Three Dog Night - Peter Goldsworthy

I've read one other book by this author called Honk if you're Jesus, but in this one his style has acquired depth and angst. Martin and wife Lucy,both psychiatrists,who have come back from England after Martin's long absence from Australia, meet Martin's long time friend -a once brilliant surgeon who has changed from the person he knew. A complex relationship triangle develops. It's disturbing, mysterious, in a setting of Aboriginal initiations and dreamtime, a journey back to the desert, obsession, jealousy. I found the writing captivating, with phrases like "Early afternoon now, the air hazy with dust and pollen, air plankton stirred from the bottom of the deep, blue sky."

False Green Promise - Ron Hedleysmith

This detailed and moving book based on a true life story, chronicles the protagonist's journey as a teenager from 1950s England to Australia, as a young hopeful going to work on the land with the ultimate goal of owning his own farm. It alternates between first person and third person narrative, which effectively creates a moving account of the protagonist's physical and emotional journey, his trials, hopes, disappointments, and understandings about the way his life evolves. It's also fascinating for the historical perspective of what Australia was like from an individual's point of view. The evocative narration and the optimism and philosophical depth of the narrator touched me deeply, set within the bleakness of his early Australian experiences and later tragedies. It wasn't a book I could read quickly, like I normally do, it is dense with detail which is often interesting and engaging. There was only one section where I got bogged down a little by the detail, but throughout I felt a strong empathy for the protagonist's travails and his lost dreams. It ends up being incredibly uplifting and redemptive as he reaches some profound realisations about what his life has led up to.

Hotel Babylon - Imogen Edwards-Jones, Anonymous

More inside peeks - this time into the hotel industry. 24 hours at a fictional 5-star hotel, based on true events. Lots of little scandalous bits of gossip, intrigue, and petty bits. I "read" this in audiobook - the narrator was skilled in his characterisations and accents, which made for an enjoyable listen. But I thought Fashion Babylon more interesting. Hotel Babylon seemed more gossipy and frivolous. Still, interesting enough as light reading.

Fashion Babylon - Imogen Edwards-Jones, Anonymous

Great peek into the fashion world, how a designer range goes from concept to catwalk to store; the big names, the gossip, the fashion influencers. The wrong person seen wearing your label can be fashion suicide; the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of freebies given to the top influencers like Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss, Madonna etc. "Cabbage" - the excess stock the contract factories sell via the backdoor which end up in the local market - some lucky person gets to buy an original designer label at a fraction of the price. The independent designer's dream of being bought up by a large name group like LVMH. The dramas of who gets to sit where at fashion shows, the who's who of the reviewers. All fascinating stuff.