Book: Blue Skies

Summary: Blue Skies tells the inspirational story of a young woman battling to save the family farm no matter what it takes. Armed with an honours degree in Agribusiness, Amanda Greenfield dreams of employing all the skills she's learnt at college to help her father turn the family farm from a debt-ridden, run-down basket case into a thriving enterprise.
Then tragedy strikes with the death of Amanda's mother in a car accident. Wracked by grief and guilt, and wearied by the long struggle to keep Kyleena a going concern, Amanda's father argues that they should sell up and get on with their lives away from the vagaries of drought and fluctuating stock and crop yields. Having inherited half the farm from her beloved mother, whom she also grieves for, Amanda determines to summon all her strength, grit and know how to save Kyleena. Along the way she faces mixed fortunes in both love and life...

I loved this book. Read it in a day. Similar to my favourite Rachael Treasure. Definitely trashy chick lit with an Aussie country focus - my fav! Story was very far fetched towards the end but who cares! Not me!

Book: Raw Voices

Summary: In RaW Voices: True Stories of Hardship and Hope, Vanessa Feltz meets men and women who have overcome great difficulties to change their worlds, and asks each to tell their own story.These extraordinary people were brought together from all walks of life by the BBC's Reading and Writing campaign (RaW), and they all show us what we can do to take control of our future, achieve new goals and reach ever-greater heights. These amazing real-life journeys are a tribute to the strength of the human spirit. Gripping, funny, sometimes sad and always inspiring, they will strike a chord in us all.

This was a very quick read and though it is great to hear about people overcoming adversity the quality of writing was pretty poor.

Book & Bookgroup: Tuesday's Child

Summary: Kathy and her partner had spent months agonising over whether to have a third child, then, at thirty-five, Kathy decided it would be now or never. When Caoimhe was born there was nothing to suggest anything was wrong. The following day a midwife baldly told Kathy her baby had Down syndrome. Tuesday’s Child tells of Kathy's journey through shock, anger and grief to, ultimately, a kind of acceptance. From the bombshell of diagnosis - the defining moment that was to reshape her life - she charts her initial obsession with 'Why?', the impact on the family, the often hurtful, ignorant responses of strangers (and friends), and, most importantly of all, the battle to reclaim Caoimhe as an individual, not just a 'Downs child'. As Kathy wrote in her original article: ‘I don’t know where she fits in society, but a family is a world in microcosm. And I do know that right here, right now, she fits perfectly within my arms.’ A compelling mix of heartfelt personal story and insightful journalism, Tuesday’s Child highlights society's attitudes to difference and the ongoing ethical debate about genetics, as well as examining the minefield that is prenatal testing.

I enjoyed the book but I think it was mainly due to my age and situation. When I fell pregnant with Adam I didn't undergo any prenatal testing and I still don't know if I would... It really opened up my eye to disability and the appalling way people are treated. Mixed reactions from bookgroup as most thought the author was wallowing in her grief. We all thought it would be interesting to hear her thoughts now as the child will be about 10. The book however was when she was still very little so it would be interesting to see how she how differently she handles the situation.

VALA 2010

I was lucky enough to go for a 1/2 day this year thanks to Health Libraries Inc. I went down on the train on Wednesday morning and did the Trade Exhibition (brilliant) then did sessions in the afternoon. Notes from the sessions I attended:

Developing Trove: by Warwick Cathro & Susan Collier

Trove, as in treasure trove
For the public and end user
Streamlined and integrated
Interactive, adding tags/reviews etc.
Looking at adding RSS feeds
Journals should come online in the second half of the year

Libraries at the network level: by Roy Tennant

API - method for one software application to communicate with another (ie. using book images in your catalogue from Amazon/Library Thing)

Linked data - naming things and stating relationships; expose data; link your data to other data.

Cloud computing - a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often visualised resources are provided as a service over the internet

Open source software:
Cons - no control; network space; connectivity/speed
Pros - no need to store; pay as go; no big upfront fees

Xerses: Worldcat(books), Metalib (journals)

Problem - the data needs to be continued and accessible in the future

WOW - very full on, a bit overwhelming and most went right over my head!

The Louvre DNP: by Stephanie Orlic

Using multi-lingual system
Using tagging/reviews/leaving impressions
Touch screen/Audio/PDA user guides?RFID tickets/3D design
Interactive, enlarge/zoom/step into painting
Deconstructing/reconstructing layer by layer - going beyond the naked eye

Top trends panel: user generated content

How to check user content. Is it authoritative? Should we use the info/tag?
Could treat them as "letters to the editor" rather than sensing them.
But still need a degree of control. ie. user must identify themselves.
Leave it as a comment.
Cannot "fact check" everything.
Users will then discuss amongst themselves and the authoritative answer will emerge.
However, moderation is required to an extent.
Don't look at barriers to including user content. Make it easier.
As long as the original library data cannot be changed and the user data is clearly highlighted then all is good.
Tags make this more accessible rather than using LCSH/DDC which can be outdated. This data can be used with synonym lists to make content more relevant/accessible.
Librarians make mistakes as they aren't necessarily subject specialists in the field they are cataloging.
You can track "search terms" with some systems then see what it is your users click through to.
Users only tag if it delivers something back to them.
LCSH/DDc is the seed/structure. Users can go from this starting point.


All in all a great (exhausting day).

Book: Friday Night Knitting Club

Summary: Juggling the demands of her yarn shop and single-handedly raising a teenage daughter has made Georgia Walker grateful for her Friday Night Knitting Club. Her friends are happy to escape their lives too, even for just a few hours. But when Georgia's ex suddenly reappears, demanding a role in their daughter's life, her whole world is shattered.

Luckily, Georgia's friends are there, sharing their own tales of intimacy, heartbreak, and miracle making. And when the unthinkable happens, these women will discover that what they've created isn't just a knitting club: it's a sisterhood.

I really enjoyed this read. Can't believe the ending though. Big shock! I mean this wasn't a wonderful piece of literature or anything but still a lovely story. Looking forward to the second in the series to see how everything turns out!

Books: The Tomorrow Series, 4 books

OMG - how could I never has read these before? I started them because they are Dan's favourites and they are absolutely brilliant! Am having a break after the first 4 and will go back and finish the last 3 soon. Just fantastic books. John Marsden rocks!

Book: Remember Me

Summary: When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed. Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does?


Ah, Kinsella at her best. Such a light easy read. Really enjoying her stuff. She is fast becoming one of my favourite chick lit authors.

2010....

2010 promises to be a massive year. Tomorrow I go back to work full time whilst my little boy stays at home with his dad for the next 6 months. On top of that my husband and I are both going back to Uni, he will work part-time too. I will also look after my friend's child for one day on the weekend. Then, there are the usual activities of life. Catching up with family, friends etc. Playing sport, taking Adam to Mother's Group, Storytime, Swim lessons etc. And that is just the beginning!! So I am sure 2010 will be fantastic and more. Stay tuned!

Uni: Organisational Behaviour

The 2nd semester of 2009 also saw me back at Uni doing my MBA. Just one subject though. Organisational behaviour. And I passed with flying colours. A Distinction. Yeah for me! 5 subjects down, 7 to go...

Books 2009, a year in review

WOW! I read 52 books. I am so proud of myself. Didn't think I'd get there in the end but good on me! I can't say 2010 will be the same. I think I will be lucky to read half that amount. Anyway, a quick overview of what I read:

Teenage, 7 books
Chick Lit, 14 books (4 of which were Aussie outback ones)
Crime, 6 books
General Fiction, 11 books
Non-fiction, 14 books

Hmm, any surprises? Not really. However one current disappointment. Bookgroup consists of 11 books for the year of which I only read 10. I have the December book to read still. Here's hoping I'll get there....

Books: Gossip Girl (books 5,6,7,8,9)

My final book bender of the year. Books 5 -9 of the Gossip Girl series. Complete and utter teenage trash which I just love! GG follows the lives of the teen elite in New York's upper east side as the finish the last year of school before heading off to college. I just love them. I read the first four years ago and now only two more to go.... bliss!

