"We were being denied access to our own history about one of the most controversial and polarising episodes in our history. The obvious question was w"We were being denied access to our own history about one of the most controversial and polarising episodes in our history. The obvious question was why?"
In 1975 the Governor General of Australia, John Kerr (the Queen's representative in Australia) sacked the Federal government of Australia led by Gough Whitlam and appointed the opposition leader Malcolm Fraser as the new Prime Minister. It sparked outrage at the time and has often been cited as one of the reasons why Australia should become a Republic.
One of the questions that has been asked since then was how much knowledge did the Queen have? Was Kerr acting alone? The answer lies in the Palace letters, a series of letters between Kerr and the Queen's private secretary Sir Martin Charteris. A series of letters that were locked away in the Australian Archives.
The majority of this book follows historian Jenny Hocking's attempts at gaining access to the letters, a straight forward request the eventually ended up at the High Court of Australia. What could have been a fairly tedious book is actually fascinating in the way Hocking lays out the various stumbling blocks, the brief moments of hope, the bizarre justifications from the Archives and seemingly biased federal judges to her final victory at obtaining the letters.
"This was a carefully crafted historical construction, an intervention in the process of history formation itself, through the deliberate withholding of information that would tell us otherwise, and the repeated circulation of a version of events that was known to be false."
I found it fascinating just how much effort the Archives put into keeping these letters secret. It puzzled me, but I now assume they simply wanted to protect the Queen and the major conservative party who gained power thanks to the Dismissal. This is more clear once the Archives were forced to release the letters and in a carefully curated move, selected several letters in a public unveiling, declaring the Queen had no prior knowledge, despite the evidence in many of the remaining 200 plus letters.
The remaining section of the book follows the information contained in the letters, which was a confirmation of years of Hocking's research. The Queen via her private secretary was aware that Kerr was considering sacking the government long before his eventual justification. Kerr feared Whitlam was on the verge of sacking him, so it was always a case of self preservation.
"In these letters ranging from the deferential to the obsequious, Kerr is revealed as insecure, indiscrete, easily led by flattery and expertly played by the seasoned palace courtier, Sir Martin Charteris."
Hocking eviscerates Kerr throughout this book, more often than not simply using his own words from his voluminous letters. He fawns over the Queen, constantly begs for affirmation for his actions, and generally comes across as pompous, vain and self absorbed. He gets played by the Palace, and the Opposition Leader who conspired with Kerr to take government, and somewhat unsurprisingly discarded him once Kerr was no longer of use.
One confusing element is the introduction is written by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He was (and possibly remains) a prominent voice of the pro-Republic movement, but as Prime Minister did nothing to release the letters, despite it occurring during his brief administration. I assume it is yet another of his attempts to smooth over that period of history, to make him appear a better leader because the one before and after were so terrible. It could also be an attempt by Hocking to reveal even those sympathetic to her plight still fear the backlash of the Monarchists littering the branches of the Australian government.
I'm clearly biased in my reading of this book, but I'm biased in favour of Australians being able to choose their governments and being able to access our own history. Hocking notes in the closing passages of the book that even after the reveal of the Palace letters she uncovered more correspondence between Kerr and Charteris and wonders what else is hidden away in the Archives, safely away from the eyes of the Australian public....more
Bob Franklin is probably most well known for being a comedian here in Australia, so it's really fun seeing him turn his comedic talents on their head Bob Franklin is probably most well known for being a comedian here in Australia, so it's really fun seeing him turn his comedic talents on their head to create some fairly disturbing short stories. This is Franklin's second book of horror themed stories, the first being "Under Stones". He's also previously written a full length horror novel Moving Tigers. All of which I've thoroughly enjoyed.
There's something deliberately off-putting about Franklin's writing, like you're in a constant state of unease about what's going on. You know you're reading a horror themed book so you're expecting vampires or aliens, but there's none of that. It's more like catching something out of the corner of your eye, you thought you saw something but it's probably just your imagination. Probably.
I think his prologue probably captures the spirit of this book better than anything I could hope to write, so I'll include it verbatim:
Reader Beware
"It might be expected, in a book that handles horror, that readers should proceed with caution. But there are monsters in this book both more insidious and more familiar from the real world than things that go bump in the night. The evils that lurk in these pages - the racist and the selfish, the sexist and the venal, the ill-informed and the cruel at heart - aren't in the lengthening shadows. they're well lit, well fed, and running our boardrooms and our countries. We can't promise they all get what's coming to them, but none of these fictional characters should be read as a role model or author surrogate."...more
A really solid noir mystery featuring an Asian-American cop in a time when they basically didn't exist. It doesn't sugarcoat the struggles faced by noA really solid noir mystery featuring an Asian-American cop in a time when they basically didn't exist. It doesn't sugarcoat the struggles faced by non-whites at the time which I'm sure will annoy some readers, although considering the resurgence of hate towards Asians in the past couple of years it feels very timely.
