FICTION

 Holiday in Cambodia
Laura Jean McKay
Black Inc, A$24.99

 Despite the innocuous sounding title, Laura Jean McKay's debut isn't a jolly travelogue but a serious and impressive attempt to engage with Cambodia in all its pock-marked history. This collection of short stories stands out for the ways in which McKay explores the often fraught relationships between Cambodians and foreigners (often Australian).

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MEMOIR
Changing Gears
Greg Foyster
Affirm Press,A  $24.95
Greg Foyster left a stressful copywriting career and with his girlfriend Sophie decided to take "a pedal-powered detour from the rat race". In their desire to be exposed to other lifestyles, they cycled up the east coast of Australia and interviewed those with sustainable notions. This engaging memoir explores green initiatives including the concept of "voluntary simplicity"; communal housing and local and seasonal produce.

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