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philippakmoore's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy Helen Garner's writing and the first two-thirds of this book had me hooked, her style as perceptive, quietly beautiful, witty and observant as ever. The last portion of the collection lost me a little, as it felt more like film/book reviews rather than the personal stories with social/cultural commentary that we'd been enjoying up to that point. But overall an enjoyable and worthwhile read. Garner's best essays are like a fine glass of
Pinot Noir - to be savoured.
Pinot Noir - to be savoured.
essjay1's review against another edition
5.0
A collection of reviews, essays and short think pieces that show how consistent Garner has been over the years. Loved the one on Tim Winton.
sarahbrowell's review against another edition
4.0
Read over the course of a week on the tram. Felt like peering through the cracks of someone else’s life. The writing is astounding.
bianca89279's review against another edition
4.0
A very high 4 stars
I've been meaning to read Helen Garner's Everywhere I Look since it came out and I read an excerpt about the "indignities of old age". While I'm still middle-aged, I was really taken with that story and thought that it was about time we read about women past their reproductive years.
I'm glad that I finally got to delve into this collection. Although I bought the ebook, I listened to Garner herself read her own book, which made it a little bit more special, as it's so personal.
I found it quite interesting, so much so I finished listening to the whole thing in less than a day.
Garner's writing style is accessible, without many embellishments or other literary excesses. She's not a show-off. The stories, essays, recollections, journal entries were varied, ranging from moving house - which she did countless times to living abroad, looking after grandchildren, writing, movies, books, friendships, including her decades-long friendship with Tim Winton. Now in her seventies, it makes sense that many of her stories, touch on getting old, on the indignities of getting old, on loneliness, on dying etc.
Garner mentions her three marriages, but we never heard any details about her husbands. I guess it's her right to keep things private, besides she's got kids with one or two of those men and they're probably still alive.
But as far as I'm concerned, I spent a few hours in the company of a woman who's had an interesting life, who's intelligent and an excellent writer and astute observer.
Recommended
I've read this to go towards the Aussie Author Challenge hosted by Book Lover Book Reviews at http://bookloverbookreviews.com/reading-challenges/aussie-author-challenge-2017
I've been meaning to read Helen Garner's Everywhere I Look since it came out and I read an excerpt about the "indignities of old age". While I'm still middle-aged, I was really taken with that story and thought that it was about time we read about women past their reproductive years.
I'm glad that I finally got to delve into this collection. Although I bought the ebook, I listened to Garner herself read her own book, which made it a little bit more special, as it's so personal.
I found it quite interesting, so much so I finished listening to the whole thing in less than a day.
Garner's writing style is accessible, without many embellishments or other literary excesses. She's not a show-off. The stories, essays, recollections, journal entries were varied, ranging from moving house - which she did countless times to living abroad, looking after grandchildren, writing, movies, books, friendships, including her decades-long friendship with Tim Winton. Now in her seventies, it makes sense that many of her stories, touch on getting old, on the indignities of getting old, on loneliness, on dying etc.
Garner mentions her three marriages, but we never heard any details about her husbands. I guess it's her right to keep things private, besides she's got kids with one or two of those men and they're probably still alive.
But as far as I'm concerned, I spent a few hours in the company of a woman who's had an interesting life, who's intelligent and an excellent writer and astute observer.
Recommended
I've read this to go towards the Aussie Author Challenge hosted by Book Lover Book Reviews at http://bookloverbookreviews.com/reading-challenges/aussie-author-challenge-2017
nina_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
Ok finally I have read my first Helen Garner! I can now completely see why she is so well loved as a writer.
Everywhere I Look is a series of essays spanning around fifteen years of Garner’s writing career. They range from personal diary entries to essays unpacking serious crimes. They touch on Garner’s role as a mother and grandmother before flipping to an account of her watching every single Russell Crowe movie and her differing opinions of each. She devotes an essay to her friendship with Tim Winton and others to her brief interactions with other authors. At times they are written in the present and others look back at her earlier life.
I was astounded by her observational talent. She is witty and at times almost caustic in her descriptions of the events around her. She is both insightful looking inwards and cleverly able to analyse the world around her. The moments where she has eavesdropped on others around her and used those moments to form an essay are so astute. I loved the little anecdotes about her young grandchildren.
Helen Garner is now in her seventies and the words in this book published in 2016 had all the hallmarks of a woman past caring what others think. I feel pretty lucky though that I get to peruse her back catalogue now that I have discovered her work.
Everywhere I Look is a series of essays spanning around fifteen years of Garner’s writing career. They range from personal diary entries to essays unpacking serious crimes. They touch on Garner’s role as a mother and grandmother before flipping to an account of her watching every single Russell Crowe movie and her differing opinions of each. She devotes an essay to her friendship with Tim Winton and others to her brief interactions with other authors. At times they are written in the present and others look back at her earlier life.
I was astounded by her observational talent. She is witty and at times almost caustic in her descriptions of the events around her. She is both insightful looking inwards and cleverly able to analyse the world around her. The moments where she has eavesdropped on others around her and used those moments to form an essay are so astute. I loved the little anecdotes about her young grandchildren.
Helen Garner is now in her seventies and the words in this book published in 2016 had all the hallmarks of a woman past caring what others think. I feel pretty lucky though that I get to peruse her back catalogue now that I have discovered her work.
desterman's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic collection of Garner's short non-fiction - from article's she's published, lectures she's given and simple entries from her diaries. She has such a precision and effortless sophistication in her use of language that the words sing. Her insights about every day life offer a window to the soul. A stellar collection from arguably one of Australia's best writers.