Readings.com.au: Reviews

Cradle to Cradle: William McDonough

2008-05-08T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Mark Falvey

"Think before you throw: there's no such place as away" is an old BodyShop slogan that carried much weight, but for the architect McDonough and the chemist Braungart, it scarcely tips the scales.

Cradle to Cradle is a hugely informative challenge to prevailing opinion on environmental issues. I expected a series of scene-setting environmental horror stories followed by something approaching a sermon on the necessity to recycle and repair. Hmm.

If you want nightmares of toxic damnation, get a chemist to describe what happens when you walk down the street or sit in a chair. I was fairly close on that count, but my expectation of an Arts & Craft Movement speech couldn't have been more wrong.

Rather than railing against industry and commerce, Cradle to Cradle acknowledges its importance and highlights seemingly improbable cases where big business has got it right. The breadth of vision is even more encouraging than specifics of which materials to use or avoid.

The authors address and look beyond ecological-vs-economic issues and bring ethics into the equation. Want to go a little further than ethics? The often overlooked concerns of 'pleasure and delight' get a mention too.

This is not a dour prediction of a choking doom; with creative thinking and business sense 'sustainability' is simply aiming too low.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Third: Portishead

2008-05-07T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Andrew McDonald, Readings Website Coordinator

Third is both a departure from and a reminder of that distinctive Portishead sound. Beth Gibbons’s affecting vocals retain the bleak-yet-beautiful feeling of previous Portishead albums but the accompanying noises make for a less-accessible but no-less compelling sound that owes more to the ’80s than any other decade. The band themselves acknowledged this by describing Dummy as having the sound of a crackly vinyl while Third has the wobbly sound of a VHS tape.

Third very much has the feeling of a band wanting to make ‘interesting music’, be it the marching groove of We Carry On, the ukelele sweetness of Deep Water or the piano-crashing of Magic Doors. The incessant, rhythm-driven first single Machine Gun teases us with a minimal mix of industrial percussion and soaring vocals until the final minute of the song when the synths kick in to round out one of the most intriguing comeback singles in recent memory. And the album continues on in this unpredictable manner

Third is a sparse record that sounds at first like it might spiral straight down into the dark but on repeated listens spirals round and round to reveal a collection of gloomy but intrinsically-beautiful songs.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Mistik Lake: Martha Brooks

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Athina Clarke, Readings Port Melbourne

Mistik Lake is a special book that demands uninterrupted devotion. It will be greedily consumed in one or two gulps; but for long after, it’s affects will be savoured. This is a beautifully told bittersweet tale filled with the warmth and love of family, the pain of abandonment and the tenderness of first love. What happened to 16-year-old Sally on the frozen Mistik Lake one night in 1981 haunted family, friends and a community for many years; secrets eroded trust and cast a veil of uncertainly over many lives. Highly recommended. This is definitely a crossover: Girls 14+ to adults will devour!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Genesis: Bernard Beckett

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Bruno Moro, Readings Malvern

It is the future. The world is not as we know it. Survivors of a devastating worldwide plague have formed a new Classical-Greek-styled and highly technological Island Republic. However, all is not as it seems ... This mind-boggling novel will twist your brain into knots as it weaves through a philosophical sci-fi tale with a killer twist. Perfect for thoughtful teenage readers and adult spec-fiction fans alike, I thoroughly enjoyed trying to keep up with this one. You will too!

Rating: 3/5 stars

Mahtab’s Story: Libby Gleeson

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Kathy Kozlowski, Readings Carlton

Inspired by Libby Gleeson’s meeting with a group of Year 11 students from Iraq and Afghanistan, this novel about a young refugee and her family is a gripping and enlightening read. It is not only the dramatic story of flight and family separation and danger that enthralls, but also the discomfort of having to be always quiet and hidden, boredom, and the dreaded effects of losing hope. It brings home how life in Australia offers such new and wonderful freedom and such scarey challenges. Highly recommended for 11 to 15 years-ish.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Monster Blood Tattoo Book 2: The Lamplighter: D.M. Cornish

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Athina Clarke, Readings Port Melbourne

The marvellous adventure of the young boy-hero Rossamund continues in this much awaited second book in the Monster Blood Tattoo series. While in the service of the emperor as lamplighter, our affable hero realises that the adventurous life is neither glorious nor daring but bloody and fearful; there is no respite from fiendish monsters and men with questionable motives.

