Staff Favourites 2008 - Scotch College Library

... embroiled in a boggling and at times painful array of intimate relationships ...

This wonderful book is the third fictional instalment from Zadie Smith, author of the WH Smith Award winning White Teeth (also a fantastic read). On Beauty charts the trials and tribulations of two families from opposite sides of the Atlantic whose patriarchs are bitter academic rivals brought together via a comi-tragic turn of events. Husbands, wives, sons and daughters, from both families, become embroiled in a boggling and at times painful array of intimate relationships, testing the limits of love in all its forms. The book asks poignant questions about real human behaviour: When we are hurting, why do we want others to hurt with us? Why do we revisit our failings on our children? How do we define true beauty? This book is a masterful slice of comic realism from a remarkable author with a knack for dialogue and original characterisation.

they are so beautifully written and based entirely on a survivor's incredible memories.

If This is a Man and Truce epitomise the best of holocaust literature because they are so beautifully written and based entirely on a survivor's incredible memories. Written within a few months of his return to Italy in 1945, Levi's prose is calm, measured and rich with appalling detail. The books filled me with awe for a man who endured such terrible emotional and physical deprivation and humiliation yet can write about his experiences without bitterness or even much anger.

This book is full of valuable advice from music educators, other parents, and kids themselves.

The author is a music journalist and parent. The subject is about music and parenting. This book is full of valuable advice from music educators, other parents, and kids themselves. It is the definitive hands-on guide to helping your child learn to play a musical instrument. It provides an important resource for all those who want to provide joyful musical experiences for children. Reading this book is like sitting down with a good friend - laughing, listening to her wise words, and suddenly realizing that your life has been changed and lit up with joy.

I really enjoyed reading this book ...

This is a children's picture book, one of the titles of "The World of Music", a spectacular series which provides a stunning introduction to the history of music. This book profiles the life and times of this child prodigy and amazing composer and takes the reader on a fact-filled journal of discovery through eighteenth-century Europe. I really enjoyed reading this book with my little boy after having watched the DVD "Amadeus".

This book is a starting point for anyone looking to gain control of their financial future ...

This was a No.1 best seller that rocked the financial world. It is full of common sense. It explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich. It shows parents why they can't rely on the traditional school system to teach their kids about money. This book is a starting point for anyone looking to gain control of their financial future.

The book uses plain language, is very easy to read and you will find it hard to put down. Highly recommended!

Have you ever thought that teachers cheat? The authors of this book did. Then they managed to prove it using economics. See how they did it. The authors also used economics to prove other crazy things like why drug dealers live with their mums and that sumo wrestlers fix matches. According to the authors, answers exist and can be discovered if only we know the right questions to ask. The book uses plain language, is very easy to read and you will find it hard to put down. Highly recommended!

I loved this cool, funny, page-turner of a book.

Michael Sweeney and his mate Dud, had managed to fly under the radar at their private boys' school, until the new American guy arrived. From then on, life became much more interesting, with school plays to star in, famous movie stars to meet, human rights issues to take up and most importantly, a mysterious girl to fall in love with. I loved this cool, funny, page-turner of a book.

Hornby creates real people and situations in this novel that I believed and thoroughly enjoyed.

While Nick Hornby is famous for his bestsellers, Fever Pitch and About a Boy, Slam is his first novel pitched directly at young adults. Hornby does a great job with his character Sam, a 16 year old skating freak, who finds comfort in talking to a poster of his hero Tony Hawk. Life gets complicated when the consequences of first love force Sam to grow up much faster than he was prepared for. Hornby creates real people and situations in this novel that I believed and thoroughly enjoyed.

interesting, smart and funny ...

John Green's second novel after his hugely successfully first, Looking for Alaska, is just as good and portrays characters that are just as interesting, smart and funny. Colin Singleton is notorious for only going out with girls called Katherine, and has been dumped by 19 of them! In order to get over the latest devastating dumping, Colin, who also happens to be a washed-up child-prodigy, sets off on a road trip with his mate Hassan. This is a great story about friendship, reinvention and of course love!

At times truly disturbing, this story unwinds slowly.

Now a blockbusting cinematographic masterpiece, McCormack's novel of death and destruction across the United States is nowhere near as good as his best work, The Road. Having said that, the last few pages are salutary, as they reveal what McCarthy appears to think of his country, its collapsing values, and its increasing disregard for law and justice. At times truly disturbing, this story unwinds slowly.

this is 1984 for the Google/MySpace/Facebook/ YouTube generation.

The way of life created in this book is instantly recognisable, and that is why it is so frightening. In a flooded London, a new way of faith has emerged. Privacy is a sin, volume is an indicator of sincerity, and what one feels is more important and credible than what one thinks. Trafford is the father of a newborn (who has a 50% chance of dying before the age of 3) who wants to keep a secret for the sake of having a secret, and wants to find reason. Tragic in parts, uplifting in others - this is 1984 for the Google/MySpace/Facebook/YouTube generation.

imagine being catapulted through the space and time continuum ...

