Prague Pictures by John Banville2 February, 2007This is a delightful book, small and compact and full of riches. Clearly, it is the expression of John Banville's long-term love affair with Prague, yet his is not a blind, romantic infatuation.
Postmodern Pooh by Frederick Crews2 February, 2007Do not assume that because you enjoyed The Pooh Perplex you will like Postmodern Pooh.
Street Furniture by Matt Howard2 February, 2007A new twist on a classic tale: Declan is a 20-something Bankstown boy, living in a flat with his mates Smithy and Jeff.
The Pearl of Tiger Bay by Gabrielle Wang2 February, 2007Annie’s family arrive in Tiger Bay to find a sleepy little rundown town with little pride or passion. Blinded by the pride she feels at finally being in her famous great-great-great-grandfather’s home town, Annie sees a beautiful, mystical place that just needs a little shove to shake off its sadness.
The Slapping Man by Andrew O. Lindsay2 February, 2007This is one gleeful pastiche of a book into which Lindsay has tipped fables redolent of Angela Carter, Patrick Süskind and Kate Grenville.
Shelf Life by Robert Corbet2 February, 2007 Life in a supermarket is not all it seems.
Sexing it Up by Geoffrey Barker2 February, 2007The term ‘sexing up’ appears to have entered the vocabulary of politics as a type of ‘spin’ placed by politicians on information and assessments provided by intelligence agencies.
Pacific by Judy Nunn2 February, 2007In the publicity flyer for Pacific, author Judy Nunn explains that she likes to write ‘larger-than-life stories about larger-than-life people, caught up in the historical events of their time.
Sex, Drugs and Mum in the Front Row by Evan Kanarakis2 February, 2007As one who has spent more than his fair share of time on stage, behind the mixing desk, in the crowd and in the van over the last 15 years, I expected to find lots to like in this book of first-hand tales of the oh-so-glamorous life of the aspiring rock musician.
Our Cosmic Habitat by Martin Rees2 February, 2007This book is the written text of a Martin Rees lecture given at the first Scribner Lectures, co-sponsored by Princeton University and Princeton University Press.
Orphans of the Queen by Ruth Starke2 February, 2007Orphans of the Queen opens as a group of English orphans board ship for Australia.
The Secret World of Annette Robinson by Paulette Gittins2 February, 2007This story, distinctively Australian in flavour, is about a young girl growing up in Kings Cross in the 1950s.
The Secret Cure by Sue Woolfe2 February, 2007Sue Woolfe attracted many fans with her award-winning novel Leaning Towards Infinity.
The Secret Life of a Dyslexic Child by Robert Frank & Kathryn E. Livingston2 February, 2007This is a very useful, practical and clearly written book for anyone who has to deal with a dyslexic child, or who is concerned that their child might be dyslexic.
The Once and Future Army by McCarthy, Dayton2 February, 2007From the departure of the last British regiment in 1870 until 1945 the story of the Australian Army, and its role in Australian society, is primarily one dominated by the contribution of the citizen soldier. Formations and units throughout this period had limited numbers of full-time (or regular) personnel, although the large wartime armies of 1918 and 1945 possessed most of the characteristics of professional regular armies.
Scarecrow by Matthew Reilly2 February, 2007Two years ago Matthew Reilly warned that his next novel would be 'lean, mean and totally out of control'.
Sacked Coach by Stan Alves and Col Davies2 February, 2007First, I must declare a conflict of interest by reviewing this book. I am a member of the Melbourne Football Club and have barracked for Melbourne all my football life.
On the Warpath by Robin Gerster & Peter Pierce2 February, 2007Robin Gerster is Associate Professor in the School of Literary, Visual and Performance Studies at Monash University in Melbourne. Peter Pierce is Professor of Australian Literature at James Cook University in Townsville.
Rockets by Peter Macinnis2 February, 2007Any intimate mixture of a fuel and an oxidizer is a potential explosive, and a molecule with one reducing (fuel) end and one oxidizing end, separated by a pair of firmly crossed fingers, is an invitation to disaster. - John Clark, Ignition. 1972
Return of the Exiles by Frank C. Bennett2 February, 2007In mid-October 1945, barely two months after the Japanese surrender announcement and the Indonesian proclamation of independence on August 17, the Esperance Bay left Sydney for Jakarta (then Batavia) to repatriate 1416 of the 2856 Indonesians stranded in Australia by the Pacific war.
No One Owns Me by Ron Bunney2 February, 2007No One Owns Me tells the story of Dennis Campbell and his solitary, sometimes dangerous life in outback Western Australia. Along one of the lonely journeys with his camel train young Dennis comes across a horrible sight—two travellers who’ve died of dehydration in the waterless desert.
Redcoats to cams by Ian Kuring2 February, 2007Ian Kuring’s Redcoats to Cams is first of all, but not only, a labour of love by an infantryman paying tribute to his trade.
Names for Nothingness by Georgia Blain2 February, 2007Georgia Blain’s fourth novel, Names for Nothingness, deals with two separate but connected stories: that of Sharn, an embittered mother and former wild child; and that of her daughter Caitlin, a teenage misfit who finds herself embroiled in a slightly sinister cult that encourages her to abandon all desire and subjugate herself completely to the cult’s leader.
My Year of Meats by Ruth L. Ozeki2 February, 2007Meat is the Message. Each weekly half-hourly episode of MY AMERICAN WIFE must culminate in the celebration of a featured meat, climaxing in its glorious consumption.