Book: Perfect Match

It was time for another Jodi Picoult and this one did not disappoint. Brilliant ending which I did not see coming! Perfect Match is the sad story about a young boy who was sexually abused. His mother, a District Attorney, shot the alleged killer in court. However, a bizarre DNA thing discovered that the Priest she killed wasn't actually the murderer. Anyway, it is quite complex but like all her books there is a major ethical dilemma, and the court case behind it. I just loved this one. Really recommend it!

Victorian Library Tech Group Xmas Dinner

Staying on the dinner theme, I headed down by myself a week later for the LT Dinner in Chapel St at the Temperence Hotel. I couldn't get Kim to come as she had to work so this time it was just me. Once again, lovely to chat to everyone as it was about 18 months since my last LT event appearance. Hopefully I will be back to some more events in 2010!

Health Libraries Inc Dinner

In late Novemeber I headed to Melbourne for the annual HLI Dinner, this time with Michelle. It is great to have another library person up here just to travel up and down that highway with. Plus I was a passenger this time which I love (nice car too!) Anyway, this year Stephen Due of Geelong was awarded the Life Membership and he has done so much for the Health Library Industry since I started that it was most deserving. Again it was also just great to catch up with everyone from the health library world (especially the lovely Laura) (you too Margaret but I saw you not too long ago). I will be back in the loop next year but it was just nice to touch base considering I hadn't seen the majority of them in over a year! Nice food too!!

Ballarat Library Industry dinner

In early November the library folk of Ballarat gathered once again for dinner. This time it was at the University of Ballarat Tafe restaurant called Prospects (I think). The food was amazing. What a brilliant 3 course meal for only $30. I never thought it would be so good but it was by far one of the best meals I have had in town (service a bit rusty though). Anyway, the food was not only good but so was the company. As I have been out of the loop for the majority of the year it was awesome just to catch up with everyone (mainly from my own work) just to see how everything and everyone was going!

Books: The Shopaholic Series (all 5 of them)!

Save Karyn reminded me of the Shopaholic books which I had yet to read. So I picked up the first one and couldn't put them down. I had number 2 also so read that, then texted my book nerd friends to see if they had number 3. I managed to get book 5 from Michelle (cheers babe) but was forced to go out and buy books 3 and 4 (Bookmooch would have been too slow). I raced through them loving them to bits!

The main character Becky Bloomwood is a financial journalist who is absolutely crap with her money and has massive amounts of debt (which no one knows about). All she does is shop - for clothes, shoes, handbags, makeup etc. Anyway, the first book sees her become a TV Financial journalist and she ends up with handsome PR mogul Luke Brandon. The second book sees her follow Luke to New York but the TV shows find out about all her debts and she loses her job but ends up as a personal shopper at Barneys. The third book sees her get married to Luke (twice - long story), the fourth sees her reunited with a sister she didn't know existed (but one who hates shops, consumerism etc.) and the fifth sees her pregnant and shopping for baby things. Apparently there is a sixth book underway.

I mean these are not the best written book ever, but they were awesome for escapism. Chick lit at its best. I love Becky even though at times I loathed her! Loved them. A great book bender!!

Book: Save Karyn

I really enjoyed reading this book and it actually sent me on a book bender (see next post). Anyway, true story, she had $25,000 in credit card debt and set up a website asking for donations. She details the bumpy road that got here there in the first place and how she got out of it. Just a great little read. Highly recommend it!

Book: Lucy Zeezou's Goal

Synopsis: Lucy's family is famous for two things in Italy: soccer and fashion. Her pushy mother wants her to model for the family's fashion label. Even worse, Lucy's father - captain of Milan's premier soccer team - agrees. But Lucy has been leading a double life, playing soccer on the side when she isn't modeling. When she and her mother move from Milan to Sydney to be closer to her grandparents, Lucy has the chance to come clean about who she really is and what she really wants to do with her life.

A teenage novel about a girl playing soccer. Loved it, although it was fairly simple and the team always won and outcomes were always in Lucy's favour. The author probably tried to pack to much in but it was a lovely easy read. Good for teenage girls.

