Author Archives: S.C. Karakaltsas

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About S.C. Karakaltsas

I am a published author of historical fiction and short stories.

Book Review: The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng

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I really enjoyed reading this intriguing fictional novel set in early 1920’s Penang.

Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert entertain house guest, Somerset Maugham who is a famed writer. He becomes caught in a story Lesley tells him about her marriage and her relationship with Chinese revolutionary, Dr Sun Yat Sen. As she confides to him, Maugham becomes caught up with another tale about the trial of her best friend, Ethel Proudlock who was accused of murdering her lover.

What makes this novel so spellbinding is that it is based on true events. I’d not heard of Dr Sun Yat Sen who was responsible for the fall of the Qing Dynasty and was one of the founders of the Republic of China. I’ve also not read any of Somerset Maugham’s works but I’m now motivated to check them out especially, The Casuarina Tree which is set during his time in Penang. One of the short stories, The Letter recounts the the trial of Proudlock.

Tan Twan Eng has cleverly woven a wonderful tale around three historic events to create a truly memorable work. No wonder it was a Booker Longlist in 2023.

The dual narrative alternating between Lesley in first person and Maugham in third works extremely well.

This is a novel about love and betrayal in a colonial setting painted vividly on each page. The author touches on many issues of the time with plot twists along the way.

If you like historical fiction then I think you will love this one.

Book Review: Dusk by Robbie Arnott

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I loved Arnott’s last book, Limberlost and really enjoyed Dusk.

Set sometime last century in a unnamed place (feels like Tasmanian wilderness) are twins, Floyd and Iris who hear of a bounty for the death of a puma cat which has killed several men and much livestock. Scouting the highlands for work, they unwittingly help another hunter who has other ideas for them and become embroiled in a cat and mouse chase through the harsh rugged terrain.

It’s a slow burn as we learn about the twins whose lives of hardship began when they were born to outcast ex-convict alcoholic parents. Floyd suffers from severe pain and Iris watches out for her brother but always looks for a future where they can one day settle down.

The description of the landscape is detailed: the cold chills you on a hot summer’s day, the rocks and skeletons take your breath away and the beauty of the mountains, trees and water makes you yearn to be there.

‘They skirted the lake’s shore – a beach of quartz sand, bright and course, – as the sun began cutting into the mountains that framed the water. ‘

The relationship between the twins was well done, the tension, love and despair for them palpable. I wondered about Iris and how she coped with a life of camping and getting around on horseback in a time when that would have been very much frowned upon. Yet there was little opposition from townsfolk and I wasn’t sure this was quite realistic for the time. Nevertheless, her character makes for an interesting take on a story which at times seemed like the wild west. Chasing the puma through the wilderness also reminded me a little of the novel Once there were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy.

The only thing that did throw me off towards the end was the backstory about the twins parents. In my opinion it interrupted the climactic flow and should have come a lot earlier in the novel.

Otherwise, a beautifully told tale. It’s short too, so check it out.

Book Review: The Ledge by Christian White

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I always enjoy Christian White’s novels. He is known for his twisting crime mysteries and this one is no exception.

Human remains are found under a cliff which sends three friends into a tail spin of panic about what happened to their friend Aaron in 1999.

This one is a dual-narrative story which I always enjoy as I love reading about the past meeting the present. In this case it catches up to the friends who have a lot to hide.

 The Ledge certainly delivers as we’re taken on a journey through Justin’s teenage diary and then see how his life as a mid-thirties man turns out. There is a lot at stake for the friends as the authorities close in on the mystery. To say more would give it away. But the twist is one you won’t see coming.

It’s fast-paced an well written and an ideal holiday read. Check it out.

Book Review: Wifedom by Anna Funder

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It seems everyone is talking about and reading this book. It has courted controversy, admiration and much discussion.

Wifedom was one for our book group and created quite a discussion about George Orwell the man, the writer, and the husband. What Anna Funder does superbly in this book is to put the meaning of what it is to be wife, front and centre and in particular what was to be George Orwell’s wife.

Eileen O’Shaughnessy, herself an Oxford scholar and poet marries George Orwell and Funder meticulously explores her impact and influence on George Orwells’ work as an author, in particular of Animal Farm and the later works, 1984.

Having read both novels many years ago they made a significant impact on my younger self. Understanding the story behind the works now gives me the impetus to read them again.

