Book: Size 14 is Not Fat Either

Summary:  Former pop star Heather Wells has settled nicely into her new life as assistant dorm director at New York College - a career that does not require her to drape her size 12 body in embarrassingly skimpy outfits. She can even cope (sort of) with her rocker ex-boyfriend's upcoming nuptials, which the press has dubbed The Celebrity Wedding of the Decade. But she's definitely having a hard time dealing with the situation in the dormitory kitchen, where a cheerleader has lost her head on the first day of the semester. (Actually, her head is accounted for it's her torso that's AWOL.)

Surrounded by hysterical students (with her ex-con father on her doorstep and her ex-love bombarding her with unwanted phone calls) Heather welcomes the opportunity to play detective . . . again. If it gets her mind off her personal problems and teams her up again with the gorgeous P.I. who owns the brownstone where she lives it's all good. But the murder trail is leading the average-sized amateur investigator into a shadowy world. And if she doesn't watch her step, Heather will soon be singing her swan song!

What I thought: I LOVED this. I also enjoyed the first and this was just like meeting an old friend. I had lots of laugh out loud moments. I mean sure it's pretty tacky but still so wroth the time!

Libraries and Digital Repositories

Here at work we are looking into having an organisational "Digital Repository".  I emailed a few e-lists the other day to see if any small libraries had digital repository. I got a number of responses that all pointed to dSpace. Are any of you out there using dSpace? Are you using something else? Thoughts? How do you go about it? Does the library run the project or is it another department? Is the repository well used? Up to date? Highly regarded? Any insights are most appreciated as I start along this journey.

Book: Wattle Creek

Summary: Damien McAllister is a man on the brink. Spending long, hard days on a farm he has no affection for, and nights ignoring the criticisms of his mother, Damien can no longer remember what he's living for. But in a small town like Wattle Creek, there are few people to turn to - and Damien learned long ago to keep his problems to himself.  Until Jacqueline Havelock, a young psychologist escaping her own issues, arrives fresh from the city and makes Damien question everything he has known about himself…also igniting a spark in his lonely heart.  Soon Damien is daring to ask for more than an ordinary life, and can glimpse the possibility of happiness. Will this accidental farmer dare to fulfil the long-forgotten legacy of his father and find peace in the arms of the doctor?  Or will the ghosts of their pasts threaten the fragile new lives they've just begun to build?

What I thought: OMG. I so LOVED this book. Read it in two days (which is pretty quick for me with the two tiny tackers!). Just a fantastic rural romance which helped top touch on a serious rural issue. Highly recommend.

Bonfire night

Once or twice a year we have a big bonfire night. Saturday night was lots of fun and the kids had a ball.

Before

During

After

Book: Naomi's Wish

Summary: It had always been Dr Naomi Fontaine's dream to practice small town medicine - an ambition that has brought her to the quirky, tight knit community of Cypress Hollow. But no matter how hard she tries, the locals still treat her with suspicion. Then ruggedly handsome Rig Keller walks into town and Naomi's heart stops for all the wrong reasons. For a few months back Rig was a rip roaring, throw caution to the wind one night stand. Now he's her partner at the practice - and keen to play doctors once more...

What I thought: Another trashy romance that hit the spot. I like that it is loosely based on her previous two books so that I feel like I already know the characters. Wish I could knit too!

Monday and Tuesday night bookgroup: Horse Boy

Summary: When his son Rowan was diagnosed with autism, Rupert Isaacson was devastated, afraid he might never be able to communicate with his child. But when Isaacson, a lifelong horseman, rode their neighbor's horse with Rowan, Rowan improved immeasurably. He was struck with a crazy idea: why not take Rowan to Mongolia, the one place in the world where horses and shamanic healing intersected?

The Horse Boy is the dramatic and heartwarming story of that impossible adventure. In Mongolia, the family found undreamed of landscapes and people, unbearable setbacks, and advances beyond their wildest dreams. This is a deeply moving, truly one of a kind story of a family willing to go to the ends of the earth to help their son, and of a boy learning to connect with the world for the first time.

What I thought: I started reading this and thought it was going to be all about hippies but I LOVED it. I really got into the story and thought it was fabulous. I'm not sure I'd be so willing to undertake such a big adventure with my autistic child but who knows, maybe I could find the inner strength. I borrowed the documentary from the library so am hoping to watch it later this week.

Blogging June

OK, so it's that time of the year again. June. Last year I managed 30 posts in the 30 days. But life was very different then. I was home on maternity leave. However, I'm still going to give it a try this year and we'll just see how we go.  So a little about me...

