2017BookReviewsbySarahJackson

wwww.sarahjacksonwriter.com

RatingScale:

1. *****Fantastic!You'vegottareadthisone!2. ****Great.Wellworthalook3. ***OK.Youmayenjoyit.4. **Notsogreat.Eitherdull,badlywritten,orjustplainawful.Notrecommended5. *Unspeakablybad.Couldn'tfinishit

FICTION:ChickLit(inc.Romance)

****½"TheStarlightTide"bySarahKey

***½"AChanceThisChristmas"ByJoanneRock

FICTION:Crime/Mystery

*****"DarkTown"byThomasMullen

*****"RightWrongNumber"byJimNesbitt

****½"TheDrowningPool"byRossMacDonald

****½"FindersKeepers"byStephenKing

****½"MurderinMrMartha"byJaniceSimpson

****"AsktheParrot"byRichardStark

****"TheDry"byJaneHarper

****"TheHandsomeMan'sDeLuxeCafe"byAlexanderMcCallSmith

****"TheNakamuraLetters"byFrankieBow

****"Mother'sDay"byFrankieBow

****"TheMusubiMurder"byFrankieBow

***½"TheCocktailWaitress"byJamesM.Cain

FICTION:General/LiteraryFiction

*****"TheyShootHorses,Don'tThey?"byHoraceMcCoy

****"MrLoveandJustice"byColinMacInnes

****PENNY:HandsIpassedthrough…ThingsIsaw…StoriesIcantell"byPeterDavidson

**"TrumpeterVille"ByDeanGessie

FICTION:Horror/Thriller

*****"StephenKingGoestotheMovies"byStephenKing

****½"TheThingontheDoorstepandothershortstories"byH.P.Lovecraft

FICTION:ScienceFiction

****½"Renascene"byLeighGoodison

**½"ProjectEmergence"byJamieZakian

FICTION:YA/Children’s

*****"TheButterflyBallandtheGrasshopper'sFeast"byAlanAldridge

****½"TheEpiplecticBicycle"byEdwardGorey

****"FantasticalBeastsandWheretoFindThem"byJ.K.Rawling

****"MissPeregrine'sHomeforPeculiarChildren"byRansomRiggs

****"Taronga"byVictorKelleher

----------------------------

NON-FICTION:Art/History/Music

****½"BraveNewWorld"-NGV

****½"HomageNewOrleans"byLeonMorris

****"Bedlam:LondonanditsMad"byCatharineArnold

***½"AustraliaRemembersWhen"byBobByrne

***"TheHistoryofBritishandAmericanAuthor-Publishers"byAnnaFaktorovich

NON-FICTION:Biography/Autobiography

****½"RoleModel"byJohnWaters

****½"SnowyCampbell:AustralianPioneerInvestigatoroftheBrain"byMalcolmMacmillan

****"BurymyheartinBermondsey:MemoirofAFuneralDirector"byBarryAlbinDyer

**½"UncommonCharacter:StoriesofOrdinaryMenandWomenWhoHaveDonetheExtraordinary"byDouglasFeavel

NON-FICTION:Gardening

****"Thereisnoexcuseforugliness"byCliveBlazey

NON-FICTION:Humour/GiftBook

****"ABagofRoosters"byMichaelLeunig

****"BetterCallSaul:TheWorldAccordingtoSaulGoodman"byDavidStubbs

****"TheBumperBookofDebaucheryForGirlsandBoys"byChisGrosz&JamesCockington

****"FinSpelling-TheFunniestTestPaperBlunders"byRichardBenson

****"FiveForgetMother'sDay"byEnidBlyton&BrunoVincent

****MakeTrouble"byJohnWaters

****"ManCaves"byJasperWhite

****"TheTravellingLeunig"byMichaelLeunig

***½"Shakespeare'sInsultsFortheOffice"byWayneHill&CynthiaOttchen

***"YourCat'sJustNotThatIntoYou"byRichardSmith

NON-FICTION:Self-Help/Instructional

***½"TheDoodleRevolution"bySunniBrown

***"FrenchWomenDon'tGetFat"byMireilleGuiliano

NON-FICTION:Travel

****½"TheBestAmericanTravelWriting2016"editedbyBillBryson

****"TheRoadtoLittleDribbling"byBillBryson

***½"TheBestTravelWriting,Volume11:TrueStoriesfromAroundtheWorld"byJamesO'Reillyetal(ed)

NON-FICTION:TrueCrime

***"SavageObsessions"byGlenMcNamara

FullReviews–reversedateorder

"MakeTrouble"byJohnWaters

Non-Fiction:Speech/GiftBook

Read:December2017

Rating:****

"MakeTrouble"isaversionofJohnWater'sspeechtotheRhodeIslandSchoolofDesign2015graduates.(IllustrationscourtesyofErikHanson).It'sawonderful,funandcheekyspeech,designedtoencouragethenewgraduatesto"maketrouble".It'sashortread(singlesitting)designedtomotivate.LikeallofJohnWater'swriting,itservestoremindmehowtruelyconservativeIam(sadly).Readandenjoy.Agreatgiftforthoseinneedofassurancethatacreativelifeisforthem.

