Book Reviews

Proud to be an Aussie

Traditional Australian Verse is a timely reminder of the emotion and conviction that Australia as a nation is built upon. The verse of Henry Lawson and Adam Lindsay Gordon used to be commonplace in Australian households, with each member of the family able to recite a paragraph quicker than you could say “Triantiwontigongolope”. Sadly, as television and popular culture has become more accessible, youngster are more likely to be able to recite the cast of an American television show than the words to “The road to Gundagai”.

This need no longer be the case in your household. Richard Walsh has edited a collection of some of the most popular Australian verse, guaranteed to get the blood pumping and the memories flooding back.

There are also many myths surrounding the great Aussie bards, Banjo Paterson, Henry Lawson, John O’Brien and CJ Dennis. Chapters dedicated to each one outlines the lives of the greats and how our favourite verses came to be.

If you love being Australian, you’ll love this book.

Richard Walsh
Allen & Unwin
RRP: $29.99

Making money

It may be the eighth edition of the bestselling financial bible but Paul Clitheroe’s guide to the keys of financial success has never been more relevant.

Being involved in the financial industry for over 30 years, Paul Clitheroe has seen many markets booms and busts. Making Money : Sound financial advice for tough times, is full of sensible financial advice for all, from the teenager with his first job to the retiree looking to fund their lifestyle. Reissued to take into account the repercussions in Australia of the current global financial crisis, it explains why the keys to financial success are more relevant than ever.

Written in easy-to-understand language, Making Money explains how the key to making money is not how much you earn but how much you save. Each individual chapter addresses a financial issue that we think about often but seldom do anything about, such as:
· How to maximise your tax benefits?
· Should I buy an investment property?
· Do I have adequate life insurance?
· When should I make a will? and
· How do I get back on my feet after divorce?

Whether you’re a novice or experienced investor, make the most of your hard-earned dollars.

Stop procrastinating and take control of your financial future.

Paul Clitheroe
RRP: $35.00
Penguin

Geoff on God

Amongst the plethora of new titles, on every subject under the sun, appearing daily in your favourite bookshop, ever so occasionally there’s something a little bit different.

Geoffrey Holt’s deceptively slim volume, Goodbye Old God is one such. This clever and memorable title, which could emblazon the front cover of a book on any subject, is perhaps better defined by the subtitle New refreshments for tired and thirsty spirits. What a wonderful and timely offering for these physically and spiritually drought-stricken and frustrating times.

Geoff is a thinker and he thinks outside the conventional square. He also speaks, and writes, from a well-qualified background. In his 60s, he’s crammed a great deal into those years; numerous work incarnations including his current role running a successful advertising agency. He’s also a lay-preacher and scholar of divinity. So you could accurately describe Geoff as being very familiar with both mammon and God!

The book is also refreshingly original in its structure. No chapters, just “readings”, 70 of them! But despair not; they average only 2-3 pages each, of large, clear type with wide-open leading – ideal for tackling in small manageable “bites”. Each of these “readings” poses an eternal question and is based on a bible passage from either the Old or New Testament. But, again don’t be deterred. Because the questions relate to the eternal “human condition” they are contemporary. Geoff has set out to provoke his reader into a more thoughtful, deeper consideration of life today.

His constant theme of the “mystery paradigm” is a clever, original thread which will ensure you read all 282 pages. Hopefully, your thirsty spirit will then be, at least, partially slaked!

Geoffrey Holt
Leonard Publishing Pty Ltd
RRP: $22.95

If you would like to purchase Goodbye old God, visit www.goodbyeoldgod.com.

Age no barrier to exercise

Being over 60 is by no means old but sadly, our bodies need a little more care and attention the older we get.

Actively Ageing is a simple, step-by-step exercise program to help those over 60 stay fit and healthy – safely! Devised by Alison Ford – B.Phty. QLD, who, after being laid up with a broken hip, realised the need for a tailored exercise program for those less mobile.

The workbook details simple-to-follow routines, which are designed to be short, yet effective, and are also demonstrated on an accompanying DVD. All exercises focus on improving the strength and flexibility of joints and muscles that weaken with age, and will help improve core strength – minimising the negative impact of getting older.

As with any exercise program, it is important that you consult your general practitioner but with Actively Ageing devised specifically for older bodies – you should be good to go!

Keep fit and flexible.

Alison Ford, B.Pthy. QLD
www.activelyageing.com
RRP: $65.00

Purchase Actively Ageing at a special YOURLifeChoices discount.

November’s favourite books

If you’re looking for a gift idea or something to fill in your day, YOURLifeChoices have three books which may fit the bill.

Sex, drugs ‘n’ rock ‘n’ roll
One of life’s great mysteries is how Rolling Stone guitarist, Keith Richards, is still alive and functioning. Perhaps not best known for his words of wisdom, his musing will at least give you a laugh.

What would Keith Richards do? looks at the colourful life of this rock ‘n’ roll survivor through the cryptic quotes he spouts during interviews. And if you’re looking for some guidance on how to deal with live trials and tribulations, then look no further than the wisdom of Keith!

When faced with adversity, much of it of his own making, Keith Richards has picked himself up, dusted himself down and, more often than not, imbibed a few mind altering substances, and this would explain a lot.

Keith is one of life’s more colourful characters, with his unflappable demeanour and refusal to conform even as he ages. He is an enigma of his own making but above all else, he is a very funny man, whether he means to be or not!

One for fans of rock ‘n’ roll.

Jessica Pallington West
Allen and Unwin
RRP: $19.99

To find out more information or purchase the book, visit YOURLifeChoices Bookshop.

Tough love
With the fall of the Taliban came a whole new genre of books, with people finally being able to tell how terrible life had been under the fascist regime. But even in harsh times, love can blossom.

Born under a million shadows tells the tale of a forbidden love between and Englishwomen and a Kabul Warlord through the eyes of eleven-year old Fawad. As a UK journalist covering the fall of the Taliban, author, Andrea Busfield, witnessed first hand the terrors faced by the people of Afghanistan but fell in love with the country enough to make her life there.

In his short life, Fawad has known no regime other than the Taliban and has seen first hand the terror they brought to his country. His father and brother were killed, his sister abducted and Fawad and his mother, Mariya, survive thanks only to the charity of others.

When his mother finds a job as a housekeeper for a western woman, Georgie, Fawad dares to hope that their miserable existence is a bout to take a run for the better. Fawad is enraptured by charismatic Georgie and is horrified to discover that she is romantically involved with the powerful Afghan warlord, Haji Khan.

Initially resentful of this other man’s presence in Georgie’s life, Fawad is surprised to learn that love can lead even the most evil of men to perform great acts of kindness. Sadly, Fawad soon discovers that his new found charmed life cannot protect him from tragedy.

Lovers of The Kite Runner will find Born Under a Million Shadows hard to put down.

Andrea Busfield
Random House
RRP:$32.95

To find out more information or purchase the book, visit YOURLifeChoices Bookshop.

Cook for those you love
With Christmas just around the corner, bookshops are filling up with the latest offerings for budding chefs but how do you choose the right one?

Rachael Grisewood started cooking for those she loved and carries this on in Manna from Heaven, a now thriving business and book of the same name. While living in a North Bondi apartment, Rachael made tray after tray of Chocolate Crunch, which her friend sold from the back of an old Volkswagen. So popular were these chocolate treats that a business was born and Manna from Heaven products can now be found in David Jones and Coles, as well as gracing the tea trays of Qantas First and Business class passengers.

Manna from Heaven tells the tale of family, friends and food, the love of which is the reason Rachael does what she does and very well indeed. Interspersed with her favourite recipes, this is a cook book worth buying for one you love or putting on your own Christmas wish list.

If you love food, you’ll love this book.

Rachael Grisewood
Allen & Unwin
RRP:$59.95
To find out more information or purchase the book, visit YOURLifeChoices Bookshop.

Evolution of language

With the evolution of the world comes the need to create a new vocabulary. Keeping up-to-date with new words and phrases is made easier thanks to the fifth edition of the Macquarie Dictionary.

First published in 1981 when Malcolm Fraser was Prime Minister and Puberty Blues hit the big screen, the Macquarie Dictionary has kept Australians up-to-date with changing vernacular and adjudicated in disputes between the old and new language.

Published on 27 October 2009, the fifth edition of Macquarie Dictionary has a green-feel to it, reflecting the shift in the world view on climate change and the environment.

Don’t worry if you don’t have the energy to carry this hefty tome around, a free e-book version is included when you purchase the print version.

E-book version can be purchased from macquariedictionary.com.au for $34.95

Pan Macmillan Australia
RRP: $129.95

Free fun for all the family

Remember how you cringed at your father miming his charade when you were a child? With no-cost parlour games for all the family, now is the time to switch off the television.

Parlour games for modern families revisits a favourite way of passing time for many people throughout the years. With the invention of television, computers and games consoles, it’s easy to forget how much fun you could have watching others make fools of themselves, all in a good natured way of course. Myfanwy Jones and Spiri Tsintziras give a modern twist to games that are sure to become future favourites for the younger generation.

NNeeding nothing more than dice, paper and pens, a deck of cards and everyday items found around the home, Parlour games for modern families will not only keep the kids amused for hours, it will also help exercise their imaginations.

Ditch those power cords and reconnect with the family.

Myfanwy Jones and Spiri Tsintziras
Scribe
RRP: $35.00

Find out more and buy at 10% off!

Aussie verse for kids

When something that is written for children makes an adult laugh out loud, you know you’re on to a winner.

Big book of verse for Aussie kids is a must for any parent or grandparent hoping to open up the minds of the children they care about the most. Jim Haynes has carefully selected classic pieces of verse that will appeal to younger minds, and hopefully get them hooked.

