Review: Once Upon a Stranger by Dr Gillian Sandstrom

I regularly make small talk and engage with strangers so it might surprise those who know me that I'd be interested in reading a book like Once Upon a Stranger - The Science of How 'Small Talk' Can Add Up to a Big Life by Dr Gillian Sandstrom. This book serves as a how-to for readers who find it uncomfortable to make small talk with people they know let alone those they don't know.

I'm an extrovert who frequently overcomes the fear of rejection or an awkward interaction to make an effort to exchange a few words with people. It might be in the lift, in a store or at a concert and most of the time these small exchanges are fun and pleasant, although sometimes they make my husband cringe. The reason I wanted to delve deeper into this topic is because we're in a loneliness epidemic and I worry that younger generations are losing their social skills.

Dr Gillian Sandstrom is an Associate Professor in the Psychology of Kindness - I didn't know that was a thing either - and clearly outlines the purpose of her book in the introduction.

"Now, not only do I regularly talk to strangers, I also study talking to strangers for a living, as a professor of psychology. (I'm a researcher, not a therapist or clinical psychologist - no couches in sight.) I've made it my scientific mission to understand the reasons that we feel anxious about talking to strangers and all the ways that we benefit if we're able to push past our fears. In this book, I'll share what I (and other researchers) have learned." Page 4

As a person who already practices the art of small talk, the author was essentially preaching to the choir, as I already understand and regularly experience the mutual benefits of engaging with a stranger.

I've noticed a cultural shift away from chatting on the phone or making phone calls and an increased reliance on text messages and email correspondence. Just this week the only way I could contact a new business I wanted to book a consultation with was via a WhatsApp text. I phoned another business and left a message to make an appointment and they didn't answer but texted me straight back instead. For years now, businesses have been asking customers on hold to their call centres to visit their website instead and now when you want to do something it has to be done via their App. Gah! Apart from being frustrating for those of us who are 'old school' this technology is stripping away social interactions and as a result, younger generations have real anxiety about initiating a conversation with another person or even answering their phone.

"A recent market research poll even found that 20 percent of women and 46 percent of men felt somewhat or very confident that they could land a plane if the pilot was incapacitated - a feat that, according to experts, would be nearly impossible for someone with no experience. In other words, many of us think we'd have almost as good a chance of landing a plane as we do of successfully navigating a conversation with a stranger at a party. This is not only ridiculous but untrue". Page 29

A new to me term I learned in the book is 'polite civil inattention'. An example of this is noticing someone at a bus stop or in a lift but actively choosing not to make direct eye contact or engage with them. It's an unspoken social norm where people acknowledge the presence of strangers in public with a brief glance but then quickly look away.

While acknowledging this is sometimes necessary, Sandstrom encourages readers to consider moving beyond civil inattention to interacting with a stranger, repeatedly extolling the virtues of short interactions that can boost our mood, our confidence and our sense of human connection in the world.

While I was reading Once Upon a Stranger, I became acutely aware of the times I initiate conversation with strangers and the author's right, I end up feeling good about it each and every time. I recently made eye contact with a woman at the local op shop while having a quick browse after making a donation and she immediately asked me to read the maker's mark on the back of a plate for her. I had to get my glasses out and we had a laugh and she said I'd made her day. She could just as easily have taken it up to the counter but there's something about helping another person that feels good.

Sandstrom also writes about experiencing shared reality and how it makes us feel connected to other people and gives us a sense of belonging. I experience this at the Dawn Service on ANZAC Day and it's the magic behind attending a music concert and singing the lyrics of a favourite song along with thousands of other fans.

I also loved learning the new (to me) french term esprit d'escalier and realised I regularly suffer from it myself:

"There have been several occasions when, after walking away from a conversation with a stranger, I think of something that I wish I'd said (often a joke I wished I'd made) or a question I wish I'd asked... There's a French term for this: esprit d'escalier. It literally means "wit of the staircase" - thinking of the perfect thing to say only after leaving the room and walking down the stairs." Page 163

For some reason, Sandstrom gives the negative self talk many people experience when it comes to the fear of talking to strangers a name and I found it incredibly condescending and annoying.

"This negative voice is, unfortunately, a main character in our lives and in this book, so I think it needs a name. Given its insidious nature, I'm going to call this devious character Sid. I'm hoping that, by giving this voice a name, we'll be able to think about it in a more objective way and learn to question and challenge it. (I encourage you to give yours a silly name too.)" Page 15

Indeed, I found this very silly and the continual and repeated mention of Sid throughout the entire text grated on my nerves quickly and cost the book a star.

The entire time I was reading this, I was looking forward to the How-To Appendix flagged on page 7, and expected to see a list with some recommended conversations starters. The Appendix provides commentary on choosing a person to start a conversation with and the situation but not a list of suggested words to say. The author gives us her favourite conversation starter of "whatcha doing" but I was disappointed not to find a lengthy list of conversation starters in the appendix and it would have been a terrific addition to the book. Alas, another star was deducted for the lost opportunity.

Once Upon a Stranger - The Science of How 'Small Talk' Can Add Up to a Big Life by Dr Gillian Sandstrom is recommended for readers who struggle to make small talk or see the value in it. Those who see the opportunities and advantages it provides and wish they had the confidence to engage with strangers more often will also benefit from the advice offered here.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Review: Sirens by Martin McKenzie-Murray

It was a pleasure to attend the book launch for Sirens - Inside the Shadow World of First Responders by Martin McKenzie-Murray back in April this year. Sirens features the experiences of three first responders, Peter - Paramedic, Brett - Police Officer and Tara - Firefighter. Retired Police Officer Brett Kersten and I met in 2010, have been close friends ever since and he's The Copper in Sirens. Brett has openly shared the darkest sides of his service related PTSD and difficult upbringing with me, so I was thrilled for him when he excitedly told me he was being interviewed for this book. His is a touching and incredible story, yet these projects take time and along the way I eagerly helped to proofread the chapters about his life and career and keenly awaited the launch of the finished product, Sirens.

I was proud of Brett's involvement at the launch hosted by Gideon Haigh held at Readings Carlton and it was wonderful to receive a copy of the finished product with an inscription from both Brett and Martin McKenzie-Murray. However I did wonder whether it would feel right to review Sirens, given my personal involvement and deep knowledge of one of the key subjects. It's been a few months and I've finally decided that yes, I will try and review Sirens objectively, while openly disclosing my bias.

It was clear at the book launch that Australian author and journalist Martin McKenzie-Murray is a literary intellectual and brought those skills to bear when he viewed the world of first responders and the lives of these three subjects - Peter, Brett and Tara - through that critical journalistic lens.

In a helpful message to the reader at the beginning of the book, the author lets us know that difficult subjects are going to be recounted and helpfully provides a list of support services available in Australia. However the Introduction that followed instantly felt self-indulgent. As a journalist, I thought the author was going to largely leave himself out of this examination, yet he is front and centre from page one with a recurring nightmare, anxiety, intrusive memories, sexual abuse and his eventual PTSD diagnosis.

This background does serve to explain how the author became interested in first responders and their career inducing PTSD, but this could just as easily have come at the end.

Peter James is a retired paramedic living in Tasmania and is the first to be introduced. Peter was involved in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 and was one of the paramedics supporting trapped miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb in the Beaconsfield disaster in 2006.

Amongst tales of Peter's trip to Scotland, I was confused when the author started writing about William Wordsworth and John Keats, even going so far as to include poetry from Wordsworth and an excerpt from a letter by Keats. I'm sure the connection was relevant from McKenzie-Murray's standpoint, but it seemed off track and completely irrelevant to this reader.