"AChanceThisChristmas"ByJoanneRock

Fiction:HolidayRomance

Read:December2017

Rating:***1/2

Rachaelmustreturntoherhometown,the365daysayearChristmasVillageofYuletide,forafriend'swedding.Knowingthatshemustconfrontherpast,sheissurprisedtodiscoverthatshestillhasfeelingsforheroldcrush,Gavin.

ImustadmitthatI'mnotusuallyareaderofromancenovelsandcan'tmakeanyjudgementonhowthisbookcomparestoothersinthegenre.Ido,however,loveaChristmasstory,andamabigfanoftheholidayread.Ireallyenjoyedthisbook.It'slight,fun,andalittlesilly,butit'sagreatholidayread.Enjoyitforwhatitis.Ireceivedacopyofthisbookinexchangeforafairandhonestreview.

"TrumpeterVille"ByDeanGessie

Fiction:PoliticalSatire

Read:December2017

Rating:**

"TrumpeterVille"byDeanGessieisapoliticalsatirenovelette.Insomewaysit'ssimilartoOrwell's"AnimalFarm"inthatit'sapoliticalsatireusinganimalsascharacters,butitlackstheskilledwriting,andnuancesofamasterauthor.ThestorypresentsanaccurateportrayalofmodernAmericanpoliticsandsociety(atleastitlooksthatwaytomeasanAustralian),andsomeelementsofthestoryareamusing(includingthepotentialfutureevents,basedoneventsofthepast)-butitlacksanysubtlety.Ifthenovelettegotanymarkettractionitcouldresultincertainlitigiouscharacterstakinglegalaction.Overallopinion-it'sokay.It'saquickread,andtheauthorgotextrapointsforusingtwoofmyfavouritewords-chicaneryandcharlatan.

Onatechnicalnote,IhaveaKindlereaderandfoundhatthePDFversiondidnottransferwell.IneededtoreformatitusingCalibre.Amildinconvenience,butaninconveniencenonetheless.Thismaynotbeanissueforthosepurchasingthebook.

Ireceivedafreecopyofthisbookforafairandhonestreview.

"ManCaves"byJasperWhite

Non-Fiction:Humour,giftbook

Read:December2017

Rating:****

"ManCaves"byJasperWhiteisaphotojournalstylegiftbookwhichexaminestherangeandversatilityofvarious"mancaves",garages,rumpusroomsandsheds.Aquickread,featuringsomegreatphotosofinterestingspaces.Greatpresentfortheman(orwoman)whohaseverything.

"StephenKingGoestotheMovies"byStephenKing

Fiction:Horror/Thriller

Read:November2017

Rating:*****

AwonderfulcollectionofsomeofKing'sstoriesmadeintomovies.Thestoriesinthecollectioninclude:

"RitaHayworthandtheShawshankRedemption"-yourealisehowgoodthefilmadaptionwaswhenyoureadtheoriginal"TheMangler"-ImustadmitIdidn'tknowwaswrittenbyKing-lovethemovie-goryandsilly"ChildrenoftheCorn"-Afarbetterwrittenstorythanmovie-butIstilllovedtheoriginalmovie.Youjustcan'tgopastevilchildren"1408"-Ihadneverreadthis,sowasinterestedtoseetheoriginalideabehindthemovie."HeartsinAtlantis-LowMeninYellowCoats"-IhadforgottenhowmuchIlovedthisstory.Agreatread.

"TheCocktailWaitress"byJamesM.Cain

Fiction:Hard-boiled/Crime

Read:November2017

Rating:***1/2

ImustadmitthatIdidn'tgetintothisonestraightaway,butbythethirdchapteritgottomeandthenIcouldn'tputitdown.Beingabitofafanofthisgenre,I'msorrytosaythatIhadworkeditoutearlyinthepiece,butIstillenjoyedtheride.Thestory,writteninfirstperson,followsthelifeofrecentlywidowed,hard-donebywaitress,Joan.Nasty,amusing,andwellworththeread.

"DarkTown"byThomasMullen

Fiction:Hard-boiled/Crime

Read:November2017

Rating:*****

Anexcellent(fictionalbutIsuspectthatit'sprettyclosetothetruth)accountoftheexperiencesofthefirstpoliceofficersofcolourinAtlanta1948.Asidefromthethemeofovertracism,thestoryconcernsthemurderofayoungAfrican-Americangirl,corruptionsinthepoliceforceandpoliticalintrigue.Greatcharactersandstorytelling.Oneforfansofhard-boiledcrimeandsocialhistory.I'mlookingforwardtoreadingthenextintheseries.

"FinSpelling-TheFunniestTestPaperBlunders"byRichardBenson

Non-Fiction:GiftBook/Humour

Read:November2017

Rating:****

FinSpellingisagiftbookwhichispartofalargerseriesof"F"books.Itisaquickandeasyreadandisprettyamusing.The"F"reallyreferstoanswerstoexampaperquestionsratherthanspellingalone,butit'sstillfunny.

"TheButterflyBallandtheGrasshopper'sFeast"byAlanAldridge

Fiction:Children,Verse

Read:October2017

Rating:*****

Thisisabeautifulbookofverse,accompaniedbyfullandlustrousillustrationsoftheButterflyBall.IrememberthisonefromwhenIwasachild-therewasevenasongandfilmclipreleasedIbelieve.Greatmemoriesandabeautifulbookthatcanbeenjoyedbythewholefamily.Alovelyadditiontoanycollection.