Being yanked out of bed on a Sunday morning is never anyone's idea of fun, but imagine being catapulted through the space and time continuum and deposited on the lawn of your future wife's family home. Oh, did I mention clothes can't time travel? A stroll down memory lane for those at school in the late eighties and early nineties. Violent Femmes revival: add it up.

This young adult novel will wound with its honesty, with its acknowledgement that Lakshmi is a fictionalized amalgam of many real-life victims of this global injustice.

In prose elegant and spare enough to be considered poetry, Patricia McCormick relates the story of 13 year old Lakshmi who is torn from her poor but happy life in rural Nepal and sold into the booming sex trade in Calcutta. This young adult novel will wound with its honesty, with its acknowledgement that Lakshmi is a fictionalized amalgam of many real-life victims of this global injustice.

... of Africa's fight for independence and the decades of civil war, coups, famine and disease that followed ...

A Botswanan lawyer leads an extraordinary life, assisting her clients in their fight for justice. Written by a real lawyer from Botswana, writer Unity captures the frustrations of working for an underfunded Non-Government Organisation, and her writing of the female voice is excellent. If you liked Alexander McCall Smith's series about Precious Ramotswe, then you will love The Heavens May Fall.

A remarkable novel exploring numerous themes - Love, Paranoia, xenophobia, terrorism (and fear of terrorism), migration and intellectualism.

A remarkable novel exploring numerous themes - Love, Paranoia, xenophobia, terrorism (and fear of terrorism), migration and intellectualism - all woven together with music as a theme constantly recurring. Central is a mathematician and a musician. Both have complex pasts, but for the musician, suspicion of terrorism leads to his virtual destruction as he is wrongly suspected of terrorist links. Despite the terrorist undertones, the book is more an exploration of feelings and depths of emotions. Superbly written. Highly recommended.

Jeffrey Sachs ... strongly believes that poverty is an unnecessary state which is 'curable' within our generation.

Jeffrey Sachs is one of the world's leading economists. He strongly believes that poverty is an unnecessary state which is 'curable' within our generation. Having served as an advisor to a whole host of countries in need of economic resurrection and reinvention (including Bolivia, Poland, China and India), Sachs turns his attention to 'the voiceless dying - Africa' in his book, "The End of Poverty - How we can make it happen in our lifetime". Sachs is critical of both the IMF and UN despite having served as Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He says, "In some ways, today's development economics is like eighteenth century medicine, when doctors used leeches to draw blood from their patients, often killing them in the process." Instead Sachs advocates 'clinical economics' in which countries in dire financial trouble receive a differential diagnosis of their 'illness' in order for appropriate action to be recommended. China and India serve as case studies that clearly demonstrate the reality of rapid economic growth once a country has 'a foot on the ladder'. Sachs argues that it is the responsibility of wealthy nations to come good on their commitment to give 0.7% of GDP in order to set impoverished African nations on their way to prosperity - not only for their sake but also to ensure a more stable future for the world.

Tough going at times but certainly worth the read!

This blow by blow account of Africa's fight for independence and the decades of civil war, coups, famine and disease that followed is a fascinating read. At times Meredith overindulges his intimate knowledge of the continent, weighing the reader down with unnecessary statistics. This is quickly forgiven as the author draws the reader in with his first hand accounts of moments that changed the course of history on the African continent and around the world. The book opens with a brief history of colonisation; moves through Ghana's independence and the countless revolutions to follow; touches on the more recent tragedies of Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone; and concludes with an account of South Africa's triumph over the Apartheid regime. Tough going at times but certainly worth the read!

A gentle, humorous and empathetic book, one to be savoured slowly as Bennett's prose engages the heart.

Alan Bennett brings the Queen to life as someone who accidentally stumbles across reading as a hobby. As she discovers the delights to be found between the pages of a book, she is faced with the challenge of outwitting those in the Establishment who are trying to thwart this new found passion. A gentle, humorous and empathetic book, one to be savoured slowly as Bennett's prose engages the heart.

a night of murder and mayhem unleashed by Hitler on his own people

This is but one account of that fateful night in Nazi Germany. Maracin's take on the astonishing rise of Hitler starts with the burning of the Reichstag (German Parliament)in 1933. This event was orchestrated by Hitler's cronies with the aim of creating a list of "enemies of the state", which would lead to "the night of the long knives", a night of murder and mayhem unleashed by Hitler on his own people. This account of that horrifying forty-eight hours was but a precursor to what would unfold in the rest of Europe in the next decade.

Tenet provides fresh insights and background, including an account of how the now famous "sixteen words" made into the President's State of the Union address.

At the centre of the storm is George Tenet's memoir of his days at the CIA, America's top intelligence agency. Tenet recounts the events that led to 9/11, the war on Al'-Qaida, America's worldwide plan to fight terrorists and the US invasion of Iraq. Tenet provides fresh insights and background, including an account of how the now famous "sixteen words" made into the President's State of the Union address. Through this narrative Tenet paints a portrait of a man caught between different factions of the administration, and his own conscience.

