Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Sea Captain’s Wife – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia It really is a given, that a new Jackie French book means that all other books are put on hold (even if half-read!) until I have devoured the newest. And that’s exactly what has happened over the past few days. Just under 500 pages flew by over a couple of nights as…

  • Our Family Dragon: a Lunar New Year story – Rebecca Lim/Cai Tse

    Allen & Unwin November 2023 ISBN:9781761180637 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:Albert Street Books RRP: $24.99 Of course we have had a few wonderful picture books focusing on Lunar New Year over the years, many of them in constant rotation for this celebration. But how lovely is it to have an exciting new one that, to my mind,…

  • A Joyful Life – Rosemary Karinki, with Summer Land

    Hardie Grant March 2023 ISBN:9781741177886 Publisher:Hardie Grant Explore RRP: $34.99 I’ve been reading a lot of kids’ books the past few weeks so to have a couple of bios/memoirs has been good. I’ve had this one sitting to one side (i.e. moving box!) for a few months, it was wonderful to finally get to it…

  • The Countess from Kirribilli – Joyce Morgan

    Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781760875176 Imprint: Allen & Unwin RRP: $32.99 I was born and bred in Sydney and, though no expert or fount of all knowledge, not such a slouch when it comes to the history of my home town and yet I had never heard of Elizabeth von Armin. This vivacious, talented and…

  • The Ghost of Howler’s Beach (The Butter O’Bryan Mysteries #1)  – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia February 2020 ISBN: 9781460757727 ISBN 10: 1460757726 List Price: 16.99 AUD   To most folks Butter O’Bryan would seem a lucky boy.  In a time when many people are destitute and homeless he lives in a large and comfortable house, known as the Very Small Castle, he has three eccentric but loving aunts –  known…

  • The Long Distance  Playlist – Tara Eglington

    Harper Collins Australia January 2020 ISBN: 9781460755211 ISBN 10: 1460755219 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU RRP: $19.99 Well if you told me I would absolutely fall in love with a YA (primarily) romantic novel I would no doubt have scoffed loudly. However, this is just delightful and so so much more than just romance. Eglington explores contemporary culture, family…

  • Holier than Thou – Laura Buzo

    Before I started this blog, I wrote this review of Laura Buzo’s second novel. I am reposting here as I’m about to review another of this terrific author’s books. Stay posted! Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781741759983. Recommended for Year 11/12 students. Wonderfully funny, heartbreakingly poignant, undeniably bursting with life, Laura Buzo’s second novel Holier…

  • Racing the Moon – Michelle Morgan

    http://www.michellejmorgan.com.au/ ISBN: 9781743316351 Australian Pub.: January 2014 Publisher: Allen & Unwin Imprint: A & U Children Subject: Children’s fiction Suitable for ages: 12-14 RRP $12.99 I I received this in a pile of books from Allen & Unwin later in the year and picked it up last week when doing the X-mas reshuffle thing. It’s…

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