David Walsh
@dlwalsh.bsky.social
Labor councillor for Canterbury-Bankstown
Now that I can properly explain the joke...
May 18, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Now that I can properly explain the joke...
Helping renters by making things more expensive and reducing their leisure time. Absolute ghoul.
May 7, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Helping renters by making things more expensive and reducing their leisure time. Absolute ghoul.
Somebody please tell Richard Flanagan this tennis metaphor doesn't make any sense.
April 2, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Somebody please tell Richard Flanagan this tennis metaphor doesn't make any sense.
Promoted this up my TBR pile with the recent death of George Foreman. An enjoyable account of perhaps the most famous bout in history. Mailer certainly lives up to his reputation for high self-regard by the degree to which he inserts himself at the centre of the story. Still, it works. #BookSky
March 31, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Promoted this up my TBR pile with the recent death of George Foreman. An enjoyable account of perhaps the most famous bout in history. Mailer certainly lives up to his reputation for high self-regard by the degree to which he inserts himself at the centre of the story. Still, it works. #BookSky
The 1994 Booker shortlist. Or two thirds of it anyway. Sadly I don't think this was a vintage year for the prize. I failed to get on with the winner (Kelman). The other three were all very good without being outstanding. Of the four, my pick would be Gunesekera's Reef.
#BookSky
#BookSky
March 1, 2025 at 3:53 AM
The 1994 Booker shortlist. Or two thirds of it anyway. Sadly I don't think this was a vintage year for the prize. I failed to get on with the winner (Kelman). The other three were all very good without being outstanding. Of the four, my pick would be Gunesekera's Reef.
#BookSky
#BookSky
Innocence by Penelope Fitzgerald. The third Fitzgerald I've read and I still don't quite know what to make of her. Though I come away feeling I've read a good book I did find it a bit plodding at times. #BookSky
February 23, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Innocence by Penelope Fitzgerald. The third Fitzgerald I've read and I still don't quite know what to make of her. Though I come away feeling I've read a good book I did find it a bit plodding at times. #BookSky
I see. Well, no issue for us second hand hoarders.
February 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
I see. Well, no issue for us second hand hoarders.
Isn't this the Deptford Trilogy?
February 20, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Isn't this the Deptford Trilogy?
Sword of Honour by Evelyn Waugh. I enjoyed this. But do I count it as one book or three? Originally released years apart as three separate novels, I was surprised to see the table of contents doesn't split it up accordingly. The author's preface makes clear why.
February 14, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Sword of Honour by Evelyn Waugh. I enjoyed this. But do I count it as one book or three? Originally released years apart as three separate novels, I was surprised to see the table of contents doesn't split it up accordingly. The author's preface makes clear why.
The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene. Is this Greene's most underrated work? A cracking story of a botched kidnapping in 1970s Argentina. At the same time still sounding the big themes of a great Greene novel.
#BookSky
#BookSky
February 2, 2025 at 8:51 AM
The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene. Is this Greene's most underrated work? A cracking story of a botched kidnapping in 1970s Argentina. At the same time still sounding the big themes of a great Greene novel.
#BookSky
#BookSky
Orbital by Samantha Harvey.
Not for me. Ponderous, plotless, repetitive. Endless listings of countries and geographical features as seen from space. I would've preferred a greater focus on the six main characters. (And an actual story.)
I'm surprised by all the acclaim it's received. #BookSky
Not for me. Ponderous, plotless, repetitive. Endless listings of countries and geographical features as seen from space. I would've preferred a greater focus on the six main characters. (And an actual story.)
I'm surprised by all the acclaim it's received. #BookSky
January 29, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Orbital by Samantha Harvey.
Not for me. Ponderous, plotless, repetitive. Endless listings of countries and geographical features as seen from space. I would've preferred a greater focus on the six main characters. (And an actual story.)
I'm surprised by all the acclaim it's received. #BookSky
Not for me. Ponderous, plotless, repetitive. Endless listings of countries and geographical features as seen from space. I would've preferred a greater focus on the six main characters. (And an actual story.)
