Books on the Waves

Reviewed by

ANGELA BENNETTS

SIGNS & WONDERS, by Delia Falconer

(Spoiler alert! Delia will be joining Words on the Waves in June 2022) What do you get when a baby mammoth emerges from the permafrost, palm trees walk up sandy shores to secure more stable footing and species start to disappear one by one? While the horrors of climate change are certainly stomach-churning, Falconer cleverly imparts the innate beauty of it all in this startling sequence of essays. She also reminds us there’s more to the modern condition, dipping into TV show CSI, bird-watching, grief and much more – making this a far-ranging and important read.

THE SHADOW HOUSE, by Anna Downes

(Anna is moderating an in-conversation with Jane Caro at Words at Wagstaffe, 26 March 2022) Set in the Central Coast hinterland and inspired by a real eco-village, The Shadow House is an atmospheric thriller following two mothers as their worst nightmares unfold. Author Anna Downes – a Central Coast local – skilfully weaves in weighty themes of domestic violence, the dark web, and the difficulties of motherhood. But there are plenty of jump-out-of-your-skin scenes as well, such as a wizened old woman appearing in the woods, strange carvings on the trees, and an abandoned house with a raft of buried secrets. Pick this up if you prefer your thrills moody and complex, rather than gory

SONG OF THE CROCODILE, by Nardi Simpson

In the mood for a heartbreaking, multi-generational Australian saga? Look no further than Song of the Crocodile by Yuwaalaraay storyteller and Stiff Gins performer Nardi Simpson. Just like you fell in love with the Pickles family in Tim Winton’s classic Cloudstreet, you will fall for the Billymil family who leap off the page with their hard-won humour and wisdom. This is an absolute classic in the making.

Reviewed by ANGELA BENNETTS, Festival Director, Words on the Waves Writers’ Festival For more information on the Words on the Waves Writers’ Festival 3-6 June, wordsonthewaves.com.au