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Monday, October 26, 2015

Book Review: What Days Are For: A Memoir By Robert Dessaix

This is a book review of What Days Are For: A Memoir by Robert Dessaix that was published on 1 October 2015 by Random House Australia.

Robert Dessaix is best known as a writer of literary non fiction (memoirs, essays, biography and autobiography) but has also published two novels, several short stories and one play. Robert was born in Sydney and now lives in Hobart, Tasmania with his partner Peter Timms who is also a writer.


This is a memoir and musings from author Robert Dessaix who reminisces about his life as a young boy and now an older man, as he lays in a Sydney hospital  recovering from a heart attack.

When Robert comes across Philip Larkin's poem "Days" he begins thinking about what his days have been for, what and how has he loved and why. This memoir is told from Robert's view of the world which come in flashbacks from his young school days to tales of travelling the world and his inner thoughts and feelings about his friends and family.

I often had to read the sentences in this book again as it's very thought provoking and your mind needs to be present or you won't take it in. It's the kind of book you need to think about as you read it, it's not an easy reading novel, but it is witty and insightful.

I haven't read any of Robert's previous books, perhaps if I had I would have understood and enjoyed his writing style more. I found it hard to get into and difficult to follow, and for that reason I didn't really enjoy this book.

I recommend this book to intellects and Robert Dessaix fans.


I give this book 2 stars out of  5

Jarrah Jungle's Star Rating:
1 Bad - I'd rather eat brussel sprouts topped with anchovies than read this again
2 Not Good - I'd rather watch paint dry than read this again
3 Ok - I'm sitting on the fence - its not great but not terrible either
4 Good - I'd give up a bottle of the worlds best champagne for this read
5 Great - I'd pass up a date with Johnny Depp for this read


What Days Are For can be purchased from the author here and Random House Australia


Sharing my book review on Good Reads here and Netgalley


Disclosure:  NetGalley partner with bloggers such as me to help promote authors and their books and I was given this ebook published by Random House Australia to review. As always, all opinions are my own.


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[Image via Random House Australia

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2 comments:

  1. This book does sound deep and maybe a little sad, too, if it is written about some of his happier times in his life while now he is recovering from a heart attack.

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

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