Courier Mail

“Goldbloom’s voice, idiosyncratic and consistently fascinating, plumbs a rich vein of originality that is refreshing and, above all, fun to read … a strong contender for the most interesting and innovative short story collection of the year.”

Chris Flynn, Australian Book Review

“All fiction has elements of nonfiction to it. Not that Goldbloom’s father (or anyone else, for that matter) dropped her off a roof, but all the scenes in all these stories are nearly unanimously that shocking, and that true, and that good … Did she ever taste muskrat? That’s anybody’s guess. But one thing’s for certain: She can write well enough to make you think you did.”

Matthue Roth, Galus Australis

“What’s constant is the surprising insight or odd turn that the stories take.”

Scoop Magazine

“…it’s as if we have a glimpse for a few pages into the very heart of characters’ conscious thoughts.”

Readings Monthly

AWP Novel Award 2008

ForeWord Review’s Book of the Year in Literary Fiction

Gin, the albino, marries to escape the confines of an asylum. Toad, a little man who wears corsets, marries to prove his manhood. Together they are freaks – feared and ridiculed by the remote farming community in which they live. Into their lives come two Italian POWs bringing music, sensuality and a love that will fan the flames of small town bigotry.

Goldie Goldbloom chats with Lisa Guidarini about her first novel, The Paperbark Shoe, set in 1940s Australia
Book Browse

“An unusual and haunting tale that will linger in readers’ minds.”
Publishers Weekly

“The freshest, most absorbing debut I’ve read in years”
Sacramento Book Review

“Fast becoming an international literary star”
Out in Perth

“Brilliantly over the top and still completely believable”
Bookslut

“Exquisite writing and phrasing”
Blogcritics.com

The Paperbark Shoe is “intriguing” and “appealing”
The Huffington Post

Caribousmom.com describes the novel as “breathtaking”, “extraordinary” and “beautifully wrought” and gave it five stars.

“Both lyrical and plain spoken”
The Washington Post

“A deeply affecting, beautifully modulated debut novel”
The Richmond Times Dispatch

“An elegant, introspective story”
New City Lit

“This novel is remarkable for its depth and for its vivid and striking language.”
Piker Press

“A wonderful novel… richly deserves a five-star rating… an interesting, character driven book which will keep your attention from beginning to end”
Of Books and Reading

“Interesting and oddly fascinating, with gorgeous writing.”
Knitting and Sundries

“The Paperbark Shoe is not to be missed… an exceptional first novel by a writer sure to achieve both critical and commercial success.”
Playback

“Goldbloom’s sentences flow in an exquisite rhythm. Her word choice is impeccable…Highly recommended”
Tser Island

“Her intellect serves her imagination”
The Chicago Tribune

“Sublimated eroticism”
Windy City Times

“Descriptions of Australia’s flora and fauna… so vivid that it seems as if [they were written] while looking out your window”
Chicago Reader

Jewcy.com (The Big Jewcy: 100 Jews to Know)

“This book needs to be experienced, and its nuances and plot twists discovered along the way.”
Tutu’s Two Cents

‘Yesssss!’ I thought, high-fiving myself mentally. ‘I’m going to go for a walk in the Northpark Nature Center! Or hang out some laundry! Or at the very least, write a spring blog entry that mentions that it was warm today…’