Jan 19, 2009
Kissing Games of the World – Sandi Kahn Shelton
In many cases, a good book isn’t compelling because of the plot. The quality of a book comes from far more than that. Of course, the plot is important, but Kissing Games of the World provides evidence that the plot can almost be incidental. When your characters are strong, and the journey from the beginning to the end of the book is undertaken with such care, you have the makings of a fantastic,... read more
Jan 14, 2009
An Arsonist’s Guide to Writer’s Homes in New England – Brock Clarke
Although you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, or it’s title for that matter, that doesn’t stop us from being attracted to a book by one or other of those things. I was attracted to An Arsonist’s Guide to Writer’s Homes in New England by the curious title. I knew nothing about it, and as usual I avoided reading any reviews before I picked it up, and I gave it a... read more
Jan 9, 2009
1942: Australia’s Greatest Peril – Bob Wurth
I love history. I love finding out about periods of history I know little about, and I really enjoy reading a well written, informative history book that keeps you reading and never goes dry. The problem with so many history books is that they are often so full of names and dates that it is easy to lose track. As a visual reader, I need to be able to picture places, people and events in my head and I can... read more
Jan 7, 2009
People of the Book – Geraldine Brooks
Geraldine Brooks is an Australian, Pulitzer-Prize winning author. I had read A Year of Wonders several years back and remember being struck not just by the singularity of the story idea but by how subtly and beautifully it was written. When my Mum recommended People of the Book it took me a little while before I realised it was by the same author. But the imagination and the style were unmistakable. The... read more
Jan 5, 2009
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society – Mary Ann Shaffer
After finishing the previous book, I was really looking forward to a well written story and picking up The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was an excellent decision. This book was absolutely delightful. The characters were charming, the story was simply lovely and the format made it both easy to read and acutely personal. My Mum told me she had bought it simply because of the fabulous title,... read more
