Kathryn's Inbox

How do you review a book that was long-listed for the Booker Prize before it was even released, won the coveted prize jointly with another title, even though that is against the rules, and is displayed prominently in every bookshop and every Big W across Australia. How can any reviewer possibly write a fair assessment of a novel that has received so much hype, and has been embraced so warmly by readers? For this reviewer, with great difficulty. A sequel to Atwood's acclaimed novel The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments takes readers back to the Gilead, and introduces us to three different narrators--the formidable Aunt Lydia, a child named Agnes who is growing up in Gilead and Daisy, a young woman who has little idea how much freedom she has in Canada until her adopted parents are murdered and a shocking secret about her past in revealed. Eventually, the three characters all intersect in a story that neatly ties up any loose ends that were left behind in The Handmaid...

There is one simple truth that everyone who ever graduated from an Australian high school with plans to go to uni knows. The few weeks between receiving your ATAR and being offered a place at university is one of the most awkward, nail biting times of your life. Written with a whole lot of heart, It Sounded Better in my Head is set during those few weeks. Natalie has just finished year twelve and received her ATAR, and things should be all right over the next few weeks. And then her parents announce that they are splitting up. On Christmas Day. Meanwhile, her two best friends, Lucy and Zach are now a couple. Natalie would feel like a bit of a third wheel, except for the fact that she's suddenly getting a lot of attention from Zach's brother Alex, a ratbag with a lot of rowdy friends. Lucky he has a big heart. Suddenly, Natalie doesn't know who she is, or how she fits in with things anymore. And life isn't like the picture she had in her head. Th...

View this post on Instagram Sticker art spotted on Grote Street #streetart #stickerart #stickers #grotestreet #adelaide #southaustralia A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox) on Nov 23, 2019 at 3:33am PST

Released fifteen years ago for Penguin's 70th anniversary, this short volume features two of the funniest Jeeves and Wooster stories. The title story, Jeeves and the Impending Doom focuses on Bertie as he finds himself invited to the formidable Aunt Agatha's residence only to find himself stuck on an island on the grounds with one of his enemies. The second and my personal favourite of the two, Jeeves and the Song of Songs involves a musical night in which Bertie conspires to break up the engagement of Tuppy Glossop and a Miss Bellinger after it becomes apparent that Tuppy has jilted Bertie's cousin in favour of Miss Bellinger. (Although most of Bertie's interference is at the urging of Aunt Dahlia.) It ends, of course, in a most amusing fashion.  This is a short and fun collection, perfect for old fans and new ones as well. And with the 85th birthday of Penguin Books coming up, one wonders if any new special publications will be released this year.

Origin stories for all of our favourite superheroes seem to be abundant these days, particularly in the DC universe, where creators are often allowed a fair bit of creative license, so it is fortunate, then, that this particular volume is of outstanding quality. This time around we meet Supergirl as Kara Danvers, a teenager growing up in Midvale with her loving adoptive parents who have very kindly kept her super powers and the fact that she arrived on earth in a spaceship a secret from the rest of the town. However, things start to go awry when an earthquake hits the town during a school sports carnival that costs one of Kara's dearest friends her life. From there, Kara begins to realise that something much more sinister may be afoot until she eventually discovers a shocking truth. Perfect for teenage readers, this one is an excellent introduction to a much-loved character that will be appreciated by new and old fans alike. Beautiful artwork accompanies a solid storyline. ...

Two brothers have unexpectedly been thrown into a war that has been running for generations. Brighton is dead keen to be a part of things and wishes that he has powers, but in the meantime is happy to settle for being a star on social media. Emil, meanwhile, wants a quieter life but finds himself thrown into the spotlight shortly after his eighteenth birthday when a dangerous situation fuels powers that he never knew he had. And both brothers need to make choices that may have deadly consequences. The novel starts out well, and certainly features an interesting pair of opposites as lead characters. The concept is interesting enough for an Urban Fantasy, but it is let down by some issues with pacing, and the world building is nowhere near as strong as it could be, leaving me to feel a little lost in places. I was also left scratching my head as to why Emil would even be asked to go into battle with a mere two weeks of training. (Sure, he may have had powers, but he had yet to le...

For months now, there have been hints over on the official V.C. Andrews Fan Page on facebook that there will be some big things happening in the V.C. Andrews fandom in 2020. And then, last weekend, a huge announcement dropped, with news revealed that Lifetime will be developing Ruby and its three sequels and prequel into a series of five telemovies. News of a Ruby/Landry series making its way to the small screen isn't exactly news. Rumours of a possible Ruby TV series titled The Landry have been circulating since about 2007, and for a time, IMDB even had a page dedicated to the series. The Complete V.C. Andrews website (the most detailed VCA fansite on the web,) notes that there was still talk of a series recently as 2016. The page also details that at one time or another pitches had been made to Netflix and Warner Bros and, surprisingly, Lifetime previously showed interest in Ruby as a limited series. ( Read more here .) So why should this news be any different? W...