Further on there's a lot of content about Simon Webb, a Clinical Psychologist working with emergency personnel, including involvement at Port Arthur with Peter. Presumably introduced to offer another viewpoint on Peter's experiences, the reader didn't then need to learn about Webb's upbringing, career in the Army, injuries in the Vietnam war and his own subsequent PTSD. I certainly didn't care to know about Webb's 3 failed marriages, where he lived at the time of writing or how he spent his spare time. I understand the author had his own relationship with Simon Webb, but the detailed account of his illness and subsequent passing and funeral didn't seem to have anything to do with the overarching purpose of the book, other than Peter and Martin's shared history and desire to honour a man they both respected.

Relying on black humour and drinking to cope with the trauma experienced as a Paramedic, Peter retired in 2019 and continues to suffer the devastating effects of PTSD.

Book launch (L-R):
Martin McKenzie-Murray, Brett Kersten,
Peter James and Tara Lal

Moving on to Brett's section of the book, the author takes care discussing Brett's difficult childhood, even going so far as to call it Dickensian. Brett and his younger brother were abandoned as children when his mother took off with their sister and left them to fend for themselves with an alcoholic father who was rarely home. Brett and his brother lived rough on the streets of Queensland before eventually being institutionalised in the Christian Brothers’ orphanage in South Melbourne.

Where Brett's experience of this traumatic upbringing morphed into a respect for authority and led him to join the Australian Regular Army and later the Victoria Police, his brother developed a deep distrust of authority and they subsequently drifted apart. As with the inclusion of Simon Webb in Peter's section of the book, the relevance of Brett's brother Adam beyond this point was questionable.

Always striving to live a life of service to others and his community, it was these shared values and career in the ADF and Victoria Police that strengthened my friendship with Brett in the early days and thankfully they shine in this book.

Brett used dark humour as a coping mechanism early on - as did his colleagues - but in the book the author recounts an occasion where an attempt at black humour aimed at easing the distress of a junior colleague missed the mark.

"I wondered if Brett wasn't also trying to induct his partner into a world where a calloused familiarity with the obscene was not only necessary but expressed with cowboy puerility. In my experience, coppers have both a fierce belief in the usefulness of black humour and a zealous sense of entitlement to its use. And with good reason. In a profession that exposes its members to macabre destructions, they don't appreciate outsiders policing their humour." Page 126-127

For some readers this won't show Brett in a good light and while the author repeatedly confirmed - at the book launch - he didn't set out to write a hagiography, I didn't believe this inclusion was necessary. It's not the only unfavourable scene to feature in the book, Peter is shown in an uncomplimentary scene as well.

Tara Lal is the final of the three subjects and joined the NSW Fire Brigade training college in 2005. The following anecdote reminded me of my own training when she was describing how much trainees sweated during the 'hot cell' training, which involved navigating an intensely heated metal maze wearing full gear while blindfolded.

"Tara would later remove her boots and pour the stuff out like she was tipping a jug of beer". Page 148

Sounds intense doesn't it? (I did NBCD training in the Royal Australian Navy and never sweated that much). Tara also experienced more grief and heartbreak than most in her life which made it downright gobsmacking when the author introduced writer JG Ballard into her narrative. We're told about his experience as a prisoner of war - like the author's grandfather, is that the reason for the inclusion? - the death of Ballard's wife, his drinking and his writing. All of this was hugely jarring and if it was an attempt to provide respite from the heavy content of Tara's story or the book as a whole, all it did was deliver a juxtaposition I found deeply distracting and somewhat indulgent.

"I'm aware of the risk, as I write this book, of numbing you, the reader, with a repetitive anthology of carnage. I'm sensitive to leavening it, truncating it, and removing things altogether. I'm sensitive to your notional appetites and stamina, as I'm sensitive to the elements of crafting a book - of building and releasing tension, for example, but also of handling macabre material in a manner that neither corrupts it, nor alienates you." Page 134

Tara retired after 20 years service and I was impressed by how much she has changed in the time since. Learning to let go of the desire for structure, stability and control and her ability to accept life's uncertainty and chaos is truly inspiring.

In conclusion, there's too much of the author in Sirens. Even in the Afterword, McKenzie-Murray largely writes about his grandfather, gives us an interesting story from his time working with Victoria Police better placed earlier and four pages about Ernest Hemingway. Every writer deeply inhabits their project, however it felt to me that a sharp editor should have plucked out the personal content and encouraged the author to set that aside for another day. The lofty writing style also seemed incongruous with the three subjects and their chosen professions.

Instead I'd have preferred the focus to remain on the physical and psychological effects of the often terrible work first responders are called on to do each and every day. As a journalist, McKenzie-Murray was uniquely positioned to seek advice as to how we as members of the public can be kinder to the first responders we come in contact with. He could also have interrogated the ways in which we can learn lessons from the past and better manage the workplace stresses of these roles. Reading their stories I wanted to know how and what we should be advocating for to improve the career prospects of future paramedics, police officers and fire fighters.

I'm reading a book now about sleep and in it the author writes that if first responders drink alcohol after a traumatic shift, work long hours without a break - like Peter did at Port Arthur - and don't get an adequate amount of sleep required to clear the emotions from the events of that day, they will develop PTSD symptoms from just that one shift for the rest of their lives. The fact they do this on a regular basis explains how first responders are often crippled by PTSD by the end of their careers, if not before. This is an entirely new way of thinking and requires a significant cultural shift in all three emergency services and I'd loved to have seen the author discuss matters like this in Sirens in a 'where to from here' approach.

Instead I was left with little hope for the future of those who often meet people on the worst day of their lives.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Holy Days Winners Announced

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway to win 1 of 2 double passes to see Holy Days. The movie opens in cinemas this week and everyone correctly identified that Holy Days is a comedy set in New Zealand.

The giveaway closed at midnight last night and I drew the two lucky winners today. Congratulations go to:

Thomas & Diana

Congratulations Thomas and Diana, you're both off to the cinema thanks to Kismet Movies. But don't worry, you don't have to go together, you've each won a double pass to see Holy Days valued at $40 so you can go with a friend or family member. I'll be emailing your tickets shortly and hope you enjoy the film.

Carpe Librum!

Review: Chasing Evil by Robert Hilland and John Edward

Chasing Evil - Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent's Search for Hope and Justice by Robert Hilland, John Edward and Natasha Stoynoff might end up being my favourite audiobook of 2026, although we still have a few months before the end of the year.

Written from the first-person perspective of Robert (Bob) Hilland, Chasing Evil is largely about his career as an FBI Agent. In the late 1990s, Hilland was working on the cold case of serial killer John Smith when he noticed the rise of John Edward's popularity as a psychic on the radio.

A resolute skeptic convinced of Smith's guilt but desperate for new leads on the case, Hilland reached out and made an appointment to see psychic medium John Edward. The year was 1998, and he took along a number of items belonging to a missing woman from the case and threw in some control items from female colleagues as a test of sorts. At the end of the meeting, Hilland's entire world view had shifted. John Edward identified the control items immediately and communicated information that he couldn't possibly have known, making Bob a believer in the spirit world in a matter of hours.

John agreed to work with Bob on the condition that his involvement was off the books and completely off the record. This surprised Hilland - thinking John would want to capitalise on the involvement to boost his reputation and profile - but readily agreed. We're told that this reluctance of Edward's came from a fear of disappointing or embarrassing his father who worked in the NYPD and who had asked him not to work with Police.

Reading a book about their collaboration naturally made me wonder how they went from keeping John's involvement secret to his agreement to be the subject and co-author of this book, but unfortunately this change was never explained. In the face of this glaring omission I can only assume John felt more comfortable for his work with the FBI to become public following his father's death, but this is pure supposition.

Hilland worked on a number of cases in his career but it's fair to say John Smith was his white whale, and was responsible for multiple deaths and disappearances. Chasing Evil was published in 2025, and I had to exercise a huge amount of self discipline and restraint not to look up the cases he was investigating to find out what happened. Instead, I waited for Hilland to tell me as the book unfolded and ended up listening at additional times during the day in order to hasten the process.