The art suits the style perfectly, it's moody and dark but with a pleasant style that reminds me of Sean Phillips' work. Although I could just be thinking that because this reminds me of the kind of book he and Ed Brubaker create.
It's great to encounter a new book I'm genuinely excited by....more
This is a crossover between the characters appearing in "Mysterious Ways" as well as the previous "Homeland Security Services" novel "Perfectly InvisiThis is a crossover between the characters appearing in "Mysterious Ways" as well as the previous "Homeland Security Services" novel "Perfectly Invisible" set in an alternate universe where the Twin Towers fell in the 1990s, the Democratic National Convention was also bombed leading to a considerably more conservative United States.
I was confused about the reasoning behind the alternate United States portrayed in "Perfectly Invisible". Was Michael A. Stackpole writing about a world he preferred? It didn't seem to gel with the kinds of characters he'd written for "Star Wars", but it's sometimes hard to tell which science fiction authors are going to turn out to be homophobic douchebags using their religion as an excuse for being a dick to people not like them. (A quick look at Stackpole's twitter reassured me that he's cool, so that's a relief.)
So then I read "Mysterious Ways", and figured Stackpole is not a big fan of organised religion after all, at least he's not a big fan of the big religions that seem bent on exploiting the vulnerable or using their vast wealth to influence politics. This world he's created isn't a dream, it's a nightmare. At least that's how I interpret it. But it's not without those good hearted people who are still struggling to do the right thing.
Merlin Bloodstone from "Mysterious Ways" steams up with Agent Miracle Dunn to investigate the murder of Connor Moran, Bloodstone's former assistant and it quickly turns into something far more sinister.
I really like the clash between Bloodstone and Dunn. They come at things from very different perspectives and Stackpole manages to write them both as fleshed out individuals to the point where you can understand both points of view....more
This book essentially covers the reasons why the United States became a superpower, the global ramifications of how it occurred and what might happen This book essentially covers the reasons why the United States became a superpower, the global ramifications of how it occurred and what might happen next on a global stage.
That sounds like a really intense thing to cover, but Peter Zeihan does it in a very straight forward (and at times very funny) manner. This book was written with people like me in mind. People who don't necessarily follow global patterns, people who might only have a very vague passing interest in the topic.
Zeihan breaks down the book into several specific sections which makes it easy to follow, if not a little overwhelming because of all the information. First he covers how geography, and specifically rivers help shape a country's growth and how it interacts with other nations.
The second part of the book focuses on how the world looks now (actually 2014) and the issues that are facing us on the global stage.
And the third and final section of the book focuses on what might be coming if the global trends continue.
This is a fairly apolitical book. There doesn't appear to be any agenda, it's not even written in a way that is celebrating the idea of "American Exceptionalism". It's very fact based, to the point where it can be overwhelming just trying to process not only America's place in the world, but every other major player.
I definitely feel like I know more about the global stage than before I read this book. I'm really curious to read Zeihan's more recent book, just to see where he thinks things are going now, since we're in an even more unprecedented time....more
"It was my third chance to make a second first impression." - David Litt
I was skeptical about reading this. I haven't been in the mood for a happy refl"It was my third chance to make a second first impression." - David Litt
I was skeptical about reading this. I haven't been in the mood for a happy reflection on the quaint old days of Obama for... oh, about four years now. It's too depressing.
So, I appreciated that Litt doesn't shy from addressing the bad times. The times where he messed up, where Obama lost his cool, where "Hope" and "Change" didn't exactly pan out for everyone.
I didn't want a depressing "things are bad now but they've always been bad" attitude, I just wanted a realistic acknowledgement that not everything was pefect under Obama. And Litt is pretty honest about that.
His overall message is very much that Obama and his team tried their best, they made mistakes and they learned from them. And above all, Obama was a class act in the face of constant, partisan opposition. At no point did any right thinking person think he was unpresidential.
Litt has a really nice flow to his writing. He's funny and quick witted, and paints a nice picture of what life was like for him working for the most powerful person in America.