Children’s minds are like sponges and most are eager to devour information but sadly, the art of picking up a book and reading is becoming less appealing to children surrounded by technology. The danger is that the writings of great authors such as Rudyard Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson and Lewis Carroll will be lost to future generations.

The beauty of Big book of verse for Aussie kidsis the bite-sized offerings which means children can pick up this book when they have a few short moments, enjoy some funny tales and move on.

Great for keeping children’s minds active.

RRP $29.99

Buy it now at 10% discount online.

Save It

Over the years many of us have gathered together handy tips for saving a few dollars here and there. But are there some you haven’t considered?

Esta Hammond has gathered together top tips for saving money and reaching your financial goal in Save it: Easy ways to save money.

Some of our favourite tips are:

1. Buy from your local TAFE – they train butchers and bakers and sell the practice produce. There will be nothing wrong with it and the price will be less than going to the shops
2. If you’re looking for a new item of furniture, ask if you can buy the display stock. Not only will it be cheaper it will also come assembled.
3. If you have a fridge with a reversible door and the seal is starting to go, try changing the door around to the other side to give the seal a longer life.
4. Use milk that has turned as an alternative to insecticide.
5. Dissolve ordinary sugar in a spray bottle with water to use as a hairspray.

Esta’s book will be on sale from mid November. For more information, visit www.easywaystosavemoney.com.au

Esta Hammond
Palmer Higgs Books
RRP: TBA

Good reading for gardeners

What better occupation for a spring afternoon than catching up on your armchair gardening? Teena Crawford shares some of her favourite reads.

There are books available on every gardening topic imaginable, but let’s start with garden design. Garden design books are often lavishly illustrated, with words and pictures combining to inspire and extend your own ideas, helping you to create your own beautiful space to enjoy.

Budding designers will enjoy reading Bold Romantic Gardens, written by two adventurous American landscape architects, Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden. This glorious picture book shows how the authors combine horticulture and architecture to make inspirational gardens with year-round appeal. It details the development of more than 30 gardens from initial design brief to the end result; includes technical aspects such as how to construct ponds, steps and fences; and concludes with an illustrated glossary of the authors’ favourite plants. Even if creating gardens is not for you, the book provides a fascinating insight into some of the best gardens in America.

Paul Bangay is a renowned garden designer based in Melbourne. In a career spanning more than 20 years, he has designed small courtyards, grand city landscapes and country gardens throughout Australia and the world. His latest book, Paul Bangay’s Garden Design Handbook, empowers readers to create gardens that are both easy to live in and places of beauty. The author’s commitment to good design is infectious, while his love for all aspects of gardening shines through every page. The book is divided into four major sections: planning, construction, ornamenting and planting. Even if you are not planning to start a new garden, you are bound to pick up some useful ideas to put into practice in your existing plot, with chapters on soils, irrigation, container plants and lawns making this an excellent reference work.

In Australian Planting Design, author Paul Thompson draws inspiration from Australia’s diverse landscapes as he guides the reader through all aspects of creating a new garden, or enhancing an existing one, with the use of Australian plants. The many topics discussed include gardening on sandy soils, wetland and water plants and encouraging wildlife into the garden.

History buffs will enjoy the stories told in Remembered Gardens of eight women who helped shape Australia’s gardening heritage. Author Holly Kerr Forsyth’s subjects include Elizabeth Macarthur, who arrived in Australia with her husband John in 1790, and Edna Walling, who became a prominent garden designer during the 1950s. Macarthur’s original gardening endeavours were dominated by the need to grow food crops, but later she developed an extensive ornamental garden around her home at Elizabeth Farm, near Parramatta, New South Wales, modeled on the gardens she remembered from her homeland, England. Walling was also originally inspired by English gardens, but later in her career she developed a more relaxed style in tune with Australia and its culture, both appreciating the Australian flora and using it within the garden boundary.

Visiting gardens while travelling the world can offer valuable insights into the history, people and culture of different countries. Charles Quest-Ritson’s Gardens of Europe is an up-to-date and extensive guide to all the best public and private gardens to include on your itinerary. Gardens are listed in regions, making it easy to plan your visits, and the author provides an account of the unique flavour and history of each garden, besides practical information such as contact details, directions, opening times and facilities.

One English garden not to be missed is Great Dixter in East Sussex. Laid out for Nathaniel Lloyd by Sir Edward Lutyens in 1910, it is as famous for its modern day planting as it is for the Lutyens connection. The planting is based on the principles of Nathaniel’s son, the late Christopher Lloyd: the original Edwardian framework of brickwork and hedges is complemented by annuals and perennials planted in amazing patterns and combinations.

An equally exciting but very different treat is Portugal’s Quinta da Bacalhoa. Located south-east of Lisbon, this fine example of a baroque garden surrounds a sixteenth century villa. The blue and white tiles known as azulejos adorn a raised walkway with an extensive box parterre below. Citrus orchards, vineyards and three elegant pavilions flanking a large tank of water are among the garden’s many other highlights.

Even if travel is not on your agenda, this book offers a means to explore and experience the magic of special gardens wherever they are located.

For readers who enjoy getting their hands dirty, My Gardening Year by Shirley Stackhouse provides solid and reliable advice on how to get the best from plants and gardens. The book is now available in a completely revised edition that takes on board the climate challenges of the twenty-first century, providing the reader with practical pointers on how to nurture plants, improve the soil and preserve the environment.

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You’ll find the books mentioned in this article in libraries or, if they are recent releases, at good bookshops. The internet is also excellent for tracking down new and/or secondhand copies.
Simply google the books by title, or you might start at www.amazon.com. A visit to Florilegium at www.florilegium.com.au is also well worthwhile: this mail order company specialises in current editions, out-of-print and antiquarian horticultural books and frequently offers ‘specials’ on recent releases.

Bold Romantic Gardens: The New World Landscapes of Oehme and Van Sweden by Wolfgang Oehme and James Van Sweden with Susan Rademacher Frey, Lothian Books 1990.

Paul Bangay’s Garden Design Handbook by Paul Bangay, Penguin Australia 2008.

Australian Planting Design by Paul Thompson, Lothian Books 2002.

Remembered Gardens: Eight Women and Their Visions of an Australian Landscape by Holly Kerr Forsyth, Miegunyah Press 2006.

The Gardens Of Europe: A Traveller’s Guide by Charles Quest-Ritson. Bloomings Books 2007.

My Gardening Year by Shirley Stackhouse with Jennifer Stackhouse, Murdoch Books 2008.

Other great reads:
For Love of a Rose: The story of the creation of the famous Peace Rose by Antonia Ridge, Faber and Faber 1965. (A personal favourite!)

Contemporary Australian Garden Design by John Patrick and Jenny Wade, ABC Books 2008. Twenty leading designers from around Australia share examples of their work, illustrating many useful tips for the reader.

Australia’s Remaining Ancient Forests by Peter McConchie, Hardie Grant Books 2009. A celebration of magnificent old-growth forests and trees around Australia.

October’s favourite books

Make the most of the extra hour of daylight in the evening. Grab yourself a comfy seat outside and enjoy one of YOURLifeChoices three favourite books.

Would you believe it?

Many of us believe that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone or that Everest is the world tallest mountain but these are just common misconceptions. What else are you wrong about?

The general book of ignorance is one of those fun books, not necessarily to be read from cover to cover but great for referring to now and again. John Lloyd and John Mitchison have set out to dispel the most common misconceptions and help you look like a real smarty-pants in front of friends and family. For example, did you know:

1. How many people died in the Great Fire of London?
Despite destroying 13,200 houses, 87 churches and over 80% of the city, only five deaths were recorded as a result of the fire.
2. What does the moon smell like?
No, not cheese! Apparently the 12 people who have walked on the moon all reported that moon dust falls like snow, smells like gunpowder and doesn’t taste too bad either.
3. On which eye did Nelson wear his eye patch?
Fooled you! Despite what most people think, Nelson didn’t wear an eye patch.
4. What is the hottest part of a chilli?
Despite being told to de-seed a chilli before we use it, it is actually the central membrane to which the seeds are attached that makes our eyes water.
5. Why do chameleons change colour?
Not to blend in with their surroundings if that’s what you think. It is actually their emotions that bring on the impressive colour changes.

This little book will be perfect for trivia buffs or those who think they know it all. It will certainly keep the YOURLifeChoices entertained.

John Lloyd & John Mitchison
Faber Books
RRP: $ 19.99

Find out more or Buy Now at 10% discount

A writer’s passion

Charlie Bloom wants to be a writer, not just churning out standard novels, but the author of a literary masterpiece. However, his encounter with an ageing children’s writer has more than a professional impact on is life.

The Children’s Writer is Gary Crew’s cleverly crafted and structured look at the passions and ambitions of a would-be writer. Examining the creative process and foibles of Charlie Bloom, The Children’s Writer gives readers an insight into the joy and delusions of those who practice the craft of writing.

Life is good for Charlie Bloom, he’s happy at university, loves his girlfriend, Lottie, has banished the demons of his childhood and is on track to achieve his dream of becoming a writer. When Sebastian Chandler, an ageing, internationally acclaimed children’s writer, comes into their lives, things will never be the same again. Lottie is Chandler’s biggest fan, overawed by meeting the great man himself and allows herself to be taken in by the public persona he portrays.

Charlie is not so sure about the integrity of Chandler and a sequence of events unfolds that has him questioning everything he previously believed; his past, his relationship and his commitment to becoming a writer.

Strangely, one of the best things about this book is also the most disappointing. The ending is quick, yet just right for this novel. However, the story is so enjoyable that you’re just not ready for it to end.

This superb tale of a writer writing about writing could have gone horribly wrong but Gary Crew is an excellent talent who rarely strays from where he wants to take you.

For writers and readers alike.

