The S Word by James Roy
University of Queensland Press, A$24.95
(for boys aged 15 to 18)

Question 1. Boys think about sex:
a. when they’re awake
b. when they’re asleep
c. when they’re half awake and half asleep
d. all of the above

Growing up is tough, especially the bit between being a boy and being a man. It’s tough because so much is changing at once. Your body, your emotions, your interests, and the way other people see you. The way you look at girls, and the way they look at you. Plus there’s those dreams.

Using humour and sensitivity, James Roy presents a book that will help any young man navigate the confusing minefield that lies between boyhood and manhood. With some help from his friend Richard the Wise, he talks frankly about sex, puberty and relationships, and shows that becoming a man doesn’t have to scare the pants off you.

(By the way, it was d.)

Smart Start: How Exercise Can Transform Your Child’s Life by Margaret Sassé
Exisle, A$29.99

Parents can get the complete GymbaROO child development program for home use with the launch of the new book, Smart Start. It’s so easy, even Dads can do it – and in just ten minutes a day.

There is a direct relationship between the physical stimulation children receive when they are babies and their ability to do well at school. This is supported and borne out by extensive research. It has been shown that children’s neurophysiological development is vital for their ability to read and learn, and Smart Start provides a fun-filled platform for parents and carers to gain greater knowledge of what this entails in order to maximise their child’s development.

Using the detailed illustrations in Smart Start you can work with your child to stimulate their neurological responses, increase coordination and enhance their capacity for learning when they reach a school age. The book is carefully organised to provide a step-by-step programme for each year of an infant’s life. Simply written and attractively presented with lively illustrations and practical exercises, Smart Start will soon become an indispensable tool for all parents.

The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar
Hachette, A$35

Every day we make choices. Coke or Pepsi? Save or spend? Stay or go? Whether mundane or life-altering, these choices define us and shape our lives.

Author Sheena Iyengar asks the difficult questions about how and why we choose: Is the desire for choice innate or bound by culture? Why do we sometimes choose against our best interests? How much control do we really have over what we choose?

Her award-winning research reveals that the answers are surprising and profound. In our world of shifting political and cultural forces, technological revolution, and interconnected commerce, our decisions have far-reaching consequences. Use this book as your companion and guide for the many challenges ahead.

Man with a Pram by Jon Farry and Stephen Mitchell
Hachette, A$24.99

For the first time in history, a book about pregnancy that men will actually be interested in. The concept for MAN WITH A PRAM was born (excuse the pun) from the authors’ observations that most men were not interested in the current pregnancy literature on the market. Added to this was the observation that many a pregnant partner seemed to be frustrated by this perceived lack of interest in pregnancy literature.

Essentially, the current pregnancy literature isn’t interesting for men because it’s aimed at women, it’s all a bit peaches and cream, a bit preachy, over-serious and well. . . Boring! Let’s face it, most men would rather walk over broken glass (or watch sport) than read a book punctuated with fog lensed pictures of smiling pregnant women with chapters entitled ‘How You’re Feeling’.

The authors reasoned that for a pregnancy book to appeal to men it needed to state the facts of pregnancy issues while couching them in humour, science, statistics, trivia and male orientated advice: basically things that men like to read about.

It’s All About Australia by Denis Gregory
Exisle, A$18.75

One of Australia’s most distinguished journalists takes a light-hearted but factual and comprehensive look at the Australian way of life. Our icons, indigenous peoples, sport, our pubs and culture, taxi drivers, our thirst for gambling, how we dress and speak and our major cities are just some of the subjects covered.

Little-known facts are given, nuggets of history are unearthed and surprising statistics are presented, together with a host of amusing stories and anecdotes. The book also includes a detailed look at Australia’s unofficial national anthem, Waltzing Matilda, and the classic ballad, The Man from Snowy River.

It’s All About Australia, Mate is a great read for all of us interested in our heritage, trivia and those bits of our history we somehow missed out on. This is also a perfect book for visiting overseas tourists or those who just have an interest in life down under. Unlike any other book on the market, this is the complete guide to our way of life and a good laugh to go with it.

The Power of Women by Dr Susan Nolen-Hoeksema
Piatkus, A$35

This new book from bestselling author Susan Nolen-Hoeksema helps women to discover, develop and harness their distinct psychological and social strengths so they can build their confidence and achieve their full potential in all aspects of their lives.

The author believes that women are generally extremely hard on themselves: they concentrate on their flaws and shortcomings, trying all the time to fix problems that no one else can see. Her 25 years’ research reveals that women have exceptional skills and, despite being ignored or dismissed over the millenia, have shown that they can be superb leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators.

Women do much more right than they do wrong. Using the latest thinking in cognitive and behavioural therapy, motivating case histories and easy-to-follow exercises, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema introduces a new programme for step-by-step change. She helps women to understand what is holding them back and inspires them to transform their lives, their work and their relationships.

Fun Start by June R Oberlander
Exisle, A$32.99

Experts agree that the first five years of a child’s life are the most formative. This is the time when children are most receptive to learning – and they are capable of learning a huge amount in a very short time. This international best-selling book has been used by hundreds of thousands of parents to help maximise the intellectual growth and motor skills of their young children. The younger the child, the stronger the effect. Beginning education at age five is too late!

This unique book is your answer to early childhood education. Written by a retired kindergarten teacher, it shows you when, how and what skills to develop. Fun Start is carefully structured so that there is one activity for every week of every year of a pre-schooler’s life, including a helpful and inexpensive phonetic approach to reading and spelling.

The activities are easy to understand, take only about ten minutes each, and use common household items. Fun Start is especially for parents, caregivers and teachers who want to help their pre-school children to learn and grow. It also includes measurable parameters to profile your child’s early development, tips for solving behavioural problems.

A Good Talk by Daniel Menaker
Hachette, A$22.99

A Good Talk is an analysis of and guide to that most exclusively human of all activities – conversation. Drawing on over forty years of experience in American letters, Menaker pinpoints the factors that drive and enliven every good conversation: the vagaries (and joys) of subtext; the deeper structure and meaning of conversational flow; the subliminal signals that guide our disclosures and confessions; and the countless other hurdles we must clear along the way.

Moving beyond self-help musings and ‘how to’ advice, he has created a stylish, funny and surprising book: a celebration of ‘the most excusively human of all activities’. In a time when conversation remains deeply important – for building relationships, for relaxing, even for figuring out who we are – and also increasingly imperiled (with Blackberries and texting increasingly in vogue), A Good Talk is a refreshing celebration of the subtle adventures of a good conversation.

The Joy of Eating edited by Jill Foulston
Virago, A$27.99

Beatrix Potter wove one of her most malicious tales around the roly-poly pudding. Colette counted the nuts she would pick before falling asleep in the French countryside. Dorothy Wordsworth noted her pie-making sessions in her diary and Anne Frank observed the eating habits of her companions in hiding.

Food is a constant in our lives, and it has always been a basic ingredient of women’s writing – in household books, cookbooks, diaries, letters and fiction. In this, the first anthology to concentrate on international food writing by women, you can go on a picnic with Monica Ali, learn about Frida Kahlo’s wedding feast and indulge your appetites with Edwidge Danticat and Barbara Pym.