The highlight for me was him recounting singing the Golden Girls theme song to the President in the Oval Office. I had to stop what I was doing as I was laughing so much.
Like most autobiographies I listened to the audiobook version because I enjoy hearing things in the author's own voice, and Litt does a great job.
I also appreciated Litt's acknowledgement that while things have gotten a lot worse in the last few years, not all hope is lost. There are some things that can never be undone, and it's always good to keep that in mind when thinking about how dark the world has become....more
Okay, so I assume every other review says this but I'll say it anyway. This is The West Wing in space. And it's awesome.
I love being able to see the cOkay, so I assume every other review says this but I'll say it anyway. This is The West Wing in space. And it's awesome.
I love being able to see the civillian side of Star Trek, to see how the government of hundreds of worlds actually functions. It's a side of the universe we don't really get to see in the movies and tv shows, outside of their direct dealings with Starfleet, and they're usually corrupt, possessed by aliens or both.
There are many characters in this, but it mostly revolves around Federation President Nan Bacco, a former planetary governor who is old enough and experienced enough that she doesn't have time for the usual bullshit, so often cuts right to the point. There are times, many times, where she reminds me of President Bartlet from The West Wing, but it's more to do with their shared moral code than anything else.
I love that while there's always corruption, moral questions and darkness in the universe, this book takes a refreshingly positive approach. These characters are good, imperfect but trying to do the right thing. It fills me with a hope that I haven't felt in a very long time when it comes to Star Trek.
There's a classic Star Trek moment where President Bacco tries to convince a character to do the right thing. The character has a position and doesn't want to budge, and it's up to Bacco to convince them of the good they'll be doing if they can move past their legitimate trauma to do the right thing.
That's Star Trek to me. So, I'm glad in this age of grimdark, revenge killing, f-bomb filled Trek on TV, I still get to enjoy a more positive spin on the universe....more
"But what do we live for? The white man taken our country, killed all of our game; was not satisfied with that, but killed our wives and children. Now"But what do we live for? The white man taken our country, killed all of our game; was not satisfied with that, but killed our wives and children. Now no peace. We want to go and meet our families in the spirit land. We loved the whites until we found out they lied to us, and robbed us of what we had. We have raised the battle ax until death." - Cheyenne Chief Leg-in-the-Water
Dee Brown covers the plight of Native Americans between 1860 and 1890 in great detail, with many footnotes and references to other works and official publications.
It's difficult for me to put into words how this book made me feel. I honestly don't think anything I write here will do it justice, and just thinking about this book right now causes a swell of overwhelming rage and despair.
Knowledge of the atrocities that were inflicted upon the Native Americans has certainly become more well known since the publication of this book in 1970, but it's shown me how much more there is to learn.
Brown covers every major forced relocation, theft of land and unprovoked massacre in that thirty year period. I just kept thinking how ironic it was that the white Americans kept referring to the Native Americans as "savages".
It's really well written and generally follows events in chronological order but breaks up the chapters by focusing on specific tribes, their customs, homeland and eventual domination by the white settlers.
As I was reading this book the news that at least three residential schools (where Native children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to re-education facilities) in Canada had uncovered the bodies of over 354 children in unmarked graves. This isn't some far off historical event, these schools were open until the mid 1990s.
The book ends in 1890, the atrocities unfortunately do not.
"The operations of General Hancock have been so disastrous to the public interests, and at the same time seem to me to be so inhuman, that I deem it proper to communicate my views to you on the subject... For a mighty nation like us to be carrying on a war with a few straggling nomads, under such circumstances, is a spectacle most humiliating, an injustice unparalleled, a national crime most revolting, that must, sooner or later, bring down upon us or our posterity the judgement of Heaven." - John "Black Whiskers" Sanborn, Indian Peace Commission...more
As we slowly gained some civil rights it seemed that both hope and calamity walked hand in hand.
It's incredible that as the United States landed peoplAs we slowly gained some civil rights it seemed that both hope and calamity walked hand in hand.
It's incredible that as the United States landed people on the moon, they were still struggling with racial inequality. Black Americans were still considered second class, particularly black women, so this was quite an uplifting story of one woman's determination to overcome that bias and become intergral to the space race.
Katherine Johnson led a fascinating life and at times this book was a struggle because of how difficult it was for her, and it blows my mind that this happened only a couple of generations ago. There are still people alive today who remember those times of "Whites only restaurants".