Gary Crew
Harper Collins
RRP: 27.95

The story continues

Best selling author, Mary Moody, has continued her engaging biography with a whimsical, yet warm, look at “love, life and the whole damn thing” in her latest book, Sweet Surrender.

In 2000 Mary ran away from home and enjoyed a highly fulfilling ‘mid life crisis’ in a tiny village in France. Au Revoir was the book she wrote describing her adventures. So popular was this memoir that she followed up with Last Tango in Toulouse, and The Long Hot Summer, with details of her affair with a Frenchman – and how her Australian husband handled the news. Now Mary has had time to consider what she now refers to as her “lost” years, and how much her husband, her children and grandchildren mean. In Sweet Surrender Mary considers the challenges of ageing, of learning who we are, and how we relate to our most significant others.

Pan Macmillan Australia
2009
RRP $34.99

Find out more or Buy Now at 10% discount

Wonderful world of lawn bowls

One of the greatest traits is being able to laugh at yourself and no-one does this better than lawn bowlers.

Roll up for a laugh is Neville Odell’s third collection of funny stories, poems and cartoons, centered around the world of lawn bowls. From the highs and lows of competing, to the etiquette that surrounds lawn bowling, nothing goes un-noticed nor without raising a laugh. Peppered with contributions from renowned cartoonist, Barry Garbutt, will give you something to laugh about, even when you lose.

As with Neville’s two other books, the profits from Roll up for a laugh, will go to Alzheimer’s Australia, adding to the $20,000 Neville has already raised. With over 1000 new cases of dementia in Australia each week, research into delaying the onset of the disease and ultimately finding a cure, is critical to improving the prognosis for older Australians living with the disease.

This book is self published by Neville, which in itself is no mean feet. Costing just $20, Roll up for a laugh can be purchased direct from Neville. You can call him on 08 9309 3108 or email .

Got a funny sports story you wish to share? For the chance to win one of three copies, your sporting anecdote.

Not for the faint-hearted

Having a healthy interest in sport is nothing to be ashamed of but even the most ardent fan would have to be crazy to engage in a round of finger jousting!

This isn’t the daftest nor the most dangerous sport highlighted in Adam Russ’ 101 sports not to try. Bog snorkelling from Wales, chessboxing from the Netherlands and the luge from Switzerland are just some of the extreme sports Russ suggests are given a miss. Even Australia’s own Aussie Rules Football gets a mention.

Sport is supposed to be good for you and is a great way to keep fit however, this list of dubious sports is more likely to give a workout to your laugh muscles. Whether it’s the ridiculous outfits, the absurdity of the sport or the likelihood of permanent damage that sets these sports apart, it doesn’t stop people from playing and following them.

These 101 sports are better to be read about than tried!

Adam Russ
ABC Books
RRP: $27.99

Getting to know your father

Sean Dooley’s tribute to his father, Baz, makes you laugh and cry; two things which only a really good writer can achieve. Dooley probably wouldn’t describe himself as a ‘great’ writer – he seems too self-effacing a bloke for that – but his memoir of his life with his father, Baz, and mother, Di, is gentle, heartwarming and very amusing. It’s also a chronicle of a thousand such working class Australian families in the 50s, 60s and beyond. Baz was a bookmaker, Di a watercolour artist – a strange pairing that seemed to work despite their differences. On one point, however, they were aligned; their desire to adopt when they knew they couldn’t have children of their own. Sean and Warwick (Wok) were the children lucky enough to land in the Dooley household. Cooking with Baz is not, however, a chronological account of Sean’s childhood and adolescence. The ‘cooking’ to which he refers in the title takes place when first Di, then Baz, are struck down by cancer. It is only as an adult caring for his dying parents that Sean starts to recount and appreciate the rich life lessons his parents taught him. When Di is reeling from the effects of chemotherapy Baz tries every dish know to mankind to tempt her flagging appetite and put some meat back on her bones. When Baz, too, starts to go downhill, it is up to Sean to don the Dooley apron and take on the bread making role. Life was not perfect in the Dooley household. Baz drank too much and he and Di often led separate lives, Warwick could be aggressively anti-social and Sean often felt disconnected. Dooley doesn’t shy away from the truth. But during the course of this magical memoir he teaches us to celebrate people for their strengths and to overlook their weaknesses; to love them for what they bring rather than bemoaning what they can’t deliver. Buy Cooking with Baz for your Dad, if you’re lucky enough to still have one, but make sure you get to read it as well!

A total gem

Allen & Unwin
RRP $27.99

The Inconvenient Child

Sharyn Killen was an inconvenient child for many reasons. Born to white-skinned, blonde-haired Grace after a dalliance with Thaddeus Killens, a black Merchant Marine from America, Sharyn was sent to foster care straight from the maternity ward. Grace’s mother had warned her daughter she would ‘ruin her life’ if she did not abort or at least adopt out this unwanted baby, and so Grace chose the less brutal of these options. In doing so, however, she very nearly ruined Sharyn’s life. The White Australia Policy was firmly entrenched in post-war Australia so being both coloured and illegitimate was a guarantee Sharyn would suffer discrimination and disadvantage. Co-written by Sharyn Killens and Lindsay Lewis, The Inconvenient Child traces Sharyn’s misadventures in childhood, her time at the notorious Hay juvenile detention centre and her pursuit of her dream to become a singer. She is also determined to seek out her birth father and any brothers or sisters who might provide the love she has missed. Unlike many biographies in the ‘misery’ genre, The Inconvenient Child is a well-written and compelling read. Sharyn’s story is one of triumph over adversity with good humour and good grace aplenty. But it’s also a bigger story of how we, as a nation, have learnt to grow up, to accept people for their differences rather than their similarities and to welcome those who we once might have shunned.

Highly recommended

Miracle Publishing
RRP $35.00

To find out more information or purchase the book, visit www.theinconvenientchild.com.

One magic square

The cheapest and tastiest food you’ll ever eat is the food you grow yourself and you don’t need a huge garden to be relatively self-sufficient.

One magic square shows how with a little bit of space and ten minutes of effort you can start producing your own food. If you have ever tried to grow your own fruit and vegetables with little or no success, it may be that you have started too big. Follow some of the simple, small garden designs and once you get into the swing of it, you can increase your production area.

Experiencing wartime famine in her western Holland hometown, has led to the book’s author, Lolo Houbein being preoccupied with food security. The attention to detail and easy to understand tips and instructions will ensure that even novice gardens have a bounty of food to enjoy.

This timely guide will show you how to have your garden flourish in a time of water restrictions and being able to produce your own food when prices of shop bought produce are rising rapidly, will simply fill you with delight.

With handy cooking tips, this little book is all you will need to eat well for years to come.

RRP: $45.00
Lolo Houbein
Wakefield Press

Why not check out our Discount Directory?

Dog-eat-dog world

Ever wondered what the environmental impact is of feeding your dog? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware of what it takes live a sustainable lifestyle.

Time to Eat the Dog? The Real Guide to Sustainable Living is a mind-boggling mix of numbers that, sadly, are all critical to improving the sustainability of Earth.

Brenda and Robert Vale give you the sums that matter when it comes to working out the environmental impact for everything from dishwashers to jet-skiing.

Complicated yet fascinating.

Brenda and Robert Vale
Thames & Hudson
RRP:$45

Hitting the Right Notes

The Song Is You – Arthur Phillips

In a world where people can watch television from their mobile phones and surf the internet on their fridge, it was only a matter of time before technology made its way into modern prose.

The Song is You, written by Arthur Phillips, is the story of a man obsessed with his iPod. The iPod, however, is merely a medium to use music as an expression of human emotion, something he does with great effect.

Julian Donahue, a man who is obsessed with music, finds that when his life falls apart, music is all that he has left, but it begins to feel different. That is, until he sees the ‘next big thing’, Cait O’Dwyer, perform and becomes besotted with her.

Phillips uses technology to great effect. His two protagonists spark up a very different relationship, through email, text messages and band websites. They share a strange, thrilling, obsessive relationship that will have you guessing until the end.

The Song is You is an eloquent, evocative and enthralling tale that draws the reader in completely. Phillips, who has been called ‘one of the best modern writers in America’, uses music and popular culture intertextuality to great effect. Coupling this with humour and heart wrenching emotion, the book is a must for anyone who lives and loves music.

A rollercoaster ride

Scribe Publishing
RRP: $25.00

By Corey Hulls

Weekends away

When places are on your doorstep you may be less inclined to make the effort and visit. With overseas travel above budget for many, why not spend a weekend in country Victoria.

52 weekends is a handy set of cards outlining just why country Victoria has so much to offer. Each unique accommodation suggested has been personally visited by travel writer, Peter Robinson, taking the guess work out of where to go and where to stay.

Whether it’s a romantic getaway, fine wine and gourmet food or tranquil sunsets that get your motor running, 52 weekends, as the name suggests, has something for each weekend of the year.

Nomads’ guidebook

Speaking from experience, Jeremy and Cindy Gough have taken on an adventure in the form of an open-ended trip around Australia that has left them hungry for more.

In their introduction to The Grey Nomad’s Guidebook, Jeremy and Cindy reflect “We will never forget pulling out of our driveway, savouring the magical moment when our big adventure officially began”. Sound idyllic and got you interested?

Besides more detailed information about making money during your travels, the Guidebook contains just about everything you need to know to succeed in your life on the open road, including a myriad of websites for pursuing information on topics ranging from planning your finances and choosing your rig and your route, to communications and sussing out local health services.

To accompany the Guidebook, there is also a website, www.thegreynomads.com.au, with more recent information, where you can meet fellow travellers and find out about their experiences.

This book should be your first port of call when planning a Grey Nomad trip.

Jeremy & Cindy Gough
Pan Macmillan
RRP: $29.99

Not just a small car

Its 50 years since the first mini rolled off production lines and in that time, its gone from being a family favourite to the ultimate status symbol city car.