"TheNakamuraLetters"byFrankieBow

Fiction:CosyMystery/Crime

Read:October2017

Rating:****

ProfessorMolly'sfriendandcolleagueEmmaNakamuraisonsabbatical,collectingsamplesinaremoteareaoftheisland.Sheisstayinginanold,supposedlyhaunted,house,whichispartofthenationalparkssystem.Emmaisallaloneasidefromparkranger,Ellie,andastrangeoldwomanBetty,whoiscampingontheland.Duringherstay,Emmadiscoversanotehiddenamongthehouse'sfurniture,suggestingthatamurderoccurredtheremanyyearsago.MeanwhileMolly'snannyturnsupdeadInhergardenshed.ThisnovellaisaseriesofemailswrittenfromEmmatoMolly(weneverseethereplies).Iparticularlylovethequotesfromfamousscientistsandphilosophersattheendofeachemail.Entertainingandeasytoreadholidayreading.

"MissPeregrine'sHomeforPeculiarChildren"byRansomRiggs

Fiction:Adventure/YoungAdult

Read:October2017

Rating:****

Delightfulandwell-writtenstoryaboutanawkwardteenageboy'squesttodiscoverthetruthofhis"crazy"grandfather'sdyingwords.Iboughtthisbookovertwoyearsago,andithadbeensittinginmy'to-read'pileuntilrecently-Itwasadelighttofindthislittlegem.Ilovethejournal-stylepresentation,andtheinclusionofthephotographs,whichIfeltaddeddimensiontothestory.Greatfun!

"TheMusubiMurder"byFrankieBow

Fiction:CosyMystery/Crime

Read:October2017

Rating:****

Iloveacosymystery,especialwhenI'maftersomeholidayreading.ThisisthefirstintheProfessorMollyserieswrittenbyFrankieBow.Ihavereadtwoothersintheseries(yes,theyarewrittensothatyoudon'tneedtoreadtheminorder)buthavewantedtoreadthefirstforsometime.Thestoriesaresetinafictionallow-rentHawaiianuniversity.Inthisouting,ProfessorMollymustdealwithcheatingstudents,ineffectualcolleagues,adrugaddictedex,anewloveinterestandthemurderofamajorcollegebeneficiary.Easyreadandgreatfun.

"TheHistoryofBritishandAmericanAuthor-Publishers"byAnnaFaktorovich

Non-Fiction:Writing/Publishing

Read:October2017

Rating:***

"TheHistoryofBritishandAmericanAuthor-Publishers"byAnnaFaktorovichoffersaninteresting(ifnotalittleone-sided)lookatthehistoryofauthorswhohaveselfpublished,andtheparallelindependentpublishingindustry.

ThePDFcopyIreceiveddidn'tworkwellonmyKindleandIwasunabletocorrecttheformattingthroughCalibre.Iwouldhaveexpectedabetterformattedcopyfromsomeoneinthepublishingindustry.Indiepublishingshouldn'tmeansecond-rate.Ithoughtthatwasoneofthepointsofthework.

Ireceivedacopyofthisbookinexchangeforafairandhonestreview.

"TheStarlightTide"bySarahKey

Fiction:Thriller/ChickLit

Read:September2017

Rating:****1/2

TheSistersofLight(Petra,Flash,HoneyandJoanie)areembarkingonanend-ofseasontourwithFlash’sband,“Biskuit”.Whatshouldbeasimpleenterprise,turnsintoacrazyadventure,repletewithmurders,smugglingoperations,boatingadventures,familysecrets,andadashofracism.

“TheStarlightTide”ispartthreeofthe“SistersofLightTrilogy”bySarahKey,butyoudon’tneedtohavereadthefirsttwobooks(“TheDandelionClock”and“TheButterflyWind”)toenjoyit.Themultiplestorylinesdevelopevenlyandtieinbeautifullytopresentthereaderwithanenthrallingadventurethatishardtoputdown.Let’shopethatKeydoesn’tleavetheseriesasaTrilogy.

Keypresentsacaptivatingviewofthegeography,culturesandchangingsocialstructuresofSouthAfrica.Itblendsofoldandnew,mysticalandmodern,cityandcountry.Hercharactersarebelievableandwritingstyleendearing.

Ithoroughlyrecommend“TheStarlightTide”bySarahKey.Itmakesgreatholidayreadying.FiveStars!

Suitablereadingforamatureaudience–containssomeviolence,realisticsituations,andsupernaturalthemeswhichsomemayfinddistressing.

"Bedlam:LondonanditsMad"byCatharineArnold

Non-Fiction:History/Medicine

Read:September2017

Rating:****

Aninterestingandwell-researchedhistoryofBedlamandmentalillnessthroughthe18thand19thcentruries.Suitableforbothmentalhealthprofessionsandthegeneralpublic.Arnoldhastherightmixofhistory,technicalinformationandappealing(ifalittlealarming)stories.Worththeread.

"ABagofRoosters"byMichaelLeunig

Fiction:Cartoon/Humour,GiftBook

Read:September2017

Rating:****

Anotherthoughtful,sometimessad,sometimeshystericallyfunny,seriesofillustrationsbycomicartistMichaelLeunig.In"ABagofRoosters"Leunigpresentshistakeonthe

cycleoflife,andthemeaningofitall.Awonderfulcoffeetablebook,andagreatgiftidea.