I sometimes marvel at how far we've come, but wonder at how far we still have to go....more
I wasn't really sure where it was going, I just liked the startI picked up this book because I enjoyed Last Drinks by the same author, Andrew McGahan.
I wasn't really sure where it was going, I just liked the start of it, a mushroom cloud over a farm, seen from the perspective of a nine year old boy, William. Knowing it was the death of his father and he and his mother were going to go and live with an uncle he'd never met on some remote farm.
William's story is intertwined with his uncle's growing up and it wasn't obvious where the book was going for quite some time. Then land rights and Aboriginals are suddenly thrust into the story and his uncle is leading a group that is hoping to protect the land rights of farmers who are concerned that new legislation being introduced to compensate Aboriginals will take away their farms. Part of the charter reads:
We believe that the rights of the individual cannot be interfered with. We believe in the inherent value of Australian culture and traditions. We believe in One Flag. In One People. One Nation.
For non-Australians, the "One Nation" Political Party was created to essentially "keep Australia white". So that line sent shivers up my spine. I was worried that this innocent little boy was going to be warped by his racist old uncle... but as usual it's never so straight forward.
I found William an entirely sympathetic narrator. He's nine and is being shoved in at least three different directions by the end of the book and is never given a chance to just be a kid, he's forced into this dancing monkey role because one day his uncle's farm may be his.
His uncle, John's story was introduced slowly and as William learned more about him, so did we... and my sympathies for him lessened and lessened.
I wasn't expecting a story about Native Title, but this was a really interesting way to approach the topic....more
This dealt with some pretty heavy issues, I mean you get that from the cover right? Terrorism, the war on terror, torture, brainwashing. And alternateThis dealt with some pretty heavy issues, I mean you get that from the cover right? Terrorism, the war on terror, torture, brainwashing. And alternately trying to explain why it occurs and whether it's possible to stop.
I guess with these political stories they always seem relevant now, more than ever, which is a fairly depressing thought. But when the government of the world's most powerful country is putting children in concentration camps often under the banner of "preventing terrorism", it's hard not to despair.
I feel like this book is probably up to interpretation, but coming from a bleeding heart, looney lefty I found this to be a fairly wide condemnation of the dehumanisation on both sides, the terrible actions of terrorists as well as the terrible actions of those supposedly trying to prevent them.
Because this book deals with such heavy topics I feel like it will require a second readthrough to fully understand all of the messages the author was trying to convey. ...more
This is such a wholesome book, I mean as wholesome as a book can get with a several semi-graphic sex scenes.
It's just a nice escape from reality, imagThis is such a wholesome book, I mean as wholesome as a book can get with a several semi-graphic sex scenes.
It's just a nice escape from reality, imagining a world where a female politician from Texas won the 2016 US election, a world with a slightly different British Royal family.
It's a cute concept, the son of the President realises his hate boner for a British Prince is actually just a regular boner. As it turns out, the feelings are mutual and so begins their love affair.
Firstly, I really like the characters. The protagonist Alex has a tendency to be an insufferable douchebag at times, but there are enough characters to call him out on it that it doesn't become annoying. Prince Henry is adorably British and it's easy to see why Alex's hate turned to something more positive. The supporting characters are fairly well rounded too, from Alex's sister June to their BFF Nora (grand daughter of the Vice President) and their parents.
For a mostly light hearted young adult novel, Casey McQuiston tackles a lot of very real world issues about sexuality, gender politics, racism, among others. Even an offhand comment from a character about how straight people love to incorrectly claim that homophobia is mostly just closeted people not being able to come to terms with their own sexuality.
There are times it borders on fantasy, because while it's grounded in some kind of real world, but there are certain elements that sadly wouldn't actually happen, but it's nice to imagine it for awhile. This book doesn't need to be entirely realistic as long as it doesn't break the internal logic of the book.
The dialogue made me laugh out loud several times, from the cute instant message banter between Henry and Alex, to Deputy Chief of Staff Zahra's outright hostility towards Alex to President Claremont's very special talk with Alex using a powerpoint presentation.
It's just a really nice book, something I desperately needed right now, and I think the best way to end this review is to quote McQuiston in the acknowledgments:
"What I hoped to do, and what I hope I have done with this book by the time you've finished it, my dear reader, is to be a spark of joy and hope you needed."
I thought this was going to be a stark look at a possible future for America. Turns out it's just a stark look at the reality of how a kid can grow upI thought this was going to be a stark look at a possible future for America. Turns out it's just a stark look at the reality of how a kid can grow up to be a terrorist. I suspect the radical right wing will totally miss the point on this book, but if they read it at all they'll just ironically agree with the freedom fighters that they'd usually dismiss as terrorists.