Try making Elisabeth Luard’s Afghan Betrothal Custard, Martha Washington’s marzipan birds or Nigella Lawson’s favourite comfort food. And why not sneak into the literary kitchens of Banana Yoshimoto, Emily Bront and Angela Carter? Something’s cooking…

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley Pan Macmillan, AU$16.99 RRP Lucy is in love with Shadow, a mysterious graffiti artist. Ed thought he was in love with Lucy, until she broke his nose. Dylan loves Daisy, but throwing eggs at her probably wasn’t the best way to show it. Jazz and Leo are slowly encircling each other. An intense and exhilarating 24 hours in the lives of four teenagers on the verge: of adulthood, of HSC, of finding out just who they are, and who they want to be. A lyrical new YA novel from the award-winning author of Chasing Charlie Duskin and the Gracie Faltrain series. Look out for AWO’s review of Graffiti Moon, soon.

You can buy Graffiti Moon online at:

SeekBooks.com.au – AU$13.59* All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$13.95* Emporium Books – AU$14.80* Angus and Robertson Online – AU$16.95*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

I Was Jane Austen’s Best Friend by Cora Harrison Pan Macmillan, AU$24.99 RRP, hardcover “Jane says that friendship is the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love…” When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip and romance that Jane inhabits. But Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship, and when Jenny falls utterly in love with the dashing Captain Thomas Williams, who better than Jane to help her win the heart of this most eligible of men?

You can buy I Was Jane Austen’s Best Friend online at:

All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$19.80* Fishpond.com.au – AU$19.97* Emporium Books – AU$21.75* SeekBooks.com.au – AU$22.49*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

Beautiful Monster by Kate McCaffrey Fremantle Press, AU$19.95 RRP It only takes a few blood-stained seconds for Tessa’s life to change forever. Her brother is gone and now she wants her old life back. She wants her mum and dad the way they were. If it wasn’t for Ned, she’d be all alone. He’s her greatest support and her staunchest ally, privy to her deepest secrets. Ned is like her other half, and he has the answer. If Tessa can just be perfect, life will get better.

You can buy Beautiful Monster online at:

SeekBooks.com.au – AU$15.96* Emporium Books – AU$17.35* All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$17.95*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater Scholastic Inc, AU$29.95 RRP, hardcover In Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past… and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves… and is nonetheless drawn to Cole. At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love – the light and the dark, the warm and the cold – in a way you will never forget.

You can buy Linger online at:

All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$24.95* Angus and Robertson Online – AU$24.95* Fishpond.com.au – AU$24.97*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett Penguin, AU$24.95, hardcover Her muzzle wrinkled, and Andrej saw a glimpse of teeth and pale tongue. ‘They smell the same, ‘ the lioness murmured. ‘My cubs smelt as she does. Like pollen.’ She breathed deeply again, and Andrej saw the missing cubs returning to her on the wings of the baby’s perfume. ‘All young ones must come from the same place,’ she said: then sat down on her haunches, seemingly satisfied. Under cover of darkness, two brothers cross a war-ravaged countryside carrying a secret bundle. One night they stumble across a deserted town reduced to smouldering ruins. But at the end of a blackened street they find a small green miracle: a zoo filled with animals in need of hope. A moving and ageless fable about war, and freedom.

You can buy The Midnight Zoo online at:

SeekBooks.com.au – AU$19.96* Emporium Books – AU$21.70* All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$22.45*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

Wave Length by AJ Betts Fremantle Press, AU$17.95 RRP Oliver’s world has shrunk. It’s all about Year 12 finals. It’s about that magic 80% average he needs to get into uni, get his dream job and get cashed up. If only he can find a quiet place to study – away from the chaos and mess of living with two small kids and his Mum’s booming muffin business. A study break in a small coastal town seems just the ticket. But Sunny Haven Recreation and Leisure Centre is like some weird parallel universe. He arrives cashless, bookless, phoneless and fuming in the back of his Dad’s clapped out Cortina only to find his new study space is home to an array of elderly citizens. They’ve each got their own opinions on Oliver’s life plans and he “doesn’t wanna hear it!” But gradually, with their help Oliver’s universe expands.

You can buy Wave Length online at:

SeekBooks.com.au – AU$14.36* All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$15.95* Fishpond.com.au – AU$17.32*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

Big River Little Fish by Belinda Jeffrey University of Queensland Press, AU$19.95 RRP From the moment Tom Downs was born backwards – the moment of his mother’s death – time has held him the wrong way round, like he’s caught inside a fractured story. But the thing about Tom’s town flooding, and the thing that takes him by suprise is not what Old Mother Murray takes away, but who she brings back. The compelling and highly anticipated novel from Belinda Jeffrey, author of Brown Skin Blue.

You can buy Big River Little Fish online at:

SeekBooks.com.au – AU$15.96* Emporium Books – AU$17.35* All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$17.95*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

Thai-riffic! by Oliver Phommavanh Penguin, AU$16.95 RRP Albert (Lengy) Lengviriyakul, is fed up with being Thai. His parents own a Thai restaurant with the cheesy name of Thai-riffic! and Lengy is sick of being his father’s curry guinea pig, longing to just eat pizza! At school he is a bit of a troublemaker, going to any lengths to hide his background. But when his best friend decides to become Thai for a day for a school project, Lengy stubbornly comes to the realisation that there may just be some pretty cool things about his culture

You can buy Thai-Riffic! online at:

Angus and Robertson Online – AU$11.95* (eBook) Emporium Books – AU$14.75* All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$15.25* SeekBooks.com.au – AU$15.26* Fishpond.com.au – AU$16.36*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood Pan Macmillan, AU$16.99 RRP A funny, emotionally honest story of first love, with a fairytale backbeat. Fourteen year old nerd-boy Dan Cereill is not quite coping with a reversal of family fortune, moving house, new school hell, a mother with a failing wedding cake business, a just-out gay dad, and an impossible crush on Estelle, the girl next door. His life is a mess, but for now he’s narrowed it down to just six impossible things…

You can buy Six Impossible Things online at:

SeekBooks.com.au – AU$13.59* Emporium Books – AU$14.80* All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$15.25*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

90 Packets of Instant Noodles by Deb Fitzpatrick Fremantle Press, AU$17.95 RRP Joel and Craggs are in it together. They drink booze together, they flirt with petty theft together and, when Craggs turns violent, they face the consequences together too. That’s until Joel’s dad makes a deal with the police. Craggs is off to juvenile detention and Joel to solitary confinement. Ninety days of fending for himself in a remote bush shack with no radio, telephone or fridge. Miles from anywhere, Joel starts to like his own company, till one day the past tracks him down. Craggs is on his doorstep and he hasn’t changed a bit.

You can buy 90 Packets of Instant Noodles online at:

Emporium Books – AU$15.65* All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au – AU$15.95* Fishpond.com.au – AU$17.99*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

Keep an eye out for AWO’s recommended Young Adult Fiction, Children’s and Non Fiction reads – and we’ll also give you some great new book recommendations for summer reading.

The House of Dust and Dreams by Brenda Reid Orion, AU$32.99RRPA young British diplomat and his wife have been posted to Athens. Hugh loves the life there but his spirited and unconventional wife, Heavenly, finds it hard to fit into the whirl of endless parties and socialising. When Hugh is sent to Crete to sort out a problem, they stay in a rundown house owned by his family. Heavenly falls in love with the place and the people, and stays on when Hugh returns to his duties. As she tries to rebuild the ramshackle home, Heavenly makes firm friends with Anthi, a young woman from the village and Christos, the handsome and charismatic young builder. But the dark clouds of war are gathering and the island will become a crucible of violence and bloodshed in the days to come. For Heavenly, her friends and family, it will be the greatest test they have ever known. A house in ruins. An island at war. A love affair just beginning… You can buy this book online at: Angus and Robertson Online – AU$23.95* Fishpond.com.au – AU$26.35* Emporium Books – AU$28.70* * Prices subject to change by the retailer

The Hopeless Life of Charlie Summers by Paul Torday W&N (Hachette), AU$32.99 Hector Chetwode-Talbot, Eck to his friends, has left the army after a rather nasty moment in Colombia. From a privileged background, he is slightly at a loss as to what to do next, when he is approached by an old army pal, Bilbo Mountwilliam. Bilbo runs an investment fund company and persuades Eck to join the company. It is on a golfing trip to France with his friend Henry Newark that Eck first meets Charlie Summers, a fly-by-night entrepreneur who is hiding out in France after a ‘misunderstanding with Her Majesty’s Customs and Revenue.’ Charlie’s latest scheme is to import Japanese dog food into the UK. Henry casually mentions that Charlie should ‘look us up’ if he is ever in Gloucestershire. But not only does Charlie Summers look Henry up, he arrives with his suitcase, intent on staying with the Newarks and relaunching his dog food business in their area. But with the financial crash looming, Eck begins to ask himself if they are so very different… You can buy this book online at: Amazon.com – Kindle eBook US$11.99* Angus and Robertson Online – AU$14.95* Emporium Books – AU$28.70* The Nile – AU$29.49* * Prices subject to change by the retailer

My Last Duchess by Daisy Goodwin Headline Fiction (Hachette), AU$29.99RRPMy Last Duchess takes as its theme the late 19th-century market in American heiresses, married off to the sons of the impoverished British aristocracy. Beautiful, vivacious Cora Cash, the wealthiest debutante in America, is spirited away from the glamour and comfort of her Park Avenue mansion and suddenly finds herself Duchess of Wareham, mistress of Lulworth Castle, maried to Ivo, the most eligible bachelor in England. As Cora is soon to discover, nothing in this strange new world is quite as it seems. Her handsome new husband is withdrawn and secretive; the English social scene is stuffed with pitfalls and traps, and there are increasingly dangerous forces at work, people who wish she’d never met Ivo in the first place… You can buy this book online at: Emporium Books – AU$26.10* The Nile – AU$26.95* Angus and Robertson Online – AU$27.95* Fishpond.com.au – AU$29.99* * Prices subject to change by the retailer

Legend of Suicide by David Vann Penguin, AU$24.95RRPRoy is still young when his father, a failed dentist and hapless fisherman, puts a .44 magnum to his head and kills himself on the deck of his beloved boat. Throughout his life, Roy returns to that moment, gripped by its memory and the shadow it casts over his small-town boyhood, describing with poignant, mercurial wit his parents’ woeful marriage and inevitable divorce, their kindnesses and weaknesses, the absurd and comic turning-points of his past. Finally, in Legend of a Suicide, Roy lays his father’s ghost to rest. But not before he exacts a gruelling, exhilarating revenge. Revolving around a fatally misconceived adventure deep in the wilderness of Alaska, this is a remarkably tender story of loss, survival and disillusioned love. You can buy this book online at: Amazon.com – US$10.07* Kobo eBooks – AU$8.79* Angus and Robertson Online – AU$18.95* Fishpond.com.au – AU$18.95* Emporium Books – AU$20.05* The Nile – AU$22.49*

The Castle in the Pyrenees by Jostein Gaarder Orion, AU$29.99RRP hardbackFrom the bestselling author of Sophie’s World comes this new novel set in the 1970s. Through five intense years, Steinn and Solrunn had a happy life together. Then they suddenly parted ways, for reasons that are unclear to both. In the summer of 2007 they meet again on a balcony of an old wooden hotel by a fjord in western Norway. It is a place they both have fond memories from, and their meeting turns out to be fateful. But is it purely coincidental that they meet at that particular spot at that particular time? Over a couple of weeks that summer they write emails to each other, and it becomes clear that they have been living with very different interpretations of their shared past. The Castle in the Pyrenees is both a love story and a novel of ideas, exploring the place of human consciousness in the universe. Its main theme is of great current interest: can scinece explain everything, or does some invisible force influence our lives? You can buy this book online at: Emporium Books – AU$26.10* The Nile – AU$26.99* Angus and Robertson Online – AU$29.95* Fishpond.com.au – AU$29.99* * Prices subject to change by the retailer

Mr Rosenblum’s List by Natasha Solomons Hachette, AU$29.99RRP, hardbackJack Rosenblum is five foot three and a half inches of sheer tenacity. Through study and application he intends to become a Very English Gentleman. Jack is compiling a list, a comprehensive guide to the manners, customs and habits of his new home. And he never speaks German, apart from the occasional curse. Assimilation, he’s convinced, is the secret of success. But the war’s been over for eight years and despite his best efforts, his bid to blend in remains fraught with unexpected hurdles. Including his wife. Sadie finds his obsession baffling. She doesn’t want to forget who they are or where they come from. She’d rather bake cakes to remember the people they left behind than worry about how to play bridge. But Jack is convinced they can find a place to call home. In a final attempt to complete his list, he leads a reluctant Sadie into the English countryside. Here, in a land of woolly pigs, bluebells and jitterbug cider, they embark on an impossible task… You can buy this book online at: Angus and Robertson Online – AU$16.95* The Nile – AU$24.95* Fishpond.com.au – AU$26.95* * Prices subject to change by the retailer

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella Random House, AU$32.95RRPBecky Brandon (née Bloomwood) thought motherhood would be a breeze and that having a daughter was a dream come true – a shopping friend for life! But it’s trickier than she thought – two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping. She can create havoc everywhere from Harrods to Harvey Nicks to her own christening. She hires taxis at random, her favourite word is ‘Mine‘, and she’s even started bidding for designer bags on ebay. On top of everything else, there’s a big financial crisis. People are having to Cut Back – including all of Becky’s personal shopping clients – and she and Luke are still living with Becky’s Mum and Dad. To cheer everyone up, Becky decides to throw a surprise birthday party – on a budget – but then things become really complicated. Who will end up on the naughty step, who will get a gold star and will Becky’s secret wishes come true? You can buy this book online at: Amazon.com – US$13.50* QBD The Bookshop – AU$19.99* The Nile – AU$29.49* Fishpond.com.au – AU$29.95* * Prices subject to change by the retailer

Somewhere Down a Crazy River by Robyn Catchlove Pan Macmillan, AU$34.99RRPRobyn Catchlove wasn’t destined for married life and two and half kids in the suburbs of Adelaide. So, in her early twenties, she walks away from a passionless marriage to seek out adventure and lead the life she always dreamed of. As a spunky 25-year-old, she meets her match, Les Coles, in balmy Cairns, and together they set about building the boat of their dreams. By the time the Jean King launches, Robyn and Les are fiercely in love and ready to take on the challenges of the professional fishing game. This is the start of a gripping eight-year sea journey set in the hallucinogenic tropics of Far North Queensland. It also takes Robyn deep into the heart of the exclusively male world of professional fishing. It is physical, tough, and often perilous, but Robyn won’t give up until she has not just silenced, but completely won over, even her toughest critics. Along the way, Robyn develops a remarkable bond with the environment, experiences a deep relationship with indigenous Australians, and collects a swag of colourful and gutsy fishing mates. But when her one true ally unexpectedly turns on her, Robyn is going to need more resilience and courage than she ever needed – even in the toughest storm at sea. Robyn’s is a quintessentially Australian story about passions: where they can take you, how to walk away from them if they threaten to destroy you, and what is left if you have the courage to do so. You can buy this book online at: Emporium Books – AU$30.45* SeekBooks.com.au – AU$31.49* Angus and Robertson Online – $34.95* QBD The Bookshop – AU$34.99* * Prices subject to change by the retailer

