POET'S COTTAGE

by Josephine Pennicott

Once I picked up this book and began reading I could not put it down. Full of intrigue, mystery, murder, fantasy, and a bit of romance thrown in. I read it in a day and loved every minute of it until the last chapter or so when it left me slightly disappointed. I thought I'd worked out the truth of who really killed Pearl, then changed my mind several times throughout the book, only to find out I got it wrong.

The story draws us in immediately when Sadie and her teenage daughter, Betty, have inherited her grandmother's cottage in Tasmania. This beautiful little cottage, Poet's Cottage, has always had writers living in it, and Sadie, who is also a writer, sets out to find out more about her grandmother Pearl's life, whilst living in this small village during the 1930's, and the truth behind her vicious murder, which she will make into a book. She uncovers facts about her grandmother she was not aware of  and which are very different to how her mother portrays her. Pearl Tatlow, was an eccentric Children's book author  who was very glamorous but lived a very risque life, which didn't please the town folk. 

When Pearl was suddenly and viciously murdered, it sent the town spinning with rumours and the murderer was never found. Her two daughters, one being Sadie's mother, were in the yard playing when it happened. Saidies' aunt, Thomasina,  unfortunately found her mother's body and said that a devil had killed her. This was because it was believed that Pearl kept a Tasmanian Devil in the cellar to scare the children.

The switch from present day to 1930's was intriguing, particularly as the house was said to now be haunted and Sadie and her daughter had experienced some unusual things going on within the house. They must decide if they should stay and uncover the truth or flee back to Sydney. Having just read Kate Morton's newest book The Secret Keeper it reminded me a little of that story however not quite as good. Having said that, I do recommend it and loved the setting as I've actually had holidays in that part of Tassie and loved it.

Girl in Translation

by Jean Kwok


What a heartfelt story of a little girl, Kimberly Chang, and her mother immigrating from Hong Kong to America. The writer made me  feel like I was living side by side with the characters and feeling their triumphs and frustrations.


Now living in a broken down, rat and cochroach infested flat in Brooklyn, they must survive with very little possessions or money. Kimberly's mother knows no English and is forced, by her sister of all people, to work in a factory sweatshop with very little pay for extremely long hours. 


Kimberly must slip into a completely different world that she is used to and go to school, speaking and understanding very little English. Although she was a very talented student in Hong Kong, here she must face many challenges and find acceptance into society if she is to get a good education and save herself and her mother from terrible circumstances.


This story seems more than fiction to me... it seemed like it was based on a true story, possibly that of the author herself, and is a very touching read from the eyes of a little girl. It was interesting how the author noted that Kimberly, with her broken English, didn't pick up every word or phrase people were saying to her and often didn't understand the context. It was very challenging as she became the 'adult' at times. Helping her mother in the sweatshop after school and working until late into the night, and keeping up her school work was certainly challenging.


Well worth a read.

LOLA'S SECRET

LOLA'S SECRET   by Monica McInerney

Another lovely story by Monica. Her books are so easy to read and as always wonderful characters to draw you into her fictional story. This book carries on from 'The ABC Sisters' five years after Anna has died and life has gone on, as it must, but family have dealt with her death differently and continue to deal with the loss of a mother, daughter and grand daughter. 

Lola's up to her old tricks matchmaking and this time planning a secret Christmas party at the Motel in the Clare Valley, while her family have all gone on their own holiday.  She has invited guests from far and wide for a free holiday and Christmas dinner and is excited about her secret, if she can carry it out on her own. However, circumstances change in everyone's life to threaten her gathering and rearrange plans for them all. 

There is never a dull moment in Lola's life, a lively 80+ yr old, who is constantly having to sort out problems between family members. She is witty and charming and a lot of fun. This book is full of drama within relationships and family and thought provoking at the same time. It's good fun!

P.S.  I really love the beautiful covers on all of Monica's books

THE WINNER

THE WINNER   by David Baldacci


This was my first Baldacci book but my hubby is hooked and has read quite a few.

When LuAnn Tyler is asked to be part of a crooked lottery scheme, she refuses, even though it would mean millions of dollars. But when she is framed for murder, the frightened single mother is forced to participate. Ten years later she has become a wealthy woman determined to live a normal life. But it will take more than money to escape the attention of the FBI who may want her for murder, and the dangerous man from her past who wants to kill her--if she doesn't stop him first.

I must admit it did have me hooked and I will probably read a few more Baldacci's... there's a few to choose from, he's such a prolific writer.

THE MEMORY CAGE

THE MEMORY CAGE   by Ruth Eastham   (YA fiction)

This is a very powerful and emotional story dealing with war, Alzheimer’s and family secrets. It is beautifully written and the compassion Alex shows for his Grandfather is beautiful. The story tells of Alex who was adopted at the age of 6 from a refugee camp in Bosnia and is now a teenager. His parents and younger brother are all dead and he is haunted by memories of not being able to save his younger brother from drowning. He is adopted into the Smith family, lives in Doverham, England and adores his adopted Grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s and is about to be put into a home.

He is desperate to help his Grandfather to remember the past so he doesn’t have to be put in an aged home, but as Alex delves into the past and tries to create a scrapbook of his life, secrets are discovered that have been hidden away for many years. With the town losing so many of their young men in the war some people don’t want the past dug up. Remembering the past is not want Alex wants for himself either as it is too hurtful and he tries to cut all memories of Bosnia from his life. The story concludes with a dramatic incident that had me in tears. Secrets are revealed and lies uncovered to culminate in a truly wonderful ending.

PAN'S WHISPER

PAN'S WHISPER  by Sue Lawson  (YA fiction)

Yes, you’d be right in thinking Pan is rebellious, troublesome and damaged. The story opens with Pan arriving at a foster home with her case worker, Gemma, where her foster parents, Rose and Ian, along with their two other foster children, Olivia and Nat, welcome her into their home. Pan however is sure she won’t be here for long and plans to escape at the earliest possible moment.

Pan struggles to fit into a nice loving family with rules, a new school and deal with the loneliness she feels, which she blames her mother and half sister for. She has a lot of issues bottled up inside, some memories she can’t quite remember, but why? Rose gives Pan the opportunity to write to her sister but she refuses at first as she is still angry with her being in this situation… living in Leggoland! As time goes by she does decide to write to her sister, Morgan, and gradually as she is unraveling her thoughts and memories she begins to remember and write more.

Hunter, one of the boys in Pan’s class, befriends her and eventually she opens up to him about her problems. He seems to be the only one to understand. He too has had to deal with family issues and if anyone can help her, Hunter can. Pan is paranoid and only thinking about herself and her issues, however she soon decides she has been selfish and does need help from others. As she opens up, deeper relationships are formed with those around her.

A small book packed with punch. This is a gripping story and is cleverly written by another  Australian writer. The book is divided into three thoughts, with the chapters being narrated by Pan, followed by the letters she has written to Morgan, (each one questioning what has happened in the past), then this is followed by what was really happening at each occasion, (what Morgan was going through and how she had protected Pan throughout her childhood). I started to imagine I knew how this story would end… one of two ways. I was wrong… there was another! The writer sure had my emotions wrapped around her little finger and throughout this compelling story until the end, when in the final chapter I let it all go and just bawled… yep embarrassing I know!

THE ALPHABET SISTERS

THE ALPHABET SISTERS by Monica McInerney

Anna, Bett and Carrie were sisters and childhood singing stars (The Alphabet Sisters). Unfortunately after a family falling out... Bett's fiance deserting her for her younger sister Carrie, things were never the same and the sisters all went their separate ways and as adults hadn't spoken for years. Their much loved, slightly eccentric, crontrolling, larger than life, but very wise grandmother, summonded them home (Clare Valley, S.A.) for her 80th birthday party and surprise announcement. This of course was just a ploy to reunite the sisters and for them to realise they need each other. 

Lola has decided to stage a play in town with local actors and each of her granddaughters have an important role to play. As they work together to bring Lola's dream into being their relationships start to mend. During the course of the story we are submursed into the lives of the three sisters, their trials and tribulations and the misconceptions they have about each other and what really happened all those years before that put a huge barrier between them.

VINNIE'S WAR

VINNIE'S WAR by David McRobbie   (YA fiction)

This is a fabulous book that was really easy to read. Set in London, at the start of World War II, the book tells the story of a homeless boy named Vinnie who makes a life with the owners of a pub and a refugee boy from Poland. Vinnie's life is crushed when the first bombings in London take place and he loses everything.  Now branded as a 'vaccie' (children evacuated from their own town) he must board a train to live with families in country towns. He meets Kathleen and her younger brother Joey and another boy his age called Dobbs. They are all sent to the same town and placed in different families, some nice, some not-so-nice for the duration of the war. 

They find that some of the townsfolk open their hearts to these children while other families and their children don't want the new-comers invading their town and way of life, and there are many difficult times. Settling into the families and school are challenging but they are happy to have their friendship with each other.  After uncovering a secret in the town they soon start to make new friends.

