the latest in the Matilda Saga—every bit as wonderful as we'd hoped

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the latest in the Matilda Saga—every bit as wonderful as we'd hoped

I’ve just finished this new book in the Matilda Saga. Actually, you could say I just started it too since I started it last night and finished it this morning! All of us at WTBA love this series, so imagine my delight when I spotted Facing the Flame on the shelves at Avid Reader yesterday, even though the official release date is December 1.

When Louisa saw me reading it she sighed: “It’s short.”—and added with mock exasperation: “Jackie French!” We always hope that the next Matilda Saga book will be in the 600 page realm so that we can enjoy the characters for longer.

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a terrific, fresh take on the harsh, fascinating world of Australia's convict era

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a terrific, fresh take on the harsh, fascinating world of Australia's convict era

Whenever I take a trip to Sydney I try to visit a few historical sites—and the romance and horrors of it all mean that I then find myself hunting for solid early Australian historical fiction. Which is how I came to be reading The Monsarrat Series.

Monsarrat is a white-collar convict—he’s bright, literate and has had an earlier arrogance beaten out of him during his convict years. When book 1, The Soldier’s Curse, begins, he’s part way through his second term.

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a moving and eye-opening look at myriad lives—for older readers

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a moving and eye-opening look at myriad lives—for older readers

ages 14 and up
The thing about kaleidoscopes is that they need to have two or more points of reflection. Without those points we see only a messy collection of colours and shapes. But, with those points, we see an extraordinary array of beautiful images that meld into each other to produce something inspiring. This book is a kaleidoscope of sorts.

Living on Hope Street is populated with multiple characters whose lives are difficult, heart wrenching and desperate in many different ways. But, as the novel unfolds, it presents that second point of reflection—and the messy collection of characters and circumstances come together to show lives of great beauty and complexity

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Annie Grossman: a passionate bookseller on the books that formed and changed her life

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Annie Grossman: a passionate bookseller on the books that formed and changed her life

Over the years we've bought our Sunshine Coast holiday reading at Annie's Books on Peregian, but we only recently met Annie Grossman in person. It was a real treat!

We were so impressed (charmed actually) by Annie's wit and passion, we asked if she'd share some of her favourite books with us and our readers. And what a great selection! But first, we asked if she would tell us a little about herself:

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an interesting story about a free black slave owner—and the impact that choices have on the world around us

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an interesting story about a free black slave owner—and the impact that choices have on the world around us

adult fiction
I’ve become fascinated with the history of race relations in the USA. (Actually everywhere, but you’ve got to start somewhere.) So I went hunting for fiction that would make good airplane/road trip reading but still taught me something. And this is what I found. 

The story revolves around Henry Townsend who is a free black farmer and slave owner. (There were actually quite a few free black slave owners but Henry is not an historical figure.) Henry, his former master, his family and slaves have lives that are mingled and intertwined. That mingling is the essence of the story.

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famous people reading: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

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famous people reading: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

This looks like a great way to spend a birthday—reading and sunbathing on a car bonnet in Martha’s Vineyard. The pic is from New York Jackie: Pictures from Her Life in the City and was taken on her 60th birthday.

She’s reading The Most Beautiful House in the World, which I gather is a bit like a cerebral version of Grand Designs! The author is architect and prolific author, Witold Ryczynski—a man of forthright and strongly held opinion, including:

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6 books on my Mother's Day Wish List + an absorbing TED talk

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6 books on my Mother's Day Wish List + an absorbing TED talk

Just in case any of the six children I birthed are starting to panic, here’s my Mother’s Day Book Wish List—I make one very year. 

Quite often no one buys anything from it because they know full-well that if they don't I’ll just end up buying them anyway. Still, here’s this year’s list, more or less in order of preference:

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