Heaven, Hell and Mademoiselle by Harold Carlton Orion, AU$32.99Four young fashion hopefuls arrive in Paris, 1968, determined to claw their way to the top of the ruthless world of the haute couture. Monique, a seamstress destined to become so much more, watches Chanel’s staff spray No 5 perfume in the street outside the famous maison de couture. Can her dreams of success and love come true in this magical place? Christopher, London born and bred, a handsome new designer, determined to make it in a world where sex-appeal and success go hand in hand – and heterosexual men are rare and prized. Samantha, an ultra-spoiled Daddy’s girl who always gets her way, has the gift of selling French perfume and fashion with sex, sex and yet more sex. But can a loud, brash American ever conquer the sophisticated ladies of Paris? And hauntingly beautiful Sophie, the top model who becomes Chanel’s ‘Face’ on a million billboards and magazine covers, yet has a terrible secret in her past that refuses to stay buried. Four young lives collide and entangle in the secretive world of French fashion as Harold Carlton weaves a spellbinding tale of passionate love, ambitious rivalry and exquisite clothes. This season’s must-have accessory – a delicious romp through Parisian haute couture. You can buy this book online at: Amazon.com – Kindle eBook US$11.99* Angus and Robertson Online – AU$23.95* Emporium Books – AU$28.70* Fishpond.com.au – AU$29.97* * Prices subject to change by the retailer

This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper Orion, AU$32.99Poor Judd Foxman returns home early to find his wife in bed with his boss – in the act. He now faces the twin threats of both divorce and unemployment. His misery is compounded further with the sudden death of his father. He is then asked to come and ‘sit Shiva’ for his newly deceased parent with his angry, screwed up and somewhat estranged brothers and sisters in his childhood home. It is there he must confront who he really is and – more importantly – who he can become. Funny, moving, powerful and poignant. This is Where I Leave You is the fabulous follow up to How to Talk to a Widower, and is Jonathan Tropper at his best. You can buy this book online at: Amazon.com – US10.20* Kobo eBooks – AU$12.19* Emporium Books – AU$21.50* Angus and Robertson Online – AU$22.95* Fishpond.com.au – AU$22.95* * Prices subject to change by the retailer

Even if you don’t like cricket and you’re not sure if this book will appeal to you – stick with me here. I don’t care for the game, yet this book has managed to find a cosy little spot in my heart.

When it was delivered to my door, I looked at it curiously. What would I think of this one? I requested the book from its publishers, Fremantle Press, but I wasn’t quite sure why. I can’t stand cricket, yet there was something about this novel that made me ask for it to be sent through. There was something there, a little niggling feeling that this was a book I should read.

And I’m so glad I followed that feeling.

From the all-important first paragraph, I was hooked and my mystery was solved. This is not a cricket book; it is a beautiful story.

Spinner is the story of a young boy, David Donald. David’s grandfather, father and uncle were all cricket players, and he is set to follow in their footsteps, as an extraordinarily talented spin bowler.

Set in Western Australia post-World War I, a time when men were men and boys were expected to behave like men, we are taken along as David is transformed from a farm boy to a world-famous member of the Australian cricket team.

Growing up working on the family farm with his Grandad, David is taken by the mysterious Uncle Michael, himself an expert spinner – of tales, that is. A silver-tongued liar, gambler and ladies man from way back, Mike talks David’s way into the trials for the national cricket team, despite the fact he is just twelve years of age. When they see what this boy can do, his fate is sealed.

From there, we follow the trials and successes of David Donald’s first professional cricket matches. We read in disbelief as Uncle Mike gambles his way through test match cities and involves his young guardian in all sorts of trouble, cheer David on as he battles to be accepted by his team members and cry when the mysteries of his parents’ lives are unravelled.

Through the stories of these believable characters, the story shows life between the wars as a time when only the toughest survived. Although it is marketed as a young adult novel, it appeals to a wide audience: young adult men and women right through to not-so-young adult men and women. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read, anyone looking for a genuinely gripping and inspiring tale.

Whether you enjoy the game or not, you can’t deny that cricket has been a huge influence on Australian culture. And no one could explain that better than Spinner’s Uncle Mike: “It’s a sublime game from another era. A game that lasts days and days. That men dedicate their lives to. I like it because of its tricks. Its lies and contradictions. That it seems so slow, but can change in an instant. I love all the games within a game. The little stories within the grander one.”

How can you resist that? With the game used as a tool to narrate David’s life and his challenges as he is forced to become a man, even the details of the matches are too well written to skim over. Never before have I been so intrigued at how a cricket ball is spun or cared for the ins and outs of the game – proof that Elliott can spin a great yarn if he can hook someone like me with this subject!

You can buy this book online at:

Seekbooks.com.au – AU$22.36*

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Booktopia.com.au – AU$24.95*

The Nile – AU$24.99*

Fishpond.com.au AU$26.98*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

Title: Spinner
Author: Ron Elliott
Category: Young adult fiction
Publisher: Fremantle Press
ISBN: 9781921361937
RRP: AU$27.95
Publication Date: September 2010

Now in its ninth year (it was previously called Books Alive), the campaign runs from 25th August to 30th September 2010 and aims to encourage Australians to read.

The top fifty books are chosen carefully to showcase some page-turners written by both local and international authors in various categories, to interest people of all ages and with all types of interests. They all have one thing in common, though: they’re intriguing books that you, well, can’t put down!

The other perk to the campaign – that is, beside uncovering some fabulous books – is the chance to be given a free book when you buy one or more of the top fifty from a participating retailer.

Participating online retailers in Australia include:

• Angus and Robertson Online

• The Nile – Australia’s Largest Online Bookstore

• All books discounted at www.booktopia.com.au

• SeekBooks.com.au – Over 1.5 Million Book Titles To Browse Online

The titles in the 50 Books You Can’t Put Down for 2010 are:

The World Beneath by Cate Kennedy
Rich and Sandy were once environmental activists. Twenty-five years later their 15-year-old daughter, Sophie, is the only thing they have in common and they’ve settled into the compromises of middle age. When Rich takes Sophie, whom he hardly knows, on a trek into the Tasmanian wilderness, his overconfidence and her growing disillusion with him set off a chain of events no-one predicts.

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
Late one hot summer night in 1965, 13-year-old Charlie Bucktin is startled by a knock on the window. His visitor, Jasper Jones, an outcast in the mining town of Corrigan, has a terrible secret to share. During that simmering summer Charlie learns why truth is so hard to know, and even harder to hold in one’s heart.

Ransom by David Malouf
Achilles is maddened by grief at the death of his friend Patroclus. From the walls of Troy, King Priam watches as the body of his son, Hector, is dragged behind Achilles’ chariot. There must be a way, King Priam thinks, of reclaiming Hector’s body, of pitting compromise against heroics, of forcing the hand of fate.