SHIFT

SHIFT  by Em Bailey    (YA fiction)

From the very first sentence I knew I was going to love this book. The cover, the blurb at the back of the book and the title all entrigued me and I'm so glad I read this book. It was a psychological thriller that kept me reading non-stop. The only time I put it down was to re-energise myself with a quick bite to eat and a coffee. Total shock came when I was around 1/2 way through the novel and there was a dramatic twist... it made me want to go right back to the start and re-read it to see what was staring at me the whole time. Of course I couldn't do that because I just wanted to keep reading and find out what happens.

The story is told by Olive, who is not 'crazy', well... not anymore,  is a self-impossed outcast who comes from a broke home. She is intrigued by a new student in her class, Miranda, who is an orphan and rumours have it she killed her parents. Olive and her best (and only) friend Ami, study Miranda and notice she is very unusal and has latched onto Olive's ex-best friend, the beautiful and popular Katie. Soon Olive is paranoid that Miranda is up to something as she becomes more and more like Katie, both in looks and personality. She has read about 'Shape-shifters' and although that seems impossible she is disturbed by what's happening to Katie and how Miranda is becoming like a parasite.

WHISPER

WHISPER by Chrissie Keighery   (YA fiction)

 This really is a fantastic book and I glad I took the time to read it. being a teenager is hard enough but being a deaf teenager is so much harder. Demi is in a new world trapped ... trapped by her new deafness, where everything she took for granted is gone. After convincing her mum to send her to a deaf school, Demi tries to make new friends and come to terms with all the changes in her life now that she's 'profoundly deaf'.

Having been involved with deaf people and communicating through signing, I felt this book was a great insight into the life of someone who can't hear and how unknowingly we can restrict knowledge and communication from them and cause embarrassment and isolation to them. This is evident when Demi's hearing friends turn their backs to her when talking and how sometimes she only gets portions of the conversation. How would we feel if the things we take for granted are gone forever?

This book was beautifully written and well researched. At times I felt I was in Demi's world and annoyed at the 'hearies' who, sometimes through lack of knowledge, did things to make it so much harder for Demi. I learnt a lot from reading this book and feel I have a greater insight into her world. Demi struggles with relationships from her world before deafness and her new friends. I was scared with her when she was left alone at home.There is also lots of humour in this book and lots of inspiring moments.

I think this book should be used as a class novel so teenagers can be more knowledgeable about deafness and the challenges it creates. The book also touched on issues about how we rightly or wrongly perceive others.

GRAFFITI MOON

GRAFFITI MOON by Cath Crowley    (YA fiction)

I must admit it took me quite a few pages to really get into this book, but I am glad I persevered because I really got hooked and warmed to the characters and ended up really enjoying the story. Lucy and her two girlfriends have finished Year 12 and are out on the town to enjoy themselves. Lucy is fascinated/in love with a Graffiti artist called 'Shadow' and adores his paintings that are scattered around Melbourne. She is artistic herself and feels a bond with Shadow and the depth of meaning behind his graffiti and creates an imagine of what he would be like and what he looks like and all she wants to do is find him.

They meet up with 3 boys from their class at a party who say they know Shadow and his friend Poet.  When one of the boys, Ed, convinces Lucy he knows Shadow well and invites her to follow him on a tour of some of Shadow and Poets best graffiti walls she jumps at the chance. Will she ever get to meet shadow? Has sh ealready met Shadow without realising it? And who is this person known as Poet?

Each chapter of this book is written from the perspective of Ed, Lucy or Poet which I enjoyed. It dealt with misconceptions, expectations and reality. It raises the question do many of our youth fall between the cracks in the education system and drop out of school unnecessarily, because their talents aren't recognised, and they don't fit into the 'mould'.

This book won an 'HONOUR' at the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Aust) book of the year awards this year in the 'Older Reader' section.

THE HELP

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett     

This was a great read! I'd seen the book around for a while but wasn't all that interested however when I knew the movie was coming out I thought I'd give it a go in the hols. Glad I did.

The book is divided up into sections with each character giving their perspective of what is life is like in their small town in Mississippi during the 1960's. It's a hard time for the coloured folk of the area with most of the wealthy white people hiring negro women for their maids and bringing up their children for them. Aibileen is just one main character who joins forces with one of the white folks' daughter, Skeeta, a 22yr old budding journalist, to secretly write about the trials and tribulations of being a black maid.

This is the time of Martin Luther King, segregation, and the riots in Mississippi, and associating with 'coloureds' outside of work time is dangerous. Aibileen and her friends are putting their life at risk to share their stories. A very touching book and at times quite funny.

Watch the movie trailer below... can't wait to see the movie!

