After The Carnage is a short collection of short stories. The stories are set around the world, from Australia to Pakistan, from Paris to Istanbul. The stories may be short on words but they certainly pack a punch.

Tara June Winch writes hauntingly beautiful stories of loss, of love, of life. Of heartbreak and hardship.

Most of the stories in the collection offer us a glimpse into a small moment of a character's day. As the title suggests, all the stories happen after the carnage. The characters struggle with feeling out of place, coping with loss, or trying to make sense of their identity/situation.

We're shown how ordinary people deal with the fall out of life and love. How they cope when their reality doesn't live up to the one they imagined.

TJW is such a talented writer who understands people; who can really get into the nitty gritty. Her writing is raw. Her characters come alive and each story feels different. She has a unique ability to dive deep into the tiny moments and small facets of life.

The stories end without a definitive ending. There's more to know and it leaves you pondering what happens to each character. If you want a book that will make you think, this is it.

If you loved The Yield and want more TJW, I'd recommend After The Carnage. It's very different but is an excellent collection of short stories. And I think you'll love it too. I'd also recommend it for any short story lovers.

This book is incredible. Tony Birch has created characters who personify strength, resilience, grit and determination. The story is laced with grief and Birch doesn't shy away from the hard truth of what life was like for Aboriginal women in the 1960s.

The book showcases the fears and reality of Aboriginal children being stolen from their families. The White Girl is about families, and the love and bonds that make women protect their own at any cost. It's about human connection and interactions. It's about good and evil. And above all, it's about strong women.

The story is compelling. I was hooked from the start. If I had the time, I would have happily read it in one sitting. But there were so many times I had to pause and reflect. It's hard to believe how normal the atrocities were; it's almost inconceivable how horribly white people treated Aboriginal people. It's even more shocking to think that the 60s was even that long ago. I can't even imagine having to seek permission from the police to leave town; or having to live with the fear that my children could be taken from me at any moment.

I highly recommend The White Girl. It will make you cry, it will make you think. It will shine a light on the injustices of the past, giving clear insight in to the oppressive policies of the 20th century. It's educational and emotive, and a book every Australian should read.