Month: December 2017

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In The Mail 22nd December 2017

A busy book receiving week. I have already had a sneak peek at a couple of the titles here; Anatomy Of A Scandal captures the epitome of Entitlement, Maggie’s Recipes For Life is a new favourite,    Salt Fat Acid Heat – is a book that will be on my best of list for 2017, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one I am really looking forward to reading, The Wanted –   Robert Crais has been on my want to read list forever, really looking forward to this one.  Fallow looks intriguing, I Love You In Five Languages is delightful,  The Hangman appeals, The Collector  – psychological thrillers are my favourite type of read,  The Secret Vineyard – set in  our very own Margaret River,  The Book of Summer – a dual timeline read. Where to begin? Any of your favourites here?

 

books 22 Dec 2017

 

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Post Script: The Classic Yoga Bible – Christina Brown

The Classic Yoga Bible

The Classic Yoga Bible

Christina Brown

Hachette Australia

Godsfield

ISBN: 9781841813684

 

Description:

Yoga brings not only a suppleness to the body but also a sense of spiritual and physical well-being to those who practice it. Featuring over 170 postures from the main schools of yoga, The Yoga Bible is the ultimate, comprehensive guide to practicing yoga and finding a mental and physical balance in life. The book encourages yoga beginners and experts alike to find a yoga sequence that suits their personal needs and abilities.

 

 

My View:

A great resource for those at any stage of their yoga practice journey.  I have recently (in the past few months) started yoga – I practice with a lovely group of people who are all carrying injuries of various types, yoga poses can be adapted ( lightened) so that most people can participate regardless of fitness. This book defines the poses, has photographic guides to achieving the pose and also lists the Gaze, the Build- Up Pose, the Counter Pose, discusses how to lighten the pose and the Effect of the pose e.g.  centreing, calming, balancing… I love the calming effect and the ability I now have to relax my breathing when under pressure…the section “yoga for destressing” is a must read.

 

“Over time you will find ways to undo less than perfect posture.  With a balanced practice, your week areas will grow stronger, and your tight areas will become more flexible. General vitality and energy levels will improve, and, as you unwind your bodymind, you’ll drop into relaxation more easily. Yoga develops coordination, flexibility, stamina, balance, mental clarity, increased concentration and overall health. Yoga is an all-round life enhancer” p. 28

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Post Script: Look Out, Pink Piglet – Paul Cummings & Sarah Davis

Look Out Pink Piglet

Look Out, Pink Piglet

Phil Cummings and Sarah Davis

Hachette Children’s Books

ISBN: 9780734417299

 

Description:

Tiny-yet-courageous Pink Piglet helps his friends and faces up to a monster – that turns out to not be scary at all.

Pink Piglet may be the littlest animal in the barn, but his friends know that he is also the bravest. So when a strange new sound frightens Cow, Rooster and Dog, it’s up to Pink Piglet to find out what kind of creature it’s coming from. A beautifully simple text, with great repetition and rhythm that make it an ideal read-aloud story.

 

 

My View:

This book has the cutest illustrations, with simple text presented in short sentences, repetitive and rhyming, your toddler and pre- schooler will love you to read this book to them.  I would like to see this book brought as a board book, so that the younger child can explore this book by themselves.

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Guest Post:Six Ways to Sunday – Karly Lane

Six Ways to Sunday

Six Ways to Sunday

Karly Lane

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781760296766

 

Description:

When city naturopath Rilee Summers meets gorgeous farmer Dan Kincaid, sparks fly. A whirlwind romance follows, and the next thing Rilee knows she’s married and living on her husband’s family property in a small rural community.

Never one to shy from a challenge, Rilee is determined to win over her in-laws and the townsfolk of nearby Pallaburra, but her city ways and outspoken views only seem to alienate her further.

Opening her own naturopathy practice has always been her dream. Although Pallaburra isn’t Sydney, and despite the fact she’s not exactly inundated with new clients, she’s not ready to give up. Things get even worse for Rilee when she champions the issue of teen pregnancies in the deeply conservative town.

Worn down by the ill-will towards her and what she sees as Dan’s lack of support, Rilee flees the station to think about the future. Can her marriage survive – or is she destined to leave Dan and move back to the city?

Six Ways to Sunday is a rip-roaring tale about a woman determined to stand up for her convictions even at the risk of jeopardising the future she envisaged with the man she loves.

Brenda’s Review:

Rilee Summers had her life’s path planned out in front of her. A naturopath, her dream was to open her own practice in Sydney – the past four years of working at the local pub while she studied had brought those dreams closer. But when she met Dan Kincaid, she had no idea her plans were set to change; Dan was a farmer from the property, Thumb Creek, near the small New South Wales town of Pallaburra. Three months after they met, they were married and Rilee was steeling herself to meet Dan’s parents…

Ellen and Jacob Kincaid were shocked and dismayed to meet Rilee – and didn’t bother to hide it. Over time their attitude toward her didn’t soften and Rilee felt she was fighting an uphill battle. But still, she did everything she could to have Dan’s parents like her – but whatever she did, they rejected.

Rilee could see that Pallaburra needed help – no doctor in town, and only a pharmacy with an old-fashioned pharmacist whose outdated ideas beggared belief. She was determined to open her naturopath practice, but the community weren’t interested and did their best to stop her in her tracks. Was it worth the battle? Rilee was starting to wonder.

