Burning Man (2011) directed by Jonathan Teplitzky

A dim memory of reasonable reviews on release of this 2011 film about a chef gone troppo led to recording it on SBS2 to watch later. And what a moving experience was almost missed. Matthew Goode (of Downton Abbey and Good Wife Fame) is almost unrecognisable as the grief-stricken and out-of-control chef. But he carries the film through from its initially disparate and obscure fragments of a life in pieces to a coherent whole that gradually comes together, as does his character, Tom. The burning metaphor is a little stretched, but the time jumps back and forth are clear and helpful in understanding what is going on in Tom’s world. A stellar supporting cast including Bojana Novakovic, Essie Davis and Rachael Griffiths help drive this desperately sad tale to a reasonable conclusion.

Green Valentine, by Lili Wilkinson

Some YA books transcend genre to be universally relevant. This is not one of them. Perfect and popular Astrid is determined to make the world a better place. An unlikely alliance with rebellious Hiro leads to romance and multiple clashes with authority. Politically correct to the point of nausea, the improbable plot becomes cartoonish as all comes right in the end. Harmless enough.

Antipodes Gin, Certified organic spirit - 45%

There was initial scepticism about this drink. It sounded good, but how much better than a regular gin could it actually be? OMFG it’s from another planet. Seriously, it’s like a completely different spirit. The first sniff is incredibly aromatic, and a sip indicates it could easily be drunk neat, or over ice with a splash of lime – in fact the perfect gimlet. The taste was so distinctive there was concern that tonic would overwhelm the flavour and that perhaps soda would be a better match. No need to worry, the gin more than holds its own with tonic. In fact compared with soda water and a dash of lime, tonic is a far better match – the flavours are complementary. Billed as Australia's first certified organic and carbon neutral gin, it is triple distilled with flavours such as orange peel, lemon myrtle and pepper berry and refined with pure Australian rainwater. In a word, yum.

The Secret Chord, by Geraldine Brooks

King David has commissioned his personal prophet, Nathan, to write a warts and all biography. And so we receive the history of a charismatic leader with many flaws, from his abusive childhood to his bitter end. David is a musical prodigy who unites the tribes of Israel, committing brutal rapes and mass murder along the way. A clear, although possibly not intentional, demonstration of the fact that history is generally his-story and rarely her-story, Brooks’ novel is a bit of a slog through the slaughter. A redeeming feature is the hope for better from the next generation, but David’s motivation is never entirely clear. Brooks is known for bringing history to life in her novels, impeccable research informing engaging fictional characters and their stories. The Secret Chord features real historical characters, about whom there is more mythology than known facts, which creates some tension between story and actual history. Ultimately the nature of these beasts leaves rather a sour taste, most of them are characters the should perhaps stay buried in the past.

The Beauty is in the Walking, by James Moloney

Jacob has cerebral palsy but gets around on his own two feet, thanks to the dedicated care of his over-protective mother. She has a nice, safe job lined up for him when he finishes school and his life in a small Australian country town has been well and truly mapped out for him. A coming-of-age tale that sometimes tries a little too hard, Jacob’s journey of self-discovery covers disability, racism, sexual awakening and the insularity of country life.

Elizabeth is Missing, by Emma Healey

This quietly devastating tale combines a murder mystery with an account of a woman’s gradual decline into dementia. Written from the point of view of Maud, the novel cleverly intersperses her ultra sharp memories of her parents and older sister in her teen years, just after World War II, with her current fuzziness about her daughter and grand-daughter. What has happened to Maud’s good friend Elizabeth? Can she solve the mystery and will she remember it if she does? Maud is determined that she will and, with the support and care of her often exasperated daughter, she uncovers more than she knows she is looking for. Emma Healy has written a poignant story of love and loss that strikes a strong and lingering chord, with a subtle examination of the effects of ageing on an individual, on her family and friends and on her community.