The women at the heart of this story come from all walks of life. In 1990 a study of 2000 Australian women, aged between 45 to 55, was undertaken to provide a 'wide-frame snapshot of women's health in this phase of life (menopausal transition)'. It was designed to last for five years. One of the … Continue reading Secrets of Women’s Healthy Ageing | Cassandra Szoeke #AWWnonfiction
But we might never find them? Fermi's Paradox is at the heart of this story. The story goes that in 1950, Italian-American physicist Enrico Fermi, made a passing comment asking 'where are all the aliens?' given the youngish nature of our planetary system and the relative ease of space travel. Fermi was not the first … Continue reading Bewilderment | Richard Powers #USAfiction
Marie Curie is one of my personal heroes. Ever since my Year 12 science depth-study on her, (which incidentally helped me to top the class and receive my one and only first-in-class medal) I have been constantly drawn to her story. As part of my depth-study research, I read Ève Curie's bio about her mother, … Continue reading Marie Curie & Her Daughters | Imogen & Isobel Greenberg
Non-fiction reads are usually a labour of love for me. I start them in a fit of passion and enthusiasm, that then waxes and wanes with my mood, time and other interests. I ask you to cast your minds back to a time before Covid. A world safe and secure from disease and disaster, when … Continue reading The Cloudspotter’s Guide | Gavin Pretor-Pinney #GBRnonfiction
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Invention of Nature, comes a breathtakingly illustrated and brilliantly evocative recounting of Alexander von Humboldt’s five–year expedition in South America. Humboldt (1769-1859) was an intrepid explorer and the most famous scientist of his age. His restless life was packed with adventure and discovery, but his most … Continue reading The Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt by Andrea Wulf & Lillian Melcher
I plan to read Alice Gorman's Dr Space Junk vs the Universe (2019) in the very near future. Knowing I wouldn't have time to feature it during this year's #AusReadingMonth, I decided to search for any other examples of her essay writing instead, to give us all a taste of what's to come.Trace Fossils: The Silence … Continue reading Trace Fossils by Alice Gorman
I have spent a ridiculous amount of time wondering how best to write the title of this book - FRAN KISS STEIN like the cover, FRANKISSSTEIN like the title page of the book or Frankissstein like Goodreads.FranKissStein appealed to me, but it's not a version I've spotted anywhere else.Whatever you call it, though, Frankissstein: A Love … Continue reading FranKissStein by Jeanette Winterson
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
No, The Wonder Down Under is not a travel guide about Australia. It's full title is The Wonder Down Under: A User's Guide to the Vagina. And it was utterly fascinating and illuminating from start to finish.Nina Brochmann & Ellen Stokken Dahl are medical students (probably fully fledged doctors by now) from Oslo who worked … Continue reading The Wonder Down Under by Nina Brochmann & Ellen Stokken Dahl
After taking a bit of a break from joining in things - to give myself time to get ready for AusReading Month in November (warm up post coming very soon) - a few bookish events, readalongs and readathons have now come along and caught my eye. The fine folk in Canada recently celebrated Science Literacy … Continue reading Stories & Shout-Outs #13
I found the The Vanishing Futurist to be a rather peculiar read.I'm always fascinated by the Russian Revolution and this was a curious and different angle from which to view it. But it was rather weird reading a book that I wasn't completely sure if I was enjoying it or not. The cover by LaBoca, on the … Continue reading The Vanishing Futurist by Charlotte Hobson
It would be nice to think that books were one of the places where equality of access and representation were available to both sexes, especially given that over half the authors of all books written are now women. Sadly, though, it is still not the case. Reviews of books in leading newspapers and journals around … Continue reading Fantastically, Fearless, Rebel Women #PictureBooks
I didn't expect to read one of my Top Ten Tuesday Autumn Reads so quickly, but a curious reaction at work today prompted me to devour Kate Grenville's The Case Against Fragrance in one sitting.I've known for quite some time now that certain garden chemicals, cleaning products as well as regular old dust particles can … Continue reading The Case Against Fragrance by Kate Grenville
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
When I see titles like this on the CBCA Eve Pownall list I always do a little inward groan.After all, why would I want to read a book about stick insects?But then I actually take the time to read them and I'm blown away by the amazing natural world around us and the people who … Continue reading Phasmid by Rohan Cleave and Coral Tulloch
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