He captures young Hedley's feeling of isolation, his deep desire for inclusion and his embarrassed sexual awakening with poignant and tender accuracy.

Possibly the longest book title of all time, this is indeed the story of Hedley Hopkins, a young man who "did a dare, robbed a grave, made a new friend who might not have been there at all, and while he was at it committed a terrible sin which everyone was doing even though he didn't know it". In the author's notes, Jennings admits that this is a largely autobiographical tale that describes some of the trials and tribulations of his own childhood. He captures young Hedley's feeling of isolation, his deep desire for inclusion and his embarrassed sexual awakening with poignant and tender accuracy. How Hedley Hopkins Did a Dare..... will appeal to both younger readers and adults. The younger readers will focus on the steady stream of page-turning action that is punctuated with some truly laugh-out-loud comedic moments; while adult readers will enjoy these elements, coupled with a nostalgic journey into a 1950's childhood, filled with swap cards, British bulldog and parents who don't forewarn their children about the surprises of puberty.

The remarkably honest and personal style in which the book is written makes it an easy read.

An inspirational (if not idealistic) vision for a functioning, respectable and responsible community/nation is outlined in Senator Obama's 'The Audacity of Hope'. The remarkably honest and personal style in which the book is written makes it an easy read. Obama's views on family, faith, race, politics and international affairs are all discussed.

New Zealand writer Bernard Beckett has little time for fundamentalists of any persuasion.

New Zealand writer Bernard Beckett has little time for fundamentalists of any persuasion. In Falling for Science he promptly dismisses those of a religious bent as plain crazy before turning his attention to scientists, such as Richard Dawkins, who take scientific 'fact' and misuse it with religious fervour to support their hypothesis. A brief lesson in philosophy is also woven through the at times disjointed book.

... includes a great number of funny stories ...

How powerful are numbers? If you had enough data (eg on temperatures and rain fall), could you predict how good a wine would be before the grapes were even picked? The premise of this book is that by collecting and analysing data you are able to make better decisions than experts - even on the quality of wine. The people and companies that do such calculations are called super crunchers. According to the author, humans put far too much faith in their intuition and would often be better off listening to the numbers. Following this logic, your sports coach would be better off picking your sports team based on statistics of the players' performances over the last few years rather than just what he or she sees in the first few training sessions.

While the book does explain various statistical techniques such as regressions, randomised trials, normal distributions and standard deviations, it is still relatively easy to follow. It also includes a great number of funny stories - apparently because of the way Google works when you typed in abortion it used to ask "did you mean adoption?" Also explained are different ways companies are using stats to increase revenues such as Amazon's "people that bought A also bought B". Imagine you are a big Hollywood producer. What movie are you going to make next? One that 'feels right' to you, or one that some crank statistician says will be a winner? My bet is on the super cruncher!

A factual account of violence, drugs and death in Melbourne.

A factual account of violence, drugs and death in Melbourne. The police did not need to intervene to kill these criminals as they were murdered by their friends and associates.
The evolution of a large, strong and wealthy community built on drug money and deception which had no respect for family values, social mores or life and its subsequent self destruction is astounding.

... is a well written and concise introduction to the philosophy and practice of Buddhism.

David Michie was once a very successful Public Relations consultant. He had the car, the money, the flat in London. But something was missing; something felt hollow and he knew he wasn't happy, though he had all the trappings of a successful life.

Dealing with work stress, a friend suggested he try meditation at a local Buddhist centre. David went and what he was met with changed his outlook on life...

Buddhism for Busy People is a well written and concise introduction to the philosophy and practice of Buddhism. Michie argues that Buddhism offers the western world an opportunity to be happy by practicing meditation and cultivating inner happiness by re-structuring one's internal perspective and world. This is not really a new argument or perspective, but what Michie does is frame the ideas of Buddhism into a world view that we can more readily understand; that of the busy person. So, we have things to do and people to see and a diary that is full up (Michie knows all about a busy life) but Michie argues that with a small amount of meditation and a lot of dedication, true and lasting peace, contentment and happiness is within our reach.

The book is extremely easy to read and not at all a tedious exercise in obscure philosophy, indeed, Michie's great ability in this book is to make often profound philosophies intelligible by clear writing, examples and stories from his own experience in the corporate world. Buddhism for Busy People needn't be just for those who 'lack inner peace', it is a fascinating introduction to a philosophy and way of life that has been around for over 2000 years, too. For those who do wish to feel more contentment in life, it can be a most valuable signpost to a way of thought that can change your life.

Commander Armstrong is possibly the most famous surviving explorer.

On July 20, 1969, I sat on the floor of the hall at my primary school in Melbourne, watching Neil Armstrong, on a large oval shaped B/W Television; descend the ladder of the Lunar Module onto the Sea of Tranquility to become the first person to step on the surface of another heavenly body. A moment later, he spoke his eternally famous words: That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". He came across the idea for his statement from reading Tolkien's "The Hobbit"-in one scene in the book the protagonist Bilbo Baggins, while invisible, jumps over the villainous Gollum - "not a great leap for a man, but a leap in the dark". There was the matter of the missing "a" (man) - the fact that Neil had planned and thought he did say it but in the rush of the moment left it out, and that he admits to often leaving syllables out, but he is in hope that history will grant him leeway and understand that it was actually intended!

