At this time of year it is, as we all know, traditional to sum up the best and worst of the year just gone, and/or make plans, resolutions or predictions for the year to come. I’m feeling a bit sandblasted by the thought of doing that (maybe it’s just the Wellington wind). But I’ll give … Read more…
review
Otago Daily Times reviews The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt
The review by Ian Williams in the Otago Daily Times (Saturday 23 November 2013) of The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt grabbed me — and not in a good way — with its opening sentence: I meant to send this first novel back to the books editor, it seemed so obviously a “woman’s book”. I was poised to get all outraged … Read more…
ANZ LitLovers reviews The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt
Lisa Hill has posted a lovely review of The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt this week on the ANZ LitLovers blog. Here are a few lines from the review. This is an absorbing book that held my interest throughout. Farr captures rapture and tragedy with consummate skill to create so remarkable a portrait, that it’s hard to believe that … Read more…
NZ Listener reviews The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt
Hazel Phillips reviews The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt in the Listener (Vol 240, No. 3831, October 12-18, 2013); that’s the issue with the starry starry photo of local literary luminary Eleanor Catton on the cover. I’m particularly chuffed to share the page with a review of Fiona Kidman’s new novel, The Infinite Air, as Fiona launched Lena … Read more…
The West Australian reviews The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt
A neat little review of The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt was published under Writing WA Recommends… on the Books page (editor William Yeoman) of the Today magazine in The West Australian on Tuesday 27 August 2013: Tracy Farr’s beautifully written and well-crafted novel combines music and art as she moves the reader around the globe through the dazzling 30s and 40s. This … Read more…
Adelaide Advertiser reviews The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt
Patrick Allington reviewed The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt in SA Weekend magazine, Adelaide Advertiser, Saturday 24 August 2013: Farr’s prose soars…this sparkling debut novel captures the spirit of an accomplished woman as she reflects on the arc of her long life.
Crossing the ditch: guest review in Perth webzine The Starfish
It’s always bothered me how little known in Australia are even some of the best New Zealand writers. When I was asked to write a trio of mini-reviews for Perth webzine The Starfish, it seemed the perfect opportunity to rave about New Zealand writers; maybe I’d even be introducing them to a Perth audience. So … Read more…
Books+Publishing Reviews features The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt
The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt was reviewed in Books+Publishing Reviews (feature review, 30 May 2013 newsletter). Grateful thanks to Books+Publishing for permission to quote the full text of this subscriber-only review here. The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt (Tracy Farr, Fremantle Press, September), 4 stars, reviewed by Katie Haydon, Books+Publishing Reviews, 30 May 2013. To encompass a person’s whole life in … Read more…