The Boat by Nam Le
A child assassin in Colombia; an ageing New York artist desperate to be reconciled with his daughter; a boy’s coming of age in a rough Victorian fishing town; a Japanese schoolchild moments before the bomb is dropped on Hiroshima − all sandwiched between two semi-autobiographical tales.

Life in His Hands by Susan Wyndham
Charlie Teo is one of Australia’s most celebrated yet controversial neurosurgeons. So when classical pianist Aaron McMillan was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumour at the age of 24 he approached Teo for treatment. Two days after brain surgery lasting 12 hours, McMillan was back playing the piano.

The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge MD
An astonishing new discovery called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the adult human brain doesn’t change. Psychiatrist and researcher Norman Doidge introduces principles we can all use to overcome brain limitations and explores the profound implications of the changing brain.

The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do
Anh Do nearly didn’t make it to Australia. His family came close to losing their lives when they escaped war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat. But neither murderous pirates nor the threat of death by hunger, disease or dehydration could quench their desire to make a better life.

Ray: Stories of My Life by Ray Martin
With five Gold Logies and 20 Silver Logies to his name, Ray Martin is Australia’s most trusted and beloved TV journalist. Now, after more than 40 years of telling other people’s stories, Martin chronicles his own life, from his itinerant childhood to his years at the ABC, 60 Minutes, The Midday Show, The Ray Martin Show and more.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest by Stieg Larsson
Lisbeth Salander is plotting her revenge. But it’s not going to be easy. She’s taken a bullet to the head and is under close supervision in Intensive Care. She’s also set to face trial for three murders. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist, Salander must not only prove her innocence but identify and denounce the corrupt politicians who have allowed the vulnerable to become victims of abuse and violence.

King of the Cross by Mark Dapin
When legendary Godfather of Kings Cross Jacob Mendoza decides to record his epic life story he employs a hapless young reporter from the Australian Jewish Times. But as Mendoza’s story emerges, of thugs and drugs, murders, bikers, bent cops and girls, it becomes clear he’s not the only one with a past. And as the memoir starts to take shape, other criminals begin to circle Mendoza’s kingdom.

Bleed for Me by Michael Robotham
Tough ex-cop Ray Hegarty is found brutally murdered in his own home. All evidence points to his 14-year-old daughter, Sienna, who happens to be friends with psychologist Joe O’Loughlin’s own daughter. Sienna is quickly taken into custody, but Joe’s convinced she’s innocent. So what was going on in the Hegarty household? Is Sienna guilty of murder? And what part has her charismatic teacher Gordon Ellis played? As Joe digs deeper his personal life starts to buckle under the pressure.

Under the Dome by Stephen King
The small town of Chester’s Mill is inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. As food, electricity and water run short, the community begins to crumble, and a new, more sinister social order develops. Iraq veteran Dale Barbara teams up with a few intrepid citizens to fight against the corruption and to discover the source of the Dome before it’s too late.

Truth by Peter Temple
A young woman lies dead in a bath, a panic button within reach. Inspector Stephen Villani is on the case, but he’s also dealing with the dismal state of his marriage and his failure as a father, brother and son. As fires burn across the state, Villani discovers that the certainties of his life are crumbling.

Lovesong by Alex Miller
Seeking shelter from a sudden rainstorm in a rundown Tunisian cafe on Paris’s fringe, John Patterner meets the exotic Sabiha and his carefully mapped life changes forever. Theirs becomes a contented but unlikely marriage, yet because they are essentially foreigners to each other their love sets in train a series of tragic events.

Maralinga by Judy Nunn
When a young British lieutenant dies in mysterious circumstances on a secret mission to South Australia, his fiancee, journalist Elizabeth Hoffmann, travels halfway round the world to uncover the truth. Set in 1956 during the darkest days of the cold war, Maralinga is a gripping, fictionalised account of a shocking event in our history, when the British military detonated nuclear weapons in the Australian desert.

Riding the Black Cockatoo by John Danalis
On the mantelpiece of John Danalis’s childhood home sat an Aboriginal skull. Yet only as an adult did Danalis ask where it came from. Riding the Black Cockatoo is the fascinating story of how that skull of an Aboriginal man, found on the banks of the Murray River over 40 years ago, came to be returned to his Wamba Wamba descendants.

The Gallipoli Letter Keith Murdoch
In September 1915, young war journalist Keith Murdoch wrote an 8000-word letter to the Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher. ‘The Gallipoli Letter’, as it became known, changed the course of the military campaign. Hamilton, the general in charge, was sent home, and the Allies withdrew in December that year.

Australians Vol 1: Origins to Eureka by Thomas Keneally
Iconic storyteller Thomas Keneally gives us an Australian history like no other in this absorbing look at the characters who created our national story. Populated by convicts and Aborigines, settlers and soldiers, patriots and reformers, bushrangers and gold seekers, Australians explores how the backgrounds, beliefs and motivations of individuals combine to create a society and culture.

Johnny Lewis: The Biography by Paul Kent
Johnny Lewis has trained six world boxing champions, including Jeff Fenech, Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Harding. But he’s also a legend in his own right, famous for his unique brand of wisdom, gained while growing up in Erskineville, where he mixed with hustlers and hard men and ‘never met a bad bloke’.

First Tests by Steve Cannane
Facing up to hostile opponents on backyard pitches developed skills, toughness and competitiveness that have taken our cricketers to the top. So Don Bradman’s grip and stance evolved in response to the pace that a golf ball rebounded off the tankstand, while Greg Chappell’s trademark flick off the hip was invented because the best scoring opportunities at home lay on the leg side. This collection of stories about our greatest cricketers and the backyards that made them get to the heart and soul of our national game.

Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi
Forced by an obsessive father to practise tennis for hours every day, Andre Agassi grew to resent the constant pressure while driving himself to succeed. In 1992 he shocked the world by winning Wimbledon, and became an overnight favourite − and media target. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals, Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his time with Barbra Streisand, his marriage to Brooke Shields, his depression and the mistake that nearly cost him everything, his march to become the oldest number one player and, finally, finding love with Steffi Graf.

The Cattleman’s Daughter by Rachael Treasure
Born in the high country, Emily Flanaghan is locked in an unhappy marriage in the suburbs. Following a traumatic accident, she returns to the land of her childhood and falls in love with parks ranger Luke Bradshaw, only to face losing him and her beloved land in the greatest challenge of all.

Itsy-Bitsy Babies by Margaret Wild & Jan Ormerod
Delightful and rhythmic, Itsy-Bitsy Babies is the perfect read-aloud book for babies and toddlers. By the multi-award-winning duo writer Margaret Wild and illustrator Jan Ormerod, this charmingly illustrated picture book has become an instant classic, and promises to enchant and amuse children for generations to come.

The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith & Katz Cowley
Small children and kids at heart will be in fits of laughter at this hilarious picture book about a three-legged donkey that, by the end of the story, is a ‘spunky, hanky-panky, cranky, stinky, dinky, lanky, honky-tonky, winky, wonky donkey’. There’s endless fun to be had listening to the award-winning bonus CD and trying to predict the new word for each clue given.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
It’s 1962. Newly graduated Skeeter returns home to find her beloved maid, Constantine, gone. Aibileen is a black maid raising her 17th white child. Minny is Aibileen’s best friend and the sassiest woman in Mississippi. In The Help, these very different women come together in a way that puts all their lives at risk.

