Reading highlights 2025

I read like a boss in 2025, especially after rediscovering audiobooks, averaging 1.2 books each week. When I first tried audio, I made the mistake of substituting it for hardcopy reading, which didn't work for me at all. This time around, I used audiobooks when I wouldn't…

My latest Substack post is live. A reading report for the last couple of months, featuring Queensland noir, Australia's first female crime writer, Richard Stark’s Parker, Bernie Gunther & the pulp of Mort Kunstler. Free to read & subscribe at the link below.

andrewnette.substack.com/p/reading-re...

John Le Carré double: Karla's Choice and my Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy dream cast Over the Christmas/New Year period I read Karla’s Choice, Nick Harkaway’s take on the universe created by his late father, John Le Carré.

My latest newsletter is a John Le Carre double. I review Nick Harkaway’s KARLA’S CHOICE, plus I look at the 1979 & 2011 screen versions and ask what is my dream TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY cast? Free to subscribe & if you like what you read, spread the word
andrewnette.substack.com/p/john-le-ca...

Looking for Mr Goodbar: the book Theresa Dunn is an intelligent, single woman living in Manhattan, unremarkable in every respect, except one: she likes to trawl seedy singles bars and pick up men for casual sex.

My first Substack newsletter for the year has gone to subscribers.

andrewnette.substack.com/p/looking-fo...

In what was a great year for reading for me, here are my 2024 highlights.

When the zucchinis take over the garden, I know what I'll be cooking.

@pulpcurry.bsky.social

Praise for Spinning Around: The Kylie Playlist

Excited to see Spinning Around; The Kylie Playlist receiving positive reviews in recent weeks, and to see if recommended not just for Kylie fans, but for fans of good short stories, too. And it's heartening to see different reviewers highlight…

Trans Book Festival Get tickets on Humanitix - Trans Book Festival hosted by Transgender Victoria Events. The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Saturday 8th February 2025. Find event ...

I'm very excited to announce the inaugural (and possibly never to be repeated!) Trans Book Festival at The Wheeler Centre 8th Feb 2025 featuring a star-studded line up feat. Kris Kneen, Hasib Hourani, Dylin Hardcastle and many others. All allies very welcome 🌈🏳️‍⚧️📚 events.humanitix.com/trans-book-f...

Thank you for this review—and for your support for Oz writing.

Image of cover of book Spinning Around: The Kylie Playlist, edited by Kirsten Krauth and Angela Savage, reviewed by Michael Jongen in the Newtown Review of Books.

Today's review:
Michael Jongen on Kirsten Krauth and Angela Savage's anthology Spinning Around: The Kylie Playlist:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/kirsten-krau...
@michaeljongen.bsky.social @kirstenkrauth.bsky.social @angelasavage.bsky.social #bookreview #booksky #kylieminogue 💙📚

I did mostly this in 2024. It was liberating—and one of the best years of reading in recent times. Enjoy!

Tomorrow Friday 6 Dec I’ll be appearing on The Friday Revue with the awesome Brian Nankervis, Jacinta Parsons & Christos Tsiolkas around 1.10pm talking Spinning Around: The Kylie Playlist. Tune in for readings and chat #spinningaroundthekylieplaylist

The Reckoning (1970): heading north before Get Carter I don’t know whether Jack Gold’s 1970 film The Reckoning can be labelled noir or neo-noir.

My latest Substack newsletter has gone out to subscribers, a closer look at one of the highlights of my #Noirvember viewing, Jack Gold's THE RECKONING (1970). Free to subscribe and if you like what you read, please spread the word.
andrewnette.substack.com/p/the-reckon...?

‘You’re a slut!’: Judi Dench reveals parrot’s pet name for her Award-winning actor, who turns 90 next week, says ‘everyone should have a parrot’ like her African grey Sweetie

Just when you think you can’t love Dame Judi any more… www.theguardian.com/culture/2024...

Seemed appropriate to read a book set on an island while visiting an island, although the unnamed Irish island of @johnboynewriter.bsky.social’s ‘Water’ is a far cry from Phillip Is, Australia. Truth telling in contemporary Irish fiction is blowing my mind! Will seek more of Boyne’s novels #books

If you’re looking for a free way to support an author, did you know you can ask your library to stock a book you want to read that they don’t have yet? And usually it’s a very basic online form? Google your library name plus the words “request a title” or “suggest a title” to find yours.

Spotted in the wild at Turn The Page #bookshop #PhillipIsland sharing a shelf with #ABBA no less. Bookshop owner and I had a chat about former local Chris Flynn and I left him humming ‘Spinning Around’ #spinningaroundthekylieplaylist #kylieminogue #kylie @kirstenkrauth.bsky.social

Haha! I have audiobooks from #publiclibraries as backup and, given I’m visiting five libraries in the next three day, I figure I’m safe 😊 #books #reading

I have free audio from the #publiclibraries as backup.

Does anyone else find it necessary when the start of a road trip coincides with the start of a new book to take two or more possible reads in case one doesn’t grab you? Or as in this case, you suspect you’ll burn through one so quickly you’ll need at least one more? #books #bus #roadtrip

Big Pharma Is the Only Reason Anyone Still Dies From HIV We have the means to eradicate AIDS as a threat to human life. Greed is keeping this from happening.

Big Pharma is the only reason anyone still dies from HIV: “We have the means to eradicate AIDS as a threat to human life. Greed is keeping this from happening.”

Here’s me reluctantly returning Invisible Boys by @v8sheppard.bsky.social to City of Melbourne Libraries. The novel is visceral, powerful, sad and uplifting all at once. Can’t wait for the screen version #books #greatreads #australianfiction

Australia’s social media ban for kids under 16 just became law. How it will work remains a mystery The ban won’t take effect for at least 12 months. But key details about it are still missing – including how social media platforms will actually verify users’ age.

The social media ban is not a proxy for teaching parents, educators and teens themselves about digital literacy and cybersafety
the-conversation.com/australias-s...

I Foresee Terrible Trouble, And I Stay Here Just the Same* Since people aren’t perfect, it makes sense that believable fictional characters aren’t, either. In fact, I’d guess most readers prefer their fictional characters to have flaws and make mistakes at…

Today on my blog: margot-kin-berg.com/2024/11/30/i...

Title: The John Le Carré Advent Calendar - Available in all good bookshops. Description - December 1st to 23rd: open the door to watch Gerorge Smiley reluctantly uncover a conspiracy as he wanders around the damp, dilapidated London of the seventies. (images of six of the doors, showing a stick figure os Smiley going about his business in shades of browny-gray) December 24th: Having solved the mystery and written his resignation letter, Smiley eats Christmas dinner alone. (image of Smiley at a table with a letter, unappetising portion of food and glass of wine, in browny-gray)

The John Le Carré Advent Calendar - My cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com Books. (with apologies to @realjohnlecarre.bsky.social and @harkaway.bsky.social)

For Kate Brabon, her Stella Prize shortlisting resulted in more events and gave her book ‘Body Friend’ a second life #stelladayout

For @jenniferdown.bsky.social the greatest impact of her Stella Prize shortlisting & Miles Franklin win was to increase the reach of her book to appear in translation #stelladayout

Structural accolades are important, says Jessie Tu, for confidence, for networking. But life altering for her was the writing residency that came with her Stella Prize longlisting #stalldayout

Kate Brabon says the recognition that comes with prizes is nice, but the money really matters. Shame it’s all taxed, apart from the PM’s Literary Award #stelladayout