Beware: This is not a book for the faint hearted. Readers should begin with book 1 (The Foundling) otherwise they’ll be lost. Lovers of high fantasy will relish the plunge into a wicked world replete with its own language. The book’s outstanding illustrations enhance the experience. It’s highly recommended for boys and girls who’ve loved Tolkien, Nix and Paolini.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Henrietta Gets a Letter: Martine Murray

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Alexa Dretzke, Readings Hawthorn

Sheezamageeza! Henrietta’s a bit jealous of baby Albert’s birthday and has the DILEMMA of a fairy living in a sock under her bed, who she helps to understand it’s best to be yourself and not try and impress other people or elves. As usual, there is some serious EXPLORIFICATION to do. Henrietta’s storytelling style is imaginative and EXHILLPERATING and her adventures are colourfully illustrated by the author. The first two Henriettas are being published in paperback simultaneously with this one (also in paperback), and they make a lovely set. We really do love Henrietta. Average reading ages 6 – 9

Rating: 4/5 stars

Leaf: Stephen Michael King

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Alexa Dretzke, Readings Hawthorn

Well here it is again, that tricky picture book – no words! But to quote the endpapers, ‘Silence is a word’, and of course a picture speaks a thousand words, and my review will probably not do justice to this sweet, whimsical book, but I’ll give it a go with some bare bones of an outline. A little boy doesn’t want his hair cut, runs away from snapping scissors, dives into the bushes, a bird flies by, drops a seed on his head … What do you think happens? Well, I think boys grow, trees grow, and life cycles happen, and of course the best picture books features a dog. Stephen Michael King has illustrated a charming picture book that should appeal to a wider audience, ie. children three up, and for adults as a gift book.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Edwina: The Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct: Mo Willems

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Leanne Hall, Readings Carlton

Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie harbors a serious grudge against Edwina the dinosaur. Everyone loves Edwina – she bakes the best choc-chip cookies, plays with all the kids, and helps little old ladies cross the road. No one listens to Reginald when he tries to tell them that dinosaurs are extinct – except Edwina. Mo Willems is an effortless storyteller, and his bold cartoon illustrations are full of expression and humour. Envy, the importance of listening to others, and the absolute necessity of friendship and kindness are all examined in this fun and simple story.

Rating: 3/5 stars

How to Heal a Broken Wing: Bob Graham

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Kathy Kozlowski, Readings Carlton

A pigeon flies into a skyscraper window, and in the busy grey city only one little child, with red jacket and golden hair, notices. He and his mother wrap the pigeon carefully in her scarf and carry it home, where with ‘rest, time and a little hope’ slowly, it heals. This is vintage Bob Graham, celebrating the everyday, noting small kindnesses, his seemingly simple illustrations revealing more with each reread. It is rare for a picture book by an Australian illustrator to be reprinted twice in America before publication. But not surprising. A picture book for 2-5 year olds, but really for all ages.

Rating: 3/5 stars

I’m Still Awake, Still: Elizabeth Honey and Sue Johnson

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Kathy Kozlowski, Readings Carlton

A loving bedtime story told in lively watercolour illustrations set against a deep blue, sleepy wash. Fiddy, in his rainbow pyjamas, has trouble letting go of all the bright things that surround him – in his room, in his garden and even in his head, so he and others sing his day to sleep.

On the accompanying CD the story, read by Elizabeth Honey, is interspersed with the bedtime songs composed and performed by Coco’s Lunch’s Sue Johnson and others. The songs have piano accompaniment joined, when appropriate, by bass, percussion, cello and piano accordian.