But it was when Dan’s support for her plans vanished like they’d never been that Rilee had had enough. Her future looked grim – in fact she was no longer sure if any of it was worth fighting for anymore…

Six Ways to Sunday by Aussie author Karly Lane is a brilliant story of courage in the face of adversity; of fighting for what you believe is right; and the way some small rural communities are left behind and forgotten in the advancement of time. Rilee is a wonderful character; kind, empathetic and genuine – I felt for her and silently encouraged her to keep going! I loved her parents too 😊 I have no hesitation in highly recommending this 5 star read, Six Ways to Sunday, to fans of the rural romance genre.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my hardcopy to read and review.

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A Unique Children’s Book

The Rabbit Hole Golf Course

The Rabbit-Hole Golf Course

Ella Mulvey and Karen Briggs

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781925266290

 

Description:

In the big old ute, on the long red road, in the desert of my home, we all set off for the rabbit-hole golf course. It’s the best place around here to find rabbits. We sit by the holes, we dig, we wait . . . Thump tick, thump tick, thump tick. Where are all the rabbits? A warm and funny Australian story.

 

 

My View:

Uniquely Australian children’s books do not often cross my desk, in fact I cannot think of any others that are so Australian in language and setting…there are references to damper, utes, billy tea, wattle trees, maku and honey ants (bush tucker).  This is a must purchase for the school and home libraries.

 

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Post Script: The Best of the Best: Australia’s Greatest Surf Photographers

The Best of the Best

The Best of the Best

Australia’s Greatest Surf Photos

Nikon

Surfing Australia

Hachette Australia

ISBN: 9780733639425

 

Description:

A beautifully designed, full-colour collection of the best Australian surfing photographers and their award-winning work

From the drama of Shipsterns to the cyclonic fury of an east coast low; sunrise at Cloudbreak and rainbows at Teahupo’o, this is an awe-inspiring collection of award-winning photographs showcasing all the energy, beauty and drama of the ocean. It reveals surfers like Gilmore, Florence, Fanning and Slater in their element and the power of a moment caught in time. Featuring the winners and finalists of the Nikon/Surfing Australia Surf Photo of the Year Award from 2013 to 2017 … these are the best of the best.

‘It’s one thing to have an image transport you to a different place, but to actually make you feel like you’re on a surfboard riding in the barrel behind one of the world’s best surfers on a gnarly wave is another level of “best“!’ – Stephanie Gilmore

 

 

My View:

What an inspirational book! No, I am not about to grab a surf board and leap into the water ,cancel that image:)  but flicking through these awesome images made me want to pick up a paint brush and explore colour, light, texture! Stunning photography, a kaleidoscope of colours and then some!

 

This book would make a superb gift for the surfer, the nature lover or the appreciator of fine art.

 

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Guest Review: One More Song – Nicki Edwards

One More Song

One More Song

Nicki Edwards

Pan Macmillan

ISBN: 9781760551407

 

Description:

Harrison Baxter and Edwina Campbell lead completely different lives.

Much has changed for Harry since he escaped his home town of Yallambah ten years ago, headed for the bright lights of the big city. Now he’s the star of Melbourne’s hottest musical, chasing only the next standing ovation. Why bother going back to Yallambah to visit his parents when his father couldn’t care less about his success?

Meanwhile, nothing much has changed for Edwina in the last decade, which is exactly how she likes it. Eddie adores her career as a nurse and loves the Yallambah community – she can’t imagine living anywhere else. And even if she wanted to, she could never leave her beloved grandparents, who raised her and love her like their own daughter. She’s not going to abandon them in their old age. Not for anything.

So when Harry and Eddie bump into each other on one of Harry’s flying visits home, their instant mutual attraction seems as pointless as it is intense. There’s no way they could ever make it work.

Or is there?

 

Brenda’s Review:

Harrison Baxter revelled in his life – musical theatre meant everything to him and his lead role in Les Mis was a dream come true. The Sydney season was coming to an end and he and the crew would begin in Melbourne in the New Year. In the meantime, Harry was heading home to Yallamba for Christmas. His mother, father, sister Claire and husband Simon, plus their two children had always lived in his old home town, but the bitterness between Harry and his dad was what had kept him away for so long. He wasn’t looking forward to the week-long stay…

Edwina Campbell – nurse; volunteer with the SES – had offered to take over the organising of the children’s Christmas party which her Nan had always done, as she was in hospital following a hip replacement. Her grandad was with her Nan, so Eddie was alone at the farm. As things started to go wrong – one after another – Eddie didn’t know how she would manage. But the arrival on the scene of Harry, with his offer of help, was a lifesaver for Eddie. Maybe their Christmas party would be a success after all?

But would the flush of attraction between Eddie and Harry ever come to anything? When tragedy and heartache loomed, it seemed to be over before it began. As the town of Yallamba rallied, uncertainty was high. What would be the future for these caring, special people in the small town of Yallamba?

One More Song by Aussie author Nicki Edwards was absolutely superb! Filled with heartache, hope, happiness and sadness; of loss, the loyalty of family and most of all, of life, One More Song ticks all the boxes. Wonderfully rounded characters, I especially enjoyed Eddie – written with compassion, caring and sensitivity, the author has written her best yet in my opinion. A highly recommended 5 stars.

With thanks to Pan Macmillan for my uncorrected proof to read and review.