Non-fiction books by Canberra authors to cosy up with this autumn
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While those final flickers of summer were bittersweet, cooler evenings mean we can unapologetically embrace our inner hermits—book in hand, of course.
Put on the kettle, cancel your plans and lose yourself within the worlds of our favourite non-fiction Canberra authors, whose literary escapes are made from truth and lived experience warming our souls from the inside out.
Canberra autumns might not be that bad after all. Canberra winters, on the other hand… let’s save that for our next local book roundup.
Tabitha Carvan: This is not a Book about Benedict Cumberbatch
Have you ever found yourself casually obsessed with British actor Benedict Cumberbatch of ‘herlock fame? Then you’re in good company.
Reflecting on her experiences as an Inner North Canberra mother, public servant and Benedict Cumberbatch devotee, Tabitha encourages other women with tender, luminous prose and sharp wit to see themselves through a new lens.
Her keen insights quickly put readers at ease as she unpacks the tangled web of how we forge relationships with our passions and how we deny them too. It’s joyful, hilarious and ridiculously uplifting.
Emma Carey: The Girl Who Fell From the Sky
There are some books that stay with you long after you leave those inspiring final pages.
Emma Carey’s The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is one of these books. As Emma bravely recounts her life-changing skydiving accident and the resulting battles with loneliness and mortality, this memoir emerges, both haunting and ultimately beautiful.
A masterful literary reminder of the fragility of life, with a rare warmth and uplifting message.
Emma Grey: I Don’t Have Time: 15 Minute Ways to Shape a Life You Love
While I tend to tread lightly when it comes to self-help books, Emma’s I Don’t Have Time is a non-preachy delight, teeming with wisdom, tangible advice and an authenticity that makes for an enjoyable read.
Perfect for when the sun eventually leaves and, with it, any motivation for your passions outside of work. Thanks, Emma!
Doug Limbrick: Running the Marathon with Cancer
In this profoundly moving memoir, Doug takes on the journey of his cancer diagnosis—a few days before he was due to run a marathon.
As he tries to understand his changing relationship with his body, Doug’s intelligent prose forces us all to look inward, asking perspective-changing questions along the way. An erudite read that will keep you turning pages.
Gemma Carey: No Matter Our Wreckage: A memoir about grooming, betrayal, trauma and love
No Matter Our Wreckage is a poetic and powerful read that, despite its heaviness, finds a lightness—a testimony to Gemma and her bravery.
Each chapter is beautifully controlled and bursting with emotion, making you laugh, cry and feel every shade that lives in between.
As Gemma faces the unimaginable, her unflinching prose makes for an endearing exploration of how amid the darkness, we can find flickers of light
Darlene Mason: Journey to My Heart
A debut memoir from an up-and-coming Canberra author strung together with emotional depth and vulnerability, Darlene unfurls her experiences of life after separating from her husband. A moving portrait of family, self-love and authenticity.
