Sex, Lies and Question Time – Kate Ellis
Call me shallow but I’ve never been a huge fan of political biographies. But this book from former Labor party minister Kate Ellis is a cracker, featuring interviews with women across the political spectrum about parliament’s misogynistic, sleazy culture. Originally slated to be released later in the year, Sex, Lies and Question Time was rushed to the shelves in the wake of the Brittany Higgins and Christian Porter scandals. Timely, gripping and infuriating – but, most of all, important – this is a book for anyone who cares about women’s rights or politics in Australia. A must read. – Anna (Out March 29)
Who Is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews
PRIMER’s book reviewer Rain Francis described this debut novel as a “classic mystery-thriller – a battle of wits, complete with all the twists and turns bookworms desire” and I couldn’t agree more. Who Is Maud Dixon is one of the most talked-about books of the year – it’s already been optioned by Universal Studios – and it follows a young writer who lands a job with the mysterious, anonymous writer Maud Dixon. This is a perfect, unputdownable Easter read – you’ll have devoured it by the end of the long weekend. Promise. – Anna
(Who Is Maud Dixon? is our book club pick this month. Join our book club to meet online and discuss on April 20)
The Imitator by Rebecca Starford
Evelyn Varley is a quiet and reserved young woman, a wallflower who easily shrinks into the shadows. Which is why she makes such a good spy. Set between the early days of World War II and the post-war years when those who survived were trying to figure out their place in the world, this is a well-paced and beautifully written espionage thriller. A cross between John le Carre and Evelyn Waugh, which sounds like just about the perfect cross if you ask me. – Hannah
If you liked Circe, and who didn’t like Circe, honestly, then you need to spend the long weekend with Ariadne. This book doesn’t reinvent the wheel: it’s a feminist reimagining of a Greek myth. It does exactly what it says on the tin. But this story is a page-turner without being pulpy, and tells its female-centric story with such energy and passion and spirit. It’s a thrilling read, but it’s not a thriller. What sorcery is this! I loved it. – Hannah (Out March 30)
The Performance by Claire Thomas
The premise of this book is pretty highbrow: set in a Melbourne theatre, during the performance of a Beckett play, it explores the interior lives of three very different women: two female audience members and one young usher, Summer. Outside, bushfires rage; in the cool auditorium the women’s emotions swirl through their minds as they contemplate their lives (along with the snoring of a fellow theatre-goer). Yet despite the setting, this is a compelling and easy read. Thomas shifts between each character’s thoughts with incredible seamlessness, and although there’s very little dialogue the narrative covers a lot of ground, touching on issues like identity, anxiety and relationships with lightness and grace. This is a book full of moments where you think, ‘Yes, that’s so true!’ And it’s often funny, too. – Felicity
A Room Of Her Own by Robyn Lea
Who doesn’t like nosying around other people’s homes? Particularly if they’re as beautiful and intriguing as those of the women in this gorgeous collection. For her latest book, internationally acclaimed photographer Robyn Lea shot the homes of 20 creative women, from interior designer JJ Martin’s colour-drenched Milanese apartment to artist Claire Basler in her ethereal French chateau, and designer and artist Heidi Middleton in Palm Beach and Mosman.
Lea ‘s smart, insightful profiles of these women explore how they developed their unique aesthetic and the ways in which it infuses their homes. I’ve loved dipping in and out of this book, reading a profile and gazing at the images, always noticing a new detail – the rich velvet of a chair or a beautiful collection of objects. The downside? It will make your house seem immediately pedestrian and you’ll start thinking about how you might just paint your bedroom emerald green… – Felicity
BY PRIMER team
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