A magical trilogy.

The Novice, book two of Trudi Canavan’s “The Black Magician” trilogy, carries on the brilliant story of a young, female, slum dweller, called Sonea, