at Tommen College seems well, nicer ... especially when the star player of the rugby team takes it upon himself to be her protector. Meanwhile, Johnny never thought that there could be more to life than rugby until he meets Shannon and she starts stirring up all kinds of feeling that he has never experienced before. He just can't understand why she is so sad all the time, where those bruises are coming from and what dark secret she seems to be hiding about her home life. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If I had to sum up <i>Binding 13</i> in a single word, it would be infuriating. The novel is overlong, the characters seem unable to focus on anything except their blossoming romance. The depictions of the abuse that Shannon suffers at home are quite frightening and may be triggering for some readers. I also don't understand why the author thought it would be a good idea to infantilise the female main character. That, coupled with a scene where a school receptionist is said to have been sexually intimate with a student and the whole thing is treated as a joke, raises a few questions about the novels attitude toward pedophilia. There is a sequel (the novel ends on a frightening cliffhanger,) and it is possible, I suppose, that those themes are addressed there. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Not recommended.</p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-47222175602617509202024-02-13T08:00:00.001+10:302024-02-13T08:00:00.130+10:30Review: A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNq9pAarozWSQpNYqmrJRImZcGL09yGDItmzgbVnAm-pE9w5TmsMuoJfCVRPIIk7C0Zsxq0vWCeLZlKanr2KPa3mitlOi_vaOpZ1_UdkMmYRgVGBz9GRw0R3kL8vOEtwEJGDbLssWZ3-KEf9G62avEblwMRe_4IaZ5VYgdstc4T8biZqrvXryj2p9eh8O/s3024/213FA9C7-022A-4F87-B935-E9FE7D8631B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNq9pAarozWSQpNYqmrJRImZcGL09yGDItmzgbVnAm-pE9w5TmsMuoJfCVRPIIk7C0Zsxq0vWCeLZlKanr2KPa3mitlOi_vaOpZ1_UdkMmYRgVGBz9GRw0R3kL8vOEtwEJGDbLssWZ3-KEf9G62avEblwMRe_4IaZ5VYgdstc4T8biZqrvXryj2p9eh8O/s320/213FA9C7-022A-4F87-B935-E9FE7D8631B8.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i>A Country of Eternal Light </i>is a story of memory and grief with one almighty and powerful twist at the end. Margaret Bryce has passed away and is finding herself rewatching all of the big events that shaped her life, as well as watching how her death impacts those who are closest to her. We see important moments in history from Margaret's home of Aberdeen as well as her family life, in particular her life as a wife of a tradesperson and mother of twins, Rachel and Eva who couldn't be more different. We watch as Margaret takes trips to visit her adult daughters, Rachel's life in Melbourne with her partner Gem and their two sons, and Eva's somewhat more mysterious life in Spain. However, what really holds this novel together is the sense that things that something isn't quite adding up--what is Margaret hiding not just the reader, but from herself?<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I absolutely refuse to spoil or drop hints about this one, because the twist at the end is one best discovered by the reader themselves. Dalgarno's prose is both inviting and clever and I found myself pulled inside Margaret's world, whilst getting glimpses into the lives of the people she is close to. My favourite scenes were the ones set in Melbourne during lockdown as Margaret watches from afar, knowing that, despite everything, Rachel has turned out okay and her family are doing fine. The novel raises some questions about memory and facing up to ones past and presents them in a way that I thought was both beautifully done and interesting to me, the reader.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A beautiful novel.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Highly recommended.</p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-43174057966957877762024-02-12T08:00:00.001+10:302024-02-12T08:00:00.132+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0wAOYmrU1M/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0wAOYmrU1M/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0wAOYmrU1M/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-63808294454716370402024-02-08T08:00:00.001+10:302024-02-08T08:00:00.137+10:30Review: Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacrMIxH74wQI9i8ul7EaXweAMhgAobunz7Py6wwceNv2c7t9AFnZjimJVYsNjDAeZkRNbK16lsIH1ebhlMieasRh9VqWovmc_SnnXCkfe7ehOO_-g7zqooIJC7hzOaM2W1x5iKOVHN58aK7ehWpEx2Y9ebGa8druun3YgySNG_oonIhPSJhV8DdyzgzSZ/s3020/IMG_1435.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="3020" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacrMIxH74wQI9i8ul7EaXweAMhgAobunz7Py6wwceNv2c7t9AFnZjimJVYsNjDAeZkRNbK16lsIH1ebhlMieasRh9VqWovmc_SnnXCkfe7ehOO_-g7zqooIJC7hzOaM2W1x5iKOVHN58aK7ehWpEx2Y9ebGa8druun3YgySNG_oonIhPSJhV8DdyzgzSZ/s320/IMG_1435.