My name is Gemma. Professionally I'm a medical librarian. I work as the Library Manager at Ballarat Health Services. I have worked here for just on 10 years but became the Manager only a few short months ago. I love my job and the people I work with and am very excited about the direction we are heading.

Personally speaking, I live on 5 acres on the outskirts of Ballarat. I am married to the most wonderful man and together we have two small children. Adam just turned 3 and is a cheeky and fun loving little man. Luke was 16 months the other day. The highlight at this age is that he has just started walking and that he comes out with new words everyday.

So I'm looking forward to sharing this June blogging journey with you all. What can you expect? You can expect to see my book reviews, the card marking or scrapbooking projects I've been working on, a little bit about my family, a little bit about my life, and a little bit about my job. Or really who knows, you'll have to check back to find out!

Book: Devil's Corner

Summary: When prosecutor Vicki Allegretti arrives at a rowhouse to meet a confidential informant, she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time -- and is almost shot to death. She barely escapes with her life, but cannot save the two others gunned down before her disbelieving eyes. Stunned and heartbroken, Vicki tries to figure out how a routine meeting on a minor case became a double homicide. Vicki's suspicions take her to Devil's Corner, a city neighborhood teetering on the brink of ruin -- thick with broken souls, innocent youth, and a scourge that preys on both. But the deeper Vicki probes, the more she becomes convinced that the murders weren't random and the killers were more ruthless than she thought. When another murder thrusts Vicki together with an unlikely ally, she buckles up for a wild ride down a dangerous street -- and into the cross-hairs of a conspiracy as powerful as it is relentless.

What I thought: I enjoyed this. Not one of her best but a nice easy read with good characters. Simple crime where you don't have to think too hard!

Book: The Valley

Summary: The valley is nestled between rugged peaks, divided by a magnificent river. Within its peaceful green contours are held the secrets of generations of tribes, families and loners who have come under its spell. But some secrets are never shared, never told. Until one woman returns and begins asking questions... and discovers the story of a forgotten valley pioneer whose life becomes entwined with hers. But in looking into her own family's history she uncovers more than she ever expected – and what her mother hoped would always remain a secret...

What I thought: Great book. Although I may need a break from Di Morrissey as am having a bit of author overload. But I still really enjoyed. She captures country towns and landscapes so well.

Book: Bella's Run

Summary: Bella Vermaelon and her best friend Patty are two fun-loving country girls bonded in a sisterhood no blood tie could ever beat. Now they are coming to the end of a road trip which has taken them from their family farms in the rugged Victorian high country to the red dust of the Queensland outback. For almost a year they have mustered on cattle stations, cooked for weary stockmen, played hard at rodeos and outback parties, and danced through life like a pair of wild tumbleweeds. And with the arrival of Patty's brother Will and Bella's cousin Macca, it seems love is on the horizon too ...

Then a devastating tragedy strikes, and Bella's world is changed for ever. So she runs - from the only life she has ever known. But can she really turn her back on the man she loves? Or on the land that runs deep in her blood?

What I thought: I LOVED this book. Two wickedly bad country girls having a ball then the serious side of life taking over. A fantastic rural read!

Book: The Road Home

Summary: Lara Turner has a boyfriend, a nice house in the city and a chance at a big promotion. So when her brother calls asking her to come home, she hesitates. Can she face the memoires that inhabit the beloved place of her childhood? And how does she feel with the news it's to be sold? Could she be the answer to saving the family farm? Jack Morgan has memories of his own to contend with. A falling out with his family and a bitter end to a past relationship have left a big chip on his shoulder. When his best mate's beautiful sister arrives on the scene, he finds himself deeply conflicted. Lara and Jack have a powerful attraction but are constantly at odds. Will their love of the same land keep them apart, or grow into a love of a different kind?

What I thought: I LOVED this book. So fabulous. The girl, the boy, the farm. Le sigh! Heaven! Can't get enough of these!

Book: Purple Roads

Summary: Anna and Matt Butler were childhood sweethearts with a dream of owning their own land, a dream they achieved through hard work and determination. But as the seasons conspire against them and Matt is involved in a terrible accident, the couple face financial ruin and the loss of their farm. As they fight for everything they hold dear, they suddenly find themselves caught up in events much bigger and more dangerous than they could ever have imagined. Purple Roads is a story about maintaining faith in yourself, staying true to your ideals and, most of all, the belief that some things are worth fighting for.