Book: Cattleman's Daughter

Ah, my favourite Aussie author is back. I loved this book. Raced through it so quickly. Synopsis:

Born on the rugged Dargo High Plains and raised by her cattleman father, Emily Flanaghan has lost her way in life. Locked in an unhappy marriage in the suburbs, Emily misses the high country with a fierce ache. To make matters worse, her heritage is under threat. A government bill to evict the mountain cattlemen is about to be passed, and the Flanaghans could be banned from the mountains their family has looked after for generations.
When a terrible accident brings Emily to the brink of death, she realises she must return to the high country to seek a way forward in life; healing herself, her daughters and her land. Along the way, she finds herself falling in love with a man who works for the government - the traditional opposition of the cattlemen - new Parks ranger, Luke Bradshaw. But just as she sees that the land and Luke are the keys to regaining her life, Emily faces losing them both in the greatest challenge of all . . .
Set in the beautiful snowgum country of the Victorian Alps, The Cattleman's Daughter is a haunting and unforgettable tale of love, self-discovery and forgiveness.

LOVED IT!!! HURRY UP AND RELEASE THE NEXT ONE!

Book & Bookgroup: In my Skin

I really enjoyed this book for a few reasons. Firstly, it discussed a heroin addict and as I know one personally, it helped me understand them more. Secondly, the fact that she turned to prostitution was interesting as I had never really read a first hand account about it. It would be interesting to read an account from one who chose to sell themselves for other reasons, not just in order to get the money for the drugs. Thirdly, I enjoyed this because it was based in Melbourne, a place I grew up in. I always find that better as when they discuss areas you can really picture them. So all in all I enjoyed the book. HOWEVER, the ending was crap! This book was written not long after she got over her addiction but as we all know, the addiction will last a life time. I would love to see what she is up to now. It just all ended a little to nicely for me - worth the read though! We are yet to have bookgroup to discuss the book yet so not sure how the others will feel...

Book & Bookgroup: The Secret River

This is a wonderful book about a family transported from England to the new colony of New South Wales in the early 1800's. It is brilliantly written by Kate Grenville based on research into her own family history. Well worth reading to get an insight in early Australian history and the relationships between the new settlers and the indigenous population. Everyone at bookgroup loved it too. As my Australian history is a bit rusty it just really helped me think about what it would have been like, way back then. Though Grenville doesn't necessarily take sides, before even beginning the book the dedication reads "to the aboriginal people - past, present and future" which did make me feel that I had been preached to even though she gave both sides of the story. All in all though, it was just brilliant! A top read.

Book & Bookgroup: Notes from a Small Island

I have read other works of Bill Bryson and whilst I enjoyed this one, it wasn't one of his best. Bookgroup also had a split reaction. As someone else said: Bryson has a keen eye for the amusing and unusual details of British life and culture and he writes some very witty and memorable lines. I enjoyed much of this but at times it seemed he was stretching his idea a bit and the book became repetitive.

Book: Irish Girls are Back in Town

Generally speaking I don't do short stories, but the Irish and chick lit are awesome! There were some fantastic little stories in here but also some pretty crap ones. And, those crap ones tended to be by the better known authors! But, I still enjoyed it as I could pick this book up on and off without having to remember what I had already read.

Book: Change of Heart

June Nealon’s daughter needs a heart transplant, and the man on death row for killing the rest of her family wants to donate his. Can June accept his heart?

Had to go back for another Picoult! And again she didn't disappoint. I mean you now what you are going to get but I just love them. Nice easy, thought provoking reads.

Book & Bookgroup: People of the Book

People of the Book is based on a true story of a real book known as the Sarajevo Haggadah. This Hebrew prayer book was discovered in Sarajevo and probably was created in the 15th century. The author did amazingly scrupulous research, learning the tools of the trade of book restoration as well as the history of the Jews through the centuries. Through the first person narrative of an Australian book restorer, Hanna Heath, we get to learn about the city of Sarajevo and its recent violent history as well as the fascinating story of the book through the ages. These stories, of course, are fictional. Each one is complete in itself as the book passes from hand to hand through the centuries. I learned more than I ever thought was possible for me to know about the art of book restoring. And, there is also the story of Hanna Heath herself, as she comes to terms with her own personal history.