The second part of the 60 minute CD is the collection of songs, without the story, so children can easily find their favourites and listen to them over and over. A unique and lovely production for 2 to 6 year olds.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Keep It Simple: Van Morrison

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Sid Grane, Readings Hawthorn

Van the man releases yet another album number and is certainly showing no signs of slowing down. Whilst his albums no longer break any new ground, he is still making music worth listening to. The album title gives away his intentions; it’s as if he told his record company: ‘I just want to make a record that people will enjoy listening too’.

For a famously grumpy man, he seems to have found a pretty good groove and even sounds like he is enjoying himself. Now on the wrong side of sixty, he has been releasing albums for more than forty years and knows how to give his fans what they want: keep it simple!

Rating: 3/5 stars

Rattlin' Bones: Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Dave Collins, Readings Carlton

Kasey Chambers is one of my favourite Australian artists. Her first three solo albums hold a very special place within my collection and are albums I constantly find myself going back to. Kasey's new album Rattlin' Bones, with her husband Shane Nicholson, heralds a welcome return to her country roots. The album covers bluegrass, folk ballads, hillbilly and contemporary country. Their vocals complement each other and the song writing is excellent – nearly all are co-written by Kasey and Shane. Standout tracks include Once In A While, Monkey on a Wire, Wildflower and The Devil's Inside My Head. I saw Kasey and Shane perform the entire album recently at The Corner and it was a joyous occasion. Rattlin' Bones marks a period of renewal and regeneration for Kasey Chambers.

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Evangelist: Robert Forster

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Daniel Carroll, Readings Carlton

In a recent interview, Robert Forster said, ‘I want it to be a record that gives comfort to the listener ... full of a warm acoustic sound’. The Evangelist is all that and much more. This is a wonderful, beautiful album; at times breathtaking in its lyrical openness. The spirit of the sadly late Grant McLennan lovingly haunts: three of the songs are co-written. Musically, Forster continues ‘to define rock’, varying forms and styles to great effect. He has put together a musical ensemble of passion and virtuosi; it all works so well. This songscape is from a now older man, exploring, reassessing, questioning himself musically, and in life. This is a narrative of mourning, memory and love. The Evangelist is a great achievement.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Live Apples: Paul Kelly

2008-05-06T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by James Power, Readings St Kilda

Australia’s favourite troubadour and his excellent band perform his most recent cracker of an album in it’s entirety plus 16 more Paul Kelly faves and rarities such as Careless, To Her Door, Deeper Water plus a great version of The Triffids’ Raining Pleasure featuring New Buffalo on guest vocals. If you have witnessed the great live Paul Kelly show or you’ve never had the pleasure of hearing Paul and his gang perform his tunes live (Hello!?!? He plays live shows all the time…what’s your excuse?) buy this DVD. Highly recommended.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Unaccustomed Earth: Jhumpa Lahiri

2008-05-05T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Jo Case, editor of Readings Monthly

In this quietly compelling collection, Jhumpa Lahiri, author of The Namesake, returns to her first love: short stories. This collection explores the experience of living between worlds, of never quite fitting in just one place. Lahiri wonderfully evokes the cold beauty of Massachusetts, Seattle and New York; the powder of first snow, the crackle of autumn leaves. Amidst the lakes and the brownstones, there is the generous aroma of Indian cooking, the murmur of Bengali community gossip, and the swish of saris alongside jeans and sandals. There is a strong undercurrent of loss throughout these stories: a pregnant daughter mourns the loss of her mother during a routine operation; a promising young student, labouring under the weight of great expectations, dissolves into alcoholism; and three interlinked stories centred on a girl and boy who briefly shared a house as children explore death, grieving and the nature of love. Beautiful and engrossing.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Under Pressure: How the Epidemic of Hyper Parenting is Endangering Childhood: Carl Honore

2008-05-05T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Jo Case, editor of Readings Monthly

The author of In Praise of Slow – and scribe of the Slow movement – tackles just one of the areas in which our wired, achievement-oriented society is running on overdrive in Under Pressure. Honore visits schools, parents, child care centres and toy fairs around the world to observe different methods and views of child-rearing, and their effects on children’s development and behaviour. He also gives a potted run-down of the history of childhood, giving his exploration of modern parenting a helpful context. What he finds is that pushing kids to achieve early in life gives them no advantage whatsoever – their peers will generally catch up. He also finds (surprise, surprise!) that schools that focus on helping their students to pass exams turn out kids who are really good at ... passing exams...but not so adept at problem-solving, creative thinking and motivating themselves. He emphasises the importance of play, screen-free time, striking a balance between interacting with children and giving them their freedom (and the opportunity to be bored), and cultivating pleasure in learning for discovery’s sake. Under Pressure, which is written in conversational, reportage-style prose, is a riveting read for parents – and delivers plenty of food for thought. I found myself muttering ‘yes!’ a lot as I read. Even on trains.