What I thought: I really enjoyed this though not so much as her others. I think it might have been for a few reasons. Firstly I read it in bits (over about 10 days so that didn't help). Also it wasn't what I was expecting. I wanted more of the farm and female heroine that this genre is now famous for. Anyway, still enjoyed it but not one of my all time favourites.

The Big Read, at Ballarat Library

Yesterday I headed to the Ballarat Library with the kids for the Big Read event. Adam had lots of fun as he got to do some colouring in and he made a bookmark for his Nanny. He even got to draw on his hat so that was great fun! We then listened to some stories, and danced to some music. Then we sat down to read altogether. We last about 10 minutes so that was pretty good. All in all a fun time was had. Hoping they have it again next year :)

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Notes on a Scandal

Summary: When the new teacher first arrives, Barbara immediately senses that this woman will be different from the rest of her staff-room colleagues. But Barbara is not the only one to feel that Sheba is special, and before too long Sheba is involved in an illicit affair with a pupil. Barbara finds the relationship abhorrent, of course, but she is the only adult in whom Sheba can properly confide. So when the liaison is found out and Sheba's life falls apart, Barbara is there...

What I thought: I quite enjoyed this book even though all the characters are ghastly! It will be interesting to see what everyone else thought!

Library Camp 2012

In the same week as VALA I was lucky enough to head back down to Melbourne on the Friday for Library Camp Australia 2012. Here are my notes from the day:

Hamish @hamishcurry

Partnerships essential. Talking is free. Inkind.
Filter bubbles. There is a whole world outside our own.
Help people build networks (beyond the first 10 results)
Problem vs Potential. Innovations have risks.
Empower your followers/staff.
Networks are powerful.

Mobile apps talk

Android - Google Ap Inventor
iPhone - Must be Mac Inventor

Instead do a "mobile version" of our website... Often through LMS.

Leadership talk

Macro level - change culture
Micro level - the "one" person

Involve HR
Keep the big picture in mind,
Leaders different to managers.
Look outside your workplace for advice.
Never one solution that fits.
Mistakes are OK. We learn from these.
No problems - only opportunities.
People are important - we're not going to leave you behind!
CULTURE. CULTURE.
Ask! Ask! Ask!
Leaders inspire.
Mangers mange the details.
Must communicate with staff.

Lightning talks (notes from 3 I got most out of)

Self promotion - Talk about yourself in a positive way. Use your strengths. Take up opportunities offered. Use your networks.

Put in applications for grants and research.

Ask - don't be hesitant. Nothing to lose.

Research talk

Do more professional reading.
RAILS.
Publish more in Incite, HLI etc.
Collaborate with others (just need ideas)
Conference - ie. HLI
What do others want to know?

Creativity talk

Libex (icon in Amazon that says if your library has book).

What I thought:

I had a fabulous day especially as I got to catch up with Sherrill, Jill, Tan and Margie. Plus I finally got to meet Steph! Then I got to touch base with lots of other library colleagues, twitter friends and interstates friends who I rarely see in life! I also came home with several good ideas and am in the stage of implementing some within my workplace :)

VALA 2012

I was lucky enough to go for a full day this year thanks to Health Libraries Inc. I caught the early train. Here are my notes from the sessions I attended:

Jason Griffey - Libraries and the post PC era

Website usage. 80% access online 20% in person
Can we get stats?
How much time is spent on your website...not 80%!

Apple iOS - what we need to pay attention to as it is the device people are buying.
Look at getting iPad for work.

Most popular way for people to interact is TOUCH. But we don't have any TOUCH options for library users...

X-Box - great for Adam... using gestures. GESTURE based interface is coming...

Twine - generic device which can tell you all sorts of things like a door opening, machine stopping, book moving...

Future:

Flip scanning: digitising book. 200 pages in 1 minute! Could eventually work on a phone. Are we then redundant?

Transparent smart windows - amazing!

3D printing - printing physical objects, not just paper.

Contact lenses with low resolution printed on them!

Though everything seems expensive now IT WILL GET CHEAPER...

Look outside of libraries. We are not unique. People are doing it better than we are.

Look at mobiles first.
Design website for your core users
We need to be ahead of users as they don't necessarily know what they want.

Annie Yee - Mobile Technology

Horizon report which looks at trends in academic libraries in 3-5years time.

Lots of Uni Library's have apps. Possibility?

Look at doing subject guides.

Card Star - all your membership cards in one app. So not in your wallet!

