All’s Well, by Mona Awad

Her promising acting career derailed by injury, Miranda Fitch now teaches drama at a minor college. Dogged by chronic pain, she is dependent on painkillers and lurches between physios and massage therapists in search of relief. She lives in her own head, rarely stands up for herself and has alienated her husband, her few friends and most of her students. They want this year’s Shakespeare performance to be MacBeth, but she has chosen All’s Well That Ends Well and they are in open rebellion. When Miranda meets three strangely sympathetic men in the pub, they introduce her to a golden liquid and her life starts to change. Suddenly those who make her life difficult are being struck down, while she mysteriously gets stronger. But is she living in a fantasy world or has she sold her soul to the devil? Chronic pain can warp the mind and this novel goes to some very dark places. What wouldn’t we do to ensure that all’s well – am I right?

Crucible of Gold, by Naomi Novik

Laurence and Temeraire are relatively content on their isolated property in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, when a familiar British diplomat literally drops in. Bonaparte has allied with the Tswana with designs on South America and so the draconic duo are to be (sort of) reinstated to the military to help head off the problem, because of their African experience. Of course nothing goes smoothly – shipwreck, marooning and mutiny are just the start of their obstacles. The Incan Empire offers a whole new take on human-dragon relations, as well as a new phase in the Napoleonic wars. By helping in Brazil, Britain gains Portugal’s friendship. But shifting alliances put Laurence’s reinstated captaincy at risk and it seems he and Temeraire may be returning to China for their next adventure.

Petite Maman (2022), Directed by Cecile Sciamma

Eight-year-old Nelly and her parents are clearing out her grandma’s house after her recent death. Half way through the task Nelly’s mother, Marion, suddenly leaves without explanation. Playing in the woods, Nelly meets another girl her age and the two only children bond. This slow and thoughtful film is shot totally from Nelly’s point of view. Her joys, fears and sorrows drive the narrative in a tender examination of grief, goodbyes and parent-child relationships. Time travel? Flights of imagination? We are never quite sure and it really doesn’t matter. The performance of Josephine Sanz as Nelly is remarkable and the casting of her twin, Gabrielle, as her new friend is very clever. The many long, slow, lingering shots verge on tedium but set a mood and at 73 minutes this heartfelt and emotional film does not outstay its welcome.

Whispers Underground, by Ben Aaronovitch

The London Underground is the setting for this third book in the Rivers of London series. Constable Peter Grant’s colleague Lesley May has joined him at The Folly as an apprentice wizard. She is still recovering from the horrific facial injuries inflicted by magic in the first book, but is gradually discarding her mask. In this tale the murder of a young American student leads to discovery of a secret underground village of a previously unknown species of magical humans. Peter’s young cousin Abigail makes another appearance, expanding the team of magic learners. All hands are likely to be needed as the so-far fruitless search for the Faceless man and his evil associates ramps up. A lesson in the history and geography of London always comes with these books and this mostly adds to their entertainment.

Dinner with the Schnabels, by Toni Jordan

Melbourne architect Simon Larsen has lost his business, his self-respect and his family’s home during the pandemic. Despite clearly suffering from depression he refuses to seek help. He drinks too much and it is left to his long-suffering wife, Tansy, to keep body and soul together in their tiny rental flat. Tansy’s overbearing mother, Gloria, has decreed a belated memorial service for her estranged ex-husband and Simon has been coerced into landscaping the friend’s garden where it will be held. In Simon’s view, Tansy is excessively close to her siblings so when her half-sister lands on them for the service, his breaking point may be near. This is a hot mess of a book that tries very hard to be quirky and funny, with an underlying serious message. It turns itself inside out with unlikely plot elements and unbelievable characters in an attempt to achieve a satisfying outcome. But Simon is such an oblivious, self-centred sad sack that it’s difficult to stick with him. The love of a good woman and a supportive family are all very well, but there is something distasteful about the infantilisation of man seemingly unable to help himself to any degree.

How to Please a Woman (2022), directed by Renee Webster

Gina is 50-something, in a sexless marriage and taken for granted in her work. Her only joy is early morning ocean swimming with a group of girlfriends. They organise a stripper as a surprise birthday gift, but she gets him to clean her house instead and a business idea is born. There are a lot of laughs along the way, as Gina organises appropriate training for her workers and discovers a huge unmet need among her peers. But can she find a way to have her own needs met? The film makes some gently serious points about women being ignored and unappreciated as they age and how women should ask for what they want. Sally Phillips is perfect as Gina and she is supported by a group of fabulous women, including Hayley McElhinney, Tasma Walton and Caroline Brazier. Eric Thomson, Cameron Daddo and Alexander England lead the male supporting cast. Australian comedic films are often disappointingly lame, but this one delivers.