Hansen's biography is revelatory. Armstrong was a fighter pilot over North Korea, flew the formative trans-atmospheric flights in the X-15, the first to dock a Gemini capsule and later commanded Apollo 11. Other than his professional life, his private life, including religious belief, is explored in detail. Neil Armstrong is a complex, highly modest individual and a great but reluctant hero. His modesty is reflected by only 5 photographs taken showing Neil on the surface of the moon, including the only full body view of him-his back facing the camera- unloading equipment at the "Eagle". The only other iconic image is of his reflection in Buzz Aldrin's visor in one of the most famous photographs ever taken. With the passing of Sir Edmund Hillary (who was a friend of Neil Armstrong's), Commander Armstrong is possibly the most famous surviving explorer.

A fascinating 750 pages. Well worth a read.

... the champion boxer endured great personal anguish and an untimely death.

While less well-known to the current generation, Les Darcy was a sportsman of immense public interest in the period immediately prior to WWI. Due to his treatment at the hands of those seeking monetary gain, or political advantage upon the outbreak of war, the champion boxer endured great personal anguish and an untimely death.

Fitzsimmons' style is quite casual - almost jarringly folksy in places - despite the large number of quotations used to lend authority to his case. World and local events and key figures are presented in a sparse but effective manner. The spirit of the era is well-invoked through his references, as is the sense of injustice and impending tragedy awaiting Darcy. The author certainly leaves no doubt about his own view, but the weight of evidence does seem to lead credence to his central contention: namely, that a combination of social disapproval, imperial war fervour, political manipulation and commercial greed combined to deprive a gifted pugilist not only of his fair chance at taking a world title, but of being treated with the dignity and respect he deserved. In a sense, this is "Breaker Morant" in the boxing ring, with the perfidious Poms replaced for the most part by treacherous fellow Aussies, but the feelings outrage and loss just as intense.

A sensational book - the sort you wish would never end!

This really was one of the best reads I have had in years. It touched all the right "buttons" (to use the colloquial expression) for me. It centres on the life of a young boy, his schooling and upbringing in rural Georgia, mystery, murder, criminal investigation and his teacher recognising a gifted child. A sensational book - the sort you wish would never end!

This is a book which will both relax you and keep you guessing.

If you liked "The Da Vinci Code", you will like Paul Sussman's new book "The Last Secret of the Temple". The plot begins with a detective trying to solve a murder in Egypt and ends with a search for….well that would spoil the story wouldn't it! The novel moves quickly from Egypt to Israel and then to Palestine following 3 seemingly unrelated stories. Eventually they all become one leading to the climax of the plot. Along the way, the author deals with the history of Israel, the Middle East crisis and the relationship between Israelis and Egyptians while maintaining a fast paced plot with lots of twists and turns. This is a book which will both relax you and keep you guessing.

A cracking, fast paced, well written, well researched book ...

A cracking, fast paced, well written, well researched book that wraps an interesting fictional story around many facts (including tables, graphs and many different scientific papers) to do with the Global Warming phenomenon. The story criss-crosses the globe on the wings of a Gulfstream jet chasing cashed up and disturbingly violent eco terrorists bent on causing three massive environmental disasters. Crichton weaves a great story and leaves the reader wondering just how much of this Global Warming issue really is fact and how much is "creative statistical interpretation".

... and the fun and games unravel from there

An hilarious tale of Michael who is finding his way with his best mate, a potential girlfriend, and a new American exchange student. An incident with students from a neighbouring school leads to detention, and the fun and games unravel from there. By the end, you wish Michael existed in real life! He probably does, how closely does his personality match yours?

Niffenegger uses Henry's time travel capabilities as a vehicle to take the reader on a wild ride ...

Henry has a rare genetic condition that results in him being flung about in time between his past, present and future. Niffenegger uses Henry's time travel capabilities as a vehicle to take the reader on a wild ride, lurching back and forth in time and place as Henry's age varies from 6-43. The reader is left to put all the chaptered snippets of Henry's life into order to reveal an extraordinary story. Ultimately this a moving love story and a fascinating read.

... it serves to highlight the plight of the many thousands of children orphaned by the Sudanese crisis ...

This is the story of a young boy forced to trek across Sudan into Ethiopa to escape the horrific civil war in his own country. It is fictional, but based on the experiences suffered by many similar young boys.
Despite the subject matter, the book is not difficult to read. Incredibly, there are even moments of humour. Above all, it serves to highlight the plight of the many thousands of children orphaned by the Sudanese crisis and still suffering in refugee camps today. It is an eye-opening, gripping read.

a haunting, humorous and emotional story.