Jeremy Taylor, Jay Glaisyer & Julia Ryan - Mobilising patient care and research
(Download paper when available)

Impediment to access decreases efficiency

Mobile apps for Point of Care resources

Benefits: Access from anywhere; attracts next generation of clinicians; facilitates consultation, remotely; Eases pressure on hospital infrastructure; information when and where it's needed; 80% of clinicians use smart phones.

Challenges: Rapidly changing technology; costs of development - who will pay; security issues;complexity frustrating to clinicians; providing technical support - who is responsible?; Management/usage data distorted (once application downloaded no more data from that user); blurring boundaries - education needed for clinicians.

Some hospitals looking at banning androids due to security issues...

Toby Burrows - Supporting research in an era of data deluge

Should we have a digital repository? Thesis, e-prints, conference papers??

Benefits and opportunities of being involved in research:

Cross fertilisation of knowledge and services;
Closer integration and coordination of similar functions;
Better informed decision making;
Cross training;
Multiskilling of staff;
Identifying opportunities for closer and more active involvement in developments and solutions;
Holistic view of all these areas

Research profiles on BHS website... ie Dr Hurley?

Stephen Pugh - Harvesting relevant content

ICOLC - International Coalition of Library Consortia

Consortia - some wanted, some relevant, but lots of trash!

Collection profile - on areas of interest for academics. Profiling tools (companies such as YBP??)

Set up alerts for the Clinical Trials BHS have been part of...

Edmund Balnaves - OPAC as a meta data hub

Check OPAC. Is it up to date. Do all links work?

Add mash ups etc.

Load freely available e-books.

Load subscription e-lists (A-Z?)

Need more IT Skills (Do CSU still have IA course? Or IT at UB)

Add annual reports into catalogue. Plus other internally produced documents (link and PDF)

Why I love going to VALA:

I had a fantastic day. It helps to reignite ideas. Gets the creative juices flowing. You go away with things you want to implement overnight! Also the opportunity to network with fellow health library colleagues and those from other library industries.

Book: Under Southern Skies

Summary: Cate Perry's future couldn't look brighter. She's learning about life on the land, and has just completed her first solo flight over the vast Northern Territory cattle station she calls home. And she's falling in love – with handsome, gentle Alf. Then a tragic freak accident changes Cate's life forever.

Grief and shame drive her to Tamworth, where she meets the talented Nat and quickly stumbles into a singing career. But fame beings to take its toll, and just when Cate least expects it, Alf steps back into her life. Will Alf and Cate face up to their feelings, or forever live with the consequences?


What I thought: I did enjoy this and will read more of hers but I have read better. It did tend to jump very quickly with LOTS going on. But still a good trashy outback romance!

Book: Listening to Country

Summary: 'This big land, Australia. It's big enough for everyone!' calls Annie Karrakayn across the pre-dawn campfire to the other Law women stirring from the perfect quiet of a still, desert night. 'Strong Dreamin' ' she whispers.
So begins the intimate diary of Ros Moriarty, a white woman married to an Aboriginal man, as she takes an emotional journey across country and culture to the Northern Territory's Tanami Desert with Annie and the other matriarchs of her husband's Aboriginal family to perform ceremony. Interwoven with her desert journal are personal and family stories of black and white Australia - from the shameful and painful to the ordinary and everyday, to the glorious and awe-inspiring - illuminating the deep connection humanity shares, regardless of race and place.


What I thought: I did enjoy this book but didn't think it was neccessarily worthy of all the acclaim it has received. She was very sensitive to indigenous issues so I think I learnt a lot from it in that respect...

Book: Border Watch

Summary: High above the crystal-blue waters of North Queensland, Captain Morgan Pentland patrols the vast Australian coastline. When Customs Agent Rafe Daniels joins her crew, she is immediately suspicious. Why is he boarding her plane when she isn’t there? And why is he asking so many questions? What Morgan doesn’t know is that Rafe has her under surveillance. Critical information about their Border Watch operations is being leaked and she is the main suspect.

Morgan’s ex, elite police officer Carl Wiseman, is back on the scene after she finally found the courage to throw him out. Is he trying to regain Morgan’s affections of are his intentions more sinister? When Morgan and Rafe are shot down in a tragic midair attack, they realise they have to start working together – and quickly. One of Australia’s most loved icons is the next target and they have only nine days to stop it. Will they uncover details of the plot in time, or will the tension that is growing between them jeopardise everything?

What I thought: Loved it. Rural romance with a bit of crime thrown in. Not as good as my "handsome farmer" books but still enjoyable :)

Book: Inside

Summary: At 17, Lee is inside for a crime he has committed. And he soon finds out that prison is not the holiday camp he's heard about. Warned to "play by the rules," he has to decide whose rules—the screws' or the other cons'. Life in a Young Offenders Institution is about survival. But the real struggle is inside Lee himself. Is he destined to be a "career con," or can he choose to change his life?