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The second novel in Ashley Herring Blake's Bright Falls series is just as fresh and fun as the first. In this instalment, Delilah's stepsister Astrid takes centre stage, along with Jordan Eastwood, who has returned to Bright Falls to help her grandmother restore the beloved family hotel. Astrid is the interior designer tasked with the restoration, and she needs this project to work, in order to restore her reputation after she broke up with her fiancé a year ago. (As was depicted in the previous novel in the series.) This is made more complicated by one, the fact that the restoration is being broadcast on a reality TV series, two, she and Jordan have a major personality clash, three, Jordan hates the design and feels that it doesn't capture the history of the hotel and four, Astrid might just be falling for Jordan and maybe she is beginning to realise that she is bisexual. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This was an interesting read. Both characters are easy to identify with and to feel empathy for. Each have good reasons for acting the way they do, though if I'm going to be totally honest I found Astrid a bit infuriating at times, and a bit too much like her strict and cold hearted mother. (Or is Isabel Parker-Green really as cold hearted as she makes out? There is an interesting hint at the end of the novel.) I also liked that the novel addressed that the reconciliation between Astrid and her stepsister Delilah hasn't always been easy, which gave the characters a more realistic and interesting edge. As for Jordan, her backstory broke my heart. That particular story arc is best left for the reader to discover bit by bit, so I won't elaborate too much.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Overall, a fun romance with deserving characters. Recommended.</p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-40137181234514758912024-02-05T08:00:00.001+10:302024-02-05T08:00:00.139+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C03zWAdrOyw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C03zWAdrOyw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C03zWAdrOyw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-52497680774337516972024-01-31T08:00:00.001+10:302024-01-31T08:00:00.155+10:30Review: The Silence in Her Eyes by Armando Lucas Correa<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuc094mPcIvEZiG5EFfCbhjufP3XIvQ79ckjs-C1mKtwheQWuOKULOO1olfPeYsCnVCh4smBU5HaNcrdS7m9HU1ASS-mV3ULGY_LKkrzTcCBAN1PBuFewHSN02GluZOHMuKVV41o_1UP5tCK4rxeNm3ti3YhBFacTrJai_H6old8xnJ4AwhBHigwGwj_g/s3024/4AAB10C0-AF19-4367-932D-3E0C7B9CA7F9.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuc094mPcIvEZiG5EFfCbhjufP3XIvQ79ckjs-C1mKtwheQWuOKULOO1olfPeYsCnVCh4smBU5HaNcrdS7m9HU1ASS-mV3ULGY_LKkrzTcCBAN1PBuFewHSN02GluZOHMuKVV41o_1UP5tCK4rxeNm3ti3YhBFacTrJai_H6old8xnJ4AwhBHigwGwj_g/s320/4AAB10C0-AF19-4367-932D-3E0C7B9CA7F9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Internationally bestselling author Armando Lucas Correa <i>(The German Girl)</i> takes a bold new direction with his latest offering The Silence in Her Eyes, a psychological thriller about a woman with motion blindness who just wants to keep her newfound friend safe. Leah has suffered from motion blindness since she was eight years old. She can see, but she cannot see movement, with the world appearing to her like a series of still pictures. After her mother passes away, Leah's life is one where she is dependent on the kindness of others. And things are getting a bit tricky, now that she suspects that someone might be breaking in to her apartment and she can hear a new neighbour calling for help. Alice, it seems, is going through a difficult divorce. Leah only wants to keep her neighbour safe ...</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was very much drawn to this one for its premise. I've heard of motion blindness previously, a rare condition, and it is obvious that the author has done his research and I found his descriptions incredibly interesting--just as I found Leah to be an interesting character. From the start, I wasn't quite sure that I liked or completely trusted the character and I was intrigued to watch the situation play out. In spite of this, the ending was still a surprise, and I found myself reading it back a couple of times to get the full impact. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">A deliciously twisty tale with a memorable lead, perfect for fans of <i>The Girl on the Train.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Recommended.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for my ARC of <i>The Silence in Her Eyes.