The audiobook is narrated by Hilland and Edward and early on there seemed to be a lot of sound effects added - creepy music, the sound of writing on a whiteboard - but thankfully these featured less and less as the audiobook went on. Co-author and collaborator Natasha Stoynoff helped to bring both of their experiences together in the book which felt cohesive and flowed exceptionally well.

Throughout his career, John's psychic ability helped Bob find bodies, make arrests and close cases. They worked so closely together that after 25 years they became as close as brothers. It was a touching relationship developed over a shared interest in fighting against evil and I got the sense they chased evil together; making the title entirely appropriate.

I read and enjoyed Crossing Over by John Edward in 2011 and have seen him perform live in Melbourne several times. I eventually stopped going or reading any more of his books because I found his delivery style a little arrogant. He's so confident in his gift, and he receives and delivers his information so quickly that he often comes across to me as insensitive. With so many people wanting readings and so many spirits hounding him to be heard, I imagine the pressure to be something akin to being an author in a signing line with a massive queue and a tonne of fans on his side of the desk pushing and shoving for his attention. In an environment like this he's unlikely to stop and pause and have meaningful interactions with a select few people, but prioritise quantity over quality but the end result can seem a little uncaring. Not long after finishing this book I saw that John Edward is returning to Melbourne in December and after reading this book and admiring his work again, it felt like the perfect time to go and see him. I can't wait.

Chasing Evil by Robert Hilland and John Edward is highly recommended for fans of true crime, skeptics and believers alike and I loved it!

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

WIN 1 of 2 Double Passes to see Holy Days

* Giveaway courtesy of Kismet Movies *

Intro

Can you smell popcorn? That's because I'm back again with more movie tickets up for grabs for lucky Carpe Librum readers. Holy Days is a comedy set in New Zealand starring Miriam Margolyes, Judy Davis and Jacki Weaver based on the book by the same name written by Kiwi author Dame Joy Cowley.

Holy Days is in cinemas from 6 August 2026 and I've teamed up with Kismet Movies to give away 2 double passes for the film valued at $40 per double pass. Enter below and you could be off to the movies!

Synopsis

In 1970s New Zealand, young Brian is devastated by the loss of his mother and determined to stop his dad from marrying the woman he sees as her replacement. Convinced he can reach his mother through prayer and penance, Brian finds refuge at a run-down convent with three delightfully eccentric elderly nuns. But when he overhears plans to shut the convent down and split the sisters apart, sending the most vulnerable to a terrifying institution, Brian sparks an unlikely mission: escape to the Southern Alps to find a former nun-turned-lawyer who might just save them all. For Brian, it’s more than a legal battle—he believes this is the miracle he’s been praying for, a chance to reunite with his mother atop the sacred mountain, Aoraki.

What follows is a wild, hilarious, and heartwarming road trip as a boy and three nuns face down their fears, outwit crooked officials, lose a sister to fishmongers, and even cash a bet shop win, all while racing against time to save their beloved convent. With its soul firmly planted in faith, family, and fierce loyalty, Holy Days is a joyful comedy packed with heart, humour, and high-speed hijinks. It’s a story about letting go, holding on, and finding home in the most unexpected places.

You can check out the trailer here and find out more details about the movie including which cinemas will be playing the film here.

Giveaway

This giveaway has now closed. It was open to entrants in Australia and entries closed at midnight AEST Sunday 2 August 2026. The double passes will be emailed, enabling the lucky winners to plan and attend the screening from the opening day onwards. Thanks to Kismet Movies for the giveaway and good luck!

Carpe Librum!

Review: The Madman's Gallery by Edward Brooke-Hitching

The Madman's Gallery - The Strangest Paintings, Sculptures and Other Curiosities from the History of Art by Edward Brooke-Hitching is an exploration of art through time, beginning in 38,000BC right up to 2021 and comprises drawings, paintings, sculptures and more. The author makes clear what the reader can expect to find in this illustrated book:

"While the bulk of art history books focus on the revolutionary and traditionally revered works, The Madman's Gallery is intended to offer an alternative guided tour of art history, focusing instead on the oddities, the forgotten, the freakish, all with stories that offer glimpses of the lives of their creators and their eras." Page 10

As I was reading the first half of the book, I didn't think it was an eccentric exploration of the strangest artwork and oddities ever made, but now that I've finished I can begin to appreciate the collection as a whole.

The Portrait of Gregor Baci - who was a Hungarian nobleman impaled with a lance during a jousting tournament but who shockingly lived another year with the sawn-off piece of wood entering his right eye and exiting through his neck - sent me off to Wikipedia to find out more.

Looking at the portrait of Federico Da Montefeltro by Piero Della Francesca it's impossible not to notice the notch missing from the top of his nose. The initial injury was the result of a jousting accident in 1450, where an opponent's lance pierced his helmet, shattered his nasal bridge and caused the loss of his right eye. According to historical accounts and medical historians, Federico intentionally had surgeons amputate the remaining bridge of his nose to widen the visual field of his remaining left eye. Jousting is dangerous people!

Religious artworks abound in this collection, and predictably the work of Hieronymus Bosch is included and later the controversial and highly offensive 'work' of Andres Serrano (Immersion) was mentioned but thankfully not included in the book.

I couldn't help wondering what 17th century viewers made of The Miraculous Lactation of St Bernard (1645-52) where Alonso Cano depicted the moment when the twelfth-century St Bernard received a miraculous stream of breast milk from a statue of the Virgin Mary. To me it looks both offensive and utterly ridiculous, making it an understandable inclusion in The Madman's Gallery.

I greatly enjoyed learning about Mr Barker's monster panoramas that caused Queen Charlotte to vomit into a lace handkerchief in Leicester Square in London 1794. They were gargantuan hand-painted 360 degree panoramas that spanned 250m2 and they gave the Georgian population of the time the equivalent of a virtual reality experience as they viewed the various city views, landscapes and battle scenes making some viewers feel queasy.

Francisco Goya's Black Paintings which includes the famous Saturn Devouring His Son (1819-1823) that so shocked and interested me at High School is also included.

However a new to me painting was The Coronation of Ines De Castro in 1361 (c.1849) by Pierre Charles Comte which captures the crowning of the wife of the King of Portugal, four years after her death. The King at the time ordered his deceased wife's body to be exhumed and crowned four years after her death in order to legitimise their children together. What a bizarre event and it definitely makes for a strange painting.

In more recent works, The Artist is Present performed by Marina Abramovic in 2010 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York is included and became the subject of The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose years later.

The Madman's Gallery - The Strangest Paintings, Sculptures and Other Curiosities from the History of Art by Edward Brooke-Hitching paints a good picture that will appeal to readers with an interest in art and art history. I'm glad I read it, but I think I preferred his other book, The Madman's Library - The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Review & How To Read S by Doug Dorst and J.J. Abrams

Have you ever held a book in your hands and not known how to read it? I have and it was a completely new experience. S was written by Doug Dorst but it was conceived by J.J. Abrams (Lost, Fringe) and the author is often listed as Dorst or Abrams or both.

Brace yourself because it's about to become complicated. The book is called S and consists of a hardback book called Ship of Theseus by V.M. Straka. (Confused yet?) Inside this beautifully produced hardback edition of Ship of Theseus are margin notes between two people, Eric and Jen.

You can easily identify the contributors from their handwriting style, and the first margin notes in pencil belong to Eric, then Jen finds the book and begins to leave her notes. As the book continues, the colour of ink they use changes several times, indicating the point in time at which they left their comments, some of which are even on the same page. You can think of this as a long conversation between two people over time as they leave their comments inside the book in the library for the other person to pick up. You also need to suspend your disbelief that two students would continue their protracted conversation in this time consuming and convoluted fashion rather than moving to a texting platform.

The conversation discusses the book within a book Ship of Theseus and the author Straka in addition to their personal lives and are colour coded as follows:

• Eric's notes before meeting Jen are in pencil.
• Eric is then using black ink and Jen's replies are in blue ink.
• Eric than uses green ink and Jen uses orange.
• Eric changes to red and Jen uses purple ink.
• Finally, Eric and Jen both use black ink.