What I thought: I actually quite enjoyed this. I like the whole "prison insight" thing. Good for teens to put them off being stupid!

Book: Travellers' Tales 2

Summary: With an incisive eye and an Australian perspective, the ABC′s foreign correspondents report from all parts of the globe, including very recent human and natural disaster areas such as: Sri Lanka in the wake of the devastating Boxing Day tsunami; Beslan during the siege (with bullets flying during a live cross); New Orleans in the wake of Cyclone Katrina′s destructive force; London after the terrorist bombings; the violence that continues in Iraq. Also covered are Guantanomo Bay, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Siberia, Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe′s regime and China.

What I thought: Like most short stories it was hit and miss. I really enjoyed some of them and admire what journalists do. I'm too much a a chicken to be a foreign correspondent though. It is amazing to read about different situations in our world while I am safely cocooned in mine...

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Sarah's Key

Summary: Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours. Paris, May 2002: On Vel' d'Hiv's 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to re-evaluate her marriage and her life...

What I thought: OMG. What an amazingly brilliant and harrowing book. The best book I have read in years. So moving and so very very sad. Just brilliant. Highly recommend.

Monday Night Bookgroup: Keeping Faith

Summary: As Mariah White struggles with depression her seven-year-old daughter Faith seeks solace in a new friend-a friend who may or may not be imaginary. Faith talks to her 'Guard' constantly and begins to recite passages from the Bible-a book she's never read. After a succession of visits to psychiatrists, all of whom conclude Faith is not hallucinating, the unimaginable starts to seem possible: perhaps Faith may actually be seeing God. When Faith's cachet is enhanced by reported miracle healings and alleged stigmata, she is touted as a prophet. Amidst the gathering storm of controversy, most disruptive of all is the arrival of two men: one a renowned television atheist who plans to debunk Faith's claims and help boost his flagging ratings, and the other her divorced father whose fear for his daughter's safety leads him to battle for custody. As Mariah finds herself fighting to keep her daughter, she has to push past her own insecurities and stand up for herself and her competence as a parent.

What I thought: Once again I was hooked. And I actually couldn't predict how it would all pan out. A sensitive topic explored in an amazing way. She really is an amazing writer...

Monday Night Bookgroup: Riding the Bus with my Sister

Summary: When Rachel Simon's sister Beth asks her to ride the buses with her for a year, Rachel is at first reluctant. Not only is she hyperbusy, but her relationship with Beth has never been easy. Beth has mental retardation and, although she is able to look after herself, she can still be a handful.

What I thought: When I first started this book I really enjoyed it however for me it got a little to repetitive as it continued on. It took AGES to finish and I was pleased to be done with it. Probably wouldn't recommend reading...

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Nineteen Minutes

Summary: In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five.... In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world, or you can just jump off it. In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge.

Sterling is a small, ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens - until the day its complacency is shattered by a shocking act of violence. In the aftermath, the town's residents must not only seek justice in order to begin healing but also come to terms with the role they played in the tragedy. For them, the lines between truth and fiction, right and wrong, insider and outsider have been obscured forever. Josie Cormier, the teenage daughter of the judge sitting on the case, could be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened in front of her own eyes. And as the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show, destroying the closest of friendships and families.

What I thought: Once again I really enjoyed reading Picoult. Only criticism is that the ending was a bit short for me. Needed more info... But overall thoroughly enjoyed. I really felt for Peter's mother. So tough...

Book: Promises

Summary: Sophie Dixon is determined to leave her tragic past behind and forge a bright future on her beloved farm. While looking to buy a new horse, she is drawn into her neighbour Aaron's Laidlaw's orbit, despite the bad blood between their families. As the racing season unfolds, Sophie and Aaron's feelings for each other deepen. But Aaron is torn, haunted by a dark secret he fears can never be forgiven – especially by Sophie. Sophie believes herself strong, but the truth behind her mother's death will test her strength, and her love, to the limit. She's been broken once. No one wants to see her broken again. Least of all the man who has grown to love her...

What I thought: Loved it! Another awesome country romance. I just so can't get enough of these. There are so many new authors coming onto the scene it's hard to keep up with them all!

