Iain Smith

Hardback when I already have a paperback? Hard yes.

That’s a timely reminder for me to read HoH too!

Change of plan here. Shamelessly reading smallies to bolster my reading numbers for the year.

Thanks Ben - sounds like good advice! We will check that out if we haven’t already been somewhere similar in or around Burnie. Thanks too for the highway detours - just having a few spots to stop off will make the drive interesting.

Thank you! And thanks for the recs - I’ve added EH to my watch list!

That is very kind of you to offer, thank you! It’s looking unlikely that we will have a car in Hobart unfortunately with probably plenty enough to do there in a quite constrained schedule.

Yes, we’re spending about a week in Burnie with family for Christmas then walking the Overland then finishing off in Hobart. We well have some spare days in Burnie to potentially head out on day trips. Would there be anything of interest you might recommend for the drive from Launceston to Hobart?

Yes, we’ll be in Hobart for three days in early January. I think we will do the walk up kunanyi and with Mona and some central Hobart wandering I expect that will cover us eh?

Hi Ben - will have a car in Burnie and Launceston but will likely ditch it in Hobart. I’m into art, books, walks, big reds, sights of natural beauty.

@benwaltez.bsky.social - @thebooksdesk.bsky.social reckons you can set me straight re Tasmania sights. We will mainly be in Burnie, with a few days in Launceston and Hobart. Thanks in advance!

Stacks are good so here’s a random selection of read and unread Australians with a favour request from those who know. I’m heading to Tasmania next month - would very much appreciate any “must see or do” pointers. Mona and 7 day Cradle Mountain walk are already locked in.

Who doesn’t love a trade? New arrivals courtesy of @damiankelleher.bsky.social 🙏🙏

Scratched a few itches today (or they scratched me).

Although those aren’t typically Puglia wines, which brings Primitivo to mind.

It’s the process they use to make Recioto and Amarone wines, I just read. That’s a good sign you have some nice wine on your hands, in other words.

“So the three of them head off into the lower intestine of hell.”

Gatecrashers.

“And at that moment, whatever leniency has been hitherto extended to him is finally exhausted in the mind of the magpie.”

There are no dull sentences here. None. Stand by - this is not shaping as a book to greet with silence.

🔥🔥🔥

“If you want to understand the implications of massive systems failure determined months in advance but happening in microseconds in front of you as you try to cope in real time the Challenger timeline is the first thing you might read.”

Read this book. Each sentence is an incision.

It is quite justifiably up the pecking order, though it is in good company I’d add. No duds discovered in your catalogue yet and I’m woozy with appreciation for She Sang to Them, She Sang. That is some pointed comedy right there.

“— And may the ever inflating bubble finally pop and send all of these smug assholes into Development Exile!—“

Redemption.

Gifts to birthday self. The others didn’t count.

She Sang to Them, She Sang. Here everyone’s boxing at shadows to get ahead, questing for the unattainable in deluded monologues that sing. The characters may fumble but the writing does not. It fits in your pocket too. High recommend.

Something’s gone wrong again.

I am hyped to read this (and to see that it’s been read). Just choosing my moment.

1300 pages of pure white whale I was not expecting to stumble upon - like, ever.

Black Sunlight has been needing a reprint and it looks like Bloomsbury, under cover of night, came to the party in November. An event that seemingly passed in complete silence. I have no words.

I’ve been meaning to get a better copy of Moby Dick so I was pretty pleased to find this Library of America edition at Wellington’s fantastic Undercurrent Books. Redburn and White-Jacket are a lovely bonus.