In apparently one of the first novels to deal with the 9/11 tragedy, Jonathan Safran Foer writes with a post-modern flair using multiple narrators, scrap-book photographs, coloured highlights, a variety of fonts and layout, and even blank pages to give his book a stimulating visual dimension. Oskar is a nine-year-old amateur inventor, jewellery designer, astrophysicist, tambourine player and pacifist whose father died in the World Trade Centre collapse. Oskar embarks on a quest for answers about what exactly happened to his father and why; a haunting, humorous and emotional story.

Norman Doidge, a psychologist, has written a book which I found inspiring and illuminating.

It would be fair to say that humans in general take their brains for granted and do not appreciate the potential of this incredible organ. Norman Doidge, a psychologist, has written a book which I found inspiring and illuminating. Each chapter contains many stories about real people who have been challenged by injuries, accidents, strokes and psychological problems. The stories of their incredible recoveries are used to illustrate the brain's plasticity - its changeability over time according to inputs and patterns of use. Doidge examines the implications of brain plasticity for advertising, internet and media exposure, recovery, learning, aging and brain decline. This book is moving, but also provides food for thought as far as change and realisation of potential for both society and the individual.

This book is easy to read yet at the same time thought-provoking.

Mister Pip is set in a small village on an unnamed tropical island which closely resembles 1990s Bouganville during its struggle for autonomy. As the Papua New Guinean embargo and fighting close in, all the whites leave the island, leaving Matilda and her friends without a school teacher. Mr Watts, a strange, tragi-comic figure who is married to a black woman, takes over the role. His only resource is a copy of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, which he reads to the students in segments. The story follows the relationships which build between the students and Mr Watts, the coming of rebels, Matilda's relationship with her mother and Matilda's later life. The novel explores the impact which fictional texts, and particularly their characters, can have on readers as a relationship between the two develops. The book is ambiguous in its message: while on one hand the students are enriched by the work of a canonical Western author, it is Great Expectations which leads to major violence in the village. And while the reader expects Mr Watts to become a stereotypically inspiring teacher, he ends up being honestly portrayed as lacking power, knowledge and certainty. This book is easy to read yet at the same time thought-provoking.

The fact that a party of two climbers was to attempt this, among the most difficult of climbs, was remarkable and seen by some at the time as foolhardy.

In 1978 two English climbers, Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker, ascended the west wall of Changabang, a mountain in the Everest Range which is not as tall as Mt Everest (of course!) but is characterised by sheer granite faces, especially to the west. The fact that a party of two climbers was to attempt this, among the most difficult of climbs, was remarkable and seen by some at the time as foolhardy. The two men did not find it easy but triumphed after a number of setbacks, the recounting of which was, for me, a gripping read. I am not a rock-climber but found the descriptions, from the men's training in the local meatworks freezer to the designing of hammocks which could be slept in whilst suspended from an almost vertical face by a single 8mm cord, quite fascinating.

I found this approach refreshingly different. It's a moving and very engaging read.

It's a biography of 6 women significant during the French Revolution. They ranged from women living in poverty who became activists for women's rights, to noblewomen who supported the revolution for intellectual reasons and had to flee. Even though I've read a good deal about the revolution, I found this approach refreshingly different. It's a moving and very engaging read.

His subsequent fall from grace underscores a human tragedy from which arguably all Australians are still suffering.

Grenville's historical novel about the impact on indigenous culture of white settlement in early colonial New South Wales, displays a humane concern for those caught on both sides of the ensuing cultural conflict. It centres around the experiences of the proud, but poverty stricken William Thornhill who, along with his equally determined wife, Sal rises to prominence through hard work and astute business sense on the Hawkesbury River. His subsequent fall from grace underscores a human tragedy from which arguably all Australians are still suffering.

told with irreverent humour, aided by a cast of pompous, hilarious, or wicked characters worthy of Dickens himself.

This is the delightful story of the delivery of a seal pup to a woman of meagre circumstances in the colourful environment of Van Dieman's Land in 1821. Sarah Dyer hardly seems phased by her unusual progeny, and quickly finds a way to make a profit out of her entertaining 'Arthur'. Her plans go awry when the pup is stolen, and the tale of his recovery is told with irreverent humour, aided by a cast of pompous, hilarious, or wicked characters worthy of Dickens himself.

Fantastic read- thoroughly enjoyable - could not put it down.

If you like English History you will love this book! Two queens competing for dominance and neither giving in to their principles or need for freedom. Mary Queens of Scots in flight from the rebels in Scotland and her cousin Elizabeth I promise of sanctuary. Fantastic read- thoroughly enjoyable - could not put it down. Very well written and she brings the sights, smells and characters to life of 16th century England.

This book is rightly regarded as a seminal account of the early years of UFOology

Drawing to a considerable extent on declassified government documents Richard Dolan traces the official reaction to the first thirty years of the modern UFO phenomenon. Whilst publicly ridiculing the existence of Flying Saucers Dolan shows that the US military were in fact expending considerable resources investigating that very thing. The book provides a solid coverage of many events including the Roswell affair, MJ-12, Project Blue Book and the notorious "swamp gas" remarks by Allen Hyneck, together with details of the untimely and somewhat suspicious deaths of a number of leading personalities in the UFO community. The sheer scale of unexplained phenomena described in the book leaves the reader in no doubt that something not particularly pleasant is occurring in our reality perhaps somewhat akin to the experience of the peoples of the new world when contacted by the more technologically advanced European civilization. The well documented fate of the natives of the Americas and elsewhere should give everyone considerable food for thought. This book is rightly regarded as a seminal account of the early years of UFOology and is virtually a must read for anyone interested in this area.

... for those with an abiding interest in the unknown ...

The Wave was originally published online and is now available as a four book series. Whereas Richard Dolan takes a decidedly pragmatic approach to unexplained phenomena, Laura Knight-Jadczyk draws on a variety of personal experiences, religious texts and metaphysical sources including her own channelled material together with a scientific perspective provided by husband and physicist Arkadiusz Jadczyk. The authors premise is that major changes are underway on earth and in and around our solar system and the phenomena effecting these transformations is referred to as The Wave. The series covers an extremely broad scope and investigates issues relating to the origins of humanity, current anomalous phenomena, the changes we can expect and what these mean for the future of the human race as a whole. The Wave is not for everyone and those convinced that no reality exists beyond that we experience with our five senses will find the subject matter overly challenging. However for those with an abiding interest in the unknown or at least prepared to approach the subject with an open mind The Wave provides a truly fascinating experience.

describes his quest to discover where his five pack of "made in China" underpants in the NZ supermarket come from.

Joe Bennett is a New Zealand author. He was previously an English Master at Christ's College, Christchurch, New Zealand ( rather similar to Melbourne Grammar - an Anglican Boys' Boarding School. He also writes a column for the Christchurch Press - the daily newspaper for Christchurch. He has written a number of books which have been very successful. His latest book is a real hoot - describes his quest to discover where his five pack of "made in China" underpants in the NZ supermarket come from. He is intrigued to know how anyone can produce garments so far away and make any money out of it at all. He goes to Shanghai then to the remote cotton fields of Xingjiang province on the border with Afghanistan. Along the way he discovers how global trade works and the history underlying the Chinese economic renaissance, a renaissance that is rapidly elevating China to the status of world economic superpower. He also grapples with chopsticks, as well as his own prejudices, and marvels at the contrasts in one of the world's oldest, but fastest changing societies. It is an easy and enjoyable read.

If you've ever had a great idea for a business why not read this book and see how one man turned his idea into an absolute fortune.

No, I haven't been reading self help books, in fact 'Losing My Virginity' is the title of Richard Branson's autobiography. I don't normally read biographies but this was very entertaining. The book starts off with how Branson and a few friends started the record label Virgin. As a music fan, he was shocked to hear that the recording studios of the big record labels were so fully booked that A list bands like the Rolling Stones were being forced to record their music at eight o'clock in the morning. As a smart, young entrepreneur, he bought a large house just outside of London and converted some of the rooms into studios. He then invited different bands to come out and stay at the house for weeks on end and record their music at any time they pleased. As you can imagine the sex, drugs and rock and roll that were going on in that house lead to some pretty interesting stories. The book goes on to cover how Branson got into other industries such as airlines, credit cards and cola drinks. If you've ever had a great idea for a business why not read this book and see how one man turned his idea into an absolute fortune.

It is a fine example of American Literature with simple, clear yet evocative prose

This is a self contained novel that chronicles the life of Huckleberry Finn's father. It is a fine example of American Literature with simple, clear yet evocative prose that matches the novel's setting on the Mississippi River. The central character, Finn is simple and quite base. Finn, as a consequence of his lack of thought and compassion, acts out a number of dark deeds. The novel chronicles these without moralizing. Highly Recommended Reading!

It is moving to read of the hardship endured by these females in a male dominated society amid the distress of war.

This well written book tells the story of 2 women who endure the conflicts in Afghanistan through the fall of the monarchy (1973) until after the Taliban rule. Their individual tales are related separately and then the two lives come together to share the final section of the book. It is moving to read of the hardship endured by these females in a male dominated society amid the distress of war. It is easy to empathise with the main characters and through them gain an understanding of what it was like for the residents of Afghanistan, giving the reader an insight into victims of the recent turmoil.

The nobility of the human spirit ascends above a less than ideal world.

The story runs from 1933 in a Bulgarian village along the Danube to Moscow to Spain to Paris to the Alsace and back down the Danube to the Black Sea. A young Bulgarian observes the rise of fascism is recruited to the NKVD trains a s a spy is assigned to the communist 'volunteers' in the Spanish Civil War is betrayed and escapes to Paris is betrayed and imprisoned is released and escapes to the Vosges becomes a partisan and is betrayed again escapes and journeys down the Danube to try to save and old friend deep in Soviet controlled Eastern Europe … is saved by an old friend. The nobility of the human spirit ascends above a less than ideal world. Noir, Noir, Noir!

A great read for fans of, dare I say it, "chick-lit".

The author of the Devil Wears Prada has come up with a trio of new characters, all living in Manhattan and trying to juggle careers, family and relationships. Leigh is a book editor for a prestigious publishing house, Emmy is in the restaurant business and Adriana has never worked in her life, living off her wealthy parents and her looks. Having worked and played hard throughout their twenties, the prospect of turning 30 awakens them to the fact that maybe their lives aren't so perfect after all. A pact is made and they have exactly twelve months to face their biggest challenges and drastically turn their lives around. A great read for fans of, dare I say it, "chick-lit".

This is a superb book, both funny and dark and is one of the best books I have read this year.

Native American Indian Sherman Alexie, presents a troubled hero who has been in and out of foster homes all his life. He is about to commit a terrible act of violence when at the crucial moment he is shot back through time. The speed with which this unusual story unfolds is breath-taking as 'zits' is transported to the Battle of Little Bighorn, the Civil Rights marches and other critical times in history. Right at the moment of terrible violence being committed he is moved to another scenario. These journeys seem to be saving 'zits' from himself. This is a superb book, both funny and dark and is one of the best books I have read this year.

An insightful and immensely enjoyable celebration of the world of Phillip Pullman.

This was a timely read for this Philip Pullman fan, with the Sally Lockhart series on the ABC and renewed interest in His Dark Materials with the release of "The Golden Compass' last year. Nicholas Tucker guides the reader through the major influences in Pullman's life and writings and introduces us to the recurring themes of science and religion in his books. An insightful and immensely enjoyable celebration of the world of Phillip Pullman.

This book has it all - adventure, action, drama, history, humour and a satisfying ending. Boys will love it!

Fourteen year old John Jacob Turnstile is a convicted pickpocket and instead of going to prison is co-opted to be the cabin boy for Capt William Bligh on "The Bounty". John Boyne's research is meticulous as our narrator Turnstile takes us through the voyage to Tahiti, the temptations in this tropical paradise and the subsequent mutiny led by Fletcher Christian, who is portrayed as an 'egocentric dandy' and is the villain in this tale. As Bligh and those loyal to him head off on the perilous return journey we see Capt Bligh in quite a different light to so many other versions of this story. To the narrator Turnstile, it is Bligh's heroism and leadership that save all but one of the 19 men who choose to go with their Captain and face the improbable odds of survival. This book has it all - adventure, action, drama, history, humour and a satisfying ending. Boys will love it!

A wonderful literary masterpiece!

If you are a reader who enjoys philosophical books this is a book for you. My name is Red is set in Istanbul in the 16th century. A commission is established by the Sultan to create one of the greatest manuscripts reflecting the glory of the Sultan's time. But the manuscript has to be created in a European style, using figurative art which is a dangerous challenge for the commission. A miniaturist disappears and the only clues to the mystery lie in the half-finished illuminations. I followed the story eager to get to the end and reveal the mystery. A wonderful literary masterpiece!

Winton's evocative language creates a sense of time and place

In his latest novel Breath, Tim Winton returns to Angelus, the fictional area in coastal south Western Australia. The setting is a small logging town on the coast and the time is the1970's. The novel's main character, Pikelet, is a young surfer devoted to riding the waves. One summer he and his mate Loonie meet the charismatic Sando who introduces the boys to a series of secret breaks with more and more improbable waves. Winton's evocative language creates a sense of time and place--the surfing culture and a young man's risk-taking during his transition to manhood, that is immediate. Highly recommended.

The narrator of this debut novel by teen author Daphne Grab will win you over with her acerbic wit and New York superiority complex.

Teenage Matisse thinks she has woken up on the set of Oklahoma! when her parents seek refuge for her ailing father in a small town in upstate New York. Her opinion of Prague is confirmed when her art teacher extols the virtues of her namesake's paintings of haystacks and water lilies. Unable to come to terms with hayrides and apple picking or her father's debilitating Parkinson 's disease, Matisse clings stubbornly to her vintage Jackie-O wardrobe and opts for rugelach over cafeteria lunches until her mother plans a birthday party that defies even her Houdini-like powers of escape. The narrator of this debut novel by teen author Daphne Grab will win you over with her acerbic wit and New York superiority complex. A great read at any age.

Border Crossing follows a psychologist who specialises in minors who commit atrocious crimes.

I was eager to read Border Crossing after having read Barker's Regeneration trilogy about Siegfried Sassoon (who suffered from shell-shock), his psychologist Rivers (who becomes something of a father figure for the soldiers) and other soldiers in World War One. Border Crossing follows a psychologist who specialises in minors who commit atrocious crimes. He becomes reacquainted with a man he first met as a 10-year old and who has just finished serving a sentence for a murder he committed at that age. The young man wants the psychologist to help him work out why he committed his crime. Both texts explore psychologist/patient relationships, paying particular attention to the way that the psychologist's weaknesses also become apparent through the process. Barker (female) creates believable male voices and explores the role that memory and the sharing of memories plays in shaping what we believe about ourselves and others. However, this text lacks the poetic style of the Regeneration texts, and, while it is engaging and interesting, I felt it ended weakly.

Possibly the author's best work, if you like odd-ball characters and twisting plots.

Possibly the author's best work, if you like odd-ball characters and twisting plots. A brick-layer with a past becomes involved in a murder mystery when he meets a stranger in a bar at the end of the day. They talk before it becomes clear to 'the good guy' that the stranger is an assassin, hired to execute a third party. Once involved, the good guy decides to help the victim survive but, first, he must find her. Excellent holiday reading.

O'Neill's novel is set in New York post 9/11 and it is memorably poignant, witty and elegantly written elegy to that magnificent and complex city.

Imagine a sparkling cocktail where you mix The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye and Saul Bellow's Seize the Day. You can call this refreshingly unique pool-side elixir, Netherland. O'Neill's novel is set in New York post 9/11 and it is memorably poignant, witty and elegantly written elegy to that magnificent and complex city. It is also a captivating and moving paean to love, friendship and community, all filtered through the central character (Jan's) various experiences of exile and dislocation. It is by far the best novel I have read in 08.

A rather gratuitously gruesome, gritty and predictable tale unfolds ...

A novel of the "sword and sandals" genre, "Centurion" follows the trials and tribulations of two Roman generals, Cato and Macro, who are dispatched to the kingdom of Palmyra to quell revolt and deliver the city from Parthian invasion. A rather gratuitously gruesome, gritty and predictable tale unfolds with the outnumbered Romans triumphing against overwhelming odds. If you enjoy reading very detailed accounts of Roman battles or simply love all things ancient and Roman there will surely be something in "Centurion" to please.

The novel leaves as many questions as it resolves

Kafka on the Shore tells the story of two characters, young Tamura who runs away from home at fifteen and the simple-minded Nakata who has never recovered from a strange accident in his childhood. Their parallel quests are filled with extraordinary characters and events: a murder riddle, raining fish, soldiers lost from WWII in a secret forest, conversations with cats; to create a novel that is completely engrossing. The novel leaves as many questions as it resolves and is highly recommended.

it paints a bleak but interesting picture of a breakaway community run by rebellious women.

Sarah Hall is a highly imaginative writer. Having read her exotic 2004 novel Electric Michelangelo, I was keen to delve into The Carhullan Army during the holidays. Set in a dystopic future where all women are forced by the 'Authority' to have contraceptives inserted, it paints a bleak but interesting picture of a breakaway community run by rebellious women. 'Sister' escapes to this community and after a gruelling test of endurance and commitment is accepted into their spartan way of life. The novel raises questions about the desire and ability of women to survive in a harsh environment without the aid of men or technology, the degree to which one person should be invested with power, and the moral right to use violence if the end result benefits many. I am now reading Patrick Ness's YA novel about a dystopic futuristic town in which all the women and girls have been killed off by a virus…or have they? Is there something in the air inspiring authors to write about single sex societies?

... a physical and emotional journey with some self-discovery along the way.

The story of a young woman living in rather dire circumstances - finding next to nothing in her pantry she goes to the corner shop to buy something - only to collapse and be taken to hospital… there begins a physical and emotional journey with some self-discovery along the way. It turns out it is not just a fainting spell or hunger that has caused it, but tuberculosis. This book is easy to read and has glimpses of healthy humour and insight.

This book is wonderfully written and historically accurate

A fascinating insight into the early life of Josephine Bonaparte. At the age of eight a witch doctor of her town predicted she would marry twice and be a future Queen. Would the destiny be fulfilled? This book is wonderfully written and historically accurate in many of the occurrences in her life. A highly recommended novel that is very addictive.

For 6 months they shared one cup, one axe, a knife and an amazing desire for freedom.

An account of a trek to freedom by 7 political prisoners. They master minded an escape from a Siberian prisoner of war camp and walked to safety in India. Four men survived this journey through snow, desert, mountains and rivers. For 6 months they shared one cup, one axe, a knife and an amazing desire for freedom. The hardship of the conditions they endured contrasted with the kindness they received from people they encountered along the way.

... presents a creatively mapped exploration of religious intolerance that continues to shake our world today.

Parallel narratives follow clues extracted from the pages of an ancient Jewish text illustrated in the manner of Christian prayer book and rescued twice by Muslim librarians in Kosovo. The book's story, from its creation to concealment, from Spain to Venice during the Inquisition, to war torn Sarajevo in the 1940's via syphilis-ridden Vienna in the 19th century, presents a creatively mapped exploration of religious intolerance that continues to shake our world today. It seems more hastily crafted than some of her other work and a few may find it a bit didactic at times.

Worth a read!

A fascinating novel about the life of a half-caste Chinese man living in Penang who befriended a Japanese man who actually turned out to be a spy. All the time through the friendship the Japanese man was like a mentor to the half-caste and eventually the Japanese invaded Malaysia and Singapore through the help of the information given to the Japanese man. The half-caste Chinese man was rebuffed by family and friends as he was torn between these relationships. Worth a read!