Author Archives: A Glass Half Full

About A Glass Half Full

A career journalist who became a "accidental" travel writer, I'm definitely a "glass half full" kind of person. And I've also written a guide book to 100 of Australia's best pubs, so my glass is usually literally so. Based in Australia, I'm often in my native New Zealand, and love to roam the world. I'll go anywhere for a good story but prefer the less trodden paths. Whatever I'm doing, I'm usually also writing about it, with passion, depth and humour. You won't find rehashed press releases on my blog, just my own view of the world, as I see it.

Bookfest bonanza

Posted on January 23, 2016 by A Glass Half Full

One of the joys of January for me is the Lifeline Bookfest in Brisbane. This is one of the biggest second-hand book sales in the state of Queensland, and I came home loaded down with new reading. And some great … Continue reading →

Posted in Australian Fiction, Authors, Autobiography & Biography, Classics, Crime, Fiction, Non-fiction, Travel | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Girl on the Train

Posted on October 27, 2015 by A Glass Half Full

Long flights demand a really riveting read. The book I had started before a recent overseas trip was not quite capturing my attention, so at the airport on my return journey I bought a book I’d seen recently that looked … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Fiction | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Say You’re Sorry

Posted on October 9, 2015 by A Glass Half Full

Crime writer Michael Robotham has published 11 novels, but this is the first one I’ve read. It probably won’t be the last. Say You’re Sorry is written in the voice of Piper Hadley, a teenage girl who has been missing … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Fiction | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The Life and Times of Charles Manson

Posted on October 4, 2015 by A Glass Half Full

The chilling image on the front cover of Manson, The Life and Times of Charles Manson was almost enough to put me off reading this book. And although there were times I found it deeply disturbing and had to take … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography & Biography, Non-fiction, True Crime | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Brisbane Art Deco

Posted on September 30, 2015 by A Glass Half Full

Writing has taken up more time than reading in recent months, but I’ve been slack in book blogging terms. One of the projects I’ve been writing for is this wonderful book, Brisbane Art Deco: Stories of our Built Heritage. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-fiction | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Rosie Project

Posted on May 4, 2015 by A Glass Half Full

Best-selling Australian author Graeme Simsion was kind enough to sign his second book, The Rosie Effect, for me last night. It was the second time I’d met Simsion. The first was last year at the Margaret River Readers and Writers … Continue reading →

Posted in Australian Fiction, Authors, Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

My holiday read: The Burning Room

Posted on April 18, 2015 by A Glass Half Full

With a 10 day break over Easter, I was looking for something relaxing and easy to read and my travelling companion provided just the thing: the latest Harry Bosch novel, The Burning Room, released last year. I’ve become a fan … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Fiction | 8 Comments

Talking to Matthew Condon

Posted on March 19, 2015 by A Glass Half Full

Meeting a favourite author is always a thrill.  This week I had the pleasure of talking to Australian writer Matthew Condon, a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction books when he is not at his day job as a journalist … Continue reading →

Posted in Australian Fiction, Authors, Fiction, Journalism, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Hooked on the Himalayas

Posted on March 11, 2015 by A Glass Half Full

The Himalayas have been on my mind over the past couple of weeks. From my bookcase I’ve pulled two autobiographies in which those mountains feature prominently, by two very different men from different eras. Why the sudden interest? My daughter … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography & Biography, Non-fiction, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Love in the Time of Cholera

Posted on February 15, 2015 by A Glass Half Full

A good title will get me every time.  And so it was with Love in the Time of Cholera.  I had never heard of Gabriel Garcia Marquez when I bought this book on a whim, after seeing it on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments