David Sweeney > Recent Status Updates

I went to see the Liberace movie with Michael Douglas (4 stars) and stumbled across this whist there. Top be fair it has been a few months since I have read Mr Auster.

One of the very few bad points of living in Melbourne is that it has Australia's most expensive cinema complex - the Nova. In order to get to the box office one has to pass Readings $10 shop! One either has to get to the cinema just in time for the movie or browse ...

I am very fond of Anne Tyler, and this will be about number 6 or 7.

I grew up watching movies of the 30's to 50's, and when I saw On The Waterfront in 1977 I went out the next day and had the sound track imported. Richard Schickel has been the movie critic for Time for decades, and this book is more about politics than theatre and cinema since Kazan named names during the Macarthy witch hunt. It is dense and very scholarly but so far enjoyable.

I have not read any Oates, so here is a chance to cross that off the list. I'm expecting this to be a big sprawling saga of a book, so lets see how we go.

I have read all of Toibin and had always resisted this (I had hated The Master with boring Mr Henry James). A number of people had enjoyed Brooklyn and I must say it is really incredibly elegant. Whilst it is set in the 1950's it somehow feels almost Edwardian in tone, or chaste. Thoroughly enjoying it though - score will hinge on the ending!

Be fair people, its been a good 6-7 weeks since my last dose of Mr Auster.

Known for The Boy In Stripped Pyjamas, this is adult novel that tackles gay love during WW1. Has received a fair bit of press and it is tackling something new, and besides Colm Toibin says its fab on the cover! (AND Boyne is a 40 year old Irish cutie, unlike Mr Toibin - sorry Colm)

I know I didn't like Lovesong but lets see how we go

I'm probably on the verge of addiction but it is a healthy one don't you think?

I have had this for a over a year and she has been getting a lot of publicity of late. Besides a good Swedish thriller never hurt anyone! Hopefully a good page turner.

I blame Wimbledon, the Olympics and moving to Melbourne, but this may have to be shelved for now.

I have read 6 Edmund Whites and this should go the same way - moments of just sublime writing mingled with a narrative that shocks and puzzles.

It was only when I was 60 pages in that I realised I had gone from reading the most irreverent book about the Holocaust to a serious one! Not the wisest choice perhaps but we've begun so lets see how we go.

Always have a dose of Dickens every few years. At almost 900 pages long, this will take a while but will give it a go.

Only 30 pages in but this hopes to be an entertaining read

Looking forward to this, as I wasn't a fan of March but she won me over with Book of the People.

Thoroughly enjoying this. Plot unlike any book I've read.

i have just finished the first novel, and after a slow start I loved it. Contains some of the most dark and sardonic wit I have read. Looking forward to the rest now.

Picked this as the author is touted as a 21 first century Wilde or Waugh. So lets see who we go - the reviews have all been stellar and he was short-listed fro the Booker. (Plus I should add that it was on sale!)

Very much looking forward to this as it was strongly recommended, plus always good to read contemporary Australian fiction.

Poor man's Tolkein, but so what. A page turner. Lets just see how we end up.

I have never read a fantasy novel, and this one was recommended by an avid reader of the genre. I will be open minded and give it a go. I should warn everyone I was only able to read the first Harry Potter and could not go on - but adored Tolkin, so lets see.

You know by page 14 that you are on a new journey. The opening speech of Peter Stillman is really quite extraordinary.

I am looking forward to this very much, and I am hoping it will lead to many more. At least to the Brooklyn Follies as I have already purchased that one.

Started this whilst listening to the rain this morning and it took all my will not to stay in bed and finish it - work is such an inconvenience sometimes!