Peter Donoughue
@peterdonoughue.bsky.social
Former MD of publisher John Wiley Australia. Now retired but still engaged.
Book reader and reviewer.
Book reader and reviewer.
Booknotes: Michael Robotham, The White Crow.
Take a break from the ugly world we live in and immerse yourself in this thriller. You won't regret it.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/08/cele...
Take a break from the ugly world we live in and immerse yourself in this thriller. You won't regret it.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/08/cele...
Michael Robotham, The White Crow
- Celebrated Australian novelist Michael Robotham has just released The White Crow , his nineteenth. - I've read a few of his crime thrill...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
August 10, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Booknotes: Michael Robotham, The White Crow.
Take a break from the ugly world we live in and immerse yourself in this thriller. You won't regret it.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/08/cele...
Take a break from the ugly world we live in and immerse yourself in this thriller. You won't regret it.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/08/cele...
Booknotes: Rob Franklin, Great Black Hope.
Slick prose, set in New York after dark, and a very satisfying read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/08/rob-...
Slick prose, set in New York after dark, and a very satisfying read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/08/rob-...
Rob Franklin, Great Black Hope
- This is a debut novel from a young Black American gay writer. It's about the challenges the narrator and his friends constantly face jus...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
August 4, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Booknotes: Rob Franklin, Great Black Hope.
Slick prose, set in New York after dark, and a very satisfying read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/08/rob-...
Slick prose, set in New York after dark, and a very satisfying read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/08/rob-...
Booknotes: Philip Coggan, The Economic Consequences of Mr Trump.
An excellent demolition of Trump's tariffs. A must read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/phil...
An excellent demolition of Trump's tariffs. A must read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/phil...
Philip Coggan, The Economic Consequences of Mr Trump
- This short book by former Economist and Financial Times journalist, Philip Coggan, is a masterful demolition of Trump's obsession wit...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
July 26, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Booknotes: Philip Coggan, The Economic Consequences of Mr Trump.
An excellent demolition of Trump's tariffs. A must read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/phil...
An excellent demolition of Trump's tariffs. A must read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/phil...
Booknotes: Sam Guthrie's The Peak.
This political drama set in Canberra, Hong Kong, and Beijing, is an absolutely absorbing read. And very enlightening.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/sam-...
This political drama set in Canberra, Hong Kong, and Beijing, is an absolutely absorbing read. And very enlightening.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/sam-...
Sam Guthrie, The Peak -Political thriller.
- This Australian novel is an absolutely absorbing read. It's a political drama set in Canberra, Hong Kong and Beijing. A little congested...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
July 20, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Booknotes: Sam Guthrie's The Peak.
This political drama set in Canberra, Hong Kong, and Beijing, is an absolutely absorbing read. And very enlightening.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/sam-...
This political drama set in Canberra, Hong Kong, and Beijing, is an absolutely absorbing read. And very enlightening.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/sam-...
Emily M. Bender & Alex Hanna, The AI Con.
Essential reading if you really want to know what's going on the AI world.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/emil...
Essential reading if you really want to know what's going on the AI world.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/emil...
Emily M. Bender & Alex Hanna, The AI Con
- Careful, I thought…is this going to be like those old anti-internet books of the 1990's? Thankfully, it's absolutely not! It calls out the...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
July 12, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Emily M. Bender & Alex Hanna, The AI Con.
Essential reading if you really want to know what's going on the AI world.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/emil...
Essential reading if you really want to know what's going on the AI world.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/emil...
Booknotes: James Bradley, Landfall.
Highly dramatic and intense police procedural in a disastrous climate catastrophe setting.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jame...
Highly dramatic and intense police procedural in a disastrous climate catastrophe setting.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jame...
James Bradley, Landfall
- Celebrated Australian literary author James Bradley has written a highly dramatic and very intense story about a police investigation into...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
May 27, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Booknotes: James Bradley, Landfall.
Highly dramatic and intense police procedural in a disastrous climate catastrophe setting.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jame...
Highly dramatic and intense police procedural in a disastrous climate catastrophe setting.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jame...
Booknotes: Jens Beckert, How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change.
This is a depressing book, because it's profoundly realistic. A must read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jens...
This is a depressing book, because it's profoundly realistic. A must read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jens...