This is a cleverly written book with a not so subtle subtext. I hope that anyone who reads it will be given a better appreciation of why not everyone in the world sees the United States as the greatest country in the world, whether or not their President is a raving lunatic. ...more
This was a pretty daunting book when I picked it up, but there was something about the format I found quThey don't make politicians like that anymore.
This was a pretty daunting book when I picked it up, but there was something about the format I found quite compelling. Each chapter follows a similar format. Kerry O'Brien introduces the chapter, asks a question and Paul Keating answers, usually in great detail, whereupon O'Brien often asks a follow-up.
It's more of a discussion than an official biography, although it covers all major points of Keating's political career.
I came away from this book with a greater appreciation and respect for Paul Keating. I always liked him, I liked his vicious cunning watching clips of him in Question Time, his often devastating insults, and quick wit. But it took a bit longer for me to learn about his achievements as Treasurer and Prime Minister.
I don't know if this book will change any die-hard Liberals' minds, but it might change some of those on the fence that don't know much about him. In this book he comes across as confident and self assured but I don't think he reaches arrogance. At times he's even quite gracious to those you might think he'd have a good reason to hate.
One of the things I appreciate most is once he became Prime Minister he didn't want to play it safe, to do his best to please the public in tedious polls and media appearances. For better or worse he wanted to lift this country up while his opponents often wanted to drag it back to the 1950's. He was one of the most socially progressive Prime Minister's Australia has had, and he was going to use what was left of his political capital to improve the country, regardless of the polls. His vision was long term, not simply gazing ahead to the next election like so many others.
Kerry O'Brien does an excellent job of steering the conversation through each era of Keating's public life, encapsulating each time period with an introduction to the chatper. He's direct and to the point, but allows Keating to tell his story in his own words....more
Nothing in this book surprised me. The amount of information we get about the dysfunctional Trump White House on a daily basis is overwhelming.
He doesNothing in this book surprised me. The amount of information we get about the dysfunctional Trump White House on a daily basis is overwhelming.
He doesn't read briefings, he doesn't listen during meetings, he refuses to change his opinion on certain topics regardless of the facts, he wants everyone to like him, he wants everyone to respect him, he likes pitting his advisers against one another, he doesn't actually care about most issues, he throws temper tantrums, he disrespects those closest to him...
If anything, this is a confirmation of what everyone already suspected. There's no reason to doubt Bob Woodward's account of these events, if it comes down to believing an anonymous source or Donald Trump, I'll take Woodward's source every time.
I don't want to read any more books about Trump's horror show until it's all over, one way or another. It's just too fucking depressing....more
The first part of the story focuses mostly on a single character and those around him, his choices and consequences. The second is a series of vignettThe first part of the story focuses mostly on a single character and those around him, his choices and consequences. The second is a series of vignettes following several others during the time period.
I enjoyed the stories, although at times I found the artwork a little difficult to follow.
If, like me, you wish there were more stories set during the Revolutionary War, this is the comic for you. ...more
This was the peculiar and haunting consensus-not that Trump was guilty of all that he was accused of, but that he was guilty of so much else. It was aThis was the peculiar and haunting consensus-not that Trump was guilty of all that he was accused of, but that he was guilty of so much else. It was all too possible that the hardly plausible would lead to the totally credible.
I think what would infuriate Trump most about this book is that the central figure isn't him. This book is about Steve Bannon, Trump's chief strategist and the man who deserves much of the blame (or credit if you prefer) for Trump ascending to the highest office in the land.
Trump is portrayed as an loud, uncouth oaf who spends more time obsessing over whether people like him than anything else. Ivana and Jared Kushner (Javanka) are spoiled children and everyone else is seemingly there to get their moment of fame or perhaps bring a small amount of dignity to the office.
But Bannon... he's there to break America and reform it in the image he feels fitting. It's odd feeling pangs of sympathy for such an abhorrent man, but I did while reading this. He feels like the only sane man, which is a credit to Michael Wolff's prose because Bannon still comes across as a heartless, right wing extremist.
I'm tempted to give this book five stars to counter the illiterate Trump fans who have probably brigaded this page, but although it was an interesting and I assume mostly truthful take, it was mostly just a confirmation of what many people already suspect.