As if that wasn't enough, throughout the book are various inserts that further add to the story. They include items like postcards, letters, newspaper cuttings, photographs and even a napkin. When I bought the book it came in a lovely slip case and the items were evenly dispersed throughout the book. I tried to keep them from falling out when I started reading but it soon became apparent that was going to be impossible. I frustratingly considered making a list detailing the page number location for each item but thankfully a helpful reader had already done that. (Check out the Ship of Theseus Wiki where you can see each of the inserts and if you zoom in you can see the margin notes between Eric and Jen).

Oh, and did I mention there are also footnotes? THIS is why I had no idea where to start reading S. When considered as a whole, S is a genre busting and revolutionary interactive book and puzzle in one and it's been staring me down on my bookshelf for far too long.

I wondered if I should read Ship of Theseus first. Should I read the margin notes as I go, or read the colour coded conversations in chronological order? Should I look at the inserts at the relevant page or study them at the end?

I'm not kidding when I say that I had to turn to Dr Google and found that those who love this book recommend reading Ship of Theseus first, without marginalia or inserts. Some reviewers recommend reading S a total of 4-6 times in order to fully appreciate it, Ship of Theseus first, then again with the first coloured margin notes, then again with the following coloured marginalia and inserts and so on. Phew!

So it was with a great deal of trepidation that I began reading and what I discovered immediately is that my eyes naturally drifted to the comments from Eric and Jen in the margins. I couldn't help it! I also found myself reading the footnotes and their abstract nature and tiny font annoyed me.

The basic plot is that the protagonist has amnesia, and finds himself kidnapped and taken to a ship. Those familiar with the ancient Greek paradox that questions whether an object remains the same if all components of it are completely replaced over time will be nodding in recognition. If every part of a ship is removed and replaced is it still the same Ship of Theseus? And if a ship is constructed from the parts removed, is that also the Ship of Theseus? And if so, which is the true Ship of Theseus?

Our protagonist ends up on this ship that is constantly changing but I didn't find an answer to this thought experiment because the plot was too bizarre. On a quest from the beginning to find out who he is and where he's from, the protagonist struggles to survive and ends up fighting what he considers to be a just cause. And then at the end he decides he no longer cares who he was/is, ummm WTF?

There were some moments of good writing I enjoyed, like this character observation about a newly met companion:

"Osfour has kept up a steady patter of nonsense (bland and meandering stories about people S. does not know, complaints about his digestive health, and exegeses on the volatile price of a particular tea and the aphrodisiac qualities of a particular wine), the constancy of which S has come to find companionable." Page 231

While all of this is happening, Eric and Jen are discussing the author V.M Straka and exploring a conspiracy theory as to the true identity of the reclusive left-wing writer.

"What does it all add up to, this farrago of images and words and voices and lives and nonsense and rants and fever-dreams and soliloquies and abject lies? What is he making, line by line, page by page?" Page 310

This quote from the book pretty much sums up the entire reading experience for me. I love the detailed concept of a central story, the layered conversations between two readers in the margins along with the intriguing variety of inserts, however the plot was too fantastical and impenetrable for me to become invested.

I'm guessing the moral is to fight against evil wherever we find it, and even if we don't believe we can stop it, every individual should at least try. You could apply this universal message to politics, environment and conflict throughout the world, but once I realised I didn’t particularly enjoy the central story, I found I had very little interest in pursuing Eric and Jen’s conversations about the book or their interest in the author’s identity or associated conspiracy. Nor did I want to spend more valuable reading time exploring this another 3-4 times just in case I was missing a transformational reading experience.

The production value alone is worth buying this book and why it'll remain proudly on my bookshelves but ultimately I've decided not to continue the reading process.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Scammers continue to target Carpe Librum

It's come to my attention that the fraudulent behaviour identified back in April in my announcement entitled Important Notice: Fraudulent Behaviour is still happening.

The scammers have changed tactics and email addresses but the scam is essentially the same. They're contacting authors and providing a letter of engagement offering paid collaborations in my name, Tracey Allen, Carpe Librum. The scammers are offering four strategic partnership tiers starting at $275 for an 'essential visibility package', $500 for a 'strategic feature package', $750 for a 'premium amplification package' and $1,250 for an 'elite literary authority partnership'.

I'm listing all of their phoney packages and prices here in the hope that more authors Googling my name will come across this post and realise it's an elaborate scam before parting with a single cent of their hard earned money.

I can proudly say I’ve never charged an author a single dollar, but to know these low-lives are still out there scamming authors for outrageous amounts of money in my name is infuriating.

Please let me be clear, I only communicate using the following email address: tracey@carpelibrum.net so if you receive an email from carpelibrum415@gmail.com, carpelibruim@gmail.com or any other email address please treat it as suspicious.

Okay, I think I need to take a few deep breaths now and let you get back to your bookish content while I go and attempt to make a start on a few outstanding book reviews.

Carpe Librum!

Review: Castles in the Air by Judy Corbett

Castles in the Air - The Restoration Adventures of Two Young Optimists and a Crumbling Old Mansion by Judy Corbett charts the process of renovating Gwydir Castle located in North Wales. When the couple first purchased this fortified manor house, it was a derelict home to animals, chickens, horses, birds and bats, yet Judy Corbett and her husband Peter Welford had a vision to restore the 500 year old property to its former glory.

Before finding and purchasing Gwydir, the couple had visited several properties and I enjoyed hearing the method by which the author decided if a potential house was suitable to live in.

"The yardstick by which I measured the suitability of any potential house was whether I could imagine myself reading in it. Gwidr was unquestionably a reader's house." Chapter 1

What follows is a description of the renovation process, which began with clearing up the debris left behind from the period the property was used as a nightclub for raves. With a limited budget, the couple do most of the work themselves and Corbett shares how they slowly begin to make money by offering tours of the castle.

The research involved in tracking down historical furniture and wall paneling belonging to Gwydir and sold off at different points in history was inspiring. Some of the furniture has been re-purchased or donated and I found it particularly interesting that the 1640s dining room panelling was located in a warehouse in New York. It was subsequently returned and reinstalled in 1998, however, the 16th century panelling from the oak parlour is still missing and I admired the author's dogged determination to track it down.

I was disappointed when the couple decided not to inform the local police when they unearthed a human skull during the renovation in the cellar. At the time of writing at least the skull sits in Peter's room waiting to be painted and is the focus of a memento mori display, complete with roses and hourglass. I found this to be in poor taste and would have better understood if they'd left it where it was found, rather than handling it and taking it upstairs to be studied. I did enjoy the - unrelated - section about the ghost though.

Published in 2004, I recently watched an interview with the author Judy Corbett - primarily so that I could take a look at the magnificent property - and immediately noticed she doesn't sound like the audiobook narrator at all! Castles in the Air is narrated by the prolific Charlotte Strevens who has a refined and posh sounding accent (at least to my ears) and it gave me the impression the author was a generation or two older and potentially from a wealthy upper class background. Don't get me wrong, the narrator did a terrific job but I didn't understand the reason for this creative direction.

Castles in the Air by Judy Corbett was a comfort listen and will appeal to those interested in Welsh history, Tudor architecture, structural renovation and interior restoration.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

The Utility Belt Series Winners Announced

Thanks to everyone who entered my prize pack giveaway for The Utility Belt series by Sharon Giltrow. The two main characters in the series are Samara Rubin and Toby King, but there were a few incorrect answers and subsequent disqualifications so perhaps I made the question too difficult. I'll keep that in mind for next time.

The giveaway closed at midnight last night and the winners were drawn today. The two lucky winners are (drum roll):

Giovanna & Sharah

Congratulations! You've each won a prize pack valued at $35AUD containing a signed copy of Samara Rubin and The Utility Belt (Book 1), signed copy of Toby King and The Utility Belt (Book 2) and bookmarks thanks to the author, Sharon Giltrow.

