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’re reviewing a very delec­table book from Matthew Evans, and hot off the press (!) a standout new book from Tasmania’s young literary star: Robbie Arnott. These are both great ideas for popping under the Christmas tree.

Not Just Jam: The Fat Pig Farm book of preserves, pickles & sauces by Matthew Evans (Murdoch Books, June 2024) Review by Kathryn Montgomery

Matthew Evans is best known for his TV series Gourmet Farmer, and Fat Pig Farm in the Huon Valley where he raises Wessex saddleback pigs and milks a full-cream Jersey cow. The farm-based restaurant is currently on hiatus so this book equips you to recreate some of Evans’ favourite flavours at home.

Preserving food can seem a little daunting but Evans keeps things easy to follow for any beginner. It’s a relief to not see a long list of required kitchen gadgets! The 90+ recipes all follow the same simple approach, heroing fresh and seasonal food – some with as few as three ingredients.

Certainly not just jam, it includes a wide array of preserves, pickles, relishes, sauces, curds and butters. It’s got a recipe for most fruit and veg that you might find in abundance, easily grow yourself, or cheaply find when in season.

I love giving home made jams, oils and mustards for Christmas and this book has an exceptional range of wonderful recipes to keep us going for the next few gift giving seasons. The mustard recipes are particularly great, easy to make, and an excellent accompaniment to the Christmas ham.

Dusk by Robbie Arnott (Pan Macmillan, Oct 2024) Review by Emily Schade

Master storyteller and much-loved local lad Robbie Arnott has done it again with his newest release and fourth novel, Dusk.

A bounty has been placed on the life of Dusk, the last (imported) puma stalking the highlands, who is making prey of shepherds and livestock alike – and ruining livelihoods. Socially outcast twins Iris and Floyd decide to join the hunt, embarking on a challenging and insightful journey.

This is a tale full of adventure that is as much about the mythical Tasmanian land­scape – a connection to it, and complex human lives and relationships – as it is a killer cat being hunted.

Arnott shows an empathetic understand­ing of human nature and a deep love and connection with the natural world, while delivering a really great tale, beautifully written. Reading Dusk felt like reading Treasure Island for the first time, a rare and joyous experience.

I loved this book: I’ll be reading it again and buying it for Christmas presents for people I really like and I suggest you do the same.

Book Chatter: After several weeks of work, the State Library ground floor is open again. The new-look space includes some fabulous artwork by First Nations artist Caleb Nichols-Mansell, a more spacious entrance, and extended display area for the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts. This also means the car park is back in action – hurrah!

This month brings the Booker Prize (our favourite). The shortlist of finalists is stacked with women, and an Australian (Charlotte Wood) in contention for the first time in several years. Fingers crossed for 12 November…

And closer to home, on 24 November, Ashwood Publishing will launch Huon Writes at the Red Velvet lounge in Cygnet. This new anthology features contributions from some of southern Tasmania’s best writers, including Kate Kruimink and Matthew Evans. Pre-order to support this lovely project, online at www.ashwood-publishing.square.site.

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