First thoughts
Governess Mary Ann is pregnant, out of work and desperate when she goes to the Yarra River with the intention of throwing herself in.
When she sees what she thinks is a child falling in, she goes to their rescue. The person she has saved is no baby however, it is General Tom Thumb — part of a troupe of “little people” touring Australia.
Set in the 19th century, journalist Jane Sullivan’s second novel is full of Gothic intrigue, mixed with the drama and razzle-dazzle of the travelling show.
Each member of the group has a dark side, which comes to light as the tour continues.
We hear from each of the star turns in their own voice, including the General’s beautiful wife Lavinia and her plotting sister Minnie.
Sullivan weaves historical fact with fiction, taking her inspiration from the real Tom Thumb who travelled across Australia in 1870.
She conjures up a world of adventure and suspense in an action-filled plot — weakened only, perhaps, by moments of melodrama.
All travel books need a strong theme, but journalist Samanth Subramanian’s decision to explore the importance of fish on India’s coastline is unusual — as he admits to not eating fish for quite a number of years.
However, with a new appetite for seafood, his culinary expedition becomes part social commentary, part historical analysis and part tour guide.
In this engaging debut, we meet frustrated professionals who must vie with overfishing and huge trawlers to get their catch to market, boat makers who have tied technology with traditional practices and medical practitioners who feed patients live fish to cure asthma.
Subramanian’s writing is fluid, enjoyable and descriptive.
Without delving into too much detail, he sketches the fisherman, bureaucrats, religious leaders and family members he meets during a series of visits across India to sample different fish dishes and the palm sap-based, alcoholic “toddy” — leaving readers hungry for food and travel.
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