You'll each receive an email from me shortly so that you can provide your postal address so start thinking about any inscriptions you might want inside your books and congratulations on your win. I hope your junior readers enjoy the series.

Carpe Librum!

Review: Atlas of Paranormal Places by Evelyn Hollow

Atlas of Paranormal Places - A Journey to the World's Most Supernatural Places by Evelyn Hollow is broken down into the following chapters: Haunted Places, Witchcraft, Sacred Sites, Myths & Legends, Strange Nature, and finally Cryptids & Creatures.

There's only one place listed for Australia, and I thought it would be the Devil's Pool, Babinda Boulders in Queensland but it's not. I'd never heard of Wycliffe Well in the Northern Territory but it's included in this atlas for its connection to UFO sightings, spies and ancient spiritual worship.

The atlas includes several locations familiar to this reader like the Catacombs in Paris, the Winchester Mystery House in California USA, Pendle Hill in Lancashire England, the Hanging Coffins of Sagada in the Philippines, Aokigahara Forest in Japan and the Door to Hell in Turkmenistan.

It was also nice to see the inclusion of Scotland's Bannockburn House in this collection as it was featured in the filming of the fantastic Outlander series.

However my favourite discovery of the book was that of Burg Eltz in Germany. Describing this twelfth century medieval German castle as a fairytale castle is an understatement. The home of the Eltz family for more than 800 years, it contains the ghost of a young woman who defended her home from an unwanted suitor and paid for her bravery with her life. Burg Eltz is one of the most wondrous castles I've ever seen and the photos on their website showcases the stunning grandeur of its architecture.

True to its name, the Atlas of Paranormal Places includes a world map at at the beginning of the book with each of the locations marked. Then each separate entry features a map page indicating the specific location of the place being described. My hardback edition borrowed from the library contained suitably themed end papers although I wish there were more photos included.

The Atlas of Paranormal Places - A Journey to the World's Most Supernatural Places by Evelyn Hollow enables the inquisitive reader to journey to paranormal places and explore geographic curiosities around the world, all from the safety of home.

And if you like the sound of this, you might also enjoy reading the Atlas of Improbable Places - A Journey to the World's Most Unusual Corners by Travis Elborough.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Middle Grade Giveaway: The Utility Belt Series by Sharon Giltrow

Intro

I promised another giveaway and this time I've teamed up with Romi from Books On Tour PR & Marketing to bring you not one but two middle grade prize packs! Enter below for your chance to win.

The Utility Belt series is written by Sharon Giltrow and illustrated by Thu Vu and it's a speculative junior fiction series with magical tools, cute sidekicks and a 'super' family.

Recommended for readers aged 6-12, each prize pack includes:

• Signed copy of Samara Rubin and The Utility Belt (Book 1)
• Signed copy of Toby King and The Utility Belt (Book 2)
• Bookmarks

Giveaway

This Carpe Librum giveaway has now closed. Thanks to the author Sharon Giltrow for providing these prize packs valued at $35 AUD each. The giveaway was open internationally and entries closed midnight AEST on Sunday 12 July 2026.

Carpe Librum!

Review: Tudor Fashion by Eleri Lynn

I've had Tudor Fashion by Eleri Lynn on my virtual TBR for - ahem - years but when I started reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel back in January, I thought it was finally time to request it from my local library. Eleri Lynn is the former curator of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Historic Royal Palaces and if the name rings a bell, that's because I recently reviewed another of her books Underwear - Fashion in Detail.

During the 1500s, dress was a form of competitive magnificence and was regularly reported on across the continent by ambassadors. And it's thanks to these letters that we have some detailed descriptions of the clothes being worn at court, particularly by the reigning monarch.

During the Tudor period (1485-1603), Sumptuary Laws were still in place and every member of society knew what they were - and were not - permitted to wear, creating clear class divides. However, a book about Tudor fashion is obviously going to focus on the most exquisite fabrics, needlework, embellishments, jewels and accessories of the time as that's where the level of craftsmanship is at its highest.

Much of what we know about fashion in the Tudor period - and earlier - has been obtained by studying the portraits painted at the time. To this end, several artworks are included in the book and serve to complement various descriptions of garments, jewels and accessories. Also included are photographs of several exhibits held by the V&A Museum, Historic Royal Palaces and other Trusts, museums and galleries around the world.

Given my motivation for exploring Tudor Fashion while reading Wolf Hall, I was thrilled to see the portrait of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex painted by Hans Holbein the Younger. Wolf Hall is about the life of Cromwell and this very portrait features in Mantel's book. Lynn also explains that Cromwell avoided the trappings of his station and instead chose to dress as a simple lawyer in black robes as he was not born into nobility.

I love reading about the Tudor period in particular but was still shocked to read just how enormous the Tudor household was.

"The Tudor household was vast: Henry VIII's numbered 1,500 at its height. The household consisted of three sections: the household above stairs, which fell under the control of the Lord Chamberlain; the household below stairs, which was presided over by the Lord Steward; and the stables, which was overseen by the Master of the Horse." Page 109

Fascinating isn't it? Lynn goes into further detail, outlining which staff were assigned to which areas of the household, who was entitled to wear livery and how it was produced and funded.

I thoroughly enjoyed the detailed section about dressing a Tudor lady or queen and given women didn't wash their hair often, I appreciated this insight as to how they kept their hair from becoming greasy:

"A combing cloth was then placed over her shoulders while her hair was rubbed with a warm cloth to remove grease and dandruff, then combed. A ready-styled and dressed wig would then be put on her hair." Page 137

It was also a nice reminder - for me - to read how crucial pins were in Tudor dress. Pins were the primary means of holding the various layers of clothing together and in 1559, 24,000 pins of different sizes were supplied to Queen Elizabeth I, with similar numbers provided every 6 months. In How To Be a Tudor by Ruth Goodman I learned that pins from this era are still being found in the Thames today and in Mudlarking - Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem, the author explained that pins accumulate and wash together in tangled metallic nests and that they're one of her favourite treasures to find because they're so ordinary.

Tudor Fashion by Eleri Lynn is an informative and enjoyable read and will appeal to those with an interest in fashion, history, conservation, art and the Tudor period.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Review: Rite of Spring by Kris Kneen

* Copy courtesy of Transit Lounge *

Miranda and Richard answer an advertisement in a nature magazine and agree to stay on an island off the coast of Tasmania for a period of six months. They'll be taking over from the previous caretakers but otherwise they'll be on their own in the remote wilderness the entire time. Taking all of their own supplies, the couple will be responsible for looking after the automated lighthouse and recording regular weather observations.

Miranda is recovering from a near death experience and the couple is reeling from Richard's infidelity. The environment is hostile, with winds so fierce that animals blow off the cliffs and down onto the rocks below. Yet somehow Miranda and Richard believe the seclusion, shared experience and time together will offer them the chance to heal their marriage. Yeah right! Obviously things were going to go wrong but I could never have guessed how.

Miranda is a Marine Biologist with a love of the ocean and spreadsheets.

"Keeping spreadsheets was not enough to distract her. She had revelled in the sorting and labelling of their produce, bought sticky labels for the bags, noting the date of drying, the variety of apple or pear or orange. She listed the total weight on each bag. When she had sealed one she lined it up next to all the others. The various colours and shapes were pleasing. This task appealed to something in her nature, perhaps the same thing that had drawn her to a career in marine biology." Page 21

The beginning of the book was easily my favourite part. Their arrival at the island demonstrates just how remote and cut off from the rest of the world they are, and the list of maintenance items was enormous. The weather takes a toll on every fixture and fitting and they're both energised by the physical challenges ahead. I especially enjoyed Miranda's planning for their trip.