This is a fascinating insight into the chaotic madness that is the Trump White House and those who inhabit it at present. I'm hoping by this time next year Trump is sitting in a prison cell instead, but it's a dwindling hope at best....more
I've recently become interested in the formation of the United States, partly because of the current state of American politics, partly because of HamI've recently become interested in the formation of the United States, partly because of the current state of American politics, partly because of Hamilton: The Musical and because of the TV series Turn: Washington's Spies.
At the start of each episode there was a moment in the awesome opening credits that said based on the book Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose, and about halfway through the series I realised I wanted to know what actually happened, not just the highly enjoyable Hollywood version.
The book covers the period from the inception of the Culper Ring all the way through to the end of the Revolutionary War. It contains letters from many of the major players including Washington himself, although he's not always painted in the best light. It's understandable though, considering he had other things to attend to at the time and wasn't always across all of the happenings in his spy net.
It was interesting to see the differences between the American spy rings in comparison to the British, both were struggling with this new form of warfare, at least new in the sense that it hadn't really been employed during the Revoltuionary War until this time.
I was kept interested throughout, Rose really paints a picture of the world at the time as well as those involved. And it's to his credit since not a lot of information was left aside from some letters and invoices.
I'd recommend this to anyone with an interest in the Revolutionary War or the history of spying. I'll also give a shout-out to the TV Show Turn, which is a solid adaptation... with some changes due to artistic license....more
Sometimes I worry about the bias of the author when reading political books. In this case, Barrie Cassidy has a history with the Labor Party, in partiSometimes I worry about the bias of the author when reading political books. In this case, Barrie Cassidy has a history with the Labor Party, in particular Bob Hawke's administration but he's able to look at the events surrounding the 2010 with a level of impartiality that I appreciate.
It's interesting that Labor comes off with more of a thrashing, although that could be simply because they're perceived to have made more mistakes, or it could be because Cassidy naturally goes harder on 'his team' or because I'm more aligned with Labor than the Coalition I felt those blows more than the ones against the former.
This book looks at the events from Kevin Rudd's astounding win in 2007 to the landmark 2010 hung parliament. Considering the ever continuing events in the Australian political landscape I would expect a sequel is forthcoming.
Going in, one might expect the party thieves are those who dethroned Rudd, so it's surprising to learn it's Kevin Rudd who is the thief. At least in the sense that he immediately changed the way Labor functions by declaring he would personally pick his own ministry rather than the greater Labor caucus, giving him much greater power than any of his predecessors.
This book goes into great detail for the fall of Rudd and lays most of the blame at his feet, as well as those who helped prop him up without any sort of consideration for the future. He was a popular figure, but he was also someone who backed away from "the great issue of our age", climate change, someone who was doubted by his colleagues, who was accused of being autocratic and a micro manager.
You really get a sense of why he was removed as leader. It's just a shame that reasoning was never given to the public in a timely manner.
The second thief is Malcolm Turnbull of the Coalition. At the time of publication he was biding his time as Shadow Communication Minister. He'd not yet reclaimed the throne he'd stolen.
Turnbull was a thief in the sense he wasn't a typical Coalition member, he was well liked by those on both sides of the political isle, he was seen as more progressive and more likely to fight for his beliefs. He was a man who made bold claims like:
"[I] would not lead a party that is not as committed to effective action on climate change as I am"
I wonder what happened to that man, in fact I wonder if he ever truly existed.
Julia Gillard comes off the best as far as it goes. Particularly because Cassidy claims (with reason) that if it weren't for the damaging leaks from within the Labor Party, she would have been returned as Prime Minister, albiet with a reduced majority.
As much as it pains me to say it, Tony "nobody respects women more than I do" Abbott also comes off fairly well. To his credit he nearly took down a first term government And it pains me to say that about Tony "nobody respects women more than I do" Abbott. Although I feel his time will come with the inevitable sequel....more
I'm almost up to date with Saga, so I've already read all of the issues collected in this big hardcover. I liked the story initially but didn't love iI'm almost up to date with Saga, so I've already read all of the issues collected in this big hardcover. I liked the story initially but didn't love it. I didn't really get why everyone was raving about it.
And then at some point it all clicked. I'd like to say I know when that was but I'm not sure. Possibly somewhere in volume two it all just came together for me.
So on this re-read I find myself giving this five stars, it's nice seeing these characters again from the start, it's nice seeing Fiona Staples amazing art at this stage too. It's great here but it gets even better later on.
The additional notes and discussions between Vaughan and Staples is good but honestly I'm just here for this big amazing story. I can't wait to see how it ends....more
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