Skip to content

The Library Is Open

A blog about books and writing, through rainbow-tinted glasses. Every book gets a gay rating.

  • About
  • Reviews
    • Fiction
      • Contemporary
      • Classics
    • Nonfiction
      • Essays
    • Poetry
  • Certified gay
  • Gay stuff

Review: Detransition, Baby

Detransition, Baby is out to shake your notions of gender and family to their core.

Contemporary, Fiction, LGBTIQ, New York, queer, Transgender

Review: The Sunken Land Begins To Rise Again by M. John Harrison

A dense and watery novel about the madness of searching for meaning in our mad times.

British, Contemporary, Fiction, Goldsmiths Prize, Novel, UK

Review: Flames Of Extinction by John Pickrell

A urgent stocktake of the Black Summer, which burned a fifth of Australia’s forests.

Australian, Climate change, Conservation, Environment, Nonfiction

Review: An Episode Of Sparrows by Rumer Godden

A novel about gardening that is also what it takes to rebuild.

1940s, British, Classics, UK, World War II

Review: Born Into This by Adam Thompson

Born Into This is an effective demand to be heard.

Australian, Contemporary, Fiction, Indigenous writers, Short stories, Tasmania

Review: Witness by Louise Milligan

A blistering indictment of the treatment of victims of sex crimes by the legal system.

Australian, Journalism, Legal System, Nonfiction, Sexual assault, Stella Prize

Review: Minor Detail by Adania Shibli (translated by Elisabeth Jaquette)

A short, seething and immaculate novel about what it’s like living in Israeli occupied Palestine.

Arabic writing, Fiction, Israel, Novel, Palestine, Translation

Review: Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock

An intriguing fantasy drawing on forest myths that is burdened by an unfortunate attitude to women.

British, Classics, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel, UK

Review: Toxic by Richard Flanagan

Toxic is a polemic against Tasmania’s farmed salmon industry.

Environment, Nonfiction, Tasmania

Review: The Rain Heron by Robbie Arnott

The Rain Heron is a fable about environmental exploitation.

Australian, Climate change, Contemporary, Environment, Fantasy, Fiction, Spec-fic, Tasmania

Posts navigation

Older posts
Newer posts
Blog at WordPress.com.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    The Library Is Open
    Join 116 other subscribers

    Have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.

  • The Library Is Open
    View site in Reader
    Manage subscriptionsSign upLog in
    Report this content
    Collapse this bar
Loading Comments...