"TheBumperBookofDebaucheryForGirlsandBoys"byChisGrosz&JamesCockington

Fiction:Cartoon/Humour,GiftBook

Read:August2017

Rating:****

Whatagem!Thismoderntakeonthe"BoysOwn"and"GirlsOwn"manualisanabsolutehoot.Repletewithdelightfulpenandinkillustrationsandaccompaniedbywitty,vulgar,andgenerallyrudecaptions,thisbookhassomethingforeveryone.

"TheTravellingLeunig"byMichaelLeunig

Fiction:Cartoon/Humour,GiftBook

Read:August2017

Rating:****

IpersonallyloveLeunigcomics/art.Thisgreatlittlecoffeetableformatbookisacollectionofpieceswhichroughlyfita"travel"theme.LookallofLeunig'swork,thereisamixofhumorous,poignant,witty,andsometimessadillustrations.Agreatgiftbook.

"BraveNewWorld"-NGV

Non-Fiction:Art/Gallery

Read:August2017

Rating:****1/2

AnotherwonderfulbookbytheNationalGalleryofVictoria.The"BraveNewWorld"exhibitionexaminesallareasofAustralianlifebetweenthewarsandduringthedepression.Theguide(liketheexhibition)containsart,lithographs,householditems,textilesandphotographsofdaily-lifeexperiencesofwork,transport,furnishings,electronics,fashion,poverty,disabilityandaboriginalculture.

"Taronga"byVictorKelleher

Fiction:ScienceFiction/YoungAdult

Read:August2017

Rating:****

Afascinatingpost-post-apocolypticYAbook(beforeYAwasevenathing)setinSydney,Australia."Taronga"followsthejourneyofBen(ayoungmanwhohasapsychicconnectionstoanimals)asheattemptstofindhisplaceinthenewworld.BeneventuallymakeshiswaytotheoldTarongaParkZoo,wherehisconnectionwithEllie,anaboriginalgirl,andtheanimals,givehimhopeinhisotherwisebleakexistence.

Ireallyenjoyedthebookandlovedtheretroeightiesfeel-thecoverofmybookisa"KenDone"illustration,andifyoutookthepathtakenbyBenfromtheBlueMountains,throughWindsorandintoSydneythesedays,there'dbeverylittlebushandloadsofoutersuburbanhousing-ain'tprogressgrand!

"FrenchWomenDon'tGetFat"byMireilleGuiliano

Non-Fiction:Health

Read:August2017

Rating:***

ImustbehonestandstateupfrontthatIfoundthestyleofwritingalittleirritating.Havingsaidthat,thesuggestionsgiveninthebookare-forthemostpart-sound:eatless,exercisemore,establishapositiverelationshipwithfood,eatfortheseason,enjoywhatyoueat,throwdietbooksoutthewindow.Althoughthereisn'tanythingnewinthemessages,therearesomewonderfulrecipesforsoups(andothermenuitems).

"MurderinMrMartha"byJaniceSimpson

Fiction:Crime-Thriller/Mystery

Read:July2017

Myrating:****.5

ThestoryopensinSeptember1953,whenthebodyof14-year-oldBeverlyMiddletonisdiscoveredinthedrivewayofaholidayhomeinMrMartha.Withoutthebenefitsofmoderndayforensics,andconfusedbycontradictorywitnessreportsandmysteriousphonecalls–possiblyfromthemurderer–policeareunabletosolvethecase.Sixtyyearsafterthemurder,junioracademicandPhDcandidate,NickSzaboisembarkingonresearchintotheHungarianwaterpoloteamdefectorsduringthe1956MelbourneOlympics.DuringhisinterviewswithretireeArthurBoyle,theirdiscussionsturnedtotheviolentcrimesoccurringaroundthetimeoftheGames.BoylewasparticularlyconcernedaboutthemurderMsMiddleton,aformerworkcolleagueofhis.AsBoyleunpackshismemoriesoftheeventsoftheday,hecomestosuspectthatthemurderermaybesomeone‘closetohome’.

MurderinMtMarthaisacaptivatingandentertainingnovelbasedona1953unsolvedmurderofayounggirl.Thenovelsuccessfullycombinesfirstpersonreflectionsofthemurderer,Boyle’srecollectionshislifeatthetime,andthedailystrugglesofSzabotokeeptheaudienceonitstoes.Thenovelisrepletewithnoir-styledeceptionsandliesandfamilysecretsatallplotlevels.Simpson’sstyleofwritingisengagingandhercharactersarebelievablebutnotalwayslikeable(mercifully).Thedescriptionsof1950slifeinMelbourne’sinnernorthernsuburbs(andpre-FitzgeraldInquiryTownsville)arewellresearchedandprovideinsightintothosemomentsintime.WelookforwardtomorecrimeofferingsfromSimpson.

