The Secret River - Kate Grenville

Recommended for ages 15-adult.

FINALLY! A meaty, complex book that is well-written. Although I'm starting to tire of books about the colonisation of Australia due to overexposure, this novel really is one the best fictional accounts of the subject.

The Secret River follows the story of William Thornhill - sentenced to the colony of NSW for theft. William's wife Sal accompanies him, and over time the family claims their own piece of land in the Hawkesbury. The bulk of the novel, however, explores Thornhill's interaction with the local Aboriginal tribe and the other white settlers. Indeed the power of this novel lies in the complexity of Thornhill's character and the nature of the relationships he forges. His ability to commit atrocities against the local inhabitants is described in a way which highlights the uncertainties of every settler's mind.

This is an engaging and powerful read which will linger with Australian readers long after - a lot of us can claim such characters as ancestors. Because of the infrequent use of dark language and the major themes of this book, it's best to be savoured by kids over 15. Adults will take much more from it.

Animal Farm - George Orwell

Recommended for all ages.

Animal Farm - A Fairy Story is a classic book. It's politically insightful in its allegorical nature but also enjoyable as a tale about how even the most noble goals can be usurped by a cruel leader. Succinctly written, Orwell has created a timeless story which will make anyone empathise with the (non-pig/dog) animals.

At its most basic plot level Animal Farm tells the story of a bunch of animals who decide to overthrow their cruel human master and rule themselves. After the initial joys of success, the animals are manipulated into giving all power to the pigs - who then abuse that power and re-enslave the animals.

I skipped the introduction, preface and foreward (I hate that so many wreck the story or give away major plot elements like I just did in paragraph 2), though if I had read them I would've learnt that Animal Farm is an allegory about the Russian Revolution (which could have been interesting). Next time.

This is a great book for kids of any age - even young readers will feel a sense of injustice at the treatment of Boxer.

The Boy in Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

Recommended for all ages.

I won't say much about The Boy in Striped Pajamas because I'm a bit behind in my reading of it, but I will say this: for all the hype I expected something more. Sure, it's a poignant read about the two boys and their friendship, and Boyne does a great job of getting you to simultaneously sympathise with and cringe at Bruno's actions, but I expected the ending to make me cry. Or even just tear up. Maybe this book was spoilt for me because I knew so much about it beforehand, or maybe it's just suited to younger readers.

I do find it interesting that this is Boyne's first kids novel - he seems to be able to write effortlessly for this audience which makes me curious to read his adult books.

I really wanted to love this book, but it just didn't work for me. Maybe the film version will be more up my alley.

Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe

Recommended for all ages.

Ok, move over The Yellow Wallpaper. I have a new favourite book. Seriously.

I was getting in a bit of a rut after reading all these novels which didn't live up to what others said about them ('brilliant', 'insightful', 'must-read' kind of books). I've gone through a series of books that deal with stupid issues and unconcerning concerns, that treat the reader like a sort of narcissistic teenager or petulant child instead of an intelligent, free-thinking adult, and that generally are not worthy of publication or anyone's time. Thankfully I got into Uncle Tom's Cabin.

It claims to be the best-selling nineteenth-century American novel, with its sensitive and intelligent portrayal of life as a slave in the South. I see no reason why it shouldn't still have resonance with its readership, because slavery isn't over with around the world (not by a long shot). We just call it something else.

Anyway, Uncle Tom's Cabin (1850's) is a beautiful and inspiring read. It's the sort of book that gives you an almost spiritual elevation, thanks to the honest and earnest discussions of faith. Its characterisation is brilliant, subtle and at the same time overwhelming. You really get to know and love the central characters, and I challenge anyone not to bawl their eyes out by page 270. The plot is fast-paced (definitely the sort of book you read under the table or by torchlight under the sheets) and the suspense is not prefaced by knowledge of the final outcome. But its most redeeming feature is that its moral tone isn't didactic. It is a genuinely good book, which will inspire any reader to greater acts of kindness towards their fellow humans.

Recommended to every reader. Now how can I enforce that??

Particularly recommended to those with an interest in the American history of slavery.

Beowulf - Translated by Burton Raffel

Recommended for all ages.

Move over Homer, I've got a new favourite epic poem. And possibly a new favourite book (!)

Beowulf is extraordinary. It's an incredible epic poem (very-long poem) about the adventures of Beowulf. Full of wars and battles, kings and dragons, treasure and kinship, Beowulf comes off as the ultimate guy. Move over Edward Cullen - Beowulf is so much smarter, kinder, more generous, strong and clever, and ultimately more awesome.

At first I thought this book would be a struggle - I've found the language of other epic poems really hard to get into (Homer, Milton etc), but this particular translation (from Old English into new) was very reader-friendly. Raffel did a marvellous job translating the beautiful language into something readable, to the point where I could hardly put the book down.

All in all, it's a brilliant translation of a gripping story, and readers of every age will love it. Particularly if those readers love tales of ancient glory!

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol 1 The Pox Party - M.T. Anderson

Recommended for ages 8-adult.

Thought I'd tackle this book with a ridiculously long name as it was on the New York Times bestseller list a while ago.

I don't see why.

Anderson explores the concepts of slavery and human dignity amidst the setting of the Boston Tea Party et al, while commenting on the incompetence of philosophical societies at the time. Sadly, Anderson's attempts to replicate the language of the past has made his book somewhat inaccessible for the average reader. I don't know why he makes such an effort, given the thematic complexity of the book. It's a challenging book in terms of its length, its vocabulary and its perspectives. That's not to say that challenging books aren't worth reading, but I just didn't enjoy this one.

I didn't really connect with any of the characters, and found the end quite unsatisfying. I also got bored reading during the battle scenes, and thought the overall storyline wasn't too well though out.

BUT I did think Anderson was clever in employing the device of scratching out pages of Octavian's thoughts - it really told the reader more about Octavian's grief than words ever could.

Perhaps this is a book better suited to boys, or readers particularly interested in American history...

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

Recommended for ages 12-adult.

Charles Dickens appears on just about every "Top 100" book list you can find, and for a good reason - the guy was a masterful storyteller. He weaves a magical web of language that makes his books as enjoyable to listen to as comprehend. You don't have to understand the complex plot of this book to be mesmerised by his metaphors and turns of phrase. And the guy is pretty funny too - more than once I burst out laughing at his expressions (not a good look if you're in the USA Social Security offices like I was...) 

In A Tale of Two Cities Dickens crafts a dramatic tale of espionage, adventure and love. Although I found the first half of the book slow-going (owing to my increasing exposure to the {for the most part} simple and poor-quality novels available today), the dénouement and final conclusions of this book left me reeling. It deals with the almost-forgotten codes of decency, gallantry, justice and family by exposing a time where each struggled to survive: the French Revolution. You will love Dicken's central characters: Lucie, Charles, Mr Lorry, and ultimately even the incorrigible Sydney Carlton. You will gasp in horror at the sinister Madame Defarge and her knitting. And you will cry (more than you did in the Hunger Games series) bitter-sweet tears at the courage of the little seamstress and the knowledge she carries to the guillotine.

Lots of young adult fiction works today dramatise and heighten their suspense and romance to the point where it is almost unbelievable. Dickens doesn't. Instead, his portrayal of human emotion is sincere and often understated. He chooses to show, rather than tell you how much his characters love and hate one another, and in doing so sets himself apart from his weaker counterpart authors. Let yourself be caught up in the turbulence and uncertainty, the terror and treason that is the French Revolution.

Recommended for kids over 12, because of the language complexity more than anything. Stick with it until you have gotten into a 'Dickens groove' and can really enjoy it.

Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry - Mildred D. Taylor

Recommended for ages 8-adult.

From the very first page of this book, I knew it was going to be powerful. Taylor's brief note makes it clear that this book is personal. Her two strongest male characters are based on her father, who died a week earlier. And the stories they form part of are taken from Taylor's own family history. A history of oppression and slavery in America's Deep South.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a (fictional) account of the life and times of Cassie Logan, an African-American girl living in Mississippi in the 1930's. Cassie has a deep sense of justice which is starting to awaken as she witnesses terrible things happening to other African-American families in her neighbourhood. Her older brother Stacey seems to know how to act around the white members of their community, but Cassie just can't see why she should be pushed into the gutter by a grown man when she refused to get off the pavement as he passed.

This is a beautiful, significant and powerful coming-of-age story which will inspire any reader to stand up and fight for your principles. But I can't promise you a happy ending.

Recommended for ages 8-adult. Truly a classic tale.

PS Some people think this novel should replace To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) as a key text in schools, but I think I prefer the latter. Thoughts?

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

Recommended for ages 15-adult.

The Help was recommended to me recently because of Stockett's unique writing style. It paints a vivid picture of American life in the Deep South in the 1960's, where politics were all about black and white. Written in three voices, The Help explores the world of the Black hired help through three beautifully crafted characters. Aibileen is a wise old woman with plenty of years of domestic service under her belt. Her friend, Minny, is a brassy woman with an awful reputation for speaking her mind to her employers. And Skeeter is the young white woman who dared to try to help them, losing her love but gaining her parents respect through her struggle.

This book kept me riveted to my seat and occupied all my waking thoughts until I finished it. The complex plot was tightly constructed, and then fleshed out with realism and clarity. Stockett's characters are adorable and very believable. From the insidious Hilly, to the almost hateful Elizabeth, Stockett's characterisation will make you laugh and cry.

Recommended for kids over 15 years old because The Help deals with some pretty confronting aspects of human nature including racism, hatred, domestic violence, and miscarriage.

Into White Silence - Anthony Eaton

Recommended for ages15-18.

Every now and then you stumble across a really unusual story, one which plays with story conventions, or challenges you to think in new ways about something you thought you understood. "Into White Silence" is an extraordinary book for both those reasons. It has a haunting power to it, dragging you back time and time again by some mysterious quality.

On a narrative level, it tells the story of Lieutenant William Downes and his companions onboard the doomed vessel "Raven", as it heads south to explore Antarctica in 1922. Their tale is one of "tragic future, of ice, ambition and madness". Inasmuch this story is like any other tale of Antarctic adventure, but for one difference. The narrator who retells their story is not an omniscient (all-knowing) powerful narrator. It is in fact the author himself, simply retelling a story he happened to stumble across during a holiday in the 1990's. This very fact adds so much credibility to the story, that you will be left reeling with the profundity of Downes' final words.

Although marketed as a work of fiction, every part of you will want to believe this book. In terms of its believability, it outclasses the majority of other books I've read. In terms of readability, you will need to have an interest in historical fiction to enjoy Eaton's discussions of ship life, although the human stories within the book will move even the most stubborn reader.

Recommended for people who enjoy fiction which could very well be true, ages 15 and over. This is because younger readers would probably get bogged down in the historical detail. Also because Eaton's descriptions of madness and the violence of ambition could startle kids under 15.