Staff Reviews

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Read about the latest items the library has added to its collections.

Reviews

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Sunraysia Daily Library Column - 30 March 2024

The last of the apple blossom  

The summer of songbirds by Kristy Woodson

Available in print and large print

Four women come together to save the summer camp that changed their lives and rediscover themselves. Nearly thirty years ago, in the wake of a personal tragedy, June Moore bought Camp Holly Springs and turned it into a thriving summer haven for girls. But now, June is in danger of losing the place she has sacrificed everything.

June's niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, during a fateful summer at camp. They've all helped each other through hard things, from heartbreak and loss to substance abuse and unplanned pregnancy, and the three are inseparable even in their thirties. But when attorney Daphne is confronted with a relationship from her past--and a work issue becomes personal--she is faced with an impossible choice. Lanier, meanwhile, is torn between the commitment she made to her fiancé and the one she made to her first love. And when a big secret comes to light, she finds herself at odds with her best friend...and risks losing the person she loves most in the process.

But nothing is more important to these songbirds than Camp Holly Springs. When the women learn their favourite place is in danger of closing, they band together to save it, sending them on a journey that promises to open the next chapters in their lives. 

 

The dark  

Digging for victory at Rookery House by Rosie Hendry

Available in large print

It’s March 1941, and after Flo Butterworth loses everything in Manchester’s Christmas Blitz, she decides to leave the area and join the Women’s Land Army. Putting the past firmly behind her, she arrives at Rookery House in Norfolk hoping for a new start and a chance to do the gardening work she loves. The grip of war has intensified and growing more food is vital to keep the nation going. Thea buys an extra field to grow crops, and in the village, her sister Prue leads members of The Mother’s Day Club and Women’s Institute as they take on a derelict allotment.

Meanwhile the construction of a nearby aerodrome disrupts village life and brings even more new residents to Rookery House, including Hettie’s difficult sister, Ada. With Rookery House now bursting at the seams, will it still be the happy home it’s always been? When an enemy plane crashes nearby, Flo must help German airmen who might have been directly responsible for her family loss. She quickly finds that her heart-breaking past cannot so easily be forgotten. Can she do the right thing? And will her new friends help her move on towards a brighter future?

 

Wrapped in rain  

50 ways to save the honey bees: (and change the world) by J. Scott Donahue

Available in print

Help save the bees – and the world – with these simple and considerate ways! 

Did you know that honey bees pollinate a third of the food we eat, but that a third of them are dying off each year.  You have the power to keep them buzzing for years to come. For decades, bees and bee colonies have been disappearing around the world, worrying beekeepers, ecologists, and farmers. But it’s easy help save and revitalize your local bees, as well as the local ecosystem, with these 50 ways.

Simple contributions can start with sharing a link on social media or buying local, organic foods, while more intense steps can include gardening, building habitats and beekeeping! If you’ve ever wondered what you can do to help, here is the best place to start!

 

Wrapped in rain

 

 
 

Pickle and ferment by Susan Crowther and Julie Fallone

Available in print

60 classic and unique recipes for probiotic-rich ferments such as pickled veggies, salsas, kimchi, sourdough, and more! Fermenting, in the simplest definition, is changing food into a healthier version of itself—a version that basically stays fresh, forever. Sounds kind of magical, doesn’t it?

This book explores a specific type of raw pickling or live-fermentation. Live-fermented foods are the healthiest to eat and easiest to make. Live-fermentation is simpler than canning and the food lasts longer than freezing. This technique saves time and energy, as it cuts down on heating and cooking. Live-fermented foods do not require refrigeration. Plus, they can stay fresh indefinitely. In addition to saving energy costs, fermenting increases a food’s health benefits. Live-fermented foods are healthier than their original raw products. Vital nutrients and vitamins—often destroyed with heating—are not only kept alive but improved. And other nutrients are actually created during fermentation.

The authors, Susan Crowther and Julie Fallone offer step-by-step instructions for pickling and fermenting all kinds of produce from carrots to garlic to sweet potatoes, plus offers recipes for Live-Fermented Hot Sauce, Fermented Hot Honey, and more unique and healthy goodies, from kombucha jun tea, to chocolate sauerkraut cake. 

 

Wrapped in rain

 

 
 

Hello, fears: crush your comfort zone and become who you're meant to be by Michelle Poler

Available in print

Are you ready to break free from the grip of fear and embark on a journey of personal growth and empowerment?