Mini: The true and secret history of the making of a motor car, gives and insight into the conception and manufacturing of a car that was to steal our hearts. Anyone who remembers the first minis, or was indeed lucky enough to own one, with fondly recall the driving experience that this little mechanical marvel rewarded one with. Every bump in the road was felt, the heater would ultimately break down on the coldest day of the year, it would rattle and let in rain. Still, from the ordinary Joe to celebrities, we embraced the tiny terror.

Few cars have personalities of their own but the Mini was the exception. From the day the car first hit the roads, we were hooked. Very few people have ever been heard to exclaim that they despise the Mini, or even simply dislike it.

Fifty years on, the Mini is still king of our roads. Even with more and more of the newer models seen driving about, this car still manages to bring a smile to our faces and find memories of simpler, happier times.

Mini in size, huge in personality.

Simon Garfield
Allen and Unwin
RRP: $45.00

Deep, dark family secrets

Every family has secrets, some small, some so dark that memories shut them out. Although grown-up, working and married, Elise cannot move on from that dark day on the jetty twenty years ago.

Georgia Blain’s novel, Closed for winter is now over ten years old but is enjoying renewed publicity thanks to its film adaptation, set in South Australia and staring Natalie Imbruglia.

Elise is only 8 years old when her sister, Frances, disappears on an ordinary summer day at the Jetty. Her innocent world collapses and twenty years on, Elise is forced to face the hard realities of what went on prior to Frances’ disappearance.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Elise struggles to move out of her mother’s dark grasp or away from her husband’s repressive, conforming love until she can come to terms with what unfolds to be a betrayal by Frances’ and the loss of her sister. Only by facing the truth of that day some twenty years ago and the events that led to France’s disappearance can Elise move on in her personal life.

Constantly weaving the present around that awful day, Georgia Blain continually reminds her readers of the significance of what happened on the jetty. The childish, repetitive language reflects Elise’s obsessiveness and stunted maturity and serves to help us understand how difficult she finds coming to terms with what happened.

Now ready to slowly, gently, open the wounds and look into the horror of this event which has shaped her life so far, Elise takes the first steps back to the jetty and moves on with the rest of her life.

A powerful and sad tale of how childhood experiences can shape our understanding of the future.

Georgia Blain
Penguin Books
RRP: $24.95

How far would you go?

Entering a new decade can have an emotional and alarming effect of one’s behavior. But as growing older is one of life’s privileges, should we embrace the future or hanker after the past?

Turning thirty is a milestone for Danny Wallace, author of the book turned movie, Yes Man. A parcel from his mother containing memorabilia of his childhood and an old address book sets him on a path of discovery about the friends from his past and his need to embrace the future.

Friends like these, charts the amusing, if sometimes banal, journey down memory lane as Danny tries to connect with the friends on his childhood years. With the event of the internet and its associated social networking websites, such a task should be easy. But have you any idea how many thirty year old Andy Smiths there are in the world?

Alarmed at the prospect of domestic bliss with his Australian wife, North London café culture and scatter cushions push him over the edge and his search for a simpler time takes on mammoth proportions. Jetting off around the world wasn’t part of his initial agreement with his wife Greta, who is happy for him to fulfill his dream, so long as all those little odd jobs get done around the house!

Aside from the ridiculous trips taken by Danny to find his friends, Friends like these, serves as a memoir of all those things you remember from growing up and is a reminder that friends, no matter where you find them, are a rare treasure.

That’s what friends are for.

Danny Wallace
Random House
RRP: $34.95

Big is beautiful

Australians have a fascination for anything big, think bananas, merinos and lobsters. Now all the “bigs” have been gathered together in one little book!

Inspired by the Big Murray Cod at Swan Hill, Craig Scutt has gathered all anyone needs to know about 150 of Australia’s large roadside attractions in The Little Book of Big Aussie Icons.

Don’t worry if you don’t have time to visit all 150 “bigs”, Craig has rated each edifice on his iconometre, helping you sort the wheat from the chaff!

Craig Scutt
Five Mile Press
RRP: $16.95

Diabetes understood

Understanding what you eat and how your body processes it is vital to managing diabetes and getting on with your life.

Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome: Eating for Prevention and Treatment cuts through the confusion about how diet and lifestyle can control diabetes and the associated risk factors of weight, cholesterol and blood pressure.

Dr Nasseem Malouf explains in simple ways how easy changes to diet and lifestyle can make managing diabetes more simple and how understanding your metabolic system is key to making these changes work for you.

Once diagnosed, diabetes is a life-long illness but that doesn’t mean your life as you know it needs to stop. Following the p[practical and easy-to-understand advice given by Dr Malouf will help you cut through the vast amount of information available and focus on what you need to keep living your life.

As a member of the Diabetes Centre at the Department of Endo-crinology, Diabetes and Meta-bolism at The Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, Dr Nasseem Malouf has been working in diabetes education for 25 years. As an Accredited Practicing Dietician and Accredited Nutritionalist, his experience in managing illness by food intake is vital to explaining:
· the modern epidemic of Type 2 diabetes
· food and its effect on diabetes
· the amount of hidden sugars, fats and calories in commonly eaten foods
· tips and practical ways to avoid or manage diabetes

There is plenty of information about diabetes however, digesting and understanding it all can be overwhelming. Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome is a good book to learn and understand the basic principles of managing diabetes.

Dr Nasseem Malouf
New Holland Publishing
RRP: $29.95

Holiday reads

While serious literature has its place in society, sometimes there’s nothing better than picking up a light-hearted novel to pass the time.

Only one thing niggles Melody Browne - what happened in her life before a house fire in her childhood wiped away all previous memories?

The truth about Melody Browne, by Lisa Jewell, tells the story of Melody, a single mother who is happy with her lot in life - a son approaching 18, an apartment in the centre of London, a job rather than a career that makes her happy and a good friend who has seen her through some tough times. When a chance meeting on a bus show possibilities of romance, Melody is reluctant to take it further, not wishing to mess with the equilibrium of her life.

Like everyone who makes it to adulthood, melody was once a child but the memories of this period elude her. Under pressure from her son and friend, Melody excepts a date with Ben from the bus. Dinner with the handsome stranger goes well and he persuades her to go along to a hypnotist stage show. Suddenly everything is out of control and Melody finds herself passing out on stage after she is hypnotized.

Her memory rewired - albeit haphazardly - she starts getting flashbacks to people and places from her childhood before the fire.

Uncovering a traumatic tumble of events that her mond has hidden from her for so long, Melody find the freedom to make the most her her life ahead of her and the strength to banish the demons of her past.

Cleverly written and easy to read, the perfect travel companion!

Tale of two cities
Two girls, two countries, opposite side of the world. Both struck by tragedy and destined to follow the same path in life.

The better woman by Ber Carroll is the tale of Sarah, growing up in country Ireland. Raised by her grandmother, proprietor of the local grocery store and surrounded by people who are only too aware of her tragic childhood, having lost her mother and father at an early age. Sarah’s keen head for business is her ticket to success and the world beyond Carrickmore.

A Sydney beach side suburb is home to Jodie. Living under the cloud of her mother’s second husband, Bob, Jodie struggles with her lack of confidence and the secret she is keeping from everyone. Events in her life take a tragic turn and despite the horror she suffers, this proves to be the catalyst she needs to make a success of her life.

Sarah and Jodies stories bear a remarkable similarity, one of loves lost, won and unrequited, success in the male-dominated world of investment banking through hard work and determination and their journeys to find what ultimately makes them happy.

With such similarities, their paths are destined to cross but just what will be the effect?

Fans of Cathy Kelly and similar authors will enjoy this easy-to-read offering.

Free audio books

Frequent fliers passing through Brussels, Milan and Rome will soon be able to download free audio books.

The Oneworld alliance, which includes BA, JAL, Qantas and Cathay Pacific, have introduced Oneworld Travel Stations which offers travellers downloadable material and mobile charging stations. Travellers can use these stations to download three free titles from a selection of 40 available and can even have an email sent the day before they travel advising which ones are available.

For more information on downloadable audio books via travel stations, visit Oneworld.

Digital Photography Basics

If you are new to digital cameras and want to understand the basics such as taking the perfect photo, editing it on your computer and sharing it over the internet then we have the book for you!

This is an easy-to-follow book that guides you through a range of subjects in plain English on digital photography. Whether you are looking for information on buying a new digital camera, knowing how to take the perfect photo, how to turn your computer into a digital darkroom or even how to share your photos with your friends online, then Digital photography for Seniors For Dummies is definitely a book you would want to read.

Written by a technology guru and digital photographer, Digital photography for Seniors For Dummies gives the reader the confidence to take great shots, edit the pictures on their home computer and send the pictures all over the world via email!

A picture lasts a lifetime

Mark Hinton
Wiley
RRP $42.95

Getting started with safety

Your safety is important even when going online as there are dangers lurking around every corner. Distinguishing between safe and dangerous material can be easier than you think.

Helping you avoid being a victim of online crime, Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies guides you though the maze of cyber crimes, identifying the hazards you need to avoid when shopping, investing, share trading, surfing and paying bills online, including many other activities.

There is also a section dedicated to protecting you online from predators, email spam and scams, helping you create strong passwords to avoid identity theft and much more. Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies also guides you through the process of paying bills online, chatting with others, sharing photos and videos with friends, online banking and social networking.

A must have for all beginner computer users

Nancy Muir & Linda Criddle
Wiley
RRP $37.95

Try a little tenderness

Many will now have worked out that a little love, romance and tenderness goes a long way to having a fulfilling sex life.

