Liz Byrski Books in Order

Stranded by a disrupted flight, bookshop owner Mim Squires and writer Mathias Vander strike up an unlikely connection in their seventies. Back in Perth, family dramas and resurfacing childhood hurts force them to rethink independence, ageing and what companionship might still mean.

In this collection edited by Liz Byrski, twenty Australian women from many backgrounds write frankly about anger, injustice and everyday frustrations. Their personal essays mix humour, sorrow and sharp insight, showing how rage can become energy for action rather than silence.

After years of meeting only online, four book club friends accept a month long house-sit in the Blue Mountains. Sharing favourite novels, walks and confessions, they each confront long delayed decisions and discover how stories, old and new, can reshape a life.

On Emerald Street in Perth, three long standing neighbourly couples face the upheavals of retirement, illness, new romance and adult children moving away. As eccentric actor Stella begins to slip into dementia, the women next door must decide what loyalty and care really look like.

Purple Prose gathers new nonfiction from fifteen Australian women writers, all responding in different ways to the colour purple. Their pieces wander from coronation gowns to football, family stories and politics, turning a single shade into a meditation on memory, identity and change.

Returning to the English town where she once watched badly burned airmen on the street, Liz Byrski investigates the story behind them. Her search uncovers the Guinea Pig Club of injured pilots, the pioneering surgeon who treated them, and the nurses whose work changed lives.

When domineering Gerald Hawkins dies in Tasmania, his widow Connie and their adult children feel both grief and release. A renewed link with Gerald’s estranged sister in France, and a trail of hidden letters, force the family to reassess old loyalties, betrayals and hopes.

Years after sailing to Australia together as nervous migrants, Ruby and Cat have grown apart. After Cat’s death, Ruby and her nephew Declan unexpectedly inherit Cat’s lavender farm in Margaret River, where guests, staff and long buried feelings push them toward forgiveness and new beginnings.

Getting On is a short, thoughtful exploration of what it means for women to age in a culture obsessed with youth. Drawing on stories, observation and argument, Liz Byrski examines invisibility, grief, pleasure and possibility in the later decades of women’s lives.

Margot’s life revolves around caring for others until she spots Dot, a fierce old comrade from 1960s feminist protests, chained to a shopping centre escalator. Their reunion, set against family upheaval and consumer culture, forces Margot to confront regret, anger and the chance to change.

In Fremantle, Zoe’s comfortable family life is shaken when a new woman enters her son’s world, stirring up old insecurities. In Sussex, Julia nurses a dying friend while questioning her marriage. Both women must reckon with choices made in the turbulent year of 1968.

After politician Heather Delaney is shot outside her office, recovery proves far harder than she expects. As she faces trauma, guilt and a flamboyant former lover, the shock ripples through her brother’s strained marriage, her staff and an extended family already close to breaking point.

Cautious, dutiful Gayle and outspoken, independent Sonya could not be more different, yet both impulsively join Marissa’s belly dancing class. As the music loosens hips and inhibitions, marriages, friendships and old hurts shift, and three women start to see their lives with fresh eyes.

Bonnie returns to Melbourne after her husband’s mysterious death overseas, reconnecting with former school friends Fran, a divorced food writer, and Sylvia, a minister’s wife stuck in a passionless marriage. Their new creative venture forces each woman to face secrets about love, desire and security.

For years Isabel, Sally, Robin and Grace have met regularly to swap stories about work, ageing parents and grown children. When Isabel decides to spend a year in Europe alone, the others are jolted into their own journeys, testing marriages, careers and the strength of friendship.

At eighteen, Liz fell deeply in love, then was abruptly separated from the man she expected to marry. Nearly four decades later, his unexpected phone call reopens that past. This memoir traces their early affair, long silence and emotional reunion across countries and years.

Western Australia: Land of Contrasts combines striking photography with Liz Byrski’s accessible commentary to showcase the state’s varied landscapes and communities. From remote coastlines and deserts to forests and cities, it offers a broad introduction to the geography and character of Western Australia.

Speaking Out: Australian Women Talk About Success presents conversations with women from politics, business, the arts and community life. They discuss how they define success, the obstacles they faced and the compromises they made, offering honest reflections rather than simple inspirational slogans.

The Way Ahead collects interviews with prominent Australians about where the nation might be heading. Scientists, artists, business leaders and politicians share their hopes and worries about topics such as technology, environment, culture and citizenship as the country moves into a new century.

In this book Liz Byrski recounts more than ten dramatic rescues off Australia’s coasts, including high profile yacht and ship incidents. Through clear storytelling and eyewitness detail she highlights the courage, teamwork and split second decisions behind successful search and rescue operations.

Under the Influence: Growing Up in Alcoholic Families looks at how problem drinking shapes childhood and echoes into adult life. Using case stories and plain language, Liz Byrski examines patterns of secrecy, confusion and resilience, and suggests ways people can understand and address that legacy.

Pills, Potions, People: Understanding the Drug Problem is a straightforward guide to drugs and dependency for general readers. It explains why people use substances, the risks involved and the social factors behind addiction, aiming to give families and communities clearer information.

Facing Cancer: Searching for Solutions brings together patient experiences, medical perspectives and discussion of alternative approaches to treatment. Liz Byrski focuses on questions people ask after a diagnosis and on the emotional and practical challenges of navigating complex cancer care.

Behind the Bedroom Door: Alcoholism, the Family Disease explores how one person’s drinking affects partners, children and household dynamics. Through interviews and commentary, Liz Byrski shows the patterns families fall into and points toward support, understanding and possible recovery.