This growth mindset personal development book from acclaimed speaker and influencer, Michelle Poler, will help you push out of your comfort zone and find authentic happiness. With a captivating blend of vulnerability, humour, and actionable insights, Michelle shares her story of conquering 100 fears in 100 days and provides a roadmap to help you navigate the uncharted territories of your fears. From public speaking and taking risks to facing rejection and embracing vulnerability, Hello, Fears equips you with the tools and mindset needed to set life-changing goals, embrace courage, and live a life without limits. Overcome the fear of failure and transform setbacks into stepping stones for success. 

Whether you're struggling with fear in your career, relationships, or personal aspirations, Hello, Fears provides the guidance and motivation you need to break free and live a life driven by courage, resilience, and purpose. Embrace the transformative power of fear and unlock your true potential today!

 

 

Sunraysia Daily Library Column - 16 March 2024

The last of the apple blossom  

Taking to the field: a history of Australian women in science by Jane Carey

Available in print

If asked to name an Australian woman scientist from the past, very few could. Let's change that.

Histories of Australian science largely overlook women. Their absence gives the impression that, until recently, there were no Australian women scientists. But this is far from true: women formed a much larger proportion of the scientific community from the 1900s to the 1940s in Australia than in Britain or the United States, and numbers have only grown since.

Why don’t women scientists make it into history books? Because women’s work is less cited than men's and more likely to be forgotten. Taking to the Field is the first comprehensive history of Australian women in science from the colonial period to contemporary times. This untold story shows that women have played a greater role than is commonly recognised. 

 

The dark  

A history of the world in 21 Women by Jenni Murray

Available in eAudiobook

Jenni Murray gives the lie to Thomas Carlyle's infamous declaration that 'the history of the world is but the biography of great men.' Women have played just as great a role in the story of humankind, only for their own tales to be marginalised, censored and forgotten. Their names should be shouted from the rooftops.

Marie Curie discovered radium and revolutionised medical science. Empress Cixi transformed China. Frida Kahlo turned an unflinching eye on life and death. In A History of the World in 21 Women, Jenni Murray celebrates the lives, struggles and achievements of some of the most extraordinary people to have ever walked the Earth. They ruled empires, they led nations. They were pioneers in the arts and geniuses of science. They led while others followed, spoke truth to power and fought for change. All left behind an indelible mark.

 

Wrapped in rain  

Gigorou: it’s time to reclaim beauty by Sasha Kutabah Sarago

Available in print, CD and eBook

'You're too pretty to be Aboriginal' is a shocking statement Sasha Kutabah Sarago experienced at a young age. In her 2020 TEDx talk, 'The (de)colonising of beauty', Sasha shares how she reclaimed her femininity by redefining beauty. In challenging our modern-day concepts of beauty from a First Nations woman's perspective, she asks, does beauty liberate you, or is it time to rethink beauty?

Gigorou, meaning 'beautiful' in Jirrbal her grandmother's language is an extension of this conversation. In this intimately fierce, funny and reflective memoir, Sasha retraces her footsteps as a beauty assistant, model and magazine editor to where beauty began over 60,000 years ago. It is through the voices of her matriarchs, the creation stories of Oolana, The First Rainbow and Majal, and the spirit of Barangaroo, Truganini and Patyegarang that her healing begins and authenticity arrives.

 

Wrapped in rain

 

 
 

My Tidda, My Sister: stories of strength and resilience from Australia’s First Women by Marlee Silva

Available in print

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and society has existed on this continent for millennia. It's a culture that manifests itself as the ultimate example of resilience, strength and beauty. It’s also a culture that has consistently been led by its women.

My Tidda, My Sister shares the experiences of many Indigenous women and girls, brought together by author and host of the Tiddas 4 Tiddas podcast, Marlee Silva. The voices of First Nations’ women that Marlee weaves through the book provide a rebuttal to the idea that 'you can’t be what you can’t see'. For non-Indigenous women, it demonstrates the diversity of what success can look like and offers an insight into the lives of their Indigenous sisters and peers.