Homecoming by Cathy Kelly
In Dublin’s Golden Square two women live side by side: Rae, who runs the Square’s tearooms; and teacher Connie O’Callaghan, who’s given up on love because no man matches the heroes in her beloved romantic novels. Then two new residents − Mrs Levine, an elderly American lady, and Megan Bouchier, a young actress whose recent affair is all over the papers – arrive in Golden Square, signalling change for all the women.

Bittersweet by Melanie La’Brooy
When Mimi returns broke and unhappy from a backpacking trip around the world, her famous soapie-star sister, Sabrina, offers her a paid job – as her bridesmaid. Mimi needs the money, but a long-running feud between the sisters threatens to destroy everything before they even get started. Bittersweet is a warm and funny novel of sibling rivalry and star-crossed lovers by one of Australia’s queens of women’s fiction. It’s also a revealing exploration of marriage, celebrity culture and the bonds of family.

Campaign Ruby by Jessica Rudd
Retrenched London investment banker Ruby Stanhope returns to Australia to an unexpected job offer: financial policy adviser to the federal leader of the Opposition. When an early election is announced, rookie Ruby is thrown into the campaign. Through trial and plenty of error (including wardrobe malfunctions, media mishaps and a palate for unsavoury men) she finds passion − not just a flair − for her new career.

The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens
In this exciting follow-up to The Untamed Bride and the second in the Black Cobra Quartet, battle-hardened Gareth Hamilton, a completely unstoppable ex-officer of the Crown, confronts the deadly enemy known only as the Black Cobra. Focused on his mission, he sees Emily Ensworth, a woman he never dreamed he’d see again – now with an assassin on her heels. Through peril, passion, desire and ecstasy, they race to reach England − and their destiny.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith
A mysterious plague has struck the village of Meryton, and the dead are returning to life! Feisty Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of Mr Darcy. A delightful comedy of manners ensues with civilised sparring and some blood-soaked fighting as Elizabeth wages war against the undead. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies features the original text of Jane Austen’s beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie action.

Pearl in a Cage by Joy Dettman
One midsummer’s evening in 1923 a young woman is found pregnant and unconscious in tiny Woody Creek. Town midwife Gertrude Foote is unable to save her – but the baby lives. When no one claims the infant, Gertrude’s daughter Amber and husband Norman take the child in. Jenny grows into an exquisite young woman. But who were her parents? And why does she resemble Gertrude’s philandering husband?

Summer at Mount Hope by Rosalie Ham
It’s 1894. Phoeba Crupp lives with her parents and sister on a small vineyard near Geelong. While her sister makes a play for the local squatter’s son, Phoeba is content to spend her time with her best friend, Harriet − until circumstances push her towards the world of men and money.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova
When Harvard professor Alice Howland gets lost in her own neighbourhood she knows something is terribly wrong. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease at 50, she struggles to find purpose in her life. As her concept of self gradually slips away, her family struggle to keep the Alice they know for as long as possible. Alice is living in the moment, living for each day.

Cleo by Helen Brown
When nine-year-old Sam was accidently killed, his family fell apart. But they somehow slowly began to pick up the pieces, thanks in no small portion to a cat called Cleo. In this candid true-life story, Helen Brown tells how a tiny black kitten, picked out by Sam before he died, helped heal her family.

Juliet by Anne Fortier
Julie Jacobs inherits the key to a safety deposit box in Siena that she’s told will lead to a family treasure. Instead, her inheritance takes her on a perilous journey into the history of her ancestor, Giulietta, whose legendary love for Romeo turned medieval Siena upside down. It soon becomes clear that the curse − ‘A plague on both your houses’ − is still at work, and Julie is the next target.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Renée Michel is the concierge of a grand Parisian apartment building. Paloma Josse, the precocious 12-year-old daughter of one of the most bourgeois families in the building, has decided that life is meaningless and is making plans to commit suicide on her 13th birthday. The upstart girl and the concierge are drawn together when the celebrated restaurant critic upstairs dies.

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
When identical twins Julia and Valentina Poole are bequeathed a flat overlooking Highgate Cemetery they feel at last their own lives can begin. But they soon discover they’ve been deliberately entwined in a tangle of fraying lives, from the obsessive-compulsive crossword setter who lives above to their aunt’s elusive lover below, and even their aunt herself, who can’t quite leave her flat

Wonders of a Godless World by Andrew McGahan
On an unnamed island in the shadow of a volcano, a wordless orphan girl works the wards of a hospital for the insane and incapable. When a new patient arrives, strange phenomena and bizarre murders throw this peculiar world into turmoil.

Meltdown by Ben Elton
For amiable City trader Jimmy Corby money is the new rock ’n’ roll. His whole life is a party, adrenalin charged and cocaine fuelled. Rich, pampered and successful, Jimmy lives the dream with saintly wife Monica, while bringing up their children with an army of domestic help. But then the global financial crisis hits and it all comes crashing down. Jimmy discovers that anyone can handle success, but it’s how you handle failure that really matters

Loathing Lola by William Kostakis
When a reality show offers to broadcast the life of 15-year old Courtney Marlow, she decides to go through with it, despite the fact she doesn’t watch much reality TV. Courtney is determined to be a positive role model, someone on television without a boob job or an eating disorder. But as events in her life are deviously manipulated to create drama, Courtney begins to realise that ‘ordinary’ doesn’t translate into ‘entertaining’.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse can read minds and it’s driving her crazy. So when she meets Bill and realises she can’t ‘hear’ a word he’s thinking, she decides he’s the one. But Bill turns out to have a few quirks of his own – for one thing, he’s a vampire. Worse, he hangs with a creepy crowd that has a reputation for trouble.

Marked by PC Cast & Kristin Cast
Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird is Marked as a fledgling vampire and must join the House of Night school to learn how to become an adult vampire. But Zoe is no ordinary fledgling, having been especially chosen by the Goddess Nyx. When Zoey discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite group, is misusing her Goddess given gifts, Zoey must look within herself to embrace her destiny – with a little help from her new vampire friends.

Chasers by by James Phelan
When 16-year-old Jesse and his friends Dave, Mini and Anna crawl out from the wreckage of a subway crash they discover a city in chaos. Abandoned cars line the streets and buildings are in ruins. Worse, the only other survivors seem to be infected with a virus that turns them into horrifying predators.

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
When three angels, Ivy, Bethany and Gabriel, are sent to protect the town of Venus Cove they soon realise they’re not the only supernatural power around. A new kid has arrived and he’s charming, seductive and deadly. He’s also after Bethany, who has meanwhile fallen for the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. The angels and Xavier must work together to overcome the dark forces − but will Bethany survive the battle?

The Magician’s Apprentice by Trudi Canavan
In the remote village of Mandryn, Tessia serves as assistant to her father, the village Healer. Then, when a chance encounter reveals she has magical powers, Tessia is apprenticed to magician Lord Dakon. Initially overjoyed, Tessia soon realises her newly discovered gifts bring with them enormous responsibility. Events are brewing that will lead nations into war, rival magicians into conflict, and spark an act of sorcery so brutal its effects will be felt for centuries

The Dragons: Camelot by Colin Thompson
In the days when dragons roamed the earth turning people into toast, a mighty king called Arthur ruled the world from his castle in Camelot. The trouble with legends, though, is that useless twits are often turned into superheroes. This is the true story of King Arthur, who was not a superhero by any stretch of the imagination, but was instead a nasty, spoilt little brat who was totally up himself. Or was he?