"TheDry"byJaneHarper

Fiction:Crime-Thriller/Mystery

Read:July2017

Myrating:****

WhenAaronFalk,aForensicAccountwiththeFederalPolice,receivesanotedemandinghispresenceatthefuneralofhischildhoodfriend,heiscompelledtoreturntothesmallruraltownofhisyouth.Falkreturnstodiscoverthatthereissomedoubtaboutthemurder/suicideofhisfriend(andfamily)andisconvincedtostayontoassistthelocalcopwiththeinvestigation.Hisvisittothetownreawakensmemoriesofthesuspiciousdeathofonehisclosefriends,thematterwhichcausedhimandhisfathertobedrivenfromthetownyearsago."TheDry"isacompellingandbelievablethriller.Thisisawonderfuldebutnovelforauthor,JaneHarper.Shehasanengagingstyleofwritingandtheworkiswellpacedandcaptivating.

"YourCat'sJustNotThatIntoYou"byRichardSmith

Fiction:GiftBook-Humour

Read:July2017

Myrating:***

Aparodyof"He'sJustNotThatIntoYou",Smith'sofferingaimstoprovidecatloverswithreason'swhytheirfurballdoesn'tgivethemtheattentiontheydesire.Thebookispresentedinsections(basedonkittyrelatedissues)andsetinaletter-to-theagony-auntformat,interspersedwithfunquizzesandinformationpages.Greatidea,butitfellabitshortofthemarkforme.

"TheEpiplecticBicycle"byEdwardGorey

Fiction:Children-Picturebook

Read:July2017

Myrating:****1/2

Aquirkyandnon-sensicalpocketsizedchildren'sbook,withmanyalaughforallages.Lovelyblackandwhitepencilsketchesandcleverprose.Oneforimaginativechildren.

"Shakespeare'sInsultsFortheOffice"byWayneHill&CynthiaOttchen

Fiction:GiftBook-Humour

Read:July2017

Myrating:***1/2

Arathernattygiftbookforthosewholovethebard'switandflare.ThispocketsizedbooksuggestsaShakespeareanquoteforallofthosecrazyofficecharactersandbizarreofficeevents.Alightandfunread.

"Renascene"byLeighGoodison

Fiction:Sci-Fi

Read:June2017

Myrating:****1/2

Review:"Renanscence"byLeighGoodisonfollowstheadventuresofahandpickedcrewofscientistsandexplorer,whomustcollectsamplesandchemicalsfromanalienplanet,inordertoreviveadyingearth.

IenjoyedthismorethatIthoughtIwould.Therearesomegreatplottwists,plentyofaction,andthecharactersaregenerallylikeableandbelievable.Thereareafewleapsoffaithintermsofthescience,butitisfictionafterall.Imaginative,entertainingandeasytoread.

"FiveForgetMother'sDay"byEnidBlyton&BrunoVincent

Fiction:Humour

Read:June2017

Myrating:****

Review:AnamusingtakeonEnidBlyton'smuchloved"Five"series.InBrunoVincent's"FiveForgetMother'sday"Julian,Dick,Ann,Georgeandherloveabledog,TimmymustjoinforcestohelpGeorgecopewithavisitfromherMother,Fanny.Georgehastheterriblehabitofforgettingbirthdays,anniversariesandotherkeyevents.WillMother'sdaybeadisastertoo?Anentertainingshortreadandagreatgiftidea.

PENNY:HandsIpassedthrough…ThingsIsaw…StoriesIcantell"byPeterDavidson

Fiction:GeneralFiction

Read:June2017

Myrating:****

Review:

"PENNY:HandsIpassedthrough…ThingsIsaw…StoriesIcantell"byPeterDavidsontracesthelifeandtimesofanewlymintedonecentpiece.Thebookconsistsofaseriesofself-containedvinaigrettesthatfollowthecoin’sjourneyacrossAmericanandthroughthehandsoftherich,poor,famous,criminal,smartandstupid.“PENNY”remindsmealittleofafilmIsawintheninetiescalled“TwentyBucks”whichfollowedadayinthelifeofatwentydollarbill.Anentertainingread,verysuitableforholidayreading.

"Mother'sDay"byFrankieBow

Fiction:CosyMystery

Read:May2017

Myrating:****

MahinaStateisonthescroungeagain.Inordertocurryfavourwithawealthybenefactor,ProfessorMollyBardahasbeenassignedtheunenviabletaskofprovidingprivatetutoring,foralessthanaveragestudent.Whiledealingwithherall-daymorningsickness,thepregnantProfessormanagesunwantedadvicefromhermother,friendsandrelatives,allthewhileuncoveringthesordidfamilyhistoryofhercharge.Veryentertainingandeasytoread.Thenovellalengthmakesitgoodforthosewhoreadonpublictransportorinshortbursts.Ihavereadoneotherbookinthisseriesandamkeentoreadtherest.Ireceivedthisbookforfreeinreturnforanhonestreview.

"AsktheParrot"byRichardStark

Fiction:Crime(hardboiled)

Read:May2017

Myrating:****

Review:Atwistonthestandardthrillerinthattheprotagonistisananti-hero.Parker,aprofessionalthiefandcareercriminal,inonthelamfollowingafailedbankheist.Stuckinanisolatedruralcommunity,Parkeristakeninbyalocalrecluse,inexchangeforhishelpinrobbingthelocalracetrack.Everythinggoespear-shapedandParkerneedstorelyonhiscriminalexpertisetogetahandleonthesituation.Anentertainingread,withpunchy,shortchaptersgoodforthosewithlittlereadingtimeontheirhands.Thisisnumber23intheserieswrittenbyRichardStark/DonaldWestlake.