Book: Nowhere Else

Summary: On the surface, current affairs reporter Nicola Harvey has the world at her feet — she's at the top of her profession, part of Australian television's celebrity A-list, has a wealthy, successful fiancé and a beautiful warehouse conversion in Adelaide. But appearances can be deceiving and not all is perfect in Nicola's world. So when her boss offers to send her on an extended research trip to investigate the effects of the drought, she jumps at the chance to indulge in some country-style relaxation.

When Nicola arrives in the little town of Nowhere Else, nothing is as she expected: there's no spa in town, the locals are tight-lipped, and she senses it's not just the drought that is making the town nervous. So why has her boss sent her out here? The deeper Nicola digs into the town's history, the more she realises coming to Nowhere Else wasn't a mistake after all. In fact, it may just unlock the mystery of her own past. And hold the key to her future happiness...

What I thought: Once again another rural romance which has me reading like never before. Loved this book. Sure a bit far fetched in places but who cares!

Book: The Cattle King

Summary: At the age of 13 Sidney Kidman ran away from home with only five shillings in his pocket. He went on to become a horse dealer, drover, cattle buyer and bush jockey and he also ran a coach business. Above all Kidman created a mighty cattle empire of more than a hundred stations, fighting droughts, bushfires, floods and plagues of vermin to do so. His enterprise and courage won him a huge fortune and made him a legend.

What I thought: WOW! What an amazing person. This book made me love the outback even more. Just can't get enough of reading out this wonderful country. Also amazing to still see how much of his legacy still remains. Highly recommend reading.

Book: The Bay

Summary: When Sydney corporate wife Holly Jamieson turns 40, she shocks her husband by buying an old house in The Bay, a beautiful and peaceful town on the Australian east coast, and transforming it into a charming B&B. What began as a gesture of independence changes her life. Holly soon discovers that beneath its tranquil surface, The Bay is a whirlpool of passions and conflicts. Once a whaling town, then a sleepy resort that became trendy... and now developers are moving in for the kill. Holly, her family, and an unusual band of new friends are in the battle lines.

What I thought: Once again I really enjoyed. Just love the vivid imagery. Must admit though that in this one there were a few too many characters and I got a little mixed up...

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Prime Cut

Summary: Meet Cato Kwong — disgraced cop and ex-poster boy for the police force. Banished to the stock squad after the fallout from a police frame-up, Cato is brought in from the cold to solve the case of a torso washed up on the wild shores of the Great Southern Ocean. But Cato faces powerful opposition when his investigation lifts the lid on the exploitation of migrant workers and disturbs an even darker criminal mind...

What I thought: I really enjoyed this. Lots of different layers to work through... Also loved the vivid descriptions of the scenery. Recommend reading it.

Book: Someone Special

Summary: Romy Kilkenny loves her life in Australia – she has her dream job, lots of mates, and a best friend in Keith who understands her better than anyone. Best of all, she couldn't be further from her family. But when her brother rings to say she's needed back in Ireland right away, Romy's world is turned upside down. Flying home to see her mother and her half-siblings, Romy doubts she'll fit in better now than she ever did, and she's still not ready to forgive her mother for her truly disgraceful behaviour a few years earlier. Romy also worries that the accidental half-kiss with Keith at the airport may have brought their easy friendship to a sudden end. Whatever lies ahead, it's not what Romy's expecting – even the people we grow up with can surprise us, and if love is to be found, it will find a way.

This was Ok. Didn't really draw me in like many of her other books have. But still love Irish chick lit.

Book: Race Around the Sports World

Summary: Sports tragic Tony Hardy sets off to see as many great events around the world as he can in 50 days. The problems? Hardy has a delicate constitution, suffers chronic homesickness and loathes leaving his couch. From New York, where he goes to the US Open at Flushing Meadows, and a Major League Baseball game between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, to Belfast for a World Cup Qualifier between England and Northern Ireland. In Dusseldorf for a famous ice-hockey derby, he escapes with singed ears from a fire-loving Turkish barber, only to be cornered while under the influence for a live interview on German television. In Dublin at a hurling game, he discovers goalkeepers who face death without armour. And at the Australian MotoGP on Phillip Island, he finds lacy women's underwear flying from flags and the greatest sportsman on the planet.

This book was really hit and miss. Some funny parts but otherwise a bit boring which is a shame as it was a great idea...

Monday and Tuesday night bookgroup: The Reader

I am trying to get a jump start on my bookgroup books for the year and this one is in both (not until May and June)! Currently feeling virtuous!

Summary: When he falls ill on his way home from school, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. In time she becomes his lover—then she inexplicably disappears. When Michael next sees her, he is a young law student, and she is on trial for a hideous crime. As he watches her refuse to defend her innocence, Michael gradually realises that Hanna may be guarding a secret she considers more shameful than murder.