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-15037280159899363502024-01-30T08:00:00.004+10:302024-01-30T09:08:24.190+10:30Review: Someone Else's Bucket List by Amy T Matthews<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgFvv4FuJcCUMWI3BEm0w_ehQsUszTu7aJDahYXS6g8mwebe5VIE8TyaskG7Zju9rGqhgWBlMfAsgziQBzaSh0dcaBxX0fiKmMO_jmFXtRHeopV6kAUdrH5f2TC5zU5lgnZ9twjcGEOnle3QQTBS6a9Wi9UPZEOTHL2Y-ezJ4B3HYv-fDWRpQnLyqH_pF/s3024/IMG_1802.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgFvv4FuJcCUMWI3BEm0w_ehQsUszTu7aJDahYXS6g8mwebe5VIE8TyaskG7Zju9rGqhgWBlMfAsgziQBzaSh0dcaBxX0fiKmMO_jmFXtRHeopV6kAUdrH5f2TC5zU5lgnZ9twjcGEOnle3QQTBS6a9Wi9UPZEOTHL2Y-ezJ4B3HYv-fDWRpQnLyqH_pF/s320/IMG_1802.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Adelaide based author Amy T Matthews' latest offering is a tale of grief in highly unusual circumstances. Readers will find themselves on an emotional rollercoaster as they meet Bree--sunny, optimistic, determined and hugely popular online. Bree is an influencer of sorts. Or, a professional poser, as her younger and much more introverted sister Jodie puts it. Anyway, the reader meets Bree in sad circumstances. She is in hospital, battling leukaemia and it's Thanksgiving--a holiday that she will not be spending at home with her beloved family this year. Her only hope is a bone marrow transplant from Jodie. Fast forward one year. It is Thanksgiving once again, and Jodie and her family are grieving the loss of Bree. The transplant was not a success and the family find themselves facing absolutely crippling medical debts. Then comes the plot twist. Before she passed, Bree brokered a deal with a corporate sponsor that if Jodie completes the unfinished items on her bucket list, that company will pay off all of Bree's debts--and they'll pay an amount toward the debts of everyone on Bree's hospital ward. The list is well out of Jodie's comfort zone. But to complete it--with the help of an overbearing corporate sponsor--means having the chance to grieve for her sister and to get her family out of debt. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As I stated at the beginning of my review, this one is an emotional roller coaster. A reader would have to have a heart of stone not to feel something for Jodie and the situation in which she has been placed. It is interesting watching as the story plays out--I found myself watching as Jodie made the best of things and grew as a person, while feeling disgusted at the corporate greed and the exploitive nature of their sponsorship. The author gives an interesting glimpse into the life of an influencer and how things are manufactured to appear a certain way online. My only real grumbles about this one is that when I opened the novel, I didn't realise that it would be set in the United States (the author lives in my hometown, Adelaide, and I may have tricked myself into believing that I was getting something set in Australia). The first hundred or so pages are extremely sad. Overall though, the novel offers an original concept that is fitting for the times we live in.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Recommended.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for my copy of Someone Else’s Bucket List.</p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-73141304113411723302024-01-29T08:00:00.001+10:302024-01-29T08:00:00.134+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0_Dzg5r_y9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0_Dzg5r_y9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0_Dzg5r_y9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-47622578873453984472024-01-28T08:00:00.001+10:302024-01-28T08:00:00.150+10:30Review: Claudia and the Bad Joke by Arley Nopra & Ann M Martin<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PABF9vDLy0KI6W6CPoGTx1LKoSlGJwi8G6mdt_LtiVOGngqrRVR5-RLdfZNO4SCXYSfjt9mGvSTQw6hbDMcFaUppfw34yJ3fBRX2ZeS0BR3ZmwQ0HXlJ02K1orpsRSVWQF8sRewhXCOIXaWWpml9tPOQb7IB8rqPEDI6UwV5DKA8MMNmdev47q4FpyWV/s3010/IMG_1470.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3010" data-original-width="3010" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PABF9vDLy0KI6W6CPoGTx1LKoSlGJwi8G6mdt_LtiVOGngqrRVR5-RLdfZNO4SCXYSfjt9mGvSTQw6hbDMcFaUppfw34yJ3fBRX2ZeS0BR3ZmwQ0HXlJ02K1orpsRSVWQF8sRewhXCOIXaWWpml9tPOQb7IB8rqPEDI6UwV5DKA8MMNmdev47q4FpyWV/s320/IMG_1470.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The BSC Graphix series continues to go from strength to strength with a new series adaptor coming on board--Arley Nopra. Nopra's first (and, hopefully, not last,) addition to the series is <i>Claudia and the Bad Joke. </i>This one retells the story of how a slapstick film festival at the Stoneybrook Public Library leads to all of the local kids playing pranks on each other, which in turn leads to an incident in which Claudia breaks her leg whilst on a babysitting job. Which, in turn, leads to the other members of the BSC declaring a practical joke war on Betsy Sobak, while Claudia takes the more mature path of contemplating whether babysitting is such a great idea. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This was an entertaining read. As is often the case with these books, the characters and situations aren't entirely realistic. The kids go about solving the problems for themselves without adult involvement and come up with a unique solution that works--which makes for fun reading, though I doubt things would work out so neatly in real life, or, when an injury occurs that adults wouldn't get involved. The illustrations are well done, and I just love that there are now plenty of these books for readers, new and old, to enjoy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Recommended.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">PS: There are two more BSC Graphix novels in the works, <i>Kristy and the Walking Disaster</i> and <i>Mallory and the Trouble With Twins. </i></p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-28007166091830834542024-01-27T08:00:00.001+10:302024-01-27T08:00:00.155+10:30Review: Tales From the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUX6HWnU3hyphenhyphenrWn9KClFFX6pd_bFNQ49qp9fstKvhPmDEH66DAIJLY8FMUPsW_DrsaEyVKrfsb2fntXDMBsYUugUuw8Y0IuBilMiC1Yp89jnE_Qld7uWfTOGBP-8bGEsePa3BlnMTvQCqwWOv6_t4VGoOd0AtG7OLNc2FRZKnYQu2tmKXXi2tSYnkVomux/s3024/IMG_1823.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUX6HWnU3hyphenhyphenrWn9KClFFX6pd_bFNQ49qp9fstKvhPmDEH66DAIJLY8FMUPsW_DrsaEyVKrfsb2fntXDMBsYUugUuw8Y0IuBilMiC1Yp89jnE_Qld7uWfTOGBP-8bGEsePa3BlnMTvQCqwWOv6_t4VGoOd0AtG7OLNc2FRZKnYQu2tmKXXi2tSYnkVomux/s320/IMG_1823.jpeg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</i> was such a charming story that, unsurprisingly, it has inspired an entire series, with each volume featuring stories of the many different people who visit the cafe and their unique and touching reasons for wanting to travel back, or occasionally, forward, in time in the cafe. Tales From the Cafe is the second volume in this series and it hits just as much of an emotional punch as the first. In this volume the reader meets a man who wants to see his best friend and tell him all about his daughter--who the man has raised as his own, and through the generosity of his friend he has lived a good and successful life. There is a police officer who wants to give a gift to his wife, a son who could not come home for his mum's funeral and a man who wants to travel forward in time to see the women he won't be able to many due to the most heartbreaking for circumstances. And, surprisingly, in this volume we learn the identity to the mysterious ghost who occupies the seat in the cafe--and their link to one of the most important characters in the series.<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This volume was short, charming and packs a big emotional punch in all of the right ways. Prepare to have your heart broken, your faith in humanity restored and just to feel, well, optimistic. Or, at least, those are my experiences. Obviously, this is a sequel and I think the books are best read in the order they were published--there are a few threads that may not make a lot of sense if one is to read the books out of order. This one is very short and can be easily read in one or two sittings. The translation is excellent.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Highly recommended.</p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-89691558966122276992024-01-23T08:00:00.002+10:302024-01-31T20:52:29.399+10:30Review: Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHW_amQS28OBQ5xC-YmIXS5ENFQMQ8Cb9XXO8R_hzZ-tABcQeDUDeSsLOmG5jUgLmbMFxoYu71v70gpQO7iIty-iejX1MBuxyR-27Q26DBtCLRN_P8EBuGXbj39fK6Bc7SK1E0a_jX4UYEQOLn5awV-VUArscTLo51HW38H3uddQBRDpS3MURWmYfEXBVY/s3024/B6131FD6-A063-4347-BFC6-05AD83E94183.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHW_amQS28OBQ5xC-YmIXS5ENFQMQ8Cb9XXO8R_hzZ-tABcQeDUDeSsLOmG5jUgLmbMFxoYu71v70gpQO7iIty-iejX1MBuxyR-27Q26DBtCLRN_P8EBuGXbj39fK6Bc7SK1E0a_jX4UYEQOLn5awV-VUArscTLo51HW38H3uddQBRDpS3MURWmYfEXBVY/s320/B6131FD6-A063-4347-BFC6-05AD83E94183.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tom Felton's Beyond the Wand is an honest and heartfelt memoir by an actor who has lived a very unusual life. In Beyond the Wand, Felton takes us through his personal journey--of how he became a child actor purely by chance, his first big role in <i>The Borrowers</i> and, of course, of being cast as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies. Felton gives an account of his time working on the films--and of the times between films, when he was an ordinary kid, who loved fishing and went to a working class high school and got up to various teenage hijinks which, though relatively minor, could have cost him his part on the films if the media found out about them. There is also an account of his life after fame, living in LA where there were more auditions than parts for him, and where addiction slowly began to take its toll.