"TheDrowningPool"byRossMacDonald

Fiction:Crime(hardboiled)

Read:May2017

Myrating:****1/2

Fourandahalfstars-I'mthefirsttoadmitthatI'mabagfanofcrimefiction(bothhardboiledandcozy),soitwasnosurprisethatIloved"TheDrowningPool".ThisisRossMacdonald'ssecondbookintheLewArcherseries.Formercop,nowPI,LewArcherishiredtotrackdownthewriterofablackmailletter.Thingsgetmuckywhenwhatseemstobeasimplecaseturnsintoamurderinvestigationinvolvingsalaciousaffairs,familydrama,theatre,andtheoilindustry.Wonderfulprose,snappydialogueandallyoucouldwantfromahard-boiled,LAnoir,crimefiction.

"TheBestTravelWriting,Volume11:TrueStoriesfromAroundtheWorld"byJamesO'Reillyetal(ed)

NonFiction:Travel

Read:May2017

Myrating:***1/2

Havingreadanumberofcompilationsoftravelrelatedshortstoriesovertheyears,Imustadmitthattheseofferingsarecertainlyamongthosewiththehigheststandardofwriting.Thestoriescoverarangeofadventures,inarangeofcountries.Aninterestingread,butI'vereadbookswithmoreamusing,interestingandexcitingtales.

"SavageObsessions"byGlenMcNamara

NonFiction:TrueCrime

Read:April2017

Myrating:***

HonestandsomewhatalarmingtruecrimethrilleraboutthegoingsoninKingsCross(SydneyAustralia)duringtheeraofcorruptcopsandganglandcrime.AsadlookatadisturbingtimeinthehistoryoftheCross.Easytoread.

"BurymyheartinBermondsey:MemoirofAFuneralDirector"byBarryAlbinDyer

NonFiction:Autobiography

Read:April2017

Myrating:****

Afascinatingbehindthesceneslookintotheoperationsofthefuneralindustry,combinedwithahistoryofLondon'sBermondseydistrict.Albin-Dyermanagestobebothlight-heartedanddignifiedinhisexplanationsoftheinsandoutsofthebusiness.Hecoverstheheart-felt,sad,amusingandinsomecasesdownrightbizarreincidentsinarelatablemanner.Aninterestingread.

"RoleModel"byJohnWaters

NonFiction:Autobiography

Read:April2017

Myrating:****1/2

Through"RoleModels",JohnWaters,describeshisloves,hates,interestsandfears,throughhisexperienceswithclosefriends,acquaintances,places,heroesandrolemodels.IloveJohnWater'sstyleofwriting.Youfeellikeyou'rereadingpersonalcorrespondencefromaclosefriend-akookyfriend,whomyouworryaboutterriblyandarealwayspleasedtohearthattheygotthroughtheweekendsafely.Notforeveryone-therearesomefrankandfearlessdescriptionshere.Infact,hisliferemindsmeofexactlyhowconservativeIreallyam(andnotthecrazybohemianIimaginemyselftobe).

"Thereisnoexcuseforugliness"byCliveBlazey

NonFiction:Gardening

Read:April2017

Myrating:****

Anexcellentguidetoplantingaperfectgardentoguaranteeagoodmixofcolourandtextureforallseasons.TargetedtoAustralianandNewZealandclimates.Thebookprovidesadviceonexactlywhatvarietiesofplantsaresuitableforeachclimatezone,foreachseason.Thiswasaveryinterestingreadandhighlightedmypersonalgardeningfailing,whichisthatIplantforSpringandnotforSummer.Highlyrecommended.

"TheRoadtoLittleDribbling"byBillBryson

NonFiction:Travel

Read:April2017

Myrating:****

Averyentertainingfollow-upto"NotesFromaSmallIsland".HavingbecomeacitizenoftheUK,Brysondecidesoncemoretoexplorethesmallislandonfoot.ThebookoffersmanyhandyinsightsintotravellingaroundtheUK,issueswithtransport,andthechangingnaturesofcities.IabsolutelyadoreBryson'scurmudgeonlyattitudetoeverythingfromgrammarandpunctuationerrors,toTripAdvisor(Ihearyou!)andwhatappearstobetheever-expandingprevalenceofgeneralignorance.Anentertainingandrewardingreading.

"MrLoveandJustice"byColinMacInnes

Fiction:LiteraryFiction

Read:March2017

Myrating:****

"MrLoveandJustice"isthefinalvolumeofMacInnes'Londonseriessetinthepost-warre-buildofthelate50's-early60's.ThestoryfocusesontheworldsofMrFrankieLove,anunemployedseamanwho'sbeenropedintotheworldofpouncing,andMrEdwardJustice,arecentlypromotedPoliceofficer,who'sstrugglingwithhisobligationstotheforceandtohisgirlfriend,daughterofacriminal."MrLoveandJustice"residesintheblurrylinebetweenlawandthesexindustry,fallingintotheshadedgreyareaofLondonlife.Anenjoyableread,butIdon'tfeelthatithasthe'punch'oftheothertwobooksintheseries.

"ProjectEmergence"byJamieZakian

Fiction:ScienceFiction/Fantasy/Adventure

Read:March2017

Myrating:**1/2

"ProjectEmergence"byJamieZakianhaspromise.It'seasytoreadstorywithpotentialfortheYoungAdultmarket.Ithassomeplottwistsbutoverallthestoryisalittleclunkyandreallycoulddowithagoodedit.Theendingwasalittledisappointing.It'sokay.