Rating: 3/5 stars

The Lucy Family Alphabet: Judith Lucy

2008-05-05T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Marieke Hardy, Triple J Breakfast Presenter and regular panelist on ABC TV's First Tuesday Book Club

'Comedian Judith Lucy has a voice. A distinctive voice, which you either adore with a devotion bordering on psychotic or loathe with an equally ferocious passion. I happen to find her voice absolutely marvellous, which is just as well since her debut novel The Lucy Family Alphabet is written in such patented Lucy style it's simply impossible to get that aforementioned voice out of your head. Every dry aside is delivered in her punchy, droll fashion; each self-deprecating anecdote (and the book is abundant with them) archly related to the reader in a mode that is inimitably Judith's. I am thankful for it, but if you're not a fan don't say I didn't warn you.

The Lucy Family Alphabet is essentially a collection of personal memories broken down into alphabetised headings (A is for Alcohol, G is for Gladwrap etc), and doesn't skirt around the more difficult recesses of adolescence and early adulthood. Lucy is raw and open about her family failings, and refreshingly unapologetic for any resulting neuroses. She is frank, brutal and - most pleasingly of all - piss funny. There should be more writers willing to go that extra mile and lay themselves bare, and to hell with the consequences. We are lucky to have such a voice in existence.

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Same Earth: Kei Miller

2008-05-05T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Michelle Calligaro, Assistant Manager of Readings Carlton

When Tessa Walcott’s blue, green and polka-dot panties go missing in the small village of Watersgate Jamaica, Imelda Richardson hits on the idea of starting a Neighbourhood Watch program. But Pastor Braithwaite, long resentful of Imelda’s high standing in the community, uses his Sunday sermon to vilify the idea and turn the villagers against her. The next morning Imelda wakes to find that the river has changed course overnight, flooding her home. She escapes with an angry heart, believing she will never return because not only have the villagers turned against her and her home been flooded but Joseph, the local Rastaman, seems unable to declare his love. As Imelda flees, the story takes us back to when her father, instead of burying her umbilical cord so that she would be anchored safely, threw it into the river freeing her to roam the world. It exposes the pettiness, passions, inadequacies and tragedies of the people who inhabit her world and draw her to this moment and beyond. Imelda is a strong and passionate character who reminds me of Alexander McCall Smith’s Precious Ramotswe, and anyone who loves the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, will thoroughly enjoy The Same Earth.

Rating: 3/5 stars

The Story of Forgetting: Stefan Merril Block

2008-05-05T00:00:00Z

Reviewed by Belinda Monypenny, Developmental Editor at Cengage Learning

Abel Haggard is the only one left on the family farm in Dallas. His hermetic life is slowly closing in around him as he watches the years fall away, hoping his estranged daughter will return. Seth Waller is an awkward 15-year-old whose mother’s early-onset Alzheimer’s is rapidly unravelling their family.

He embarks on a search for his mother’s past in the hope that her genetic history will help move research closer to a cure. Through his fumbling investigation into the lives of other patients, we watch the ruthless march of this disease decimate a family tree. These two disparate lives are woven together by the story of Isidora – a paradise where the absence of memory means a miraculous freedom from pain, loss, regret and fear. The story of Isidora grows as it is traced through generations of those afflicted, binding the family together when the memory of each other dissolves.

A fabulous mix of the fantastical, the scientific, the trials of growing up and growing old, The Story of Forgetting is an elegant and heartbreaking debut from an exciting new writer who effortlessly sustains everything this novel sets out to achieve.

Rating: 3/5 stars