I enjoyed this book though it is somewhat depressing. More a winter read when it's dark and gloomy outside than a summer one... Think I might get the DVD now to see the comparison.

Book: The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots

My first book of 2012. Thanks to @sharonu for telling me about this one:

Summary: Lena Todd is a city girl who thrives on cocktails and cappuccinos. So when her boss announces he's sending her to the outback to join a construction team, her world is turned upside down. Lena's new accommodation will be an aluminium box called a dongar; Her new social network is 350 men; Her daily foot attire is steel-capped boots.

Unfortunately, Lena can't refuse. Mistakes of the past are choking her confidence. She needs to do something to right those wrongs and prove herself. Going into a remote community might just be the place to do that, if only tall, dark and obnoxious Dan didn't seem so determined to stand in her way ...

I absolutely LOVED this book. Rural romance at it's best. Can't wait for her next book. Just so excited about this genre at the minute.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Siemensma crew. All the best for 2012 xoxo

2011 books - an overview

I managed to read 40 books this year which was a pretty good effort for me. Here's the break down:

Aussie rural romance - 12
Teenage - 6
Non-fiction - 5
General fiction - 17

I absolutely LOVED sinking into my rural romances this year. Finding Di Morrissey helped! Again though I was bad at reading my book group ones... I was also disappointed in my non-fiction list. I usually read heaps more. But in reflection it has been a massive personal year so all in all I have done well.

Book: Paycheque

Summary: Claire McIntyre has it all: an adoring husband, a bubbly best friend, a chic townhouse and a high-flying corporate career in the city. But somehow she’s forgotten what really makes her happy. After receiving tragic news, closely followed by the loss of her job, Claire’s world is thrown into turmoil. She is then forced to reconsider everything that matters to her.

Claire soon finds herself back at the very place she’s been running from — the family property. A place where the bush telegraph exposes every secret, where reputations are hard won and easily lost, and where fortune is as fickle as the weather. Here, in the rugged beauty of the Australian Adelaide Hills, Claire starts to rebuild her life with her friends, her father and his beloved racehorses — including a promising young horse called Paycheque. But just as she begins to find happiness, and perhaps even love, fate comes to call. Now Claire must decide whether to do the sensible thing, or risk it all on her newfound passion...

Oh tragic rural romance at it's best. Loved it! Looking forward to reading her second one now :)

Clinician's Health Channel catch-up

Last Wednesday I headed to Melbourne for a CHC catch-up. It was lovely to catch-up with folk who I haven't seen for well over a year. It was also good to reacquaint myself with some of the products.

MIMS

MyDR - Consumer health website (includes videos)
MIMS Bi-monthly now called MIMS abbreviated
2,000,000 views per month!
Looking at introducing an overseas "drug equivalent"

Therapeutic Guidelines

Releases in March, July and November each year.

Ebsco

Introduction of Ebsco Discovery Service to CHC and can tailor to individual hospital to include local data. Trials happening.

Book: Vanishing Acts

Summary: Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural New Hampshire by her widowed father, Andrew, she now has a young daughter, a handsome fiancé, and her own search-and-rescue bloodhound, which she uses to find missing persons. But as she plans her wedding, she is plagued by flashbacks of a life she can’t recall. And when a policemen arrives to disclose a truth that will upend the world as she knows it, Delia must search through these memories – even when they have the potential to devastate her life, and the lives of those she loves most. Vanishing Acts is a book about the nature and power of memory; about what happens when the past we have been running from catches up to us and what happens when the memory we thought had vanished returns as a threat...

I really enjoyed this one. Was sucked in from the start! Think I'll read another Picoult now!

Book: The Girl and the Ghost-Grey Mare

This was a selection of short stories from Rachael Treasure. I love Rachael's novels and she is by far one of my favourite authors. Not too keen on short stories though. This was ok. Some were good, some were average. Can't wait for her next full length novel to be released.

Monday Night Bookgroup: Marching Powder

Summary: Rusty Young was backpacking in South America when he heard about Thomas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who ran tours inside Bolivia's notorious San Pedro prison. Intrigued, the young Australian went to La Paz and joined one of Thomas's illegal tours. They formed an instant friendship and then became partners in an attempt to record Thomas's experiences in the jail. Rusty bribed the guards to allow him to stay and for the next three months he lived inside the prison, sharing a cell with Thomas and recording one of the strangest and most compelling prison stories of all time. San Pedro is not your average prison. Inmates are expected to buy their cells from real estate agents. Others run shops and restaurants. Women and children live with imprisoned family members. It is a place where corrupt politicians and drug lords live in luxury apartments, while the poorest prisoners are subjected to squalor and deprivation. Violence is a constant threat, and sections of San Pedro that echo with the sound of children by day house some of Bolivia's busiest cocaine laboratories by night.

