The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr Punch – Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean
Allen & Unwin Bloomsbury, 2006
96 pages
RRP: AU$22.95
ISBN: 9780747588443

Reviewed by Nicolee Baxter

The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr Punch is a moody, mental walk through a man’s memories of himself as a seven year old boy. Recalling visits to his grandparents, the boy regards the conversations and behaviour of the adults around him with simple acceptance. However, recalling those conversations and behaviour with his adult perspective, he begins to question them. The memories insinuate disturbing family secrets.

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Ophelia – Lisa Klein
Allen & Unwin Bloomsbury, 2007
325 pages
RRP: AU$15.95
ISBN: 9780747587330

Reviewed by Kate Williams

If you have ever studied, read or seen Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and, let’s face it, few of us have escaped unscathed then Lisa Klein’s Ophelia will provide at least an entertaining read littered with familiar characters and quotations. For those of us who always thought that Ophelia was given short shrift compared to the male characters in the play then this book is even more satisfying.

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