This book is a fantastic read – one of my recent favourites.  The cleverness of Perlman’s plot as it weaves in an intriguing set of mysteries is the first draw card, making it hard to put down.  I also warmed to the many characters, particularly Lamont an African American wanting to triumph over his difficult past and find his daughter.  His relationship with ageing Holocaust survior, Henryk Mandelbrot, is completely absorbing and once again, asks us to think about the importance of story to comprehend often difficult life experiences. The horrors of Henryk’s past are dealt with honestly and with insight.  A thoroughly engrossing novel.

- Cathy

Heiss is a companionable narrator as she encourages us to consider the complexities of Aboriginal identity and the issues faced by many Indigenous Australians.   Her personal story is framed by the events of the court case against journalist, Andrew Bolt, for breaching the Racial Discrimination Act in his misrepresentation of Aboriginal people, including Heiss.  The way this event motivates Heiss to clarify misunderstandings of what it means to be an Australian Aboriginal is both serious and entertaining.  She narrates her own life story with humour and insight as we recognise her determination to succeed and to understand the world she lives in.  A very satisfying read.

-       Cathy