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams
When your name is John Lennon but everyone calls you ‘Beatle’ and your kooky mum has raised you on a diet of horoscopes, superstitions and signs from the universe, the word ‘coincidence’ isn’t in your vocabulary. So when Beatle meets Destiny McCartney, he knows it must be fate. Unfortunately, there’s one complication − Beatle already has the perfect girl.

Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell
Riley Rose doesn’t want to be at Spirit Ranch Holiday Camp. She wants to be partying with her best friend, Chloe. She wants to get away from the jumpsuit-wearing counsellors, the feel-good mantras, the do-gooder campers and the monotonous schedule of team-building exercises. But is everything as it appears at Spirit Ranch? What secrets are waiting in the abandoned Fraser house? And why doesn’t anyone want to talk about the accident that landed the mysterious Dylan in a wheelchair last year?

Trouble at the Zoo by Bindi Irwin
Bindi’s birthday party at Australia Zoo is going to be HUGE. Karaoke, animal rides, dancing competitions − it’s all happening! But when a spoilt ten-year-old decides he wants to take home one of the zoo’s precious water dragons, chaos ensues. This action-packed adventure by Bindi Irwin, daughter of the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is the first in a fantastic series for children aged six to ten.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Being a kid can really stink. And no one knows this better than Greg Heffley. It’s a new school year, and Greg finds himself thrust into high school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner and already shaving. The hazards of growing up are uniquely revealed through words and drawings in this hilarious and much-adored first book in the series. Now a feature film, Diary of a Wimpy Kid has become a global phenomenon.

For more information visit the website: www.getreading.com.au

They’re all around us: images of perfect bodies, flawless complexions, impossibly skinny waists. Ads claiming we too could look that way if we just use this particular product. People telling us we don’t look the way we should, niggles of self-doubt fed by negative peers or family members.

This book gets to the bottom of it all. Aimed at teenagers looking for an easy-to-read way to educate themselves about body image issues, the messages are handled extremely well.

With a look at the media, how women and men are portrayed, behind-the-scenes glimpses into photo shoots and how advertisements are created, it is full of information without being overloaded or complicated.

I’ll get my criticism out of the way first. The book claims to “have not been dumbed down for youth” and, for the most part, that is correct. But by beginning with a foreword specifically for parents and educators before moving to the sections for teenagers, with very different language, readers may be wary. Perhaps the ‘adult’s’ section should have been placed at the back, or even excluded as everything covered there is spoken about throughout the book.

Don’t despair. Keep reading.

Look beyond this and you’ll find a positive, helpful book full of well-researched tips.

A reference and educational tool for teenagers, the strength of this book is its focus on the ‘how’ rather than just they ‘what’ and ‘why’. For example, in the section about who is to blame for negative body image, a number of sources are listed: technology, media, peers, and so on. The bottom line, though, is that every individual must take control of their own thoughts and actions.

This makes it an empowering book, telling teenagers they have the ability to love themselves and control over popular culture. (Don’t like the way that magazine alters images? Discourage them by refusing to buy it.)

Each section is concluded with an activity requiring research and discussion to really help readers understand body image issues in their own environment. This is a vital part of the book; a fantastic resource for educating oneself about the media and taking control of your own life.

Knowledge is power and this book is a great tool for teenagers (girls and boys) in their search for certainty and positivity.

YOU CAN BUY THIS BOOK ONLINE AT:

• Booktopia – AU$11.50*

• SeekBooks.com.au – AU$11.66*

• The Nile – AU$11.99*

* All prices subject to change by the retailer

Title: Does My Bum Look Big In This Ad?
Author: Lisa Cox
Category: Young adult non-fiction
Publisher: Wombat Books
ISBN: 9781921633058
RRP: AU$12.95
Publication Date: April 2010

From the team behind yourfamilyyourmoney.com.au comes this third advice-packed manual on conquering money matters – namely, surviving the complicated and oft devastating rift that is divorce.

Analaura and Wilson Luna are a husband and wife team who spend their lives counselling and supporting families on all things financial. They’ve appeared on A Current Affair, The Today Show, Ten News, and a cacophony of printed media and radio – dealing out the truth behind money management and its sometimes devastating effects on the lives of families.

The authors are both educated in accounting and applied finance, however is it their clear passion for giving families the tools they need to balance work, life, money and happiness that has made this dynamic duo such a success.

Real Money Advice for Divorce is essentially an easy-to-follow plan to aid those navigating the bumpy road to divorce. But what sets it apart is that its focus is not only on finances, but on the emotional and social price paid during and after separation. Of course, this toll can’t be underestimated and the authors make it clear, with a lot of warmth, that emotional control and balance is key to surviving and coming out on top.

This is an incredibly well-rounded book. Divided into three sections – The Divorce Survival Plan, Settling, and Succeeding, this book runs the gamut of how to not only survive divorce, but live well in its wake – something especially important for women.

Beginning with an understanding of the emotional rollercoaster that is early separation, the book offers clear, rational and enormously helpful advice on keeping hold of your emotions, exploring all your options (is divorce really the answer?), working out a separation budget, getting legal help without breaking the bank – even how to actually apply for a divorce. The intricacies of child support is even clearly demystified.

In Stage Two, readers will learn how to effectively negotiate parenting roles, what to expect in court, as well as out-of-court and in-court property settlements. Stage Three is all about the reality of life post-divorce, what you’re up against, how to plan and know your rights. There’s even a section on renavigating the dating game down the track.

Complete with helpful charts, checklists, case studies, a budget planner and a list of places to go if you need more help, this book would certainly provide a much-needed resource for anyone contemplating or suffering divorce. With 50,000 of us applying for divorce every year, it seems this book is bound to become a bestseller.

YOU CAN BUY THIS BOOK ONLINE AT:

• Fishpond.com.au – AU$24.99*

• Emporium Books – AU$26.10*

• Booktopia – AU$26.95*

• The Nile – AU$26.99*

* Prices are subject to change by the retailer.

Title: Real Money Advice for Divorce
Author: Analaura and Wilson Luna
Category: Non-Fiction
Publisher: Luna Group P/L
ISBN: 9780980628425
RRP: AU$29.99
Publication Date: 8 July 2010

Other books in the Your Family Your Money series:
30 Day Challenge; and
Real Money Advice for Families

Let’s just get to the heart of the matter. It’s going to be tough to explain how much I loved this book. This may help: my heart raced every time I saw its black, cloth-bound cover (the gorgeously-styled dust jacket was, of course, packed away carefully to be reunited with said book after I had malued it to death in bed every night).

And as my heart raced, a variable of other things happened to my body. My eyes misted over, my brows knit together, my throat opened to gasp in horror and my lips twisted wryly. My stomach turned, my eyes widened and giggles fluttered from my mouth. But it was my brain that copped the brunt of this book. Essentially, I was smacked squarely in the cerebral cortex and lo, it was good.

Subtitled A Short History of Private Life - this is indeed a short history of the world we call home – hearth, house, dwelling, abode. It is a peramble through not only the rooms of a house and its associated idiosyncrasies, but also of the pursuit and attainment of comfort – for comfort as we know it in the West is actually a very new concept – and has only really been enjoyed by a priveleged few (ie: you and me) for a very short segment in the history of humankind.

