We love reading...Staff picks November 2014
Only the animals by Ceridwen DoveyInsightful and poignant, this is a collection of short stories, narrated by ten different animal souls. Each story is both innovative and memorable, with animals showing humans at their best and worst in well known recognisable situations of human conflict. Starting with the story of an Afghan camel in the Australian gold rush, this is followed by a cat on the Western front, a Russian tortoise who ends up in a space during the Cold war and a humorous tale of a mussel at Pearl Harbour - just to name a few. The story of the dolphin betrayed by humans in Iraq particularly stood out for me. Each story pays homage to a different author, often quoting them or using literary allusions to their work. If interested, you can find a complete list of resources on the authors website. A fascinating, imaginative and original concept, this book is well worth reading.
~Reviewed by Monique
Mullumbimby by Melissa LucashenkoJo Breen a Goorie, orphaned at 10 and 'grown up'' by her Auntie, a wise woman, finds animals especially horses, are easier to love than people. Her daughter Ellen is the one person in her life she would do anything to protect. Having always struggled for a living, she finally realises her dream, when her divorce settlement enables her to buy a small acreage and she sets about restoring it to it's native beauty. Life gets more complicated when a new man appears in town who is there to research for his Native Title claim over the valley. Mutually attracted, Jo and Twoboy link up and Jo struggles to remain outside his passion for his claim, whilst she is being drawn into the ancient life of the land which she cares for. Friction with her adjoining land owner, is ongoing from the minute Ellen was caught riding his thoroughbreds in their first week, and events and chance meetings at odd places only confirm Jo's distrust of him. This novel is about family, obligations, and the desire for a place that is 'home'. The description of landscape and the life within it, is invigorating and brings one into the setting with Jo as she struggles with the demands of a teenage daughter, work, land restoration, ancient ancestors, and her driven lover.
~Reviewed by Jacinta
The hoarder in you: How to live a happier, healthier, uncluttered life by Dr Robin Zasio.Why do people hoard? I wanted to know why, so I found this book interesting.
We all have treasured possessions - few pairs of favourite shoes, collection of loved books, ever-expanding wardrobe, several piles of high school notes...
Will you be anxious when you try to toss an item, even if you never use it or it is broken. Your reasons for unable to decide what to keep and what to toss are :
"because I'm afraid if I throw it out, I'll need it in the future"
"because if would be wasteful to get rid of something that could still be used"
"I'll dealt with this piles of things at a future time... " - these piles have been lingering for a few years
"this item was given to me by someone I love, and I don't feel right about throwing it out"
The "growing" collection and the excessive accumulation of objects begin to take over your room...or may affect your daily life activities. Does this sound familiar?
"The Hoarder In You/Dr Robin Zasio" offers insights and solutions to your inner hoarder and is helpful in finding out if you have hoarding tendencies and why this is so.
~Reviewed by Becky
Life of Pee : the Story of How Urine Got Everywhere by Sally Magnusson
This book unveils the secret history of
civilisation's most unsavoury and unsung hero, and discovers how our urine
footprint is just as indelible as our carbon one. All the Fullers, Tuckers and
Walkers in the phonebook owe their names to it; in 1969 four bags of it were
left on the surface of the moon; alchemists sought gold in it; in the trenches
of Ypres soldiers used it as a gas mask; and some people drink it. Throughout
history, bought and sold, traded and transported, even carried to work in jugs,
urine has made bread rise, beer foam, given us gunpowder and stained glass,
prepared wool and helped dye our clothes. No wonder it gets everywhere. A
detailed and humorous collection, in alphabetical order, of all there is to
know about wee.
I am not normally one to read a young adult book, however, I found this one very hard to put down.
The story line is based on an alternate world where humans
are divided by factions based on their dispositions. Five factions rule the world
which is made up of Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor
(the honest), Dauntless (the brave) and Erudite (the intellectual).
On the day of Beatrice’s sixteenth birthday she must decide
which faction she will devote the rest of her life to (alongside all the other
16 year olds). However, Beatrice is not a perfect fit for any of these factions
and her secret life begins.
She then decides to leave her family, changes her name to
Tris and follows the path of the Dauntless. Here she meets new friends, new
enemies and a new love.
I found the story quite captivating, often questioning
traits of the human race alongside questioning morality.
~ Reviewed by Tynelle