Set after the events of Knife Edge , the series shifts its focus from Sephy to her daughter Callie Rose. Growing up is tough, especially when Callie Rose's mother is keeping secrets from her, and when no one will tell her what happened to her father. Her friendship with Tobias from next door often seems to get her into trouble. And then of course there is the general dysfunction that surrounds her family--Sephy's inability to be close to anyone, even the man that she should marry, the vast difference in the circumstances of her two grandmothers, and the secretive Uncle Jude who very quietly spoils her. But Uncle Jude's attentions come at a huge price as he carefully grooms Callie to become a suicide bomber for the Liberation Militia.  This novel very much gets to the heart of how and why children agree to become suicide bombers. The narrative is quite complex in places, and like the two previous novels in the series, is most definitely aimed at readers on the more ...

View this post on Instagram Spotted some Christmas/Summer themed artwork in the Central Market recently. Love it! #publicart #centralmarket #adelaide #southaustralia A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox) on Dec 4, 2019 at 5:44am PST

Heartstopper Volume 1 ended with Charlie and Nick exchanging a kiss. But what comes next? While Charlie agonises over the fact that he has kissed a straight boy, Nick is busy coming to terms with his his attraction to Charlie. Nick knows that he has liked girls in the past. But now he likes a boy and what does that mean? Volume 2 is a story of two teenagers navigating their first relationship. For Nick, it means the slow realisation that he is bisexual and that not all of his friends may be happy for him. Equally, Charlie has to wait for Nick to come out when he is ready. Meanwhile, Charlie's friends are all very concerned that he is going to get hurt. What follows is a very touching story, gently told that should have broad appeal, regardless of the age and sexuality of the reader. This was an enjoyable read, perhaps even more so than the first volume.  Recommended. Fans of Charlie and Nick will be thrilled to know that Heartstopper Volume 3 will be released i...

I've been hearing whispers about YA author Alice Oseman's graphic novel Heartstopper for a while now, mostly words of praise, though I had little idea of what the story was about. Curious, and discovering volumes one and two on sale at QBD I picked them up. What I got with volume one is a heartwarming tale of two seemingly different boys, who are thrown together by circumstance, but choose to become friends and then, maybe ... something more. Charlie Spring is in year ten at an all boys high school in the UK. He is openly gay and his experiences in coming out the previous year put him in the path of some school bullies. He enjoys music and has a real creative streak. At the beginning of January, he finds himself placed in a new vertical tutoring group.* There, he meets Nick, a boy from the year above him. The pair are seemingly quite different. Nick is a star on the school rugby team, outgoing and very popular. Surprisingly, he and Charlie become close friends straight...

While I'm on the subject of Blandings, here's a short snippet from the television series. 

As well as Jeeves and Wooster, author PG Wodehouse penned another much loved series, Blandings. Featuring the dotty Lord Emsworth, and some other eccentric characters (including a pig,) this series is rarely out of print and at one point was adapted for television by the BBC. Something Fresh is the first Blandings novel, first published in 1915. And while readers are introduced to dotty Lord Emsworth, the real stars of this one are Ashe Martin and Joan Valentine, a pair of twenty-somethings who, on the lookout for a bit of an adventure, find themselves posing as servants at Blandings in order to steal back a particularly valuable scarab that Lord Emsworth unwittingly placed in his pocket, much to the ire of the father of his son's fiancée. Various misunderstanding abound though everything works out for the best in the end. This was an enjoyable light read that spends a lot of time making fun of Britain's idle rich, amidst some truly funny descriptions. While by no m...

Dumplin' was just so brilliant that I am thrilled that author Julie Murphy has penned a companion novel. Puddin' tells of the unlikely friendship that builds between two characters, Millie and Callie. Seemingly, these are two very different girls. Millie is kind, studious, struggles with her weight and has a loyal circle of friends, most of whom are misfits at their high school. Callie on the other hand is a stereotypical mean girl--pretty, a part of the most popular crowd in school, a part of the school dance team and, ultimately, has no real friends, only rivals. Circumstance throws the pair together, when Callie takes the fall for her dance team trashing the gym that belongs to Millie's uncle. As the pair begin to work together at the gym, Callie for the first time learns about the importance of having real friends, whilst coming to terms with the fact that she is no longer a part of the popular crowd at school. Millie, meanwhile, learns a valuable lesson in standi...

View this post on Instagram Little Street Library outside the Box Factory. #boxfactoryadelaide #littlestreetlibrary #bookstagram #bibliophile #aussiereaders #adelaide #southaustralia A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox) on Dec 24, 2019 at 12:06am PST

As mention in my review of Boy Crazy Stacey yesterday, it looks as though we have more BSC Graphix novels on the way. First up is Karen's Witch , the first Baby-Sitters Little Sister novel to be adapted as a graphic novel. And just a few days ago Ann M Martin confirmed that  Logan Likes Mary Anne will be the eighth book in the series on her official facebook page. And in addition to that, starting in 2021 Scholastic will add six more titles to the series, two per year. Just for fun, I am adding my wish-list of titles that I think will make a good addition to the graphix series. The Ghost at Dawn's House (Book 9) How could readers not want to know more about the secret passage in Dawn's bedroom? I'm voting for this one purely because the secret passage was such an important part of the original series. Kristy and the Snobs (Book 11) There's a lot to like (and a little bit of heartbreak, sniff, Louie,) in this one, which shows Kristy adjusting to...