Up until very recently, the home has not been a place of comfort nor safety – neither a place to hang your hat nor lay you down to rest. Rat, lice, poop and disease-infested death traps come to mind for many of the Westernised people who have lived in the ‘houses’ before us – particularly those in great cities like London and Paris whose people were often swallowed up by the perils of life in a poor-ventillated, dimly lit, bitterly cold and filthy dwelling that was more often than not shared with a multitude. Even the greatest houses and castles built as recently as the 19th century were enormously susceptible to fire, cold, disease, ill comfort, and even crumbling upon one’s own head.

But At Home is about more than the various states and mutations of the world’s dwellings and how we came to achieve what it is we have today that makes our lives so dry, warm, safe and… comfortable.

This book is an extraordinary compilation (as Bryson does so well) of the events, the plagues, the perils and most importantly – the people who have been associated with the creation and development of (as well as the destruction of) modern human comfort, health and undoubtedly sanity.

Opening with the construction of one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels – the Crystal Palace – in London in 1851, At Home follows Bryson’s account of the great minds and achievements of modern history – a period roughly covering the 200 years around the Industrial Revolution. Bryson centres his meanderings around the foundations we call a House by exploring his very own home – a rectory in Norfolk once owned by a certain Reverand Marsham – a bachelor who had affections for his housekeeper – Miss Worm (scandal!).

Starting with the hall, we move through all parts of a modern day dwelling - the kitchen, larder, fusebox, drawing room, dining, cellar, garden, bedroom, bathroom, passage, nursery, attic - even the stairs – which are exposed as the most dangerous part of the house, with injuries and death stats that will boggle the brain (and will soon kybosh any delicate stair skipping or bounding, and instead reduce you to some serious rail-clutching).

But it’s what Bryson does inside these rooms – to expound on their creation, development, mutation and modern usage - that really makes for fascinating reading. Let’s take the toilet as example. Did you know, for instance, that the English word ‘loo’ probably came from the French phrase ‘un lieu à l’anglaise’ which means ‘an English place’ – a term used to describe the new and highly sought-after indoor toilet?

The word toilet itself actually began as a type of cloth (think ‘toile’), then it was the cloth used on dressing tables, then the items on the dressing tables (toiletries), then the dressing tables themselves, then the act of dressing, then when people came to watch you dress (ahem), then the dressing room where you dressed, then any kind of private room that happened to be near a bedroom, then a room used for washing and toileting oneself then the actual lavatory.

Love it love it love it. And there’s much much more.

At Home is jammed with seemingly insignificant facts like how toilets came to be – but it’s these little things that add up to an incredibly satisfying whole. Bryson knits together these fascinating little quirks with major and triumphant tales of the people that essentially created modern day living - from the creation of the lightbulb and fusebox to the scandal surrounding the Boston Tea party and the planning of New York’s Central Park.

He continually surprises us with facts both sordid and mind-blowing – and, most delightfully, reveals and reminds us of the people – some long forgotten – and societies that sacrificed much to bring us the many comforts we take for granted today.

Part information book, part saga, part jaw-dropping fact file on a history many of us are completely clueless about, this book will warm not only your hearth – it will warm your soul.

Title: At Home: A Short History of Private Life

Author: Bill Bryson

Category: Non Fiction

Publisher: Doubleday

ISBN: 9781409095545

RRP: A$55RRP

Publication Date: 01/07/10

Blokes’ Health is written by Dr. Bernie Crimmins who has been a General Practitioner for 27 years and features cartoons by published illustrator and cartoonist Paul Harvey.
Some of you may ask why a men’s health book is being featured in an online women’s magazine? But it is often women who are the driving force behind getting stubborn men to see the doctor for a check up.

In general, women are living healthier lifestyles and are taking better care of their health than men.  Blokes’ Health aims to help men improve their health and raise awareness of the risks that many so are facing.  Men are far less likely to seek medical attention and tend to downplay symptoms.

Women have lobbied to spread greater awareness of health issues such as cervical cancer and breast cancer.  However, such awareness is unfortunately lacking for men’s health issues such as prostate and testicular cancers.

The book is formatted to be informative while still being easy to understand.  It mixes humour aided by the cartoons with solid information. An example of this is seen early in the book with terms like FOP injuries or ‘fell over pissed’. The book is also a reasonable length so you won’t feel like you’re enduring a medical text book.

Many men die from preventable health problems merely because of pride and complacency. Things that would otherwise be treatable are being left for too long or ignored completely until it’s too late.  This book intends to turn this trend around, promoting regular checkups and positive lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of premature death by up to 55%. This can be done by addressing just 4 common conditions and down to 3 when you remove smoking from the equation.

Blokes’ Health arms men with the knowledge to help prevent health problems and to recognize the warning signs when health problems occur. Early intervention can mean the difference between life and death. Dr. Bernie Crimmins says he has seen too many men die before their time.  The book is dedicated to two of the closest among them. His brother Hawthorn Captain Peter Crimmins who died of testicular cancer at age 28 and his father Bryan who had outlived his own son.

Hopefully this book will inspire positive change in the way men think about their health and take care of themselves and those closest to them.

Title: Blokes’ Health
Author: Dr Bernie Crimmins
Category: Health
Publisher: Wilkinson Publishing
ISBN: 9781921667718
RRP: AU$9.95
Publication Date: August 2010

You can buy this book online at:

Emporium Books Price: AU$8.65*

SeekBooks.com.au Price: AU$8.96*

The Nile – Australia’s Largest Online Bookstore Price: AU$8.99*

* Prices subject to change by the retailer

We all know how vital the experience of play is for children and their mental, emotional and physical development. Even the most basic playtime encases a world of wonder and advancement in children on a hollistic level, well into their tweens and even teens.

It’s sad, then, that as we age, we lose the capacity and desire to play… play that is unhibited and undertaken with purity and joy. Perhaps this book by Stuart Brown MD, will help us rediscover the wonder and soul-warming benefits of not only encouraging play within our children, but within ourselves.

In Play, Dr Brown clearly illustrates that play is anything but trivial and unimportant. He believes play is a biological drive that’s as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. He also believes it’s the mechanism by which we become resilient, smart and adaptable – all elements most parents would want to see instilled in their offspring. In fact, Dr Brown believes that our ability to play throughout life is the single most important factor in determining our success and happiness.

Brown writes with intelligence, warmth and a relaxed, approachable manner. His illustrative stories on how play influences our lives are a pleasure to read and there are many ‘aha’ moments that will have you nodding and smiling. The author explains play, what it is and why we do it. He describes what happens with the brain when we play, he intimates how we are totally built for play – and lots of it.

We learn how adults play, the different play personalities, and of course – we delve into the greatest game of all – parenthood – in which the author discusses celebratory and ritualistic play, storytelling and narrative play, transformative-integrative and creative play, learning, memory and more.

We are also taken through the sophomoric rites of adolescence, how children morph into adults and, most interestingly, the fact that the opposite of play is NOT work. How can we, as adults, incorporate play into our work? How can it help us foster and hone our careers, even in non-creative fields?

This fascinating book is not just for parents – it’s an insightful look into the essence of Life – how we embrace it and how we enjoy it. Using a blend of neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science and inspiring human stories, Play covers all bases when it comes to reminding us that learning and retaining a sense of play is not only educational, it’s arguably one of the greatest investments in happiness and contentment we could ever make.

Stuart Brown, MD, is a medical doctor, psychiatrist, clinical researcher and the founder of the National Institute for Play. He speaks regularly to Fortune 500 companies and groups across the US on the importance of play in our lives. The producer of a three-part PBS series, The Promise of Play, he has also appeared on National Public Radio and was featured in a cover story in The New York Times Magazine.