WICKED APPETITIE

WICKED APPETITIE by Janet Evanovich     

After reading all 18 books in the Stephanie Plum series ,by Janet Evanovich I was hoping I'd enjoy this new book Janet recently published, Sept. 2010, unfortunately it was nothing on the Plum series... I didn't laugh out loud!
It did have the same quirky lines and romance tension between Diesel and Lizzy Tucker. It was predictable and I certainly wasn't glued to the pages as I usually am with the Plum series, but it was an easy read.

THE HUNGER GAMES (Trilogy)

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins     (LWH)

Wow! I read this on my Kindle and have loved every minute of this fabulous book - the first in a trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I loved it so much I read it in 1 day... just couldn't put it down. I was transported into the future with a story that was a cross between the Truman Show, Gladiators, Surviver and a futuristic war movie all rolled into one. But it did have a lot of blood and guts in this book so if you're squeemish or don't like violence then this book isn't for you.

Katniss Everdeen lives in a world, that's harsh and desolate and must hunt to provide for her family, her mum and little sister, which all live in District 12. All twelve of  the districts are ruled by an evil president living in Capitol. Each year  a boy and girl are chosen from their district to compete in 'The Hunger Games', where they must compete in a game show and kill  their opponents to survive and be the final victor standing. The winner will then be able to return to their district as a hero. Sixteen year old Katniss must use her hunting skills to beat the other contestants in the arena..it's a fight to the death. The story grips you from the first page and takes you on a ride of emotions. Will Katniss survive and return to her family? What must she DO to survive being killed by her oponents? A nail biting ending! I can't wait to download the next books in the series.

CATCHING FIRE (BK 2 - THE HUNGER GAMES) by Suzanne Collins

The story continues as Katniss and her fellow contestant from District 12, Peeta, return to what they think will be a peaceful future. However, their survival in 'The Hunger Games' has embarrased the Captial and caused rebellion within some of the Districts, so now the Capitol are out for revenge. A cruel twist arises when both Katniss and Peeta are forced back into 'The Hunger Games' to compete again, this time with the victors from the past years. They must convince the world that they are still both in love. Can they survive a second time in the arena? This book was equally as exciting as the first and I read it in a day also. I've already downloaded the next edition. Glad I've got the Kindle to get it instantly... I just can't wait for the conclusion!

MOCKINGJAY (BK 3 - THE HUNGER GAMES) by Suzanne Collins



The third book in the trilogy and I haven't been disappointed. Katniss us up against the Capital this time involving not just herself but all the Districts as the rebellion goes on as Katniss must regain her strength and become the 'Mockingjay' they are all pinning their hopes on. Having survived 'The Hunger Games' twice before it is not just a matter of her own survival this time. Can she do it? Who is on her side and who has been betraying her all along?  Another book that I just coudn't put down, I had to keep reading to find out how it ends. So glad they are making it into a movie - I can't wait!

Watch the movie trailer below... can't wait to see the movie - March 2012!

Watch the movie trailer below... can't wait to see the movie - March 2012!

THYLA

THYLA by Kate Gordon     (LWH)

I must say this book had me hooked from the start.  Found in the bush, looking like a wild animal, slashes across her back, frightened with no memory of what has happened to her... very intriguing! The only thing she knew for certain was "her name was Tessa, she was strong, she was brave and she did not cry". I sure love a good mystery and I must admit it did get my imagination going.

Set in Tasmania this book gave me a glimpse of what it was like in early settlement during a very hard time in history. The mysterious Tessa is sent to a boarding school where she doesn't fit in but strangely becomes friends with students no that different to herself.  Flashes of memory start to appear and the plot thickens. I was waiting to see what her mysterious past was all about but was a little disapponted with the ending particularly when shapeshifters appeared (I'm not really into animorphs), but overall worth a read.

THE DEAD I KNOW

THE DEAD I KNOW by Scot Gardner     (LWH)

I really enjoyed this book.  A young boy named Aaron Rowe leaves school and gets a job at the local undertaker where he discovers that he feels OK about death and preparing bodies ready for funerals. Although Aaron  is shy and doesn't let anyone into his life, he warms to his new boss who seems to understand him. His new job seems to suit him well but he has troubles that no one knows about. He sleep walks and constantly wakes up in unusual places, which he has no memory of. Dealing with this along with caring for his guardian who has lost her memory and the difficulties this provides, lends to a fascinating read. I really felt for this young boy who was trying to get his life together and care for the one person in his life that means so much to him. As his story unravells the truth about his past is revealed to him. It is a very touching book that I just couldn't put down.

Read more about Scot and his other books