 

Wrapped in rain

 


 

This woman’s work by Kim Gordon

Available in print

This book is for and about the women who kicked in doors, as pioneers of their craft or making politics central to their sound: those who offer a new way of thinking about the vast spectrum of women in music. This Woman's Work: Essays on Music is edited by iconic musician Kim Gordon and esteemed writer Sinead Gleeson and features an array of talented contributors, including Anne Enright, Fatima Bhutto, Jenn Pelly, Rachel Kushner, Juliana Huxtable, Leslie Jamison, Liz Pelly, Maggie Nelson, Margo Jefferson, Megan Jasper, Ottessa Moshfegh, Simone White, Yiyun Li, and Zakia Sewell.

 

Sunraysia Daily Library Column - 9 March 2024

The last of the apple blossom  

Rambling man : my life on the road by Billy Connolly

Available in print and large print

When Billy set out from Glasgow as a young man he never looked back. He played his banjo on boats and trains, under trees, and on top of famous monuments. He danced naked in snow, wind and fire. He slept in bus stations, under bridges and on strangers' floors. He travelled by foot, bike, ship, plane, sleigh - even piggy-backed - to get to his next destination. Billy has wandered to every corner of the earth and believes that being a Rambling Man is about more than just travelling - it's a state of mind.

Rambling Men and Women are free spirits who live on their wits, are interested in people and endlessly curious about the world. They love to play music, make art or tell stories along the way but, above all, they have a longing in their heart for the open road. In his joyful new book, Billy explores this philosophy and how it has shaped him, and he shares hilarious new stories from his lifetime on the road. 

 

The dark  

The first ladies by Marie Benedict

Available in large print

The daughter of formerly enslaved parents, Mary McLeod Bethune refuses to back down as white supremacists attempt to thwart her work. She marches on as an activist and an educator, and as her reputation grows she becomes a celebrity, revered by titans of business and recognized by U.S. Presidents. Eleanor Roosevelt herself is awestruck and eager to make her acquaintance. Initially drawn together because of their shared belief in women's rights and the power of education, Mary and Eleanor become fast friends confiding their secrets, hopes and dreams--and holding each other's hands through tragedy and triumph.

When Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected president, the two women begin to collaborate more closely, particularly as Eleanor moves toward her own agenda separate from FDR, a consequence of the devastating discovery of her husband's secret love affair. Eleanor becomes a controversial First Lady for her outspokenness, particularly on civil rights. And when she receives threats because of her strong ties to Mary, it only fuels the women's desire to fight together for justice and equality. This is the story of two different, yet equally formidable, passionate, and committed women, and the way in which their singular friendship helped form the foundation for the modern civil rights movement.

 

Wrapped in rain  

The Orphanage girls reunited by Mary Wood

Available in large print

Ellen: Abandoned by her father for the second time, left scarred from the orphanage, Ellen finally finds happiness and hope - reunited with her long-lost gran. But it cannot compensate for being torn apart from her beloved friends Ruth and Amy. When a devastating encounter leaves Ellen broken and desperate, she is forced to fight her past demons.

Ruth: Ruth has found peace, building a new life as an actress surrounded by new friends. But still, she longs to be with Ellen and Amy after everything they endured together in the orphanage. Amy was shipped to Canada with hundreds of other orphans, what hope have they of finding her? One wish comes true when Ruth's acting career leads her to Ellen.

No sooner has the dust settled, war is on the horizon. Friendship locked them into each other's her hearts forever. Will they find Amy? Can The Orphanage Girls ever unite?

 

Wrapped in rain

 

 
 

The safe house by Cameron Ward

Available in large print and eAudiobook

When Jess accepts an offer to caretake a luxury property in the Australian outback, the solo trip is just what she needs. But Jess isn't as alone as she thinks. As bushfires rage, strangers start showing up to seek refuge. To keep them safe, Jess must let them in. Quickly, the guests begin to panic. Phone lines go down. All exits are cut off. And as the fires close in, tensions in the group rise. And when the first guest goes missing, Jess realises that someone in the house isn't who they say they are. The danger is already inside...

 

Sunraysia Daily Library Column - 2 March 2024

The last of the apple blossom  

The Little Veggie Patch Co by Fabian Capomolla and Mat Pember

Available in print 

Lots of fun, and packed full of all the information you'll need, this colourful guide is for anyone interested in growing their own food.

Fabian Capomolla and Mat Pember run a successful business installing edible gardens: in polystyrene boxes on balconies, in crates you can put anywhere in your backyard, or by creating no-dig, raised garden beds. After years of helping clients set up spaces to grow their own fruit and vegetables, they believe anyone can create their own little edible garden, in most any area. And in this easy-to-use guide they show you how simple it is!