Funder’s research takes us behind the scenes of this married couple’s life in Spain when Orwell fought in the Spanish Civil War, his writing and his battle with tuberculosis. More importantly she sees Eileen’s own struggle, to bring in an income to support them, her heath struggles and her utter devotion to doing everything to support her husband’s art.

It’s completely fascinating as Funder draws on the patriarchal system not just in the 1930’s but in current day of unacknowledged work done by women everywhere.

Orwell comes out poorly. His behaviour could be put down to the patriarchal system of the day yet Funder shows us that he was a very poor excuse for a human being.

I wasn’t sure about Funder’s imposition of her own story, while interesting, hardly added much. I did appreciate the incredible research to bring about such an enlightening story about a woman who was truly amazing in her own short life.

Read this one for yourself and you’ll get what all the fuss is about.

Book Review: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

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I’ve read most of Sally Rooney’s books and I think Intermezzo is her best so far.

However it may not be everyone’s taste as the paragraphs are long and meander and quotation marks aren’t used for dialogue which can be off putting. But if you persist, then you may just be as surprised as I was with this delightful novel about grief, loss and love.

The novel is centred around three main characters, two of whom are brothers, Ivan and Peter who have just lost their father. Theirs is a complicated relationship made more difficult by a ten year age gap and a divorced and remote mother. The third main character is Margaret, separated from her alcoholic husband who falls for twenty-two year old Ivan, a star chess player. Peter on the other hand as the older brother has his own issues as he navigates the loss of his father all while dealing with the love of two women.

It sounds like a complicated web of relationships and it is. What makes it so compelling is the characters. I stopped reading this one halfway through for two weeks while I was away and went back into not missing a beat as I was so invested in each character. Rooney is skilled at making you care enough to hope for each of them. It’s tender-hearted and beautifully written.

I really enjoyed this one. Give it a go.

Book Review: Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton

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I love Trent Dalton’s writing and Lola in the Mirror is no exception.

It’s about a young woman who lives with her mum in a car near the Brisbane River in Queensland. She has no name having been forced to take on various identities with her mum on the run from the authorities.

The first half of the novel was a bit slow for me and I found it difficult to get into. There were a lot of characters to grapple with interspersed with commentary about the housing crisis and drugs and the underworld. The description of the characters and their back stories sounded a lot like they came from his last book Love Stories. Indeed at times I wondered if they really belonged in this novel.

The second half of the novel was a completely different pace with action jumping off the pages which I was turning quickly. It was more like an action movie complete with car chase through the city. I’m not sure that quite worked for me either.

What did work was the art work weaved throughout the book. We follow the girls search for her identity and how she fits within the world. Ultimately through all the doom and gloom of life, Denton gives life to her and leaves the reader with hope.

I did enjoy this book but I didn’t love it.

Book Review: The Disappearing Season by Cienna Collins

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I’m only now just recovering enough to write a few words about this gripping and thrilling novel by Cienna Collins.

 With the aid of her sister, Georgia Wright escapes the clutches of violent and controlling Andreas to Far North Queensland. There she manages to start a new life as a nanny to young Reilly whose father, kind-hearted Daniel has a few issues of his own. Together with housekeeper Margie the family quickly embraces her.

Georgia handles the dynamics of the household, a spiteful ex-wife and makes friends with Nayla. However, Andreas has other ideas about letting her go and when a full-scale cyclone looms things get very interesting.

Collins cleverly alternates the chapters with background snippets about Georgia’s life with Andreas and this creates a slow building tension from the beginning. Like Georgia, we the reader are never quite settled and relaxed with her new life. The relationships she builds with Daniel, Reilly and Margie are touching and engaging. Indeed, all the characters are well drawn.  We are also privileged to be in Georgia’s head feeling every bit of her uncertainty and insecurity making sure we never entirely relax.

The description of the tropics is vivid and I felt like I was there or maybe since I was in chilly Melbourne, I just wished I was there.

 “The day’s torrid heat is yet to kick in and lift the overnight rain from the shrubs, drops large and glassy on russet and emerald leaves.”

The second half of the book is a heart-racer when things quickly spiral out of control as Georgia’s races to survive in the middle of a violent and deadly tropical cyclone.

The writing is beautiful and this page-turner never lets you be. An excellent read and highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy and I leave this honest review voluntarily.