"Her skills were easily transferrable to the planning for the island. She had measured out each meal - breakfast, lunch and snacks - planning them six months in advance, adding a few extra weeks of food in case the weather turned and stranded them on the island for longer than expected." Page 15

Getting set up and unpacking their supplies as the wind was howling outside my own bedroom window made me wish I could watch all of this unfolding on the big screen. Their optimism burst from the page and I was quick to share it. However, it soon becomes apparent Miranda is going through a lot more than first realised; she's physically recovering from a nasty accident, going through menopause and was already a person in flux.

It would be a spoiler to mention how things shift, but I can tell you there's a lot of sex in the book. If you're uncomfortable reading graphic sex scenes - and I'm not - then this is not for you. Having said that, the narrative goes further than just lots of sex and I think I'd call it dark erotica bordering on erotic horror.

There's quite a lot of poetry included in the book but much of it felt personal to the author and I had trouble connecting it to the narrative. There's also a heavy emphasis on Miranda feeling a lack of belonging her entire life and being different from everyone else that I couldn't relate to. It made me wonder if perhaps this was more of the author bleeding through into the character on the page.

And what's with the cover? I love the cover design, it's suggestive, erotic and intriguing but having read the book I can't see the relevance whatsoever. While the conditions are frigid, Miranda does take her clothes off on quite a few occasions however this isn't her body type. The reader is frequently reminded that Miranda is overweight:

"Miranda's body held its own in his company. She was corporeal. Short but fat, sturdy. She weighed more than he did, even though he was easily a head and shoulders taller than her." Page 175

After that one description - and there's plenty more - it's clear the woman on the cover is not Miranda. I also have no idea what the significance of the blackberries and blackberry juice smeared on her abdomen is all about. Perhaps it's suggestive or evocative of blood and something to do with menstruation but the torso of the woman doesn't look menopausal. It's a great cover, I just didn't understand the relevance.

The author mentioned in a recent interview that the idea for the book came after their friend sent them an ad just like this, thinking Kris might consider it a writing retreat of sorts. The position didn't appeal but they took the idea and ran with it and I hope the friend passes on more ads in the future.

I originally wondered if the title of The Rite of Spring was a reference to the piece of music by Stravinsky, but in the same interview I referenced earlier, I learned there are going to be four books with themes of queerness, gender, science, nature and the supernatural; one for each season.

The ending of the book reaches an exciting climax (pun intended) although I was left with unanswered questions in the denouement about the supernatural element. The Rite of Spring by Kris Kneen is dark erotic Australian fiction and will appeal to literary readers open to self discovery, sex and the supernatural.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Review: Devil Mountain by Inessa Jackson

* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *

Devil Mountain is a debut novel by Inessa Jackson and the author has certainly made an arresting entrance into the somewhat crowded scene of Australian crime fiction.

Based in Sydney, Detective Sergeant Anastasia Brown is reeling from an unjust workplace suspension when she's sent to Stony Creek - a small town in NSW - to investigate the murder of a local GP. Pairing up with local Detective Harry Frost, Ana gets a quick run down of the unusual crime scene and seeks to find out more about the victim and why someone would want to kill him.

This police procedural moves quickly and several motives are swiftly identified. I loved this phrase summing up the motives for murder and haven't heard or seen it before:

"It met the criteria for one of the most common motivations for murder: love, lust, loot and loathing." Page 38

The mountain of the title overlooks Stony Creek and forms part of the Stony Creek State Forest where lights have been seen and the vengeful spirit of a wronged woman is said to haunt the mountain for eternity. Yikes!

DS Ana Brown is an easy protagonist to cheer for as she tackles misogyny in the workplace, peels back layers of lies in the small town to reveal adultery and addiction, investigates a Wiccan coven and plunges headlong into the forest despite the reported hauntings.

Detective Harry Frost was a highlight and my favourite character and I'd love to see Ana and Harry working together again in the future if this becomes a series.

Devil Mountain by Inessa Jackson is an enjoyable Aussie noir crime novel although I wish the supernatural element was more prominent.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Review: Five by Ilona Bannister

* Copy courtesy of Harlequin Australia & Harper Collins *

I love a book with an enticing premise, and Five by Ilona Bannister has just that. Five commuters are waiting on a train platform and in five minutes the next train to London is going to arrive and one of them is going to die. The unnamed narrator takes us away from the present so we can get to know the back stories of each of the five characters and how they came to be standing at the train platform that morning.

We're introduced to mother Emma and her out of control child Gideon, Sonny, a young man who has gambled his life away, a cranky older woman named Mrs Worth who's refusing help even though she's having a medical episode and a successful looking businessman named Liam.

"There are many other mundane but poignant details we could explore in the lives of these ordinary commuters, but we have time constraints. Let's just say that you've seen them before, on some other train platform in some other suburb, weighed down by bags and coats and unmet goals and unrealised dreams." Page 20*

As you can see, the narrator breaks the fourth wall to address the reader directly and I came to see the narrator as the author herself, occasionally breaking into the story to communicate directly with me.

I love people watching and always wonder about the lives of those passing me by; or am I passing them by? Other characters on the platform are given nicknames like Bad Back and To Do List, and while on the periphery of this story, we're also given insight as to their behaviours and choices on the train platform.

Fans of Benjamin Stevenson will love the author's sense of humour and the way in which she foreshadows precisely what will happen, leaving the reader to reach the destination on their own. The thrilling nature of the plot is supported by surprisingly deep character development and the back stories of these five flawed characters really made me sit up and take notice.

This next quote is from a scene where Liam - one of the five main characters - is sitting with his brother and mother watching TV. It's an excellent example of the author's writing style and such a relatable family moment. That moment suddenly becomes shockingly poignant and I found it very moving.

"She sips her sweet, sweet tea and thinks to herself for the thousandth time in twenty years that she really should launder those curtains, and regrets that now she won't have the chance, as a thunderclap no one else can hear explodes inside her head. The pain is immense, but she sees her Liam, so big and muscular and broad and handsome pointing at the screen and making his brother laugh. As the feeling drains from her left side, Doreen regrets that she never had the money to fix the gap between his teeth that she knows secretly bothers him, but that she has always loved. The last thing she sees before her vision is lost and another blood vessel explodes in her brain is her Danny, smiling with the box of biscuits in his lap. As her breath stops, Doreen can still hear his hoarse, gasping laugh as Liam says something rude about the lady on stage impersonating Barbra Streisand. Lads, she thinks, her lads, and the word feels like a smile. And as the mug of tea drops from her hand and her soul leaves the room, she regrets nothing at all." Page 211*

At the end of the book, the death is revealed and the narrator addresses the reader about their feelings on who survived, who died and whether there was any disappointment about the outcome. I certainly had my preference for who was going to survive and who wasn't but this fourth wall questioning was so engaging I felt sad it was all over. I also enjoyed reading about the aftermath for some of the characters and immediately wished Bannister was in a book club to discuss it all.

Five stars for Five by Ilona Bannister, very highly recommended! (Why don't you take five minutes to read a sample, you won't regret it).

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

* I read an ARC so page numbers may vary.

Review: Underwear by Eleri Lynn

I've always been curious about underwear across history and I enjoy the snippets that occasionally pop up in the books I read* but where those authors may have touched on one or two fascinating facts from history, in Underwear - Fashion in Detail by Eleri Lynn it's the author's sole focus.

Eleri Lynn is a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the book is published by V&A Publishing which tells me she's at the height of her field with access to some of the best artefacts from history. It also tells me she's more than qualified to guide the reader through an evolution of underwear in this book.

Surprisingly, this evolution doesn't follow a chronological path, and the history of underwear is instead divided into the following chapters: Covering Up, Decoration, Control and Constrict, Fastenings, Support and Uplift, Volume and Inside Out.

This did create a little content overlap from time to time but not so much that I minded and in some cases it was helpful. I did have to smile when I read about drawers and knickers which were open at the crotch and weren't common in Britain until the 19th century.

