Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Last Rites: Never-before-told stories of a legendary life from the rock ‘n’ roll hellraiser – Ozzy Osbourne.

    Hachette Imprint: Sphere Oct 7, 2025 | 9781408724064 | RRP $34.99 Of course, he’s not really Halloween at all, but for someone known as The Prince of Darkness and famed for his outrageousness, wildness and powerful lyrics, it seems appropriate to put this review into this week’s collection. I’m saying it openly. I’m not a metal fan – never…

  • It’s a Scorcher!: Tales of the Australian Summer – William McInnes

    Hachette Australia Oct 14, 2025 | 9780733652912 | RRP $34.99 I thought I had missed out on a ticket to William McInnes’ event here in Redcliffe but then was lucky – someone dropped out so I was at the top of the waiting list and scored. And even luckier, when I requested this new title of his, Hachette generously…

  • Powerful like a Dragon – Christopher Cheng. Illustrated by Jacqueline Tam

    Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group April 2025 ISBN: 978-1-250-82939-9 | Price: $18.99 US / $24.99 CAN Pan Macmillan Australia ISBN: 9781250829399 Format: Hardback Pub Date: 29/07/2025 Firstly, I want to thank Christopher for asking me if I would like to review this amazing book, about which he and I first had some conversation around this time last year. Secondly,…

  • Yoko’s Diary – by Paul Ham. Translated by Debbie Edwards.

    Harper Collins Australia July 2025 SHORTLISTED in the 2014 CBCA Awards SHORTLISTED in the 2014 NSW Premier’s History Awards I’m embarrassed to say that though I’ve had this book in every single one of my primary libraries, as far as I can recall, I had never read it. But it is a welcome new edition…

  • A Different Kind of Power: a memoir – Jacinda Ardern

    Penguin Australia First up, I’m going to say a big thank you to Penguin, especially the indefatigable Dot Tonkin, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this. As someone who admired this young woman as a trailblazer, it has been interesting to see her in close-up, so to speak. I think for many…

  • The Gift of a Good Death Our palliative dementia story – Lisa Twigg

    November 2024 I had great pleasure in reviewing Lisa’s first book 80 Years Without Dementia last year, not only because she is one of our friends from Redcliffe SLS but also because her story touches so many lives. This is particularly so for those of us who are older and have had the heartache of…

  • Maggie: in her own words – Maggie Tabberer

    Awards: Short-listed, APA Book Design Awards, Best Designed Book (Hardback), 1998, AU Short-listed, Book Data/ABA Book of the Year Award, 1998, AU Allen & Unwin January 2025 ISBN: 9781761472916 RRP: $34.99 TV and fashion personality Maggie Tabberer dies aged 87 When Maggie Tabberer died in early December last year, I felt her loss almost personally,…

  • Goldfields Girl: the Clara Saunders Story – Elaine Forrestal

    Fremantle Press February 2025 ISBN: 9781760994969 RRP: $17.99 When Goldfields Girl was first published in 2020, I acquired it for our collection and then never got around to reading it. Now it’s been reissued with this [IMO] far more engaging cover [I think it just illustrates Clara’s jaunty and resilient personality more] and I’m very happy…

  • Three Dresses – Wanda Gibson

    UQP April 2024 ISBN: 9780702266355 RRP: $26.99 As soon as I saw this book, I wanted to review it as I knew it would be both beautiful and poignant. I’ve not been to Hopevale or Woorabinda, only as far as Cairns, but I know people who have both been and worked there. I have though,…

  • The Wonder of Small Things (Young Readers edition) – Vince Copley with Lea McInerney

    Harper Collins Australia January 2024 Most readers of this blog know that my kids and grandies are Aboriginal – Wiradjuri mob. For my thirty+ years of teaching, I’ve been a learner of cross-cultural knowledge, embedded these perspectives in my teaching programmes and availed myself of every opportunity to find out more. But, I’ll be honest,…