This was just such a wonderful book. It was a dedicated read though (ie. not 5 minutes here and there but chunks of time). I loved it as did my bookgroup. Just so fascinating and it reminds me that I know so little about world history and that sometimes I just feel so uneducated. Well worth the effort!

Book: Family Farm

I loved this book. Similar to Rachael Treasure and the newly published Fleur McDonald.

Summary: Isabelle Simpson longs to take over the family farm, but her ailing father is locked in a tragedy of the past and won't give her the chance she deserves. The stand-off between them threatens to tear the family apart.Izzy decides to break free and make a new start for herself – even though that means leaving the handsome Will Timmins and all her mixed emotions about him behind.But when hardship falls on the farm again, Izzy returns with an even greater determination to resolve the family feud. As she gathers with her friends in the close community under the shade of the gum-tree tavern, confessions are made, long-held secrets are revealed and hearts are set free.

Just a great current day country Aussie love story. Such an easy read (still not quite as good as Rachael Treasure though!)

Book: Me and Mr Darcy

Summary: After a string of disastrous dates, Emily Albright decides she's had it with modern-day love and would much rather curl up with Pride and Prejudice and spend her time with Mr. Darcy, the dashing, honorable, and passionate hero of Jane Austen's classic. So when her best friend suggests a wild week of margaritas and men in Mexico with the girls, Emily abruptly flees to England on a guided tour of Jane Austen country instead. Far from inspiring romance, the company aboard the bus consists of a gaggle of little old ladies and one single man, Spike Hargreaves, a foul-tempered journalist writing an article on why the fictional Mr. Darcy has earned the title of Man Most Women Would Love to Date.

This was only ok. The main character was kind of an ditz for a 29-year old. The story was cute, but I thought the Mr. Darcy fantasy appearances were a little far-fetched. I didn't feel the connection between Emily and Spike, but it was a cute affair. This would be a good beach read I suppose. I didn't think all the curse words were consistent with the type of character Emily was supposed to be, and the author slipped a couple of times with the accent making Emily sound more British than American like she was supposed to be...oh well. I might give the author another try.

Book & Bookgroup: Midwives

From Amazon:

Sibyl Danforth, a Vermont lay-midwife, attends a home birth that goes horribly wrong when the laboring mother apparently dies. Sibyl makes a hard decision and performs a C-section on the apparently dead woman to save her baby. The story is based upon the ramifications of this decision - because Sibyl's apprentice and the laboring woman's husband claim that the woman wasn't dead when Sibyl performs the C-section. Thus Sibyl ends up being charged by the state with involuntary manslaughter, under the claim that the C-section Sibyl performed to save the baby's life killed it's mother. Midwives is told from the point of view of Sibyl's daughter, Connie, who is fourteen at the time of the tragedy. As a grown woman and ob/gyn, Connie is still trying to come to terms with what happened to her family in the months after the 'bad birth'.

The ending is very unexpected and it's just an amazing book. Loved this book and so did all at book group. Well worth the read (only point is that if I was pregnant maybe not the best book to read!)

Book: Passion

Bagshawe back to her best. I loved this book. Such a great easy read. James Bond style but chic lit!

A failed marriage between Melissa Elmett and Will Hyde did a lot of damage. She was too young, he was hurt when she left him. Years later, Melissa becomes the target for a kidnap plot, a consequence of her father’s ground-breaking energy-saving invention, and Will is the only man who can protect her. Now they’re on the run, thrown together again by the pursuit of vengeance, will their passion for each other reignite...

Book: If You Could See Me Now

Only ok; a sweet little book, not too taxing with an unusual `make believe' theme. For me it had no sparkle and just not enough substance to really grab my attention. Don't get me wrong, there were certainly serious and touching moments, but these were, on the whole, underdeveloped with many questions left unanswered. Also, apart from Elizabeth, none of the others characters were fleshed out enough to make this more memorable. Could have done better but I will try this author again.

