When I started reading Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander in the first week of January, it was almost 17 years to the day, since I had read it for the very first time. During my first 2004 read, I found the nautical terminology challenging. However, by the time I had finished all 20 and a … Continue reading Master & Commander | Patrick O’Brian #Readalong
Happy Birthday Ernestine! My Love Must Wait by Ernestine Hill was a bestseller when it was first published in 1941, which puts it neatly in the middle of Bill @The Australian Legend's Gen III of Australian Women Writers. I can see why this story about the adventurer and explorer, Matthew Flinders attracted a lot … Continue reading My Love Must Wait | Ernestine Hill #AWWfiction
Well, I did it!My seven-month #slowread of Moby-Dick is officially done and dusted.If you've ever wondered if you should make the time to read this classic chunkster, then I say yea!And I cannot recommend highly enough the #slowread approach.Moby-Dick is improved and enhanced by taking your time.The Atlantic | Aug 20, 2013 | David GilbertYou … Continue reading Moby-Dick | Herman Melville #Classic
Yikes!Poems.I didn't know I would have to read poems to get through Don Quixote!I'm not averse to poetry; in fact, I love many, appreciate even more and adore a special few. But I've always struggled when authors insert poems, odes and songs into their work.The songs throughout The Lord of the Rings bore me to … Continue reading Musings of an Idle Reader
Reading Washington Black by Esi Edugyan was like eating a big bag of sweets. Some were good, some not so good. And after gorging myself on the first half, I found the second half a bit too much take.The first half of Washington Black was unputdownable. I loved the engaging voice of the child narrator. His … Continue reading Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Once Upon A Rhinoceros is my kind of picture book.As a child I dreamed of setting off into the big, wide world to explore. I've always wanted to see what there was to be seen. I couldn't wait to be grown up so that I could finally just go.Small rhinoceros has the very same dream; she … Continue reading Once Upon A Small Rhinoceros by Meg McKinlay
I had planned to write two posts about this, the second part of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, as it actually begs to be considered in its two separate sections. In fact, Tolkien originally wrote the book as one big book with six parts. He planned to name part III The Treason of Isengard … Continue reading The Two Towers by J R R Tolkien
Sometimes the perfect book lands on your doorstep at exactly the right time.This past month or so has been pretty ordinary. The loss of a much loved family member to cancer has left us all exhausted and numb. I'm sure many of you know the drill we've been through lately. The shock, followed by hope … Continue reading The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius
I read The Fall by Australian writer Tristan Bancks as one of my recent #readathon books.Bancks has been very successful with his previous book, Two Wolves (titled On the Run in the US), winning the KOALA & YABBA Children's Choice Book Awards in 2015 as well as being shortlisted for the CBCA and Australian Prime Minister's … Continue reading The Fall by Tristan Bancks
I started the Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson as part of my #readathon session. I had a lovely 15th anniversary edition of this modern day classic, complete with gorgeous blue butterfly. The following day I woke up with a terrible head cold and struggled to work, before realising that I was going … Continue reading Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
Rockhopping is Trace Balla's follow up book to Rivertime with Clancy and Uncle Egg once again getting ready to head off an eco-adventure.I love these books a lot.I love their gentle pace and laid back attitudes.I love their environmental credentials and back to nature ethos.I love their attention to details.I love their emphasis on problem … Continue reading Rockhopping by Trace Balla
The Invention of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt The Lost Hero of Science has been on my radar ever since it first came out in 2015.But it was our forthcoming trip to Cuba that brought it front and centre. There is a national park near Baracoa, in eastern Cuba that is named after … Continue reading The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf
One of my dear friends, Girl Booker, has been gushing about Eowyn Ivey's The Snow Child ever since it was first published in 2012.It sounded wonderful and I have no idea why I haven't made the time to read it, but there it is, I haven't.And now, here we are, with Ivey's second book to … Continue reading To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
I read Fugitive Pieces around about the time it won the Orange Prize for Fiction (which is now the Women's Prize).I fell in love with Anne Michaels ability to weave magic with her words. I remember being completely under her spell for the entire story. I felt bereft when it finished.When I recently spotted that … Continue reading The Adventures of Miss Petitfour by Anne Michaels
After finishing my big epic Australian chunkster on the weekend, I haven't been able to settle to anything else....except some lighter children's fiction.Which is particularly handy for my work right now. Most of our customers want reading recommendations for all the children in their family (and that difficult to buy for uncle!)So I love it … Continue reading The Doldrums Book One by Nicholas Gannon
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