<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This was an interesting read. While, obviously, Felton spent years of his life working on the eight Harry Potter movies, he was spared the level of work--and scrutiny--that was put onto the three leading child actors. Consequently, the reader gets a more interesting inside glimpse into a childhood and adolescence that was spent in two contrasting worlds. One where he is an actor on the set of a very popular film, surrounded by seasoned British actors and the three child stars, and the other where he is enjoying a working class youth. I also found the account of the years that followed to be very interesting--Felton's addictions and eventual realisation (whilst escaping from rehab and chatting with strangers,) that he has a problem and the solution needs to come from him. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although Felton's memoir is relatively short, it packs strong emotional punch and is a delight to read. Highly recommended. </p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-89123446433846595212024-01-22T08:00:00.001+10:302024-01-22T08:00:00.132+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1EpuFBrGVj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1EpuFBrGVj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1EpuFBrGVj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-16228952312941490552024-01-18T08:00:00.001+10:302024-01-18T08:00:00.415+10:30Review: This House of Grief by Helen Garner<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtXvpG9BQY_4FGVlEGbGNmKQDz-1i1eKrs1qtp_xxLkwtUJ1dxoZ-ivTgBljebRxdX4KiLxIaMmHIS0Y9P3XVvl9ifJY99Vl2An1U3puPjyqyNEOZXy75yoGdEBKiE4Gn5fkzCDg402hNicxEagkp9KAr2M68-BlC4VyeN17yCfeSCpekUwR3g_OqIA0f/s3002/IMG_1560.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3002" data-original-width="3002" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtXvpG9BQY_4FGVlEGbGNmKQDz-1i1eKrs1qtp_xxLkwtUJ1dxoZ-ivTgBljebRxdX4KiLxIaMmHIS0Y9P3XVvl9ifJY99Vl2An1U3puPjyqyNEOZXy75yoGdEBKiE4Gn5fkzCDg402hNicxEagkp9KAr2M68-BlC4VyeN17yCfeSCpekUwR3g_OqIA0f/s320/IMG_1560.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>On Father's Day 2005, a horrific incident occurred in rural Victoria when a Holden Commodore plunged into a dam. The driver pulled himself free of the vehicle and swam out of the damn. The three passengers, his sons aged 10, 7 and 2 drowned inside the vehicle. As far the police were concerned, the evidence was obvious. Robert Farquharson was soon charged with murder. Things were more complex behind the scenes. In <i>This House of Grief </i>beloved Australian author Helen Garner turns her hand to investigating the crime, and details the evidence presented in court at both trials--during which she was present as a member of the public. Through this she tells a story of an unhappy marriage, of Robert Farquharson's obsession with getting revenge on Cindy Morales, mother of the children and his former wife who had left him for another man, and of Cindy Morales herself, a woman who had married on the rebound and who, in her grief believed that her ex-husband was innocent, though as she continued to grieve this view changed and she agreed with the guilty verdict.<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>This House of Grief </i>offers insight into a truly horrific crime. Garner acts as a 'thirteenth juror' as she allows the trial and the evidence to play out for the reader. In places, she also speculates about the very real people behind the case, and offers various observations about their attendance in court. As Garner suggests at the end of the book, crimes like these are, and should be, of concern to us all. Three innocent lives, taken in a calculated moment of revenge, can never be replaced. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Obviously, this book is not easy reading. This, however, does not make the narrative or the insight offered any less important. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Recommended.</p>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327011002314835604.post-79666756187463309322024-01-15T08:00:00.001+10:302024-01-15T08:00:00.409+10:30Around Adelaide (Best of Kathryn's Instagram)<p> </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1OkcvzriXL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1OkcvzriXL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1OkcvzriXL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Kathryn Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103402876949760433noreply@blogger.com0