Book: My Best Friend's Girl

I really loved this book! It was so good! I was actually quite shocked by just how engrossing the story really was - not to mention how surprisingly sad it was for such a cheerful cover. Really, it was just so riveting. While reading it, I didn't know how I wanted it to end... nor was I able to really predict the ending, either. I just loved reading this and I am anxious to read her other books!

Summary: Best friends Kamryn and Adele thought nothing could come between them - until Adele did the unthinkable and slept with Kamryn's fiance, Nate. Worse still, she got pregnant and had his child. When Kamryn discovered the truth about their betrayal she vowed never to see any of them again. Two years later, Kamryn receives a letter from Adele asking her to visit her in hospital. Adele is dying and begs Kamryn to adopt her daughter, Tegan. With a great job and a hectic social life, the last thing Kamryn needs is a five-year-old to disrupt things. Especially not one who reminds her of Nate. But with no one else to take care of Tegan and Adele fading fast, does she have any other choice?

Book: Barra Creek

I had never read Di Morrissey as I kinda thought she was for old chooks! Boy I loved Barra Creek, definitely my sort of read.

The Mitchell family has run a prosperous sheep farm for generations and the youngest daughter, Sally, has just turned 20. She rides to the hounds and leads an indulged life. That is, until she shocks her parents by becoming involved with an older man. Scandalised, they try to pack her off to England, but Sally doesn't make it. After a wild spree in Sydney she's cashed in her ticket and, hell bent on adventure, takes a job as a governess on a remote cattle station - Barra Creek - in the Gulf country of Cape York. Untamed and crocodile infested, it's a land of deserts, jungles and wide rivers. Then the great stations were run by men who were loners and women who had to cope or leave. Decades later, in 2003, Sally learns a secret that will change many lives - including her own - and leave readers horrified on one hand, and smiling and crying on the other.

Ballarat Library Dinner

During Library and Information Week, the library folk of Ballarat gathered for dinner on the Thursday night at Gee Cees. It was great to head along and catch up with people as since being at home with Adam I have been out of the loop. At the last dinner I was pregnant so lots of people asked what I had etc. and I proudly displayed my little boy to the world. Leeanne Pitman, University Librarian from UB spoke but it was rather noisy and hard to hear, otherwise she made some interesting facts about overseas students etc. Just a lovely evening catching up with mainly BHS Library staff as I miss them all so much!

Book: Humble Pie

`Humble Pie' goes into some details about celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, his childhood and relationship with his Father; his short career in football; his relationship with his brother, who is a heroin addict; his early days as a commi in France and in Marco Pierre White's kitchen and how he has developed his current restaurants and nurtured the careers of other young chefs. This was a great book and it really captures his distinctive voice. Though I feel like I know him better and where he is coming from more on the TV, he is still a bit of a prick! Not a bad read though.

Book: Sadie

I came across this author because she is similar to Martina Cole - and she didn't disappoint (though not quite at the same standard). A nice easy read.

In the chill of a winter's morning, a sweet and likeable 13-year-old girl unexpectedly gives birth in the bathroom of her council flat. The baby, the product of a brutal rape by her stepfather, is whisked away to hospital and is eventually adopted by a rich suburban couple. As far as everyone is concerned, Sadie will never see the baby again. The girl, Sadie Burrows, survives her ordeal and goes on to become a successful businesswoman, famous in the media, even courted by politicians as an example of young enterprise. Then, out of the blue, there is a knock at the door. And Sadie's shameful secret comes back to haunt her...

Book: Hidden

Summary: Tayo arrives at Cathy's with only the clothes he stands up in. He has been brought to her by the police, but he is calm, polite, and very well spoken, and not at all like the children she normally fosters. The social worker gives Cathy the forms which should contain Tayo's history, but apart from his name and age, it is blank. Tayo has no past. Tayo is an 'invisible' child, kidnapped from his loving father in Nigeria and brought illegally to the UK by his drink and drugs dependent prostitute mother, where he is put to work in a sweat shop in Central London.
Through Cathy he develops into a wonderful young man and we have a fairy tale ending. Brilliant book, easy read - loved it!