Jens Beckert, How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change
- This is a depressing read, because it’s profoundly realistic. - Let's not kid ourselves. Where the world is now, and where it inevitabl...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
May 11, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Booknotes: Jens Beckert, How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change.
This is a depressing book, because it's profoundly realistic. A must read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jens...
This is a depressing book, because it's profoundly realistic. A must read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jens...
Booknotes: Asako Yuzuki, Butter.
This novel is long but a fascinating read. It's a deep dive into the plight of women in Japanese society, and how captured they are by traditional social roles.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/asak...
This novel is long but a fascinating read. It's a deep dive into the plight of women in Japanese society, and how captured they are by traditional social roles.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/asak...
Asako Yuzuki, Butter.
- This novel gets clotted with so much detail as it progresses you can’t help but be bogged down. It's 452 pages long and 100 pages could ...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
April 30, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Booknotes: Asako Yuzuki, Butter.
This novel is long but a fascinating read. It's a deep dive into the plight of women in Japanese society, and how captured they are by traditional social roles.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/asak...
This novel is long but a fascinating read. It's a deep dive into the plight of women in Japanese society, and how captured they are by traditional social roles.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/asak...
Booknotes: David Szalay, Flesh.
This novel is a thoroughly absorbing story from a master of the craft. I can't recommend it highly enough.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/davi...
This novel is a thoroughly absorbing story from a master of the craft. I can't recommend it highly enough.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/davi...
David Szalay, Flesh
- This novel by Booker Prize-shortlisted author David Szalay (pronounced So-LOY) was highly recommended by well-regarded literary critic P...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
April 20, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Booknotes: David Szalay, Flesh.
This novel is a thoroughly absorbing story from a master of the craft. I can't recommend it highly enough.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/davi...
This novel is a thoroughly absorbing story from a master of the craft. I can't recommend it highly enough.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/davi...
Booknotes: Robert Lukins, Somebody Down There Likes Me.
It seems wealth doesn't redeem, it condemns.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/robe...
It seems wealth doesn't redeem, it condemns.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/robe...
Robert Lukins, Somebody Down There Likes Me
- It’s 1996. The wealthy Gulch family live in a mansion in the very up-market enclave of Belle Haven in Connecticut. - The successful cor...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
April 15, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Booknotes: Robert Lukins, Somebody Down There Likes Me.
It seems wealth doesn't redeem, it condemns.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/robe...
It seems wealth doesn't redeem, it condemns.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/robe...
Booknotes: Andrea Goldsmith, The Buried Life.
An extraordinary novel. A microscopic examination of love, literature, religion and abuse. It's a must read and will inevitably win many Australian and international awards.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/andr...
An extraordinary novel. A microscopic examination of love, literature, religion and abuse. It's a must read and will inevitably win many Australian and international awards.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/andr...
Andrea Goldsmith, The Buried Life.
- Australian author Andrea Goldsmith has written an extraordinary novel. It's a microscopic examination of love, literature, religion and ...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Booknotes: Andrea Goldsmith, The Buried Life.
An extraordinary novel. A microscopic examination of love, literature, religion and abuse. It's a must read and will inevitably win many Australian and international awards.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/andr...
An extraordinary novel. A microscopic examination of love, literature, religion and abuse. It's a must read and will inevitably win many Australian and international awards.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/andr...
Booknotes: Peter Beinart, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza.
A superb and essential read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/pete...
A superb and essential read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/pete...
Peter Beinart, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza
- This is a superb, thoroughly enlightening read. Beinart, in this short book, digs deep into the Israel-Palestine conflict and clarifies ...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
April 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Booknotes: Peter Beinart, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza.
A superb and essential read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/pete...
A superb and essential read.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/pete...
Booknotes: Omar El Akkad, American War.
An extremely powerful condemnation of the warmongering character of America.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/omar...
An extremely powerful condemnation of the warmongering character of America.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/omar...
Omar El Akkad, American War
- This novel by acclaimed journalist Omar El Akkad, who was born in the Middle East and raised in Canada and the US, is an extremely power...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
April 1, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Booknotes: Omar El Akkad, American War.
An extremely powerful condemnation of the warmongering character of America.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/omar...
An extremely powerful condemnation of the warmongering character of America.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/omar...
Booknotes: Colum McCann, Twist.
McCann tells big stories about big characters and Twist is no exception.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/colu...