This is certainly the message that was given in the original The Joy of Sex and remains so in The New Joy of Sex, spruced up and reissued. The first sex manual of its kind, it shocked and delighted back in 1972 when it was first published. Giving people the answers to the questions they were afraid to ask, this manual was present on many bookshelves across the world.

Psychologist Susan Quillan has taken the groundbreaking work of Dr Alex Comfort and has revised the manual to reflect today’s sexual climate and promises.

Why not dust off the original or buy the new version and have some fun.

Susan Quillan
Mitchell Beazley
RRP: 39.99

Small business bible

Ever had a great idea for a new business? And wondered if you have what it takes to turn it into profit? Wonder no more. John English and Babette Moate’s new book reveals all you need to know about small business startups.

Discovering New Business Opportunities shows you how to uncover new business ideas and how to decide which ones are worth pursuing. This book is the boot camp for new business ideas with scores of tips to help you: look for new business opportunities, identify a viable market, anticipate the risks, build a business model, validate commercial potential and develop a start-up strategy.

John W. English & Babette Moate
Allen & Unwin
RRP: $35

Read more and Buy Now at 10% off!

Home based businesses

If you are interested in working on, but on your own terms, then this “kitchen table” manifesto is a handy resource for planning and running your own SOHO (Small Office/Home Office)

How to run a business from your kitchen table, lets you discover everything you need to know about running a business from home with information on legal requirements, pitfalls to avoid, setting budgets, getting and keeping customers and how to profit from networking. What makes this book work, is the simple manner in which the information is presented.

Take advantage of your own special talents and interests today!

Barbara Gabogrecan
Stonnington Books
$27.20

You can purchase it here.

Living the green life

Sometimes inspiration is all it takes to start living a greener life. With 200 tips to choose from, a True Green Life should be enough to get you started.

Living a greener life doesn’t need to be difficult, many of us are making small changes to our lifestyles that are already having a positive impact on our environment;
recycling, using the car less and eating more healthily. Kim McKay & Jenny Bonnin and written many books on how to make the planet a healthier place, understanding that simple communication is the key to getting people to take positive action on green matters.

The most common problem with getting people to “go green” is the belief that one person can’t make a difference. This is completely wrong. Everyone doing a little bit can be more effective than just a few people trying to do it all. If each Australian tries just five of the 200 tips given, Australia will be well on it’s way to reducing it’s carbon footprint.

True green life is proof that you can easily make a difference.

Kim McKay & Jenny Bonnin
ABC Books
RRP: $ 29.95

Read more and Buy Now at 10% off!

It’s never too late…

Many people think that once they reach a certain age there is little they can do to stop dementia. This is not true, it’s never too late to avoid dementia.

It’s never too late to change your mind: The latest medical thinking on what you can do to avoid dementia, is written by Dr Michael J Valenzuela, a Research fellow at the School of Psychiatry, University of NSW. Awarded the prestigious Eureka prize for his work into the development and expression of dementia in 2006, he simplifies the complex world of how the mind works, making is simpler to understand how to combat dementia.

Dementia takes your memories, then your independence and then finally, it reduces your physical ability. Leaving you dependent on family members and carers. It’s never too late, takes and amusing but never patronising look at how changes in simple lifestyles factors can slow down or stop the onset of dementia.

Importantly, Dr Valenzuela explains exactly what dementia is, how it affects our mind and lives and what we can do to change things.

Whether you or a family member is worried about dementia, this is a worthwhile read.

Dr Michael J Valenzuela
ABC Books
RRP: $ 29.95

A story of loss

Neil Barr writes from the heart. He was born to farming parents, grew up on an orchard, and loves and understands country life. He also laments the passing of the small rural community but offers a clear, unsentimental view of the reasons in his new book, The House on the Hill.

Because the author is a social research, this analysis of life on the land is both moving and firmly based on fact. And the facts are sad for those of us who grew up in a farming community, or remember the old days when we all had relatives who lived on a farm and opened the doors wide to city kids just dying to ride a bike or horse, or help collect eggs, or simply play in the barn. Barr maintains that what affects real people on the land affects everybody. And he is right. No other sector has consistently made such gains in productivity over such a long period with so little support or encouragement from successive governments. Many describe farmers as whingers – be it about drought or flooding rains. Well they might whinge, if the picture Barr paints is correct –and based as it is on recent ABS information, we know it to be true. The future for small farming lots and the communities around them is very bleak. There is no silver lining to this cloud.

Read and weep for what we are losing

Neil Barr
Halstead Press
RRP: $37.95

Wild at heart

Now a committed conservationist living just outside Brisbane, Annette Henderson brush with an orphaned baby gorilla in the African Congo many years ago, changed her life for ever.

Wild spirit, explains the life changing experience that rose from adversity in the remote African jungle. Stranded in Libreville, Gabon in June 1975, Annette and her husband, Win, find themselves penniless after a thief steals everything the have from their Kombivan. Haven driven halfway across Africa, they can neither go back, nor carry on. Fortunately, a chance meeting with a local expat offers them the chance to turn their fortunes around.

They take jobs in a local mining camp, in an area never visited by tourists and battling isolation, culture shock and hard labour, Annette takes solace in the equatorial forest. This is where her truly life changing experience begins, for here she meets Josie, an orphaned gorilla, whom she adopts.

This sets her on a path that she could never have imagined. With a degree in Anthropology, she has written many articles on birds and reptiles and fights to save the forests that are home to many wonderful creatures.

An inspiration to get away from it all.

Annette Henderson
Random House
RRP: 34.95

What the Ebook?

Purchase your books in an online format, save money and trees!

Over the last few years, Ebooks has slowly grown in popularity. This is partly thanks to the introduction of Palm Pilots and e-readers. Such gadgets allow you to download ebooks for less than half the price of a paperback, saving money, and the environment.

You don’t have to be sat in front of your computer to read your books, many new technologies, such as mobile phones, support this technology. However, there is an item on the market that is tailored to this very task. E-readers, which can range from $150 up to $400, are a good investment if you consider that you might pay $10 extra per book on paper. Over the space of a year, even if only you read 12 books, you nearly negate that cost entirely!

Find out more about Ebooks.
Find out more about Ebook Readers.

Grandmas are magic

Everyone loves a grandma, whether it’s their own, or someone else’s. The heart of most families, they are to be cherished and celebrated.

Grandma Magic, is a collection of tales about the love for grandmas, the joy of being a grandma and the sadness at loosing a grandma. Whether they’re called Nanna, Granny, Baba, Nonna or Oma, grandmothers, for the most part are great! Sure, they can be challenging but they hold a wealth of knowledge, love and compassion that they are only too willing to share.

Janet Hutchinson has compiled this anthology of true stories written by 22 women, who dispel the myth of grey haired, cake making, jumper-knitting grandmothers and share the tales of strong, independent women who have shaped each of their lives, or how becoming a grandmother has changed them for the better.

Authors include Jennifer Mills, Julie McCrossin, Caitlin Adams, Gabrielle Lord and many more. These very personal tales range from amusing and irreverent to sad and nostalgic but all make the point that Grandmothers may be a motley lot, capable of so much more than a badly knitted pair of socks or a rock-hard sponge cake!

An indulgent yet thought provoking look at Grannys.

Janet Hutchinson
Allen & Unwin
RRP: $29.95

Love and betrayal

Marriages fall apart, usually when you least expect them to. After 18 years of marriage, Lucy is alone after her husband Jasper walks out. But what exactly is she mourning, the love of her life or the loss of her live in handyman?

Love that LBD

Since the 1920s, the little black dress, or LBD as it is more affectionately known, has been a staple of women’s closets the world over. And it’s no wonder as the perfect LBD, no matter how much it cost, can make you feel a million dollars.

Robyn Johnson has celebrated women’s love affair with fashion, previously covering shoes, bags and hats in her series that has now been devoted to every women’s favourite fashion item. I just love that little black dress showcases some of the most famous, desired and even notorious (think back to Diana’s black cocktail number) dresses that have graced red carpets all over the world.

Since the Victorian age, we have very definite views of when black should be worn, a bride in black is still quite shocking, but in 1926, Coco Chanel designed a simple, flattering dress that could be worn by anyone, and chose to show it in black. The LBD was born and took the fashion world by storm.

In this lovely little book, the history of the LBD and the stars that wore them unfold through now famous images and the witty quotes that accompany the details of each dress keep it light and entertaining. Presented in a gorgeous little box, with ten accompanying note lets, I just love that little black dress will surely be a winner this Mother’s Day.

A perfect gift for the woman who loves her LBD.

Robyn Johnson
Five Mile Press
RRP: 19.95

Save those spills

Have you ever looked under your kitchen sink and been amazed at the number of lotion and potions that lurk there? Many profess to help remove stubborn stains but often the best approach is using a combination of items you already have in your cupboard.

Spotless 2, as the name suggests, is a follow-up to the bestselling book by Shannon Lush and Jennifer Flemming. These domestic goddesses have a host of handy tips, many of them organic, most of them inexpensive, to help combat those budget-busting household disasters.

Tips like how to get nail polish off a wooden floor or how to remove a bleach mark from a dark carpet, have ensured that the second issue of this book is flying off the shelves just as quickly as the first. With many assuming expensive treatments or replacing the soiled item is the only way to solve the problem, the cover price of the book seems like a bargain in comparison.

The authors will help you salvage your favourite linen suit or suede shoes, keep the family silver looking like new and have cleaning tips that will make your bathroom look like its had a full renovation! Often, the key to removing stains is to act fast so keep this priceless book by your side and before long, it will have paid for itself ten times over.

A must for all households.

Shannon Lush & Jennifer Fleming
ABC Books
RRP: $19.95

A POW’s story

Thanks to TV and the internet, we are now able to find plenty of information on WWI and WWII. However, few offer as much detailed and heart-wrenching information as the tales of those who have lived through such experiences themselves.