Book: Damaged

This book is not for the feint hearted; it broke my heart, poor poor Jodie. This child has suffered at the hands of monsters. Cathy is a saint, she went above and beyond the realms of a foster carer. She is truly an angel sent to care for "damaged" children. This book is addictive for all the wrong reasons; the things this child has suffered is beyond comprehension. This is an incredibly good book but only read it if you feel strong enough too; It makes me appreciate me and I am grateful that I was brought up in a kind loving family. A very very good read but shocking and heart breaking and doesn't necessarily end with a wonderful outcome.

Book: Red Dust

Summary: After the death of her husband Adam, Gemma Sinclair defies community expectations - and Adam’s dying words - by deciding to hang on to Billbinya, the 10,000-hectare station he bequeathed to her. As if Gemma’s grief and the job of looking after Billbinya aren’t enough, a wave of innuendo soon sweeps the community that Adam’s plane crash was no accident. Police officers confirm the rumour when they visit Gemma and tell her Adam’s death was almost certainly related to his involvement in a cattle and sheep duffing ring. And not only that, Gemma is indirectly implicated because Billbinya was used as the holding station for the stolen stock. Intent on clearing her name, Gemma sets out to get to the bottom of what Adam was doing. In the process, she’s stunned at the depths of her husband’s wrongdoing and shocked at the identities of his criminal associates. Struggling to put the past behind her, Gemma wonders if she’ll ever be able to love again.

A wonderful easy read (only a day or so). Very similar to Rachael Treasure (though hers are a bit more depth). Just love the strong independent country lass! Can't wait for the next book!

Book & Bookgroup: Dirt Music

Someone else's view who is the same as mine:

Dirt Music is a wild ride - a story of love, death, the mess people make of their lives, and their redemption through love. It is essentially the love story of Georgie Jutland and Luther Fox: Georgie, on the verge of alcoholism and finding herself in an unsure relationship with a widower named Jim and his two boys; Lu, the survivor of a world of death (everyone he loved has died in ghastly, gory ways) terrified of the thought that he is cursed, that anyone he loves will meet a horrible fate. The other characters are just as dodgy but only Jim (who, in his desire for his own redemption, seeks to help Georgie discover herself, even at the cost of their relationship) is drawn with any of the detail with which Georgie and Lu are delineated. These rough characters exist in a rough landscape: Western Australia, somewhere north of Perth, in a fishing town where most of the locals (who are literally White Pointers) have become rich from harvesting lobster but still maintain their frontier ways, often solving disputes with shotguns. Georgie is a blow-in, unsure of how she ended up living in this wild west town; Lu is a local but he's an outcast in a town of outcasts. He plays the dobro but, after the grim fate of his music-playing family, he is afraid of the psychic pain returning to music might give him so he makes a living poaching fish and crustaceans from his fellow townsfolk - a dangerous game in this unforgiving place. Through this landscape, and the even harsher landscape of the Kimberley, the love story (it would be too banal to call it a romance) of these two is played out. The novel is a genuine page-turner and a quick read, partly because of the effortless prose and partly because we can't wait to see what happens next - in that sense it's full of suspense as well, almost like a thriller/mystery. The dialogue is both sharp and blunt at the same time and only occasionally strays into unbelievability. The novel's climax is in the extreme northern country, where Lu escapes after he is nearly killed by redneck White Pointers. Georgie and Jim follow and try to find this lone, dazed, half-mad figure hiding in the wilderness.

I just loved it. Winton's language is sublime, no wonder it won the Miles Franklin.

Book: Christmas Island, Indian Ocean

Summary: Back in 2001, Australian journalist Julietta Jameson, like many of us, watched the Tampa crisis with a mixture of confusion and compassion. Unlike us, upon hearing of the Christmas Islanders' fireworks send-off for Captain Rinnan, she decided to visit this Australian outpost to see firsthand the place - previously famous only for its red crabs - that now found itself in the world's spotlight. As well as natural tropical beauty, she found a multicultural community conscious of its diverse roots and history, replete with characters and local traditions. In a conversational style, she conveys her encounters with the locals from musicians to storekeepers to uncomfortable navy personnel. She examines the part each plays in her journey of discovery as she tries to reconcile the beauty of a night sky flashing with falling stars over the heads of detention centre inmates whose wishes may never be granted.