I did enjoy this book but it was pretty poorly written. Was desperate for it to end about 3/4 way through and some of the incidents were just a little too far fetched to believe...

Kaszazz workshop

On Friday night I headed to my friend's for another scrapping workshop. This time though we made a tissue box. It is actually really cute. Was even thinking of making another one for a friend at Christmas but am a little time poor at the minute!

Uni: HRM & Operations Management

Well Uni is done and dusted for another semester. I am now only 3 subjects away from completing my MBA. This semester saw me finish Human Resource Management and Operations Management. I thought the first would be easy but it happened to be the harder of the two. I could grasp concepts easily enough but the lecturer was a REALLY hard marker so you never really knew if you were putting in what you were meant to... Operations Management on the other hand took me way out of my comfort zone. It was all about manufacturing and included maths and formulas (yuck!). However I did learn a lot by studying hard and blitzing the exam (I think!). Am still waiting the results of exams which are due in about 10 days or so but am pretty sure I passed. Also am waiting for next year's timetable to be released. Not sure if I can finish next year or the one after. There is a summer subject starting late January but I just don't know...

Book: Kimberley Sun

Summary: Lily Barton is beautiful, adventurous and looking for a complete life change. Sami, her daughter, is 30, driving alone through the outback and finally, reluctantly, confronting her family roots. Together they are swept into a world where legends, myths and reality start to converge. Among those who come into their orbit are Farouz, the old Afghan camel driver, Bobby, the Chinese/Aboriginal man who is tangled in the murder of a German tourist, and Biddy, the survivor from Captain Tyndall and Olivia's era… All have a secret and all have a story to tell until each finds their place under the Kimberley sun.

I am so loving Di Morrissey. This again swept me in... Once again though I later discovered it was a sequel! So annoyed. Will probably wait a few years before reading the first one now.

Book: Parvana's Journey

Summary: Homeless and alone, Parvana begins a desperate journey through war-torn Afghanistan in search of her family. Living in constant fear of the Taliban, often without food or water in the barren landscape, Parvana and the children she rescues journey on foot through a country laid waste by years of conflict, in search of peace and safety.

This was a beautifully written story. I loved the relationships between the children. Only problem is that it's the sequel which I only discovered after reading. Now my dilemma is to go back and read or wait a few years and read the first one...

Cardmaking class - Christmas

In late October I headed to my friend's house for a Kaszazz cardmaking class. This time it was Christmas cards. Here's what we produced:











This one is also a Kaszazz card and is the card I am making for Christmas this year:

Book: No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club

Summary: Don’t harass her about parasailing or taking Italian language courses. Forget about suggesting she join a gym. Marie Sharp may be a little creaky in the bones as she heads toward the big 6-0, but she’s fine with it. She would rather do without all the moving-to-Florida-bicycling-across- Mongolia-for-the-hell-of-it hoopla that her friends insist upon. She’s already led an exciting life: She came of age in the 1960s, after all. Now, with both a new grandchild and a new man on the horizon, all she wants to do is make the most of what she considers the most interesting stage of her life. In this wonderfully astute novel based on the author’s own experiences, No! I Don’t Want to Join a Book Club is the funny—and often poignant—fictionalized diary of an older woman . . . a decade or two past her prime and content to leave it all behind her. So don’t tell her to take a gourmet cooking class, and whatever you do, don’t you dare tell her to join a book club.

This book was actually really funny. I know a few ladies who have recently turned 60 so I had them in mind when reading. This was a great light read and I've recommended it those 60 somethings!

Book: Size 12 is Not Fat

Summary: Heather Wells Rocks! Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two -- and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

I really enjoyed this book. Light and fluffy with a bit of crime thrown in. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

Rachael Treasure talk

Back at the start of October I was lucky enough to go to one of our local bookshops to see Rachael Treasure talk about her latest book. She is one of my all time favourite authors. She writes about farms, outback and rural romances. Just love her work. It's all very Aussie which I love. Anyway, she has just published a short story collection which I am currently reading now. I love listening to authors read their own words and just listening to them discuss how they got into writing, why they write, when they write etc. The bonus of going was that I also got to be a groupie and get her to sign all my books that's she's written!