fiction 

This might be the most enjoyable weekend read I’ve had, and by ‘weekend’ I mean time set aside for the pure enjoyment of reading. Preferably three uninterrupted hours with a flaky pastry and a pot of tea. An American family takes on the lease, sight unseen, of a grand house in Sydney with harbour views. The mansion comes complete with grounds, staff and the expectation that the Armstrongs will host lavish work parties. It’s a lot for Alice Armstrong who is homesick for their Manhattan apartment, tetchy and drifting in her discontent. There is a touch of humour to the interactions of the people in the story though. If you liked Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell and The Women in Black by Madeleine St. John, you’ll enjoy the delicious concoction of A Dream Life.

Tablo 2021