It was ok. I read it when the asylum seeker issue flared here again a few weeks ago so that was good as CI was always on the news! It was however more about her finding herself whilst I was more interested in the asylum seekers. Sounds like an amazing place to visit though!

Book: Ex Libris - Confessions of a Common Reader

Ex Libris is an outstanding book for those who enjoy reading and the pleasures that a library offers the reader. The authors love of books and reading comes alive in every page as only a reader will appreciate. I enjoyed sharing her insightful look at books and their impact on an individual. Easy to read, honest and delightful in that it shares her personal enjoyment with the reader. The book consists of a series of short essays on book and reading-related topics: happy arguments between new spouses about how to merge their collections; the peculiarities of how each of us treats books (to bend down a corner or not to bend), the joys of spelunking in used bookstores; and the like. Lovely!

Book: Plain Truth

After reading My Sister's Keeper I had to go back for more of Jodi Picoult. Plain Truth tells the story of an 18-year-old Amish girl, Katie Fisher, who secretly gives birth to a child out of wedlock. Mysteriously the baby disappears and a few hours later is found dead in the barn located on the Fisher farm. After an initial investigation, Katie is charged with murder and a Philadelphia attorney, Ellie Hathaway - who also is loosely related, is set to defend her case. Adding to the fascination of this particular murder trial is the fact that Katie Fisher is Amish, and the Amish convictions are very different from others in the English world. The fact that an Amishman, who by nature does not believe in confrontation and violence, would kill another is entirely unheard of. A great story, easy read but I think the ending was rather obvious. Picoult has sucked me in though - which one to read next?

Book: I, Safiya

Summary: This is the true, first-hand account of one woman's courageous struggle for justice, and the story that in 2001 made the eyes of the world turn to the small Nigerian village of Tungar Tudu. Safiya Hussaini was accused of adultery, arrested and taken from her farming village in northern Nigeria. Brought before a Sharia court, she was sentenced to death by stoning. Her crime was to become pregnant outside of marriage and to give birth to her little girl, Adama. The child's father at first accepted responsibility, but then changed his story, denied everything and was released without penalty. Betrayed, terrified and outcast, Safiya summoned the strength to fight for her life. Supported by her family, her lawyer and her faith in Allah, she was determined to stay alive to care for her little girl.

What an inspiring woman, but what a different world. How lucky I am to live the life I do. Great easy read.

Book: Taken in Contempt

What a sad book that looks at parents who have abducted their own children. Left-behind parents, abducting parents and some of the children themselves have contributed to the book; so have the bureaucrats who have to implement the tough decisions, and the retrievers - men who risk all for someone else’s children. It is just sad that relationships can fall apart that this has to happen in the first place. It was a really interesting book to see the different perspectives but it is wise to remember that we are only seeing one side of the story. Fascinating to hear the retrievers different stories, almost like big adventures but then reality hits that this is real - scary stuff!

Book: Antarctica on a plate

Summary: Imagine you are a young woman with a stellar career but an increasing dissatisfaction with life. Imagine that your idea of a "remote location" is the distance between a taxi rank and a shoe shop. How do you shrug off your growing ennui? Simple. You apply for the position of cook in the coldest place on earth: Antarctica. Antarctica lends itself to tales of adventure and heartbreak. The landscape is polarized, beautiful and deadly in equal measure. But Alexa doesn't scale mountains or trek to the Pole. Instead, armed with an old cookbook, she attempts to create three-course meals with no electricity or running water and struggles to defrost meat in sub-zero temperatures. Life in a thin nylon tent in the company of scientists, explorers, and eccentrics soon begins to take on extraordinary dimensions. As 120-kilometre-an-hour winds blow and tensions rise, friendships, and love, are forged in this frozen neighborhood.

Not bad, have read better but it did want me to pack up my life and go on an adventure. Just not too sure about the morals of the romance though...