McCann tells big stories about big characters and Twist is no exception.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/colu...
Colum McCann, Twist
- Colum McCann's novels are always worth reading. He tells big stories full of big characters and fills them with ruminations about virtua...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
March 25, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Booknotes: Colum McCann, Twist.
McCann tells big stories about big characters and Twist is no exception.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/colu...
McCann tells big stories about big characters and Twist is no exception.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/colu...
Booknotes: Omar El Akkad: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/omar...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/omar...
Omar El Akkad, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
- This is an extraordinarily powerful book. Omar El Akkad is an author and journalist. He was born in Egypt, grew up in Qatar, moved to Ca...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
March 23, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Booknotes: Omar El Akkad: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/omar...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/omar...
Booknotes: Diana Reid, Signs of Damage.
In this, her third novel, Reid explores the legacies of broken families, abandoned children, and sexual abuse. She digs deep.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/dian...
In this, her third novel, Reid explores the legacies of broken families, abandoned children, and sexual abuse. She digs deep.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/dian...
Diana Reid, Signs of Damage
- Prize-winning Australian author Diana Reid's third novel once again focuses on personal and family relationships and their intricate dyn...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Booknotes: Diana Reid, Signs of Damage.
In this, her third novel, Reid explores the legacies of broken families, abandoned children, and sexual abuse. She digs deep.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/dian...
In this, her third novel, Reid explores the legacies of broken families, abandoned children, and sexual abuse. She digs deep.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/dian...
Booknotes: Jeremy Cooper's Brian.
A delightful story of a sad, lonely, middle-aged man who gets hooked on movies.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/jere...
A delightful story of a sad, lonely, middle-aged man who gets hooked on movies.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/jere...
Jeremy Cooper, Brian
- This is a delightful story of a sad, lonely, middle-aged man who gets hooked on movies. He sees a movie every night at the British Film ...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
March 11, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Booknotes: Jeremy Cooper's Brian.
A delightful story of a sad, lonely, middle-aged man who gets hooked on movies.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/jere...
A delightful story of a sad, lonely, middle-aged man who gets hooked on movies.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/jere...
Booknotes: Han Kang, We Do Not Part.
Like Nobel Prize winning Han Kang's other novels this new one is a powerful whack in the gut. In today's war torn world it's an awakening.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/han-...
Like Nobel Prize winning Han Kang's other novels this new one is a powerful whack in the gut. In today's war torn world it's an awakening.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/han-...
Han Kang, We Do Not Part
- This newly translated novel by 2024 Nobel prizewinner Han Kang is a frequently strange but in the end mesmerising tale of death, vulnerab...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
March 7, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Booknotes: Han Kang, We Do Not Part.
Like Nobel Prize winning Han Kang's other novels this new one is a powerful whack in the gut. In today's war torn world it's an awakening.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/han-...
Like Nobel Prize winning Han Kang's other novels this new one is a powerful whack in the gut. In today's war torn world it's an awakening.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/han-...
Booknotes: Pankaj Mishra's The World After Gaza.
An absolutely incredible and enlightening examination of Israel, its history, and its wars over the decades. A classic.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/02/pank...
An absolutely incredible and enlightening examination of Israel, its history, and its wars over the decades. A classic.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/02/pank...
Pankaj Mishra, The World After Gaza
- This new book by celebrated Indian political essayist Pankaj Mishra is a masterpiece. It is so incredibly enlightening, thought-provokin...
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com
February 27, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Booknotes: Pankaj Mishra's The World After Gaza.
An absolutely incredible and enlightening examination of Israel, its history, and its wars over the decades. A classic.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/02/pank...
An absolutely incredible and enlightening examination of Israel, its history, and its wars over the decades. A classic.
notaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2025/02/pank...
Clarifies the whole Syria situation so well.
OMG -?what an evil web.
It is the USA which is destroying pluralism, and it is Iran and its allies which defend pluralism. I would not have seen this clearly had I not come here. But once seen, it is blindingly obvious. Craig Murray #auspol #USpolitics #Middleeast #Syria
December 8, 2024 at 11:35 PM
Clarifies the whole Syria situation so well.
I’ve read most of these. They’re so good and enlightening.
November 20, 2024 at 12:41 AM
I’ve read most of these. They’re so good and enlightening.