The Woman Booker Prize Club is a local Hobart book club. Here they share their thoughts on books by Tasmanian authors, set in Tasmania, or about Tassie topics. Over to the club!

This month we have some storytelling from very different ends of the spectrum. Fancy a journey through food with Paulette Whitney or a psychological thriller from Jo Dixon? Choose your own adventure!

Broccoli & Other Love Stories by Paulette Whitney (Murdoch Books, August 2024) Review by Kathryn Montgomery

Paulette Whitney lives in the foothills of kunanyi/Mount Wellington and runs a market garden and edible plant nursery alongside her farmer/chef husband Matt. She has a cult following and with rave reviews for this book from culinary greats such as René Redzepi, Kylie Kwong, Stephanie Alexander, Peter Gilmore and Matthew Evans (just to name a few), you are in knowledgable and trusted hands.

Paulette is a gentle and whimsical storyteller, writing about 50 plants with recipes; her journey to becoming a kitchen gardener, and connection to food. The chapters are arranged around plant families, with memories, recipes and tips for growing sprinkled in. I love the way she often leads her chapters by telling a story and how it led to her connection to the vegetable or dish.

I can attest to the wonderful recipes that accompany the love stories to the fruits, vegetables and herbs. Her cheesy puffs are a delight and a reminder to use what you have and keep it simple with your ingredients. It’s a theme for all her recipes, with small lists of ingredients and straightforward instructions. It’s a book I will return to over the seasons to look for growing inspiration and ways to use garden produce.

Paulette makes you feel like you’re sitting at an old farm table with a dear friend discussing food, eating food and feeling warm. If you’re interested in finding out more, Provenance Growers can be found selling their produce and preserves at their Salamanca Market stall, site 204, in the middle aisle of stalls, 8.30am to 3pm every Saturday.

A Shadow At The Door by Jo Dixon (HarperCollins Publishers, January 2024) Review by Emily Schade

With her short-lived acting career behind her; her trophy wife days over; lingering trauma from a brutal attack and an empty bank account, it’s safe to say Remi has seen better days. What isn’t safe, it would appear, is Remi.

Remi’s ex-husband is desperate to sell her home out from under her – the Hobart home she has lovingly restored and hidden herself away in. Remi takes in housemates to help cover her costs. Are the new housemates behind the unsettling events that keep occurring, or is there something more sinister afoot?

I don’t often reach for a psychological thriller, because I prefer to fill my head with nice stories, but I powered through this book in a couple of days. It’s always fun reading about familiar places in novels, but what really held my attention in this book were the well developed characters and the subplots of female friendship, starting life again at any age, and housing challenges in the cost of living crisis.

This is Jo’s second book and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for her future work.

Book Chatter: Fullers Bookshop is hosting the highly anticipated book launch of Dusk by Robbie Arnott on 10 October at Hobart Town Hall. The popular Tamar Valley Writers Festival is running from 11-14 October. The festival is stacked with some huge names such as Markus Zusak, Amal Awad and Lian Tanner plus plenty of locals including Robbie Arnott, Martin Flanagan, Greg French, Annette Higgs, and Adam Thompson. Keep an eye on their socials and newsletter for tickets that are sure to sell out! #TamarValleyWF

Keen to chat books with us? Find us on Instagram @thewomanbookerprizeclub or email thewbpc@gmail.com.