The Missing Years: a POW’s story from Changi to Hellfire Pass is drawn on the memoirs of ex-planter Captain Hugh Pilkington, who, while on campaign in Mayalsia, was shot by a sniper, survived the Alexandra Hospital Massacre, and that was only the start of his misfortune! Having survived the massacre, Pilkington became a POW and with only one good arm, was packed off to work on the Thai-Burma Death Railway, at the affectionately named Hellfire Pass!

Written by Stu Lloyd, who has 24 years experience as a travel writter, this book describes perfectly the hardship faced by those campaining in Asia during WWII and the descriptive nature of the writing conjures up vivid images that help absorb this details of this historical journey.

A real-life tale of life as a POW.

Stu Lloyd
Rosenberg Publishing
RRP: 32.95

The great divide

Not knowing the underlying theme of this simple tale of two young boys, whose friendship blossoms from either side of a barbed wire fence.

The boy in striped pyjamas was initially written as a work of children’s fiction, to explain the effects that WWII, and in particular, The Holocaust, had on children specifically. With his novel, John Boyne captured the hearts and minds of adults who will never understand how such appalling crimes against humanity were allowed to happen.

Nine year-old Bruno doesn’t understand the atrocities that his country are inflicting on the people of Europe, he only knows that he has been moved from his comfortable home in Berlin and is now living in a house in a desolate area. Lonely and miserable, he strikes up a friendship with Shmuel, a boy how lives on the other side of the wire fence, where everyone wears the same uniform of striped pyjamas.

The friendship blossoms as best it can under very harrowing circumstances, with the revelation of the horror of which Bruno is unwittingly part of, ending his innocence.

A truly moving tale for those young and old.

John Boyne
Random House Australia
RRP: $23.95

Travel guides

Whether you like to read your travel guides online, a handy pocket sized version or prefer a well thumbed tome, AboutSeniors has three useful guides for you to choose from.

Travel eguides – Select and download the travel guides you want from this useful website – free. If you’re looking for a standard travel guide that will give you the basic information you need when visiting different countries around the world, these free, downloadable PDF versions are just the thing. Covering the most common travel destination, they will cost you no-more than the paper and ink needed to print them and have all the information you need on emergencies, customs such as tipping, accommodation, places to see, transport food and what to watch out for. To download your free travel guide, visit traveleguides.com.

Pocket guides – Berlitz travel guides have been about for years, the handy pocket size proving popular with travellers the world over. Covering all major destination and some you may not yet have heard of, these handy little guides offer all the information you need, as well as some handy phrases in local languages. If you would like to immerse yourself in the local culture, Berlitz also provide language courses that come in the format of CDs and books. For more information on what Berlitz can offer you as a traveller, visit Berlitz.com.

Comprehensive travel guides – if knowing everything there is to know about a place before your visit is vital to the success of your trip, then Lonely Planet are the guides for you. Offering all the usual travel information, in-depth information about local customs, places to visit off the beaten track and a detailed history of the area you’re planning to visit, there is little missing from these well know and respected guides. Lonely Planet also offers useful information on their website such as travel warnings and travel planning tools. For more information, visit Lonelyplanet.com.

To purchase Berlitz or Lonely Planet guides at a discount, why not visit our online bookstore.

Positive attitude

Research suggests that two out of three cancer survivors and their families consider that something good came from this experience. Sounds improbable? Not really according to a new book which highlights the positives of the cancer journey.

Authored by Sally Collings who lost her mother to breast cancer in 2003, this immensely readable offering is full of first person accounts of diagnosis, treatment, and what they learnt along the way. Cricketer, Simon O’Donnell, describes it as being “in the club” – only others in the club understand, and you don’t want others to “join” as it means they will have to go through the cancer journey as well. Sally’s book is titled Positive as it should be – because nearly every contributor is able to articulate the way their experience of cancer has enable them to transform grief and sorrow into life-affirming qualities such as compassion, empathy and a determination to make every moment count. This small gem of a book is not just for cancer sufferers and their loved ones – it is for everyone who is interested in different life journeys and how ordinary human beings continue to rise magnificently to seemingly impossible challenges.

A really hopeful view of the cancer journey
Harper Collins
RRP: $27.99

From fat to fit

You may have watched the hit TV reality show and marvelled at the weight lost by those on The Biggest Loser. Take heart from the success stories of the competitors and advice from the experts.

Losing weight is difficult, changing eating and exercise habits that have been formed over many years takes time and willpower. When people make drastic changes, the emotions this can unleash can be overwhelming.

The Biggest Loser: Secrets of our success, takes a look at how the contestants dealt with not only losing a tremendous amount of weight but doing it in front of television cameras, while a nation watches. Of course, this can be an added incentive, with the idea of failure in front of millions simply too much to contemplate.

Aiding the weight loss success of the participants were a team of trainers, dieticians and counsellors but this shouldn’t detract from their achievements. Stories and tips from the experts will help you to:
• stay focused on your goals
• develop resilience for those difficult days
• keep motivated
• maintain your weight loss

Any help with losing weight is worthwhile and The Biggest Loser is a useful reference and an entertaining read.

There really is no stopping you!

Random House
RRP: $34.95

Books to get you travelling

No matter what you plan to undertake in life, someone will have written a book about it, with varying success. Packing up your life and heading off on an adventure warrants a bit of reading before you go so AboutSeniors have five of our best books for Grey Nomads.

1. Nomads’ guidebook
Speaking from experience, Jeremy and Cindy Gough have taken on an adventure in the form of an open-ended trip around Australia that has left them hungry for more.

2. Harvest fayre
Ever thought of the option of travelling whilst earning money? Exploring your nation while meeting great people along the way? This is all possible with The National Harvest Labor Guide 2009.

3. Hidden Australia
The rest of the world may consider Australia a far-off nation that is home to some of the most dangerous creatures alive, but 1015 things to see and do in Australia proves that this great land is rich in diversity and history and has more than enough attractions to keep tourists coming back time and time again.

4&5 See Australia
The internet is convenient for many things but there is no substitute for getting out there enjoying what’s in your own back yard. These two books will give you the ideas andtips you need for making your adventure both safe and satisfying.

Swedish sleuth wins hearts

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is quite simply one of the best “who dunnits” I have read in years. Set in Sweden, the sleuth is a journalist called Mikael Blomkvist, more than ably assisted by Lisbeth Salander a somewhat kooky, antisocial computer hacker with a mean streak when it comes to violent men. Blomkvist is hired to investigate the disappearance of Harriet Vanger, a wealthy industrialist’s granddaughter who vanished decades earlier during a family celebration. Clues are sparse, but victims a plenty as Blomkvist uncovers years of strange happenings seemingly connected to Harriet’s case. Relationships are also complicated. Blomkvist is quite the ladies man, bedding colleagues, family members, and more, in his spare time. Little wonder that Lisbeth finds him so frustrating, yet fascinating. The action is intense, the dialogue sparse, but witty, and the location of rural Sweden and café culture Stockholm a treat for those tired of the more predictable locations of London and New York. Sadly the author, Stieg Larsson, died of a heart attack not long after he delivered the third volume of this Millennium trilogy to his publisher, and never knew his books would sell many millions of copies worldwide. Fans will want to read the next book in the series The Girl Who Played with Fire which is also available in bookstores. The final book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is due to be published later this year, whilst a movie of Dragon Tattoo should hit the big screen shortly.

A knockout modern thriller
RRP 22.95
Our price $20.66
Murdoch Books

World’s first chain novel

Remember the stories you used to make up with friends – one would start and you would each take a turn at telling the next line? Now leading authors are getting in on the act.

Best selling author, James Patterson will pen the first and last chapters of his new thirller, AirBorne. The middle of the novel will be told by 28 different authors, each writing a chapter, and who are being selected from a competition run by Borders and Random House. The entries are being evaluated at the moment.

The first chaper of AirBorne will be released online on 20 March 2009, and subsequent chapters will be released one by one, with the final version being printed at the conclusion of the project.

For more information, visit Borders.

Not just blarney

Ireland is the birthplace of some of the greatest literary giants, from the classics to more modern works. AboutSeniors has chosen three novels by Irish writers that are worth taking a look at.

Dubliners – James Joyce
James Joyce was born in Dublin in 1882. As with many Dubliners, his family was faced with financial hardship and through this collection of short stories, he portrays the lives of 15 Dubliners, from low and middle class backgrounds at the turn of the 20th Century. In Joyce’s own words, his intention when writing Dubliners was to portray a chapter of the moral history of his country, and he chose Dublin for the scene because that city seemed to him the centre of paralysis. He portrays the lives of Dubliners under four of its aspects: childhood, adolescence, maturity and public life.
RRP: $16.95
Penguin Books
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PS, I Love You – Cecelia Ahern

The first novel from Cecelia Ahern, daughter of ex Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, is a witty and touching novel about the loss of a husband and how he remains connected to the wife he left behind. Knowing he has a brain tumour, Gerry puts steps in place to help his wife, Holly, get her life back on track once he’s gone. Through letters passed on by family and friends over a period of months, he gets her back on track. In PS, I Love You, Ahern takes you through the grief process and although sometimes sappy, the interactions between Holly and her friends and family will have you reaching for the hankies one minute and cheering out loud the next. The book is much better than the schmaltzy Hollywood movie version.
RRP: $19.95
Harper Collins
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The Deportees – Roddy Doyle
Fans of Roddy Doyle will be delighted by his newest offering, The Deportees. Ireland may not be well known for its immigrant population, many people choosing to believe it is a land inhabited only by the Irish and of course, leprechauns. The Deportees is a collection of stories written by Doyle for a magazine, Metro Eireann, started for and geared towards immigrants to Ireland. Both funny and moving, his stories discover what its like to arrive in a strange land, the quirkiness of it people and traditions are taken for granted by many but how are they to be understood by a ten year old boy from Africa?
RRP: $32.95
Jonathan Cape
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A Frank account

The remarkable true story of the young Jewish girl who spent two years holed up in the basement of a house with seven others, trying to evade capture by the Nazis would bring tears to those with the hardest hearts.

