Book Reviews: May 2024
- Cooper Not Out
- Project Hail Mary
- The Circus Train
Cooper Not Out
Even cricket-haters will love this delightful story, chock-full of charming characters and brimming with nostalgia. It’s 1984 and Roy is a country copper and the longtime opening batsman for the Penguin Hill Cricket Club. When local schoolgirl Cassie Midwinter discovers that he has never been out in all his years playing, she is determined to share his incredible statistics and writes to Don Garrett, Australia’s premier cricket writer. Don (who is Donna and dealing with sexist attitudes of the time) is taken with Roy’s story and writes an article, which inspires the nation.
Australia loves an uplifting underdog story; do yourself a favour and add this one to your TBR pile. - Dale
Project Hail Mary
As a self-proclaimed science fiction avoider, Project Hail Mary was never high on my to-read list. But, man, am I glad that I finally picked it up! It’s full of complicated mathematics and science theories, but Andy Weir writes about them in a way that anyone can understand.
Ryland Grace, a science teacher, wakes to find himself in a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how and why he got there. The story unfolds in two time periods as his memories slowly return and he realises that the fate of Earth rests with him.
Heart-warming, terrifying, quirky, epic & full of twists. You won’t regret reading this one. - Alex
The Circus Train
A hidden gem! Brave & clever Lena, the disabled daughter of the headlining illusionist Theo, yearns for a life of study and medicine, but is restricted by her over-protective father.
When orphaned Alexandre shows up in mysterious circumstances, Lena finally has a friend. When Theo takes Alexandre on as his apprentice, they become a makeshift family.
But everyone has secrets, and as World War II escalates around them, the trio are separated and plunged into the unknown. Spanning twenty years, their story will have you feeling heartbroken, enchanted and longing for more. - Lila
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