Carolyn Tétaz

Carolyn Tétaz reviews ‘Ophelia’s Fan’ by Christine Balint and ‘Always East’ by Michael Jacobson

October 2004, no. 265 • 01 October 2004

First novels should be the hardest to write but, among writers, second novels have won that reputation. Second-novel syndrome can be identified by: obsessional mourning for the cocoon of anonymity; consuming self-doubt; chronic false starts; acute self-consciousness; the need for constant reassurance; and a low-level frustration brought on by mandatory participation in literary festivals. If Chri ... (read more)

Carolyn Tétaz reviews ‘The Stone Ship’ by Peter Raftos

May 2005, no. 271 • 01 May 2005

The Stone Ship is Peter Raftos’s first book, and one of the first three books released by Sullivan’s Creek, an imprint of Pandanus Books. The Sullivan’s Creek Series ‘seeks to explore Australia through the work of new writers, with a particular encouragement to authors from Canberra and the region’ and ‘aims to make a lively contribution to scholarship and cultural knowledge’. Raftos ... (read more)

Carolyn Tétaz reviews 'The House at Evelyn's Pond by Wendy Orr

December 2001–January 2002, no. 237 • 01 December 2001

On the front cover of Wendy Orr’s new novel, we are advised: ‘This [book] is a treat for fans of Tyler, Wesley and Trollope.’ Apart from any predisposed posed feelings you may have for the work of Anne Tyler, Mary Wesley and Joanna Trollope, this small sentence is a useful positioning statement for the potential reader. We are in the realm of books as a treat, where reading is an indulgent ... (read more)

Carolyn Tétaz reviews 'Bearded Ladies/Dreamhouse' and 'Joan Makes History' by Kate Grenville

December 2002-January 2003, no. 247 • 01 December 2002

Being out of print is like moving back in with your parents – it’s not usually a sign that things are on the up. But fortune’s wheel turns with scant regard for merit or effort, so it must be a relief for writers when their publishers decide to ‘celebrate their continuing contribution to Australian literature’ with a re-release of their back catalogue. Kate Grenville has made a continui ... (read more)

Carolyn Tétaz reviews 'Spinning Around' by Catherine Jinks

April 2004, no. 260 • 01 April 2004

Just cast your eyes over my domicile, will you? … Note the sticky patches on the kitchen floor, the fingermarks at knee level, the biscuit crumbs, the cockroach traps, the soggy fragment of chewed Cruskit on top of the video player, the doll’s house furniture and plush animals and frayed silk scarves and capless marking pens and bits of ribbon and Tonka trucks and broken Fisher-Price activit ... (read more)