"FantasticalBeastsandWheretoFindThem"byJ.K.Rawling

Fiction:Children/Adventure

Read:March2017

Myrating:****

"FantasticBeastsandWheretoFindThem:TheOriginalScreenplay"byJ.K.Rowlingisacharmingandengagingadventurestorythatwillappealtochildrenandadultsalike.Thestoryissetinthe20's/30sinNewYorkcity,whereNewtScamander,zoologistandresearcherofmagicalcreatures,makesabriefstopovertoreturnoneofhischarges.WhenhissuitcaseisaccidentallyswitchedwiththatofaNon-Mag(Muggle)someofhisbeastsescapesandtheadventuresbegin.Wonderfulfun!AlthoughI'mnotfondofreadingscripts/screenplays,Ididn'tfindthatthetheformatdetractedfromtheenjoymentofthestory.

"TheyShootHorses,Don'tThey?"byHoraceMcCoy

Fiction:LiteraryFiction

Read:March2017

Myrating:*****

ImustadmitthatdespitethisbeingaclassicIhadneitherreadthebookorseenthemoviebeforenow."TheyShootHorses,Don’tThey?"byHoraceMcCoyisthedeeplymovingstoryofRobertandGloria,andtheirbriefsharedlifeexperienceasamarathondancecouple.Desperatetobreakintothemovies-Gloriaasanactor,Robertasadirector/produce-thecoupleteamupandparticipateinadancemarathontobeseen,toaccessfreefoodandaccommodation,andhopefullyattaincorporatesponsorship.Thebookoffersalookintotheseediersideof1930sHollywood,sleepdeprivation,exploitationandmentalillness.Achallengingreadandanoutstandingclassic!.

"UncommonCharacter:StoriesofOrdinaryMenandWomenWhoHaveDonetheExtraordinary"byDouglasFeavel

Non-Fiction:Biography,Christian(notadvertisedassuch)

Read:March2017

Myrating:**1/2

"UncommonCharacter:StoriesofOrdinarymenandWomenWhoHaveDonetheExtraordinary"byDouglasFeavel,ispromotedasabookof26inspiringstoriesofvariousmenandwomenwhohaveovercomeadversitytocreatepositiveoutcomesforthemselvesandothers.Andathirdofthebookisjustthis.TheothertwothirdsconsistsofbiblestoriesandChristianwriting.Idonotpersonallyobjectifindividualswishtoattributethesuccesses,personalstrengthandhardworkofotherstothedeity/supernaturalbeing/magicalforceoftheirchoice,butIdon'twanttohearaboutit.I'msurethatitthisbookwilldowellifitismarketingtoaFundamentalistChristianaudience.Itsnotforme.

IreceivedthiseBookthroughLibraryThing’sEarlyreviewerprogram.

"TheBestAmericanTravelWriting2016"editedbyBillBryson

Non-Fiction:Biography,ScienceandMedicine

Read:February2017

Myrating:****1/2

Awonderfulcollectionofshortstoriesdescribingvariousaspectsofthewritersworldtravels.Somanygoodonesthatit'shardtopickafavourite-althoughtheoneaboutsmugglingcigarettesintheUkraineisparticularlymemorable.Amustforloversoftravelandtravelwriting.

"TheThingontheDoorstepandothershortstories"byH.P.Lovecraft

Fiction:Horror,Supernatural

Read:February2017

Myrating:****1/2

BrilliantlywrittenandoftensuperscarycollectionofsomeofH.P.Lovecraft'sbestwork.Thiscollectionincludes"TheDunwichHorror"andmyfavouriteLovecraftshortstory

"TheMusicofErikZahnn"(Apologiesforthespellingthere).Amustforloversofhorrorandtheoccult.

"SnowyCampbell:AustralianPioneerInvestigatoroftheBrain"byMalcolmMacmillan

Non-Fiction:Biography,ScienceandMedicine

Read:February2017

Myrating:****1/2

“SnowyCampbell:AustralianPioneerInvestigatoroftheBrain”byMalcolmMacmillan”iswell-researched,wellwrittenandapleasuretoread.AlfredWalter(Snowy)CampbellwasinstrumentalintheestablishmentoftheneurosciencesinAustralia.HecompletedmedicaltraininginEdinburghbeforeworkinginasylumsinPragueandtheUK.Hisinitialresearchfocusedontheminutestructuresofthehumanbrain.HethenreturnedtoAustraliaandbegunhisclinicalpracticeandstudyofthecerebellum.InadditiontohisworkwithservicemensufferingfromneurologicalconditionsfromGallipoli,heservedasaSpecialistWitnessintheNewSouthWalescourtssystem,andinvestigatedMurrayValleyEncephalitis.