I'm surprised by all the acclaim it's received. #BookSky
It's a thumbs up from me for this "rediscovered classic". The story of a good man in a world full of bastardry. A bit of slow burn, for me it took about 100 pages before it really got going. But wow, the tension in some of those scenes in the middle part of the book...
#BookSky
#BookSky
January 29, 2025 at 4:08 AM
It's a thumbs up from me for this "rediscovered classic". The story of a good man in a world full of bastardry. A bit of slow burn, for me it took about 100 pages before it really got going. But wow, the tension in some of those scenes in the middle part of the book...
#BookSky
#BookSky
I don't know how I could have laid this on more thickly, but yes, good assumption!
January 27, 2025 at 5:02 AM
I don't know how I could have laid this on more thickly, but yes, good assumption!
I loved this as much as I hoped I would. I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said. Lodge is justly famous for this series of three brilliant comic novels.
RIP David Lodge
#BookSky
RIP David Lodge
#BookSky
January 26, 2025 at 6:20 AM
I loved this as much as I hoped I would. I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said. Lodge is justly famous for this series of three brilliant comic novels.
RIP David Lodge
#BookSky
RIP David Lodge
#BookSky
I also love the Graham Greene endorsement on the cover. Greene, or his work, is cited 5 or 6 times in the book.
January 14, 2025 at 1:41 AM
I also love the Graham Greene endorsement on the cover. Greene, or his work, is cited 5 or 6 times in the book.
Had to read David Lodge after his recent death. Chose this randomly over the Campus Trilogy (which I'll read soon). Loved it. The story of a group of young Catholics in the 50s/60s coming to terms with the gulf between Church dogma and society's changing attitudes to sex.
#BookSky
#BookSky
January 14, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Had to read David Lodge after his recent death. Chose this randomly over the Campus Trilogy (which I'll read soon). Loved it. The story of a group of young Catholics in the 50s/60s coming to terms with the gulf between Church dogma and society's changing attitudes to sex.
#BookSky
#BookSky
A Hisham Matar binge to begin my year. My Friends lived up to the hype: it's a masterpiece. The earlier novels also excellent.
All draw on similar elements: autofiction set amidst the repressive Gaddafi regime. But still being completely distinct works.
Must get to his non-fic as well.
#BookSky
All draw on similar elements: autofiction set amidst the repressive Gaddafi regime. But still being completely distinct works.
Must get to his non-fic as well.
#BookSky
January 10, 2025 at 3:46 AM
A Hisham Matar binge to begin my year. My Friends lived up to the hype: it's a masterpiece. The earlier novels also excellent.
All draw on similar elements: autofiction set amidst the repressive Gaddafi regime. But still being completely distinct works.
Must get to his non-fic as well.
#BookSky
All draw on similar elements: autofiction set amidst the repressive Gaddafi regime. But still being completely distinct works.
Must get to his non-fic as well.
#BookSky
Sunjeev Sahota - The Spoiled Heart
I've waited until the end of 2024 to read a novel that was published in 2024. I'm about halfway through and very much enjoying it.
I've waited until the end of 2024 to read a novel that was published in 2024. I'm about halfway through and very much enjoying it.
December 30, 2024 at 6:08 AM
Sunjeev Sahota - The Spoiled Heart
I've waited until the end of 2024 to read a novel that was published in 2024. I'm about halfway through and very much enjoying it.
I've waited until the end of 2024 to read a novel that was published in 2024. I'm about halfway through and very much enjoying it.
Catching up on a few authors who died in 2024.
December 29, 2024 at 2:54 AM
Catching up on a few authors who died in 2024.
Is Paul Auster ultimately to blame for the fad of drawing shapes in Strava?
December 27, 2024 at 5:16 AM
Is Paul Auster ultimately to blame for the fad of drawing shapes in Strava?
Dropping off the entire 1975 Booker shortlist at Milperra Street Library.
October 19, 2024 at 2:46 AM
Dropping off the entire 1975 Booker shortlist at Milperra Street Library.
Decided to join, followed by considerable time spent racking my brain to work out all the novels I read in January and February. This review template though...
April 1, 2024 at 7:10 AM
Decided to join, followed by considerable time spent racking my brain to work out all the novels I read in January and February. This review template though...