Our latest reviews
Tales From Outer Suburbia: Shaun Tan
At the recent CBCA conference, Shaun Tan remarked in his keynote address that what we perceive as normality is an illusion, and when you read these illustrated short stories you recognise that they are universal themes depicted in a surreal…
Cradle to Cradle: William McDonough
“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.
is a hugely informative challenge to prevailing…
Third: Portishead
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…
Mistik Lake: Martha Brooks
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…
Mahtab’s Story: Libby Gleeson
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…
Leaf: Stephen Michael King
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…
Edwina: The Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct: Mo Willems
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…
Keep It Simple: Van Morrison
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…
Rattlin' Bones: Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
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…
The Evangelist: Robert Forster
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…
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