\MacmillanpunctuatesthedescriptionsofSnowy’sremarkablescientificresearchcareerwithamusinganecdotesabouthisearlylife,hissportingprowess,studentlife,andlater,hismarriedlife.Thebookprovides,inpart,ahistoryofAustralianlife,andthehistoryofbrainresearchinAustralia.ThebookisavailablefromAustralianScholarlyPublishing:Emailenquiry@scholarly.infoMalcolmMacmillanisaProfessorialFellow,SchoolofPsychologicalSciences,UniversityofMelbourne

"RightWrongNumber"byJimNesbitt

Fiction:Hard-Boiled,Detective

Read:February2017

Myrating:*****

EdEarlBurchisback.HavingsortedouthislegalSNAFUfollowingtheCarlaSue/Bonafaciodebacle,Burchisboggeddownindebt,blandcasework,andhotsexwithunreliablewomen.Hespendshissparetimedrinkingwhiskyinthelocaldivebar,doingthe“shouda,coulda,wouda”karaokewiththeotherbarflies,hopingformore,butacceptingless.HisunhappyequilibriumisshatteredwhenformerloverandscamartistMrsSavannahCrowe,lureshimintoadangerousjobwithpromisesofabigcashpayout.Herhusbandhasbeenmurdered.Atleastitlooksthatway.AndeveryshadybusinesspartnerheshaftedalongthewayischasingMrsCrowefortheircash.WillBurchsolvethecasewithoutbeingarrestedorkilled?Willhemanagetogetthegirlthistime?Andmoreimportantly,willhegetpaid.

Agreatexampleofamodern,hard-boileddetectivestory“RightWrongNumber”willappealtoloversofthegenreandEdEarlfansalike.Thebookisrepletewithpunchydialogue,seedycharacters,gratuitoussexandviolenceandallthegoodstuffwelovetoread.AnotherwonderfulofferingfromJimNesbitt,authorof“TheLastSecondChance”.

"TheDoodleRevolution"bySunniBrown

NonFiction:Selfhelp,Professionaldevelopment,Learning

Read:January2017

Myrating:***1/2

Afunguidetothebenefitsofdoodlingwhileyouwork,andhowthishelpsyoutothinkthroughproblems,issuesandkeepyouontrack.Thebookincludespracticalexamplesforindividualsandteams.Couldbeausefultoolforthoseresponsibleforstafftrainingdays.

"HomageNewOrleans"byLeonMorris

NonFiction:Music,Photojournal

Read:January2017

Myrating:****1/2

BeautifulphotojournalofthemusicalhistoryofNewOrleans.FabulousphotographyandasmatteringofwordsaboutthehistoryofNewOrleanspreandpostKatrina,andaguidetothecity'sfavouritemusicalartists,classifiedbymusicalgenre.Awonderfuladditiontoanymusiclover'scoffeetable.

"FindersKeepers"byStephenKing

Fiction:Crime/Thriller

Read:January2017

Myrating:****1/2

ImustadmittobeingabigfanofKing'scross-overcrimefiction.Ireallyenjoyedboth"MrMercedes"and"EndofWatch"(yesIreadthemoutoforder)andequallyloved"FindersKeepers".Thestorystartswiththetheftofmoneyandmanuscriptsandmurderofwell-renounauthorJohnRothstein,byasociopathbentonrevengeforthe"normalisation"ofhisfavouriteliterarycharacter.Morris(murderer)buriesthelootandmanuscriptnotebooksbeforebeingarrestedforanothercrime.Duringhisincarnation,youngPeterStraub(nowresidinginMorris'formerresidence)comesacrossthebounty.AllseemstobegoingsmoothlyuntilMorrisisreleasedfromjailandbeginsasearchforthemissingmanuscripts.Ireallyenjoyedthestoryandcharacters.Myonlycomplaintisthatthelastchaptersseemedtorushtotheclimax.AgreatseriesandIhopethatKingwritesmorelikethis.

"AustraliaRemembersWhen"byBobByrne

Non-Fiction:Reference/PopularCulture

Read:January2017

Myrating:***1/2

"AustraliaRemembersWhen"isaneasytoreadbookwithsomegreatpicturesofAustralianicons.Thewritingisprettyordinary,anditisalmostsetoutlikeanaidetomemoirewiththereaderconstantlybeingaskedwhattheyrecall.Therearesomefactualerrors(TheBigPineappleisnotandneverhasbeeninGympie-itisInWoombye/Nambour).Aninterestingenoughreadworthgettingforthepicturesalone.

"TheHandsomeMan'sDeLuxeCafe"byAlexanderMcCallSmith

Rating:****

Fiction:Mystery/Detective

Read:January2017

"TheHandsomeMan'sDeLuxeCafe"isbook15inthe"No1Ladies'DetectiveAgency"series.InthisofferingMmaRamotswe,Botswana’spremierladydetective,hasbeenengagedtohelpawomanallegedlysufferingfromamnesiatouncoverheridentity.Meanwhile,hertrustedassistantandbusinesspartner,MmaMakutsitriesherhandintherestaurantbusiness,onlytodiscoverthatitisn'tassimpleasaplanningprocess.Anotherwonderfulholidayread-itdoesn'taskmuchofthereaderanddoesn'tdisappoint.Asimplestory,lovelycharactersandeasytoread.Ascharminganddelightfulastherestoftheseries.

"BetterCallSaul:TheWorldAccordingtoSaulGoodman"byDavidStubbs

Rating:****

Fiction:Humour

Read:January2017

Oneforthefansof"BetterCallSaul"and"BreakingBad".Thispocket-sized,hard-coverbookfeaturesgreatphotos,advertisementsandfactoidsaboutSaulandhislegalfirm.Entertainingandlighthearted.