For years, the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank has been read by schoolchildren as part of their educational curriculum but it is worth so much more than being force fed to a group of sometimes-reluctant readers. The diary, which was kept by Miep Gies, the woman who was part of the Dutch group that protected Anne and her fellow captors, was passed to Anne’s father Otto, the only member of the group to survive Auschwitz.

It has been translated into many languages throughout the world, giving a harrowing but strangely uplifting view of the lift of a young girl during World War II. Though not typical of many people’s stories from this time, Anne documents her feelings for her fellow captor, Peter, her confusion over her blossoming sexuality and her concern for the future of her people and her family, not so different to many teenagers.

What makes this story truly touching is that is it true, no embellishments, no made up tales, just deep feelings and moments recounted through incredibly difficult times. With many books popping up over the years of tales of how people survived World War II and the atrocities that they had to face, this classic is often overlooked.

As relevant today as when Anne herself wrote the journal, the Diary of a Young Girl is a must.

A real tear-jerker.

Anne Frank
Penguin Books
RRP: $16.95

Walk off weight

Walking is something we do every day but it can also be a serious weight-loss tool. In Walk Off Weight, personal trainer, Andrew Cate, has developed an easy, eight-week walking plan, which, coupled with his down-to-earth food suggestions, can simplify and make easier that New Year’s resolution.

This easy to read book includes an entire planning guide to your walking routine, with space allowed to record what and where you’ve walked and what you’ve consumed on each day. The great thing about walking is that you can go somewhere new or re-visit a favourite place, so it’s not just about exercise, it’s about getting out and enjoying the world around you. Walking is a basic and wonderful way to get fit and Andrew Cate’s guide makes it easy. At only $19.95, it’s also cheaper than any gym membership.

Perfect way to start a new year
ABC Books, 2007
RRP $19.95

Available on the YOURLifeChoices Bookshop for only $17.96

Five best cookbooks of 2008

101 One-pot Dishes
The team at Good Food Magazine have put together a book full of their tried and tested recipes to create a fail-safe book full of delicious One-pot wonders, with a full page photo of each recipe so you know what your cooking!

RRP: $16.95
Our Price: $15.26
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501 Low Carb Recipes
Pamela Clark’s new cookbook, 501 Low Carb Recipes has something to suit everyone, no matter if your goal is to maintain your ideal weight or to lose weight fast, these delicious recipes will inspire you to live a healthier life

Author: Pamela Clark
RRP: $24.95
Our Price: $22.46
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Secrets of Slow Cooking
When we think of slow cooking, we think of the phrase “Set it and forget it”. Author Liana Krissoff concentrates on dishes that are best made in a slow cooker, including classics as well as new tastes.

RRP: $29.95
Our Price: $26.96
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The Complete Book of Diabetic Cooking
Living with Diabetes can be complicated at the best of times, but managing your diet is a proven treatment that will help living with this condition. Even if you do not have Diabetes, this book offers a fantastic collection of tempting but healthy recipes.

Author: Bridget Jones
RRP: $45.00
Our Price: $40.50
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Four Ingredient Cookbook
With over 700 recipes using only four ingredients, this book is a steal for anyone who wants a fast and easy way to cook without overcomplicating your tastebuds!

RRP: $14.95
Our Price: $13.46
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Superstitions or science?

Superstitions are like memories from childhood, passed down through generations. Many have religious or cultural origins but in this scientific age, are superstitions just a lot of nonsense?

Xavier Waterkeyn has explored the background to superstitions and how they have evolved through different societies. Cultural beliefs and ritual are common throughout the world and can impact on our day-to-day lives, even in modern times. Superstitions, beliefs, rituals and magic explores the significance of symbolism and rituals in cultures to ensure good health, wealth, luck and of course, ward off bad spirits.

The way people react to superstitions and how they process the threat of bad luck offers an insight into how the human mind functions and reveals its potential. Whether you take superstitions seriously or approach them with a more tongue-in-cheek attitude, Superstitions, beliefs, rituals and magic, is fun to pick up and flick through. The illustrations are colourful and interesting, conveying perfectly the cultural and social background of some of the most popular “old wives tales”.

Explore the “dark” side.

Xavier Waterkeyn
RRP: $45.00
New Holland

Clutter cure

Look around your home just now and you’ll see stuff that you’ve held onto for years, sometimes for sentimental reasons, but sometimes “just in case”. This is clutter and it’s time to get rid of it!

Professional Organiser, Judi Cutherbertson, will take you on a journey of discovery, about yourself and your hoarding habits. The Clutter Cure outlines the “collections” that are OK to keep and highlights the possessions that are holding you back from living life to the full, in a beautifully tidy home.

Letting go of possessions can be difficult, many items have sentimental value or stir memories of happy times, but being realistic about whether you really need to keep them is vital to getting on with life. Jodi Cutherberston will help you realise that it’s OK to say no to things when offered, and to get rid of things you will simply never use.

And if you think buying this book will simply add to the clutter already in your home, you can save paper and space by downloading it and viewing it online.

Declutter and move on.

Jodi Cutherberson
RRP: $29.95 (or download for $30.95 from www.dymocks.com.au
McGraw Hill

School days remembered

They were the happiest days of your life, or so you say, but just how much can you remember about what you learned at school? What is the theory of relativity and how do you calculate an angle of a triangle?

There are things you learned at school that have served you no purpose in life, some you can remember, some are lost forever. Until now that is. Homework for grown-ups is a fun trip back to the not so nice side of school, learning your periodic tables, roman numerals and playing jolly hockey sticks to name but a few.

Written by E Foley and B Coates, who were star pupils, always handing their homework in on time, the pair now mark homework and correct grammar for a living. This clothbound tome of everything you learned at school is a fun way to take a trip down memory lane, even teaching you how to make the perfect paper aeroplane. This book is classically illustrated and covers all subjects from Maths, English and History to Physical Education and the Classics.

For homes which welcome grandchildren, this is a great addition to the bookshelf and will help prove what you’ve been trying to tell your family for years, that you really do know it all!

Reminisce or learn something new.

E Foley and B Coates
RRP: $29.95
Random House
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Pure magic

Twenty-five years ago author Mem Fox partnered with watercolour artist, Julie Vivas, to create what is arguable the best loved picture book in the country – Possum Magic. The story of Hush and Grandma Poss and the love and wisdom which they share has warmed many a heart and home since it first appeared.

Not only has Possum Magic become a classic in Australian children’s literature, it is also the book of choice to send to children overseas keen to learn more about our wide brown land. What has made it such a success? The first draft was a story about mice. This version was rejected by nine publishers over a period of fives years. Persistence often pays off, and persist Fox did, until Omnibus Books agreed to publish, subject to the mice becoming Australian possums. And herein lies the charm and the seeds of Possum Magic’s success. Finally there was a children’s book based upon Australian animals and Australian food! But more than the locale and culture, Mem Fox has written an enduring tale of the love and support a grandparent has to offer.

Best shared at bedtime

Omnibus Books (part of Scholastic Australia)
RRP: $15.99
Mem Fox and Julie Vivas

Romance with bite

Vampires have enthralled people for centuries, from Bram Stoker’s first novel, to the latest teen offering from Stephanie Meyer. The Twilight Saga comprises of four novels, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn and tracks the romance between Bella and her vampire boyfriend, Edward.

Twilight, the first in the series, has just been released as a Hollywood blockbuster, and is billed and the biggest thing since Harry Potter. Aimed at adolescents, the stories have an edge to them that young adults will appreciate.

Edward tries to protect Bella from his bloodthirsty family, who see her as a tasty snack, and convince Bella that he will never harm her. Bella is coming to terms with a family move and the revelation of her first love’s colourful secret.

Action packed, with the right amount of romance to keep boys and girls interested.

Brown Young Readers
RRP: $17.95 per book
Stephanie Meyer

Toilet humour

There is no denying that children go through a stage where bottoms, underpants and toilet noises are the funniest thing they can think of. Captain Underpants makes this his superpower, as he tries to save the world of children from talking toilets and wicked wedgie women!

Dav Pilkey is an author and illustrator that has perfectly tuned into the joy that children get from toilet humour. His series of Captain Underpants books are bestsellers the world over and are aimed at children between the ages of 7 and 10, although they may be enjoyed by those a lot older.

Written in cartoon style, the books chart the adventures of the caped crusader as he battles bionic boogers and professor PoopyPants. If you can stand the loud guffaws and increase in toilet chat, then these books will have your grandchildren laughing their heads off.

Leave them to it and don’t ask too many questions!

Scholastic Australia
RRP: $9.99
Dav Pilkey

Financial fun

Teaching kids the benefit of good financial planning is one of the best gifts you can give. Save the lectures and spreadsheets for grown-ups and invest in this delightful series of financial know hows.

Money makes the world go round is a delightful series of books, three volumes in total. Written by Greg Smith, each volume is aged at a different age group and are a blend of fiction and non-fiction. The books have hands-on activities aimed at teaching financial literacy to young children. Hero of volume one, Primo, takes on the evil Rupakov, saving the world and giving back the money stolen by the villain.

A timely gift for youngsters.