Fundamentals such as Soil, Climate, Watering, Composting, Worm Farms, Saving and Sowing Seeds, and Raised Garden Beds and Crates are all discussed comprehensively - each with a fully illustrated step-by-step activity to help you create your own little veggie patch.

The complete A-Z of Edible Plants gives you vital information on more than 40 vegetables (and fruit trees), including detailed planting information, ongoing maintenance advice, tips on best companions and when to harvest. And the family activities scattered throughout the book will get the kids involved too, whether it's making a scarecrow, building a spud tower or growing beans in a bean can.

 

The dark  

Stress free lunchbox by Sophia Young

Available in print

It's an everyday dilemma in households across the country- what to pack the kids for lunch that's quick and easy to put together, but also healthy and so yum they won't leave anything behind. Stress no more with these great ideas for prep and pack lunches. Start with the prep, aiming to get as much done as you can ahead of time - baking, making sandwiches, bliss balls, washing fruit, cutting vegies - then store them in the freezer, pantry and fridge until needed.

When it's time to pack, it's super quick assembly grabbing a selection of pre-made items to fill each box compartment. Watch out, the kids might even want to get in on the fun!

 

Wrapped in rain  

This book may save your life by Dr Khan Rajan

Available in print

The hilarious, myth-busting survival guide to the human body from TikTok's favourite General Surgeon.

Though the odds are stacked against us, the human body has an extraordinary tendency to survive...

Full of hard-learned lessons and health hacks from Dr Karan Rajan's years working the hospital wards, This Book May Save Your Life is a head-to-toe ode to our amazing bodies - warts and all - that will help you to worry less and live better for longer.

Here, Dr Karan explains the weird and wonderful bodily functions that keep us going and offers practical advice to help you thrive when things go wrong.

 

Wrapped in rain

 

 
 

Growing an edible landscape: how to transform your outdoor space into a food garden by Gary Pilarchik and Chiara D'Amore

Available in print

Converting unused areas of the landscape into food gardens helps mitigate the effects of climate change, reduces food miles, improves food security, and allows us to be a better steward of our little slice of the planet. But how do you get started? Which plants do you choose? Is there a series of best practices to follow to successfully convert your yard into an edible oasis so that it’s not just high-yielding, but it’s also attractive? Growing an Edible Landscape is here to help answer all of these questions and many more.

Setting up an edible landscape is much more than just placing a few tomato-filled raised beds in the middle of the lawn, though for some gardeners, this might be a logical place to start. The eventual goal, however, is to have a landscape filled with layers of fruitful plants combined together to produce edible harvests for as many months of the year as possible. To reach that end, there’s much to plan and do to ensure your success.

 

Sunraysia Daily Library Column - 24 February 2024

The last of the apple blossom  

Meditation for the real world by Ann Swanson

Available in print 

Did you know that meditation can help you feel better - both mentally and physically - starting right now?

No matter how busy you are, wherever you are, your age, or what you are going through, meditation offers simple, fast relief and can support you in your day-to-day life. Through science-backed, practical and accessible guidance, this book will show you how meditation can work for you.

Balm your soul and body with over 75 can-do meditation techniques to build into your daily routine. Whether you want to practise on a mat or take your experience elsewhere – when walking, running and swimming; using sound and music; with art and creativity – discover which method works best for you.

Meditation for the Real World will also address specific moments of need, such as how to find calm before a stressful situation such as a flight; to enhance focus before a big presentation; to reduce inflammation and pain; and much more, each with the science to support the practice.

 

The dark  

Tattoo : 1730s – 1970s by Henk Schiffmacher

Available in print

One part history book, one part art book, and one part fascinating memoir, this book is an overview of more than two centuries of tattoo history intermixed with an intimate look at the lives of tattoo artists, and the personal struggles and triumphs, occupational hazards, and artistic courage that have defined so much of this history.

For the last forty years, Henk Schiffmacher has poured his heart and soul into his collection, amassing tattoo drawings, designs, photographs, and artifacts from around the world. Each of the book’s chapters features many never-before-seen highlights from this collection and includes lithographs, etchings, tattooing instruments, original drawings, and tattoo designs known in the business as flash, among them extremely rare vintage flash sheets from major players in early Western tattooing.

