What do we want for our children other than a lifetime of health? Confidence and happiness, of course. As parents, it's probably all we could ever wish for, most especially because these two elements … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Chase by Samantha Brett
The Chase is a fast paced, entertaining book, which purports to tell you ‘Everything you need to know about men, dating and sex,’ from ‘Australia’s Number 1 sex, dating and relationships columnist,’ … [Read more...]
Some Girls Do: Australian women writers share the story of their teenage years
Your teenage years are a roller coaster ride of hormones and uncertainty - a time when you know everything and nothing; a time when you are waiting for life to begin. The 51 short pieces in Some Girls … [Read more...]
Young Adult Fiction Review: Gamers’ Quest
Although I love young adult and teen fiction, I must admit, it was a stretch for me to open the cover of Gamers’ Quest, a novel featuring computer-generated artwork on its cover. I ain’t a gamer and I … [Read more...]
Book Review: Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
It's no wonder Eat Pray Love created a world-wide phenomenon in book sales (and simultaneous world-wide gasping in recognition). The book was really good. Even though I've not been through a … [Read more...]
Book Review: How to Make Money on eBay
My first ever eBay find was a duo of Coles Funny Picture books – and I’ll never forget staring at the eBay screen in wonder and elation when I found these titles after a totally unexpectant search for … [Read more...]
Book Review: I Lost My Mobile at the Mall
I honestly think author Wendy Harmer could turn her hand to any genre of writing, so delectable is her style - so honest, raw, contemporary, full of the delectable wit she's famous for - and stacked … [Read more...]
Book of the Month: The Women in Black by Madeleine St John
Our Book of the Month for February 2010 is 'The Women in Black' by Madeleine St John. Join our Book Club moderator, Barbara Sungaila, when we discuss this book at the Book Club forum at AWO Connect, … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Little Book of Australia
Having only just celebrated yet another gee-they-get-bigger-every-year Australia Day, it was timely to peruse this new little home-grown tome during a hefty fireworks/pavlova hangover. A compilation … [Read more...]
Book Review: I Know How to Cook
One of my greatest culinary desires is to own Julia Child's iconic cooking collection, along with that of Margaret Fulton, Nigella Lawson, Stephanie Alexander, Maggie Beer and Martha Stewart. I've … [Read more...]
Book Review: Princess Party Cookbook
Not being a overtly ‘pink’ mother of a nine-year-old daughter, I’m ever skeptical of anything ‘princess’, unless it’s done a little tongue-in-cheek or with extreme originality. It was with a smidgen … [Read more...]
Book Review: No Impact Man – Saving the Planet One Family at a Time
When Colin Beavan woke on Day One of his family's year-long attempt to have zero effect on the environment, he grabbed some paper towel and blew his dribbling schnoz on it. Not the best start in a … [Read more...]
Book Review: Belle De Jour’s Guide to Men (This review is rated M)
If you're going to trust anyone with your man-hunting issues, you most certainly want to rely on advice from someone who sounds like they know what they're doing. 'Skanky Sally Slapper' or … [Read more...]
Book Review: Handling Edna? Possums, It’s Scandalous!
If I was famous and someone asked me to name my top five dinner guests – I know I’d have a problem answering. Not because I can’t nominate five people but because I’ve never been able to settle for … [Read more...]
Book Review: How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World
Working as a music publicist in the US, author Jordan Christy has probably witnessed an endless parade of floozy fashion built into the mega marketing machine of music video. Indeed, she could well … [Read more...]
Book Review: Masterchef – The Cookbook
MasterChef Australia: The Cookbook Volume 1 is the best-selling book in Australia after its first full week on sale, making it the fastest selling illustrated cookbook opening week ever recorded on … [Read more...]
Book Review: Friendship Family Love & Laughter
If friendship, family, love and laughter aren't consciously placed at the top of your Christmas Wish List, you may well have your head blindly implanted in the stress of the pre-Christmas rush, … [Read more...]
Book Review: Slow Journeys – The pleasures of travelling by foot
There seems to be something curious happening to the book industry of late. From books on slow cooking to yoga and meditation and tomes on finding calm and balance in our lives, could it be possible … [Read more...]
Book Review: Buon Ricordo – How to Make Your Home a Great Restaurant
It's probably a no brainer that if you're going to make your home into a great restaurant, you'd be heavily influenced by the type of cuisine that epitomises the very core of family-based cooking - … [Read more...]
Book Review: Wonders of a Godless World
Finally, a book that isn't afraid to take ugly and make it beautiful. From the opening pages of Andrew McGahan's latest fictional offering, we are bombarded with the dichotomy - and parallels - … [Read more...]
Book Review: Parlour Games for Modern Families
Many’s the evening in a suburban Australian home when Mum is watching Masterchef in the living room, Dad is whooping it up in front of the soccer in the family room, and the kids are variously … [Read more...]
Book Review: Who Do You Want to Be Today?
I have a secret. I want to be Trinny Woodall. I have a girl crush, yes I do – and it’s Trinny. Love her style, love her voice, love her elegance, frankness, energy and candour. Coupled with the … [Read more...]
Book Review: Buddhism for Mothers of SchoolChildren by Sarah Napthali
Being a big reader of books on psychology and the inner workings of the human mind and heart, there has been many a book on my adult reading journey that’s brought me an ‘aha!’ moment or two. Few … [Read more...]
Book Review: Wildflower by Mark Seal
The front cover of Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa, shows a supermodel in a 1950s frock, holding a milk bottle and being nuzzled by a baby elephant. At first, I thought … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
It’s always a little dangerous to read something that’s been lauded by the press and even more dangerous when the author has been pegged as the next big thing in contemporary fiction. It’s dangerous … [Read more...]
Teen Fiction: Third Transmission by Jack Heath
Wow. I started writing this review after my first chapter of Third Transmission, and I was so gobsmacked, all I ended up writing was ‘wow’. Several chapters later and now at the end of this … [Read more...]
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages
Having voraciously read all the Harry Potter books, I must admit it didn’t even dawn on me to pick up a copy of the companion novelettes – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through … [Read more...]
The Towering World of Jimmy Choo: A Story of Power, Profits and the Pursuit of the Perfect Shoe
What is it about women and shoes? Especially glamour puss shoes with sky-high heels, sexy straps and bling? And, with the continued rise and rise of luxury brands across the globe, price and … [Read more...]
Children’s Book Review: A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris
“…What happens if your sixth-grade science teacher is also your immortal enemy..?” I must admit, I’m a little bit chicken. Part lioness, part monkey, part chicken. I’ve watched legions of fans devour … [Read more...]
The Real Man’s Tool Box: A DIY Health Manual for Men
Released in time for Fathers Day, The Real Man's Tool Box by Tammy Farrell is the most important book your husband, father, brother, son, or male friend, will read all year. In May 2009, the Senate's … [Read more...]
Beatle Meets Destiny – A book for teens and the teenager in all of us
Beatle Meets Destiny is the first young adult novel from former advertising copy writer and author of Two Canadian Clubs and Dry at the Martini Den, Gabrielle Williams (pictured). Set in Melbourne, … [Read more...]
Book Review: La’s Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith
“…The strutting demagogue, with his insane shouting, had fixed his eyes on them, and he was coming…” This line, in chapter eleven of Alexander McCall Smith’s latest novel, terrified me. Why? Who was … [Read more...]
Book Review: Women & Money by Suze Orman
Known throughout the United States as 'The Money Lady', Suze Orman is the author of nine best selling books on the subject. Named by Time Magazine in 2008 as one of the '100 Most Influentional … [Read more...]
Children’s Book Review: Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool by Odo Hirsch
It’s just so glorious to read a magical story that’s not steeped in the stereotypical fairies, wizards, goblins or mysteriously shifting worlds that appear in the blink of an eye or through some … [Read more...]
Children’s Book Review: Cicada Summer by Kate Constable
The dreamlike opening of Cicada Summer was a little painful to read. Having lost my mother far too many years ago, it was a little heartbreaking to realise, within moments of opening this junior … [Read more...]
Childrens Book Review: Angel Cake by Cathy Cassidy
It’s been a very long time since I’ve read a young fiction novel. So long, in fact, that when I finished reading Angel Cake by British author Cathy Cassidy, I felt thirteen again. Really. It was like … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The first thing that happened when I started reading The Help was that a teensy bit of voice escaped from my lips. A vocal gasp. The second thing that happened was an ear-to-ear grin, followed closely … [Read more...]
Children’s Book Review: Ever Clever Eva by Andrew Fusek Peters
Ever Clever Eva by Andrew Fusek Peter is the latest in The White Wolves series of books, published by A&C Black, London, are a brilliant collection of readers featuring three styles of story – … [Read more...]
Book of the Month: Breath by Tim Winton
Tim Winton’s latest novel, Breath, takes its first gasping breath in a fast-moving scene, flush with speed and emotion, and loaded with question marks. Written in the first-person, present-tense – … [Read more...]
Essentially Erica Bauermeister: Master of Edible Fiction
Ah, La Dolce Vita. The sweet life of a successful author. Erica Bauermeister’s first fiction novel, The School of Essential Ingredients, may still be fresh on the shelves but this tantalising novel … [Read more...]
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