Too Much Lip – Melissa Lucashenko

Winner of the 2019 Miles Franklin Award. Kerry Salter, an aboriginal woman, comes home from Queensland to her family in northern NSW on a stolen motorbike, thinking it will be a quick trip. She is soon drawn into the family drama. I loved the character of Kerry, tough, with a dry wit. This novel deals with themes of land, racism, intergenerational trauma, redemption and healing. It felt very real and raw. (5 stars)

Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential

I’m not going to replace my use of ROAM and its bi-directional linking system for my notes with his filing system, but I did find some use in the way he recommends having multiple passes on the notes you collect. I have not returned to my notes as regularly as I might because I feel like I need to fully process it when I do. Reading this, I realised I can do as much or as little summary as I feel, knowing it is there to go back to if I need it. The other useful takeaway for me was to remember to include my bits and pieces of writing in there more often so I have them to use for other purposes easily. (3 stars)

Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight – Norman Wirzba

I did a more in-depth review here. (4 stars)

Eucalyptus – Murray Ball

Winner of the 1999 Miles Franklin Award, Holland takes his daughter to live on a property in New South Wales. Over time, Holland has sourced and planted hundreds of varieties of Eucalyptus trees. As Ellen reaches marriageable age, Holland declares that he will marry her to the man who can name every Eucalyptus on his property. While the suitors try their luck, Ellen meets a stranger near the river. This is an unusual story. A fairy tale moved to the Australian bush, with stories within the story. As you might guess, there is a lot of information about Eucalypts. (3.5 stars)

Prophet Song – Paul Lynch

Mother of four, Eilish Stack, desperately tries to keep her family together as her country descends into totalitarianism and then civil war. I found Paul Lynch’s writing difficult and painful, to be honest. This was bleak and depressing. (3 stars)