The vastness and variety of tattooing around the world is chronicled in the book’s hundreds of images, including the indigenous tattooing of the Maori and South Pacific islanders, the ancient traditions of Asia, and the origins of old-school Western tattooing in Europe and the United States. The book also features a dozen original illustrations by Schiffmacher in his inimitable style.

Schiffmacher brings a fascinating perspective to tattoo history through his personal reflections and wild tales of adventure. In this book, we learn not only about the history of tattooing, but also about the adventures behind the making of one of the largest tattoo collections in the world, by a self-taught tattoo artist in love with the art and its innovators.

 

Wrapped in rain  

Norse mythology : the gods, goddesses, and heroes handbook by Kelsey A. Fuller-Shafer

Available in print

Learn more about your favourite Norse gods, goddesses, and heroes with this collection of profiles that share the real stories behind the characters.

With characters from Norse myths coming to life on the big and small screens, and in the pages of new and exciting fiction, this guide can give you all the details you need to understand your favourite heroes, villains, and powerful deities. With comprehensive entries that outline each character’s names, roles, related symbols, and foundational myths, you can get to know the roots of these personas, and better understand the new stories we tell about them today.

 

Wrapped in rain

 

 
 

Create authentic Kemonomimi characters by Shugao

Available in print

Learn to create amazing kemonomimi with authentic animal features and accessories!

Long, swishing tails and pointy animal ears or maybe antlers, horns, wings and feathers if you prefer - this is the ultimate furry handbook for manga and anime artists as well as cosplay enthusiasts. Choose your favourite animal then fuse its salient features with a fabulous human form and animal-specific clothing.

Shugao shows you how! She teaches you to combine authentic animal details with original fashions to create new and exciting characters. And she provides hundreds of amazing examples.

Whether you're inspired by furry characters or looking for a way to draw authentic kemonomimi, this is the book you have to get!

 

Sunraysia Daily Library Column - 17 February 2024

The last of the apple blossom  

Island girl to airline pilot by Sylvia McLeod

Available in print and large print

The incredible true story of Silva McLeod, the first Tongan woman to become an airline pilot, told with frankness and wit by Silva herself.

A Tongan girl from a small island with little hope of anything beyond getting married and churning out babies, Silva’s dreams of becoming an airline pilot seemed just that – dreams – until Ken McLeod came into her life. He was an Australian hired to build a hospital on her island of Vava’u. She started dating him despite frowns from her family and, after a whirlwind romance, they were married in a traditional Tongan ceremony before moving to Australia.

Silva faced challenges in Australia as a woman of colour. Then came the biggest challenge of all – Ken was diagnosed with cancer. He said to Silva ‘Do you still want to fly? Life is too short, if you have a dream, go for it.’

Silva’s story is one of love, sacrifice, and perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Above all, it’s a story of what can happen if you dare to dream. 

 

The dark  

Auntie Rita by Rita Huggins and Jackie Huggins

Available in large print

Auntie Rita is an award-winning memoir of Aboriginal woman Rita Huggins.

Rita battled dispossession, poverty, personal tragedy and racism to create a rich meaningful life, lived out during the momentous changes of the 20th Century.

‘Most people call me Auntie Rita, whites as well as Aboriginal people. Auntie is a term of respect of our elder woman folk. You don’t have to be blood-related or anything. Everyone is kin. That’s a beautiful thing because in this way, no one is ever truly alone, they always have someone they can turn to.’ 

 

Wrapped in rain  

Wifedom by Anna Funder

Available in print, large print, eBook and eAudiobook

Looking for wonder and some reprieve from the everyday Anna Funder slips into the pages of her hero George Orwell. As she watches him create his writing self, she tries to remember her own…

And when she uncovers his forgotten wife, it’s a revelation. Eileen O’Shaughnessy’s literary brilliance shaped Orwell’s work and her practical nous saved his life. But why – and how – was she written out of the story?

Using newly discovered letters from Eileen to her best friend, Funder recreates the Orwell’s marriage, through the Spanish Civil War and WW11 in London. As she rolls up the screen concealing Orwell’s private life she is led to question what it takes to be a writer – and what it takes to be a wife.

Compelling and utterly original, Wifedom speaks to the amazing work of women everywhere today, while offering a breakthrough intimate view of one of the most important literary marriages of the twentieth century. It is a book that speaks to our present moment as much as it illuminates the past.