"Early drawers, called pantaloons or pantalettes (long trouser-like undergarments for women), were introduced around the beginning of the century, but were not popular as they were considered too masculine and unhygienic. They were also considered immodest because they were cut quite long and were visible below the hem of the dress." Page 20

In the middle of the century (1850s) they were cut to a mid-calf length so as not to show beneath the skirt. Contrast that level of modesty with women's leggings, bike shorts and scrunch bum shorts today and I wonder what our ancestors would have made of our modesty standards - or the lack thereof - in the 2020s.

The author highlights the constantly evolving nature of fashion, showing how corset styles and construction changed and adapted across decades and centuries. A detail I found surprising was:

"The average corset was only expected to last about a year, as even very sturdy corsets would distort with wear." Page 94

As you would expect, the photographs of the V&A exhibits were detailed although sometimes it was hard to gain an appreciation of the entire garment. The accompanying illustrations were helpful but as a layperson, I would have appreciated some indication as to the front, back and side views as they weren't always obvious to me.

I've always found the bullet or torpedo shaped bra of the 1950s a strange fashion trend, and cringe when I see photos of Marilyn Monroe wearing them under a sweater. I remember when Madonna wore the conical corset designed by Jean Paul Gaultier in 1990 and in doing so turned soft feminine lingerie into a symbol of power and domination. This book helped me understand why it was that rosy pink colour, which was the most popular colour of underwear in the early to mid 1900s. That aside, I hope the bullet shaped bra never makes a return for the masses.

Here though, the author explains that the conical shaped bra included intricate concentric stitching and required padded inserts called falsies to fill out the shape and keep them from collapsing. I hadn't given much thought as to how the look was achieved so it was fun to consider it here. I wonder what the sweater girls would have made of the silicone chicken fillet inserts popular in the 1990s.

The sports bra gets a mention, but for some reason Lynn doesn't show us the plunge bra, and includes a photograph of the 'Ultrabra Perfection' balcony bra instead which was disappointing.

"Gossard launched the Ultrabra plunge bra in 1994, with the advertising tagline: 'Ultrabra, creating the ultimate cleavage'. It was followed by additions to the range, including 'Ultrabra Perfection', 'Ultrabra Light' and the 'Ultrabra Super Boost', which launched in 1999 with the slogan: 'Biggest Cleavage EVER... Or your money back!'"

I was also surprised not to see the wonder bra or push up bra, both of which seemed like significant fashion developments in the last 50 years and worthy of inclusion in a book like this. There was also no mention of Skims and the current shapewear trend which is as popular as ever.

Underwear - Fashion in Detail by Eleri Lynn ends suddenly and doesn't offer a conclusion on shifting trends over the centuries or any observations about the future of underwear. I did wonder if that was because the Victoria and Albert Museum collection includes historical items and curators focus on the past and present perhaps but not the potential future. That may be the reason, but given her expertise, I was keen to know Eleri's thoughts on the impact of changing technology and how future fabrics and changing materials will impact the underwear we wear in the future.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

* Those interested in intimate snippets about underwear from previous books I've read, might enjoy the following:

In The Dirt on Clean - An Unsanitized History by Katherine Ashenburg we're told the the Marquis d'Argens wore a flannel under-waistcoat to keep warm in the 1700s and wouldn't take it off for fear of catching cold. It was revealed he'd worn the waistcoat for four years, but when he finally agreed to take it off, it had "so fixed itself upon him that pieces of his skin came away with it." Eeek!

In How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain by Ruth Goodman I learned that the long tails of shirts once acted as a barrier between the body and the trousers, essentially performing the role of underwear (or drawers) for men. Men's shirts reached down to just above the knees with a slit at both sides, so they could be tucked around one's nether regions without impeding movement. As a result, to see a man with his shirt tails hanging out was 'disgusting' and now I understand why!

More recently in The Stuff of History by Steven Moore, I read about the 14 year old boy who broke into Buckingham Palace between 1838-1841, allegedly lived there in secret by hiding in rooms and chimneys and stole a pair of Queen Victoria's underwear. I was reminded of this when reading Underwear by Eleri Lynn, when we see a pair of Queen Victoria's underwear. Historians know they were worn by the Queen as they're embroidered with her monogram.

When reading Black - The History of a Color by Michel Pastoureau I learned that white was once the most common colour of underwear but that this trend has reversed and black is now the most popular. Wearing black underwear was once transgressive but no longer draws attention the way it once did. Go figure!

Review: Postscript - Life, Love and Loss in Australian Letters

* Copy courtesy of National Library of Australia Publishing *

Intro

Postscript - Life, Love and Loss in Australian Letters contains a small collection of letters from the archives held by the National Library of Australia and is just a tiny sample of the millions of letters in their extensive collection.

A variety of letters have been chosen covering a breadth of topics and were given to contemporary writers who were asked to use them as an inspiration to respond. They each did so by writing their own letter to a recipient of their choice and these were then grouped together in chapters.

In a tribute to the book I've decided to write my review in the form of a letter.

Letter to NLA

Dear National Library of Australia,

I haven't visited any of your four sites, yet I greatly admire the important work you do to preserve Australia's culture and history. I've long been a lover of letters and snail mail since I wrote in to Dolly Magazine as a teenager asking for a pen pal. I enjoyed reading your latest publication Postscript - Life, Love and Loss in Australian Letters and wanted to share my thoughts.

My favourite letter in this collection was the one from 17 year old student John Ian Wing to the Chairman of the Games Committee in charge of the 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics. In his letter, John praises the friendliness of Melbourne people and suggests a march during the closing ceremony that is completely different to the one that took place during the opening ceremony. He proposes the athletes march as one nation, walking freely and waving to the public. In that way, John observes that 'war, politics and nationality will be all forgotten' and the whole world could be made as one nation creating 'a great occasion for everybody and no one would forget it'.

The Chairman loved the idea and John's suggestion was immediately adopted, creating a new Olympic tradition that we continue to enjoy today. I especially loved John's endearing diagram of how it could work.

Shelley Ware is an author, media presenter, educator and Mum and she was paired with this letter, choosing to write a letter to her son. In it she draws on John's vision for unity in a divided time to her son's moral compass and search for truth beyond the headlines expressed in his artwork. This was a terrific pairing and I really enjoyed it.

Another stand out was the letter from Sir John Monash in 1906 to his 13 year old daughter, narrating almost every aspect of her upcoming journey by train and then boat from Spencer Street Station (now Southern Cross Station) to the property of Canally on the Murray River.

Today you might consider his approach evidence of overparenting, but it's clear he loves her dearly and I couldn't help smiling at his advice for when she boards the boat on the Murray River:

"On settling down on the boat, I should advise you to to go bed at once, because you will, no doubt, be very tired, and the scenery is not very interesting for the first few miles. So you had better go to bed comfortably before the boat starts and do not stop up yarning, but get to sleep and tell the Stewardess to wake you quite early - say 7 a.m. - so that you can enjoy the beautiful river scenery for an hour or two before reaching Windomal." Page 26

His letter runs for pages and it made me wonder how many times he'd taken that trip but I didn't see the relevance of the two letters that followed by the late Judith Wright. While detailing the birth of her child Meredith and her subsequent recovery in hospital, I wasn't entirely sure how that related to a parent separated from their child or preparing a child for a life changing journey. However the letter from Maggie Mackellar to her adult daughter certainly embraced the spirit of the letter from Monash in her well expressed anxiety around her daughter travelling far away and the memories of her childhood the absence created.

It must have been difficult for your staff to create a longlist of letters for this project from your extensive archives. Where to start? How long did it take? I've heard from reliable sources that your staff chose letters of interest based on the identity of the sender or the recipient, the story or the writing itself. Then a generous list of potential respondents was collated, drawn from those with an existing relationship to the library, visiting writers or those who might have an interesting angle on a response.

I was pleased to see one of my favourite Australian authors included, Kate Forsyth and enjoyed her response to Jane Austen's letter. I wonder, was she able to view the original in person or online? I bet she would have been thrilled to see it.

I had fun devising my own shortlist of modern authors I'd love to see in a letter writing project like this and the fact that Postscript comes in at <130 pages, surely means there was room for more? Perhaps some of the invitees were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the brief and suffered a touch of analysis paralysis. I did find myself wishing for contributions from more well known Australian authors, as you know, we certainly have a plethora of Australian talent in that regard. Or, I fancy you might be considering a second edition, although you'll have to come up with a better title than Post Postscript; I don't think that'll catch on.

Let me know if you want to see my shortlist of modern respondents, but in the meantime, congrats on an engaging collection.

Yours Affectionately,

Carpe Librum!

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Celebrating 5 Million Page Views!

In January 2026 I celebrated reaching 4 Million Page Views and I can't believe I'm back so soon with another milestone, but...

Carpe Librum just reached 5 Million Page Views!

My web traffic is really taking off now and I'm receiving new requests to collaborate from potential partners beyond the usual review requests from authors and publicists which is exciting.

You'll be pleased to know I don't intend to brag all year or drop into your inbox every time I tick over another million visitors. Instead, I'm going to celebrate my stats privately and I'll come back when I hit double figures and achieve 10 million views. Depending on how long it takes, I may even host a giveaway to mark the moment.

Until then, I hope your reading year is progressing well. What's the best book you've read so far?

Carpe Librum!

H is for Hawk Winners Announced

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway to win 1 of 3 double passes to see H is for Hawk. The movie is out this week and everyone correctly identified that the film is based on the memoir of the same name by Helen Macdonald.

The giveaway closed at midnight last night and I drew the lucky winners today, congratulations to:

Glen Donaldson, Liz H and Roberto Colombi

Congratulations Glen, Liz and Roberto, you're off to the movies! You've each won a double pass to see H is For Hawk valued at $40 thanks to Kismet Movies. I'll be emailing your tickets and hope you enjoy the film.

For those who missed out, I'm in the process of organising another giveaway so stay tuned.

Carpe Librum!

Review: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Intro

The first time I tried to read Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel it was 2010 and I found it completely inaccessible. There were too many characters named Thomas - indeed, Mantel notes in the book half the world was called Thomas at the time - and I couldn't follow who was speaking. Regrettably, I had to set it aside despite my love of historical fiction and interest in the Tudor period.

It wasn't until last year when a book buddy of mine (thanks Andrea!) recommended I join Wolf Crawl with her - a year long slow read hosted by Simon Haisell from Footnotes & Tangents - that I agreed to give it another chance. The challenge is to read the entire Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel over the course of the year and I'm so glad I took the plunge. Check out my sign up post for more about the series and the challenge.

Review

Wolf Hall is all about the life of Thomas Cromwell, servant of King Henry VIII yet it's not told in the first person. Cromwell is hardly ever referred to by name and instead he's referred to as 'he'. Once Simon had explained Mantel's unique writing style it was like a key had been turned and the book finally opened up its secrets to me.

The novel begins in 1527 when Cromwell is in the service of Cardinal Wolsey, although the reader is also treated to a few flashbacks from his youth. If you're at all familiar with Tudor history, you'll know Thomas Cromwell has been portrayed as the villain who drafted the framework for Henry VIII to break with Rome and make himself Supreme Head of the Church of England so that he could annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. Cromwell was also responsible for the dissolution of the monasteries, reforming the English government and engineering Anne Boleyn's eventual downfall and ultimate execution.

In Wolf Hall, it's clear early on that the author is going to deliver an intimately refreshing and somewhat favourable view of Thomas Cromwell.

"Thomas Cromwell is now a little over forty years old. He is a man of strong build, not tall. Various expressions are available to his face, and one is readable: an expression of stifled amusement. His hair is dark, heavy and waving, and his small eyes, which are of very strong sight, light up in conversation: so the Spanish ambassador will tell us, quite soon. It is said he knows by heart the entire New Testament in Latin, and so as a servant of the cardinal is apt - ready with a text if abbots flounder. His speech is low and rapid, his manner assured; he is at home in courtroom or waterfront, bishop's palace or inn yard. He can draft a contract, train a falcon, draw a map, stop a street fight, furnish a house and fix a jury. He will quote you a nice point in the old authors, from Plato to Plautus and back again. He knows new poetry, and can say it in Italian. He works all hours, first up and last to bed. He makes money and he spends it. He will take a bet on anything." Page 25

Cromwell's dedication and devotion to Cardinal Wolsey early in the book was touching and admirable. When Wolsey is unable to secure the papal annulment for Henry he falls out of favour with the King yet Cromwell remains fiercely loyal and somehow manages to avoid the scandal and Wolsey's subsequent arrest for treason.

I've read countless books set in the Tudor period - too many to mention here - and each have their own take on these historical figures and I relished Mantel's version of Thomas Cromwell and Thomas More in particular. The depth of Mantel's knowledge of history and the classics is astounding and thanks to Simon's weekly articles, I was able to appreciate her subtle references to ancient and Tudor history that I otherwise would have missed.

Simon always closes each week's challenge update with 'and now no more for lack of time' so I enjoyed seeing it pop up twice in Wolf Hall in letters from Cromwell's son Gregory. What a terrific sign off.

The mere fact the events in Wolf Hall occurred some 500 years ago means we know precisely what's going to happen to each of the characters. This foreknowledge of their inevitable fate imbues the novel with a ghostly sense of melancholy that I found deeply moving.

Here Thomas More is speaking to Cromwell about the death of his father:

"It's strange, Thomas, but since he went, I feel my age. As if I were just a boy, till a few days ago. But God has snapped his fingers, and I see my best years are behind me." Page 230

Each death haunts Cromwell and his grief weighs heavily on his shoulders, painting a sympathetic view of the man. Naturally Henry VIII has a large presence throughout the book, and under Mantel's treatment he comes across as a grandiose narcissist. I've heard this quote attributed to Henry VIII in other historical fiction novels but it's a favourite and I loved seeing it here:

"If I thought my cap knew my counsel, I would cast it into the fire."Page 217

By the standards of Tudor nobility, Cromwell was low-born yet his rise is a direct consequence of his ability, work ethic, ambition and dedication to the King and I was gratified when he was appointed to the position of Keeper of the Jewel House in 1532, where he's able to oversee the King's incomings and outgoings.

Throughout it all, Mantel gives Cromwell some stellar dialogue and I found myself unexpectedly chuckling every few pages. Here Cromwell takes issue with a woman's manner of addressing him:

"If a man spoke to you in that tone, you'd invite him to step outside and ask someone to hold your coat." Page 378

Cromwell comes across as a diligent fix-it man and while he makes a few enemies along the way, courtiers soon show deference to him:

"He, Cromwell, is no longer subject to vagaries of temperament, and he is almost never tired. Obstacles will be removed, tempers will be soothed, knots unknotted. Here at the close of the year 1533, his spirit is sturdy, his will strong, his front imperturbable. The courtiers see that he can shape events, mold them. He can contain the fears of other men, and give them a sense of solidity in a quaking world: this people, this dynasty, this miserable rainy island at the edge of the world." Page 427

Despite his abilities, Cromwell is unable to persuade Thomas More to take the Oath of Succession which recognised the King's marriage to Anne Boleyn, their children as heirs to the throne and acknowledging the King as Supreme Head of the Church of England, thereby denying papal supremacy.

Thomas More explains his predicament:

"You cannot compel me to put myself in hazard. For if I had an opinion against your Act of Supremacy, which I do not concede, then your oath would be a two-edged sword. I must put my body in peril if I say no to it, my soul if I say yes to it. Therefore I say nothing." Page 513

The scholarly debates between Cromwell and More were fascinating and More's eventual execution for treason at the end of Wolf Hall was a harsh blow to Cromwell.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel could be one of the best books I've ever read and is an automatic nomination for My Top 5 Books of 2026. Fortunately I still have two more books to go in the series and up next is Bring Up the Bodies but now, no more for lack of time.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!