A little of what I have been reading lately….
Making Home: Adapting Our Homes and Our Lives to Settle in Place By Sharon Astyk; Published by New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, 2012, RRP AU$27.99. Currently available on Fishpond $18.66. Sharon Astyk’s new book Making Home is part how-to, part memoir, and all inspiration. In it she argues that change is coming, whether we like … Read More “Book Review: Making Home, by Sharon Astyk” »
Freycinet… the thin, tenuous, shimmery line that separates memory and forgetting, permanence and transience, sanity and insanity. Freycinet (pronounced Frey-sin-ay) is an almost ethereal psychological murder mystery set in the majestic wilds of Tasmania. I’m not going to write a full review because it was written by a friend of mine, and plus I’m acknowledged … Read More “Freycinet, a Novel by Melanie Calvert” »
Most of the books I’ve been reading lately are in some way related to sustainable living or urban homesteading, as I’m (slowly, slowly) doing a literature review for a project I’m working on. Here are some snippets: “…for each daily need that we re-learn to provide within our homes and communities, we strengthen our independence … Read More “Literature Survey – Sustainable Living & Urban Homesteading” »
Made by Hand, Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World, by Mark Frauenfelder; Published by Portfolio, New York, 2010 RRP AU$29.99 (paperback). Currently available on Fishpond $14.55 . There are at least three driving forces behind the cultural movement towards DIY activities. One is frugality. In a time when there is so much financial instability … Read More “Book Review: Made by Hand, Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World” »
When We Were Kittens by David Greagg, 2012. Publisher: Clan Destine Press; 203 pages rrp $18.00. The amusing sequel to Dougal’s Diary, David Greagg’s When We Were Kittens, was released earlier this year. It begins when Dougal and Shadow are around two years old and invites us to share another year of their lives. This … Read More “Book Review: When We Were Kittens” »
If you see yourself as somewhat of a sports nut, here (in no particular order) are ten of the best sports books just for you: 1. The Armchair Olympian by Philip Ascough This trivia book will get you clued up on the Olympics in time for its descent on the UK, so you can know … Read More “Great Books that Every Sports Fan Needs to Read” »
Out of the Black Land, by Kerry Greenwood, 2010. Publisher: Clan Destine Press; 459 pages RRP AU$27.00. Finally available again on Fishpond, with free shipping Australia-wide. Now also available in a Kindle edition. Out of the Black Land is a bit of a departure for Kerry Greenwood, but an intriguing and enjoyable one. This is … Read More “Book Review: Out of the Black Land by Kerry Greenwood” »
I stayed up way too late last night reading Kerry Greenwood’s Out of the Black Land (From Clan Destine Press) last night. A review will be forthcoming when I have another chance to sit and read it for a large block of time. But not before, because I don’t want to spoil it by reading the … Read More “Warning: Reading Causes Sleep-Loss” »
Frugavore: How to Grow Your Own, Buy Local, Waste Nothing, and Eat Well, by Arabella Forge, 2010. Publisher: Black Inc.; 338 pages RRP AU$29.99. Currently available on Fishpond at AU$26.86. One of the difficulties of living sustainably in a western country today is that we have lost the skills of our foremothers and forefathers that … Read More “Book Review: Frugavore: How to Grow Your Own, Buy Local, Waste Nothing, and Eat Well, By Arabella Forge” »
The press release says “All Australians are encouraged to reignite their passion for reading with these imaginative and compelling Australian stories during the National Year of Reading.” So I’m posting the lists here in the hope that that will magically translate into time to read them 🙂 At the very least, I will see if … Read More “The 2012 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlists have been announced” »