RRP: $19.95
Greg Smith

Overcoming writer’s block

Anne Lamott’s bestselling writing manual was first published in the USA in September 1995. It is both illuminating and encouraging for those trying to overcome their “block” and start writing

Part reflection on her own writing jouney and part instruction for other would-be authors, Lamott is the iron fist in the velvet glove. Now an Australian edition of Bird by Bird is available from Scribe Publications. This book is particularly useful for those who are keen to get going, but unsure of how and where to start. The answer to this vital question is in the title – and I won’t spoil this “nugget” but suggest you buy the book to find out why working “bird by bird” is really the only way to go. Lamott also uses her own learning and life experiences to address and illustrate the key components of the best story-telling; characters, place, plot and dialogue. The key message is that good writers write – and the others just talk about doing it.

Practical and inspiring

Bird by Bird: some instructions on writing and life
RRP $27.95
Scribe Publications

Who dunnit?

The enduring appeal of who dunnits is testament to the need most of us have for order in our lives. We start with a mystery – normally a body – and work our way back, via the detective’s quest for knowledge about the victim, to gain an understanding, and finally a resolution, of what actually happened. Puzzling clues are explained, loose ends tied up, all is resolved. Kate Atkinson is a master storyteller who, in her third “Jackson Brodie” book, When will there be good news? has hit her stride as one of the best contemporary who dunnit writers around. That her books are set in Scotland – home of murrrrrder with the rolling “r”s – makes this book all the more believable – and fun. Jackson Brodie and DCI Louise Monroe continue to spin out the UST (unresolved sexual tension) even though, or perhaps because, they are both married to other people. A new character, Reggie, adds some working class common sense, and Jackson’s old lovers keep having a point of view. The book opens at a cracking pace with the slaying of three family members, and there are many more bodies along the way before the police (and other interested parties) finally find out the truth behind the killings – or do they? I cannot recommend Ms Atkinson’s books highly enough – but if you are new to her writing, start with Case Histories, then read One Good Turn before tackling this one.

A compulsive page-turner

Kate Atkinson
RRP: $32.95
Random House

India revealed

This year’s Man Booker Prize winner this year is Aravind Adiga – a 33 year old Western-educated Indian doctor’s son who has created an unforgettable character, a chauffeur named Balram Halwai, who reveals the darker side of modern India.
In White Tiger, Adiga has attempted to represent the 95% of his fellow countrymen and women who are neither rich, nor leading relatively comfortable lives. Adiga believes relatively few Indians are managing to keep the vast majority in servitude – and he is relentless in his chronicle of how India’s “economic miracle” is delivering wealth to so few. Narrated by the newly wealthy Halwai, the underbelly of Delhi is a rich source of anecdote, fable and prophecy. For those interested in Indian society, and the way this new economic power looks after its own citizens Adiga’s book offers a fast-paced feast of insights and action.
A deserving winner
RRP $32.95 Aravind Adiga Atlantic books

Trip down memory lane

Enjoying tales of a bygone era, when times now seem much simpler, is now as easy as sitting back and listening with this audio book to help you reminisce.

Aniseed balls, billy carts and clothes lines – an ABC of growing up in the thirties, is a collection of memories of a child who grew up in the 1930s. Its author, Roly Chapman, was born in Auchenflower, Brisbane in 1926 and put together this collection of memories for his own, and his family’s enjoyment. In 2002, his daughter had the book published for him, and over a 1000 copies have sold and been enjoyed by many who remember the era.

It has been recognized as a useful tool in therapy session with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients by giving a wealth of topics for remotivation discussions, and to help them reminisce. Understanding the difficulties some older readers have, the book has now been released as an audio book in a set of seven CDs. You can sit back and relax as Col Fraser’s dulcet tones take you back in time with tales of childhood hi-jinx and memories.

As an added bonus, $2 from the sale of each set is donated to the Sunshine Coast branch of Alzheimer’s Australia.

Some of the chapters include topics such as The Flicks, Cracker Night, Jargon and Dunnies and the Dunny Men, ensuring there is much to be remembered and laughed about. This historical memoir also documents everyday aspects of day-to-day life in the 1930s, making it ideal for listening to with children and grandchildren, and a timely reminder to the children of the 21st century how difficult times could be.

Aniseed balls, billy carts and clothes lines is a humourous look back at a time when life was difficult but laughs were many, and very much appreciated.

Copies of the audio book can be purchased by contacting Pamela Van der Kooy, email .

A perfect Christmas gift for those that are difficult to buy for.

RRP: $40 (audio book) $25 (paperback) includes p&h
Roly Chapman

Tracks across Australia

For many years, trains were the only means of travel across Australia. Brought together for the first time is a collection of historical photographs that will delight all train buffs.

Trains and railways of Australia is an exclusive collection of photos by renown railway photographer, Jim Powe. The collection spans from the 1940s to the present day, offering a true representation of how railways have shaped Australia as a nation.

Each state is represented by a collection of photographs from the area and an introduction on how railways have grown, or declined, in and around the state. As a guide to what is being portrayed, each photograph has a details caption, giving a narrative that enhances the pictorial story.

For those who have a detailed knowledge or a keen interest in trains and railways, Trains and railways of Australia, will give a unique perspective into a mode of transport that continues to be a cornerstone of technology in Australia, and a key element of continued growth as a nation. And if you only interest is that you once had an enjoyable day trip by train, then there’s a good chance that you may be able to find an image of that journey in this book.

For train buffs and novices alike.

RRP: $49.95
Jim Powe
New Holland

One man’s junk…

eBaying items you no longer need or want may seem like an easy way to make money but did you know that on 40& of listings actually sell?

Jane Seaholme has made a successful career from selling on eBay and her book, Selling Stuff on eBay, is a useful reference for those wishing to follow in her footsteps. Unable to get a job in her own town, Janeyx, as she’s more commonly known, looked at what she had around her and decided to start selling on eBay. Her sales rate is 80% of what she lists making her an extremely successful eBayer and giving her a career that she doesn’t have to leave the house, or even get out of her pyjamas, to do.

Selling stuff on eBay is not about getting rich quick; it’s how to sustain an income of a couple of hundred dollars each week. The book steers clear of in-depth technical jargon, instead giving practical advice on how to get started, how best to word your listing, when is the best time to post your listing and many more handy tips.

Janeyx also explains payment methods, postage, terms and conditions and which items are prohibited for sale by eBay. There is also some information on tax and licensing if you plan to start a business and link to other useful sites.

You can purchase Selling stuff on eBay via Janeyx’s website, which will up and running on 2 November 2008. Her website will give you a link to eBay, where you can purchase the book. You will need to register for eBay, but you will have completed the first step on your way to becoming a seller.

For more information, you can call Janeyx on 0417 142 478, email her at or visit her website, www.janeyx.com

A handy little guide to get you started.

Jane Seaholme
RRP: $12.95
Self published

Foodie’s guide to Melbourne

For many, Melbourne is the culinary capital of Australia, with many of the cafes and restaurants the city now boasts classed as dining institutions.

Thanks to its largely European heritage, Melbourne offers a feast of flavours and dining experiences hard to trump by many of its culinary counterparts. Flavours of Melbourne celebrates the food history of the city, from before the Europeans set foot on the shores of Australia.

Charmaine O’Brien introduces many of the curious characters behind the best-known cafes and restaurants the city has to offer. They provide humourous insights into the ever-changing face of Melbourne’s food society, and the few stubborn institutions that have remained the same for many years.

With the changing cultural history of Australia as a nation comes the influx of new foods, recipes and cooking techniques. Recipes from different cultural backgrounds such as French, Chinese, and of course, Italian pepper this book. The stories of where such recipes came from and how they have been adapted to suit tastes and availability of ingredients are fascinating.

O’Brien was born in Melbourne in the mid 1960s and grew up with the food offerings of Anglo grandparents, and her mother’s explorations into ethnic foods. She trained as a chef and her passion for food has seen her travel the world and undertake many jobs in the food and catering industry.

A real foodie’s delight.

Charmaine O’Brien
RRP: $39.95
Wakefield Press

Celebrating commonsense

It may be common, but it’s often hard to find. Sense, that is. And to locate it in a basic cookbook is such a delight. The Commonsense Cookery Book was first published in 1914 – and has sold over one million copies. It’s now available in a collector’s edition – and offers the best overview of basic cookery any household could want.

Many cookbooks promise to cover the basics, but this one really does. It was published in 1914 by a group of NSW cookery teachers who wished to share their recipes – and more importantly – their skills with those wishing to learn more about food preparation. Some 94 years later this book is astonishingly relevant with measurements, temperatures, the healthy eating pyramid, cuts of meat and all the techniques you need to know to serve healthy, tasty meals for one, two, three or more. Stay tuned to future issues of AboutSeniors enews for some recipes from this great “bible”.

Informative and substantial reference for any kitchen Home Economics Institute of Australia RRP $29.99 Harper Collins

Hidden Australia

Australia is a huge land mass which boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and stunning landscapes, and much, much more.

The rest of the world may consider Australia a far-off nation that is home to some of the most dangerous creatures alive, but 1015 things to see and do in Australia proves that this great land is rich in diversity and history and has more than enough attractions to keep tourists coming back time and time again.

As with the inhabitants of many countries, Australians may get a little blasé about what is in their own backyard but, as Bruce Elder proves, Australia has plenty to offer its own countrymen. Trying to see all 1015 attractions may prove difficult but, for those with limited time or resources, Elder has compiled a list of 50 items which he considers “must sees” for all Australians, From the fairly predictable Uluru and Sydney Opera House, to the rather more quirky Big Banana and the Bungle Bungles.

As an award-winning journalist, Elder has travelled extensively throughout Australia, covering every nook and cranny to ensure that its people, cultures, places and landscapes are researched thoroughly before being deemed worthy of inclusion in this extensive list.

The book is split into handy sections covering oceans, nature, mountains, people and history, to name a few. This record of images and descriptions of some of the most alluring places in Australia will have you packing your bags and hitting the road in an instant.

A great starting point for any Australian adventure.

Bruce Elder
RRP: $29.95
New Holland