Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Triple Treat: Jacqueline Harvey, Belinda Murrell and R. A. Spratt

      Such fun to open parcels with books from the most popular authors in my library – and my literary circle! The titles from this trio are highly sought after among my readers and there is always much exchanging in the returns line up with ‘She had this but I want to borrow it next’.…

  • Collins Modern Classics: Thomasina (: the Cat who Thought She was a God) – Paul Gallico

    ISBN: 9780007395187 ISBN 10: 0007395183 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB RRP $14.99   When I was little and even a bit more than little my mother often took me to the movies. Usually we saw Disney films or musicals – our favourites. I’m guessing it was around 1964 and I was eight years old when we went to see…

  • A Superb Surfeit of Dame Lynley Dodd

    Sometimes procrastination pays off. I have been putting off reviewing the scads of picture books I have piled up ready for the holidays. How pleased that Dame Lynley Dodd’s newest offering is one of these because this week I was thrilled to spend not one but two sessions in the presence of this living treasure…

  • Wonder – the movie

    Like many others I’m so keen to see the movie based on R. J. Palacio’s stellar book which I reviewed some time ago. I’m hearing amazing responses from friends who have already seen it but you may perhaps like to watch this as well.  I say again, tiramisu.

  • Binge Reading Jackie French

    The upside of injuring both your legs badly at the same time is that you have a very legitimate excuse to stay in bed reading a lot. And fortunately my lovely friends at Harper Collins must have had some kind of premonition because the day before my accident I had received a plethora amazing books…

  • Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables – Tim Harris….and Mr Bambuckle himself!!!

    Tim Harris, illus by James Hart Random House Released September 2017 Paperback ISBN 9780143785859 RRP $14.99 Tim Harris exploded onto the children’s literature scene quite literally with his Exploding Endings books. Now he brings us a true hero of the classroom, Mr Bambuckle. The children of Room 12 B are wary of their expected new…

  • The Getaway : Diary of a Wimpy Kid #12 – Jeff Kinney

    Penguin Australia 9780143782797 November 7, 2017 Puffin 224 pages RRP $14.99   Well as if there isn’t always enough going on for the Heffleys on a regular day-to-day basis their holiday plans go completely awry and full on pandemonium ensues!   The Heffley parentals have decided that they are going to completely avoid the stress…

  • La Belle Sauvage : The Book of Dust #1 – Phillip Pullman

    Penguin Random House 9780857561084 October 19, 2017 David Fickling Books   RRP $32.99   Dear Philip Pullman It is magnificent! How long must I wait for volume 2? Yours Sincerely Me   I don’t think I would have been alone when, upon finding out earlier this year that Philip Pullman was publishing a new ‘prequel’…

  • The Explorer – Katherine Rundell

    Bloomsbury September 2017 ISBN 9781408885284 RRP $16.99 We all know some young explorers; the ones who love adventure, the ones who watch Bear Grylls for the survival tips, the ones who pore over atlases and illustrated books of exotic places.  These are the ones who will adore this new book from Katherine Rundell with its…

  • To Siri, with Love – Judith Newman

    Hachette AUG 29, 2017 | 9781784298319 | RRP $32.99 Subtitled: A mother, her autistic son and the kindness of machines, when I first looked at this I felt confronted because of the subject matter. For those who know, my Small has various issues some of which closely align to children on the spectrum. This was hilarious and poignant, lively…