Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Looking for You: a Perfect Passion Company novel – Alexander McCall-Smith

    New South Books Polygon 9781846976933 / 1 June 2025 / AUD$39.99, NZD$44.99 After two weeks of being unwell and not reading (or reviewing) much beyond PBs and easy reads basically because of poor focus/fuzzy brain, it was just such a pleasure to escape into one of A. McC S’s gentle narratives filled with rich characters, very human emotions, a Read more

  • Dianne Wolfer – Double Delight.

    Dianne’s talent as a writer is undeniable and her ability to write prose fiction, narrative non-fiction and picture books with equal ease sets her apart. Here are the two latest examples of her outstanding ability to capture the essence of a story as well as place and time, both of these reverbrating with a true Read more

  • The Perfect Book – Jacinta Froud. Gökçe Yavaş Önal

    Art Director: Ozan TortopPublisher: Jacinta FroudBooksmith: Tadaa Book March 2023 ISBN: 9780646866604 RRP: $23.99 The Book Cow Read about this book’s genesis – it’s a story of determination and self-belief. This one is an older title that the lovely Jacinta Froud sent me in a package a while back and it’s a lot of fun Read more

  • In Plain Sight: Friday Barnes #13 – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia It was quite synchronistic to get #13 Friday Barnes arriving on Friday 13th, I thought! And, needless to say, I promptly gobbled it up over two nights with much snickering and snort laughing [No R. A. Spratt is ever read without the snaughling!]. The Friday romp continues with our intrepid but ‘special’ detective, Read more

  • A Lemon for Safiya – Jemima Shafei-Ongu. Illustrated by Nisaluk Chantanakom.

    Hachette Australia May 2025 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books | 9780734422224 | RRP $24.99 When Safiya spots an old lady sitting on the kerb, she feels worried for her. Her parents sense something is amiss as well. The family are quick to see that the old lady is confused, also that she has no English, and it is apparent by Read more

  • Hatch – Heidi Cooper Smith

    CSIRO Publishing Hardback | April 2025 | $ 26.99ISBN: 9781486318278 This gorgeous narrative non-fiction book makes me think of my Year 1s, 30 years ago as we had the fun of watching chickens hatch, and frogspawn develop, investigating how life begins for many creatures. I know there are many ELC and Prep classes that still Read more

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