I have written so few poetry posts over my 12 years of blogging, that I thought I might use this month, poetry month, to highlight a few of the older posts and bring some sense of order and cohesion to the few I do have. Robert Frost was one of my first attempts at poetry … Continue reading Robert Frost #PoetryMonth
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
Following on from my recent post featuring several fabulous Australian junior fiction titles, I thought it was time to venture further afield to see what the rest of the world (or at least the US, UK and Japan) were doing in this field.The Afterwards is a new story by U.K. poet A. F. Harrold, illustrated … Continue reading Junior Fiction – the rest!
The run into Christmas and the silly season, leaves me tired, frazzled and depleted most years. This year I'm attempting a calmer, kinder approach. As a first line of defence I started interspersing junior fiction reads amongst my regular reads several weeks ago. I've been saving all the interesting looking ones for months now, so … Continue reading Australian Junior Fiction Catch Up
I have a vague recollection of seeing the 1984 movie version of The NeverEnding Story in my late teens. It was a bit too juvenile for my sophisticated, desperate-to-be-grown-up self at that time, so other than a shaggy white flying dragon and a boy clinging to its neck, I remember nothing. And felt no need to … Continue reading The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
I like to think that I have taken my 'what to read whilst travelling' choices to an inspired level of brilliance, but I really outdid myself with our recent trip to Japan. Reading Murakami in Japan now feels like the ONLY place to read Murakami!Not only does the usual Murakami weirdness make sense when you're … Continue reading Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
The Shepherd's Hut is Tim Winton's much anticipated latest novel. I am a fan, but with reservations. I loved Cloudstreet and Dirt Music but hated The Riders (it has the dubious honour of being one of my very first DNF books). Breath was good but a bit blokey and Eyrie was okay, but a bit … Continue reading The Shepherd’s Hut By Tim Winton
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 was feeling a little cautious about reading Lincoln in the Bardo. Anytime I had heard someone talk about the book, they would mention the ghosts, the many, many voices and the grief. It sounded like it might be hard work or a bit too clever for its own good.Fortunately, though, a reading copy recently … Continue reading Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
One of my recent #readathon reads was the delightfully eccentric Yours Sincerely, Giraffe by Megumi Isawa. When my eyes started to get tired and words began to blur on the page, the simple but fun illustrations from Jun Takabatake were just the eye candy I needed.The premise of the story is simple - Giraffe is bored. … Continue reading Yours Sincerely, Giraffe by Megumi Iwasa
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
Anna Walker's whimsical water colour illustrations appeal to my inner child. Last year the CBCA award winning Mr Huff captured my attention while the gorgeous storm-tossed Peggy won my heart a couple of years before that.Florette is another urban story about moving and adjustment and finding home wherever you are. Environmental concerns are addressed as Mae takes us … Continue reading Florette by Anna Walker
Karen Foxlee has a way about her.Her words weave magic. She draws you in, she makes you believe, she makes you feel brave.A Most Magical Girl follows an ordinary, everyday Victorian girl, who, rather like Harry Potter, suddenly finds herself in a magical world. Her role is to fulfil the prophecy as the 'youngest and … Continue reading A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee
For four days I've been trying to write a review that would do this rich, engrossing, mosaic of a book due justice.It wasn't so much writer's block as writer's muddle.There was soooo much to say! I couldn't even decide which lens or which perspective to choose?Because I was enjoying Do Not Say We Have Nothing … Continue reading Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
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