The BSC Grapix series is back with another fine adaption of another beloved Baby-Sitters Club title. Old fans often remember this particular title with a special kind of nostalgia. After all, this is the novel that introduces readers to Sea City, a location that would appear in the series several times. It also features beloved original character Stacey in her second adventure, and one that is a lot more lighthearted and fun than her previous story. And if that wasn't enough, it is also the first time that we see the two most different original members of the club--Stacey and Mary Anne paired together, and they make for a surprisingly strong pairing. Anyway, for the uninitiated, the plot for this one is pretty straightforward. Stacey and Mary Anne accept a two week baby-sitting assignment to accompany the Pike family (yep, that's the one with eight kids,) to their favourite holiday spot in Sea City, New Jersey. While they are there, Stacey develops a crush on an older ...

Image courtesy of Project Gutenburg When Pride and Prejudice was released I sincerely doubt that Jane Austen would have had any idea that, some two hundred years after its release, the character of Mary Bennet would see a rise in popularity. The least amiable of the five Bennet sisters, Mary is described as being rather plain and bookish, and something of a boor as she over-estimates her ability as an intellectual and a musician. In the book, she provides little more than comic relief. And, let's face it, Mary is a supporting character in a novel that is intended as a social satire. She doesn't have to be accomplished. All she needs to do is find some way to unintentionally cause embarrassment to her older sisters Jane and Lizzie. In recent times, though, readers have taken a more sympathetic view to Mary. After all, it is not easy being the middle sister, especially when the others have all paired off, and nor could it be easy being the least attractive of the sister...

With one heck of a cracker of a cliffhanger ending, Raelia, the second book in the Akarne series is filled with plenty of twists and unpredictable situations. Alexandra Jennings has once again stepped through the door to Medora and finds herself back in Akarne for her second year of schooling. From there, she unwittingly finds herself enrolled in an SAS type elective that takes up most of her Saturdays and seems to keep putting her in contact with the Lost City of Meya and the horrible, disgraced prince Aven, who would do anything to reclaim what he considers to be his birthright. Aussie author Lynette Noni does an excellent job of bringing the fictional world of Medora to life and in Alex has a lead character who is both heroic yet easy to identify. Readers learn a little more about the history of Akarne and the likely career paths of the characters once they finish their studies, however, the real story lies in first in Alex's adventures in Espionage, her visits to the Lo...

The Code of the Woosters is generally considered to be the best of all of the Jeeves and Wooster novels and it is not at all difficult to see why. Lighthearted fun abounds amidst a whole lot of spectacular wordplay and a dig at England's upper classes of the period just before the Great Depression. Bertie Wooster has been employed by his Aunt Dahlia to steal a silver cow creamer from Sir Watkyn Bassett at Totleigh Towers so that it may be returned to its 'rightful' owner, Uncle Tom. Meanwhile, at Totleigh Towers a misunderstanding has occurred between Bertie's old friend Gussie and his fiancee, Madeline Bassett, and Gussie wants Bertie's help in sorting it out. Then there is Madeline's cousin, Stiffy Bing who (unaware of Aunt Dahlia's plans,) wants Bertie to steal the cow creamer and have her beloved Stinker Pinker catch him in act, so that he may look like a hero in front of Sir Watkyn so that he may approve of their marrying. And then there is Roderick...

View this post on Instagram Beautiful mural on Regent Street Adelaide, just next door to the Box Factory #mural #publicart #adelaide #southaustralia A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox) on Dec 25, 2019 at 6:22pm PST

Two sisters living on a remote Russian peninsula who are abducted and the effect their disappearance has on many of the women from the town form the premise of this beautifully written and often intense book. Sophia and Alyona are playing on the beach when they accept a ride home from a strange man. The girls do not return home. As the months pass, the effect that this tragic event has on the local women is showcased in each chapter, just as the reader is treated to an intimate glimpse of the everyday lives of these women in a part of the world that is often misunderstood, and where life can sometimes be very tough indeed.  As time goes on, Sophia and Alyona slowly fade from their thoughts, as is sadly, can be true in real life. As I stated at the beginning of this review, this novel is beautifully written and often intense. I loved the intimate glimpse that author Julia Phillips provides into the lives of each of the characters, whether it be  Olya who suffers the pai...

Once again, I'm talking about DuckTales, mostly because I just found this clip and I couldn't resist sharing. It shows Della Duck being reunited with his brother Donald, who has been a castaway on an island for a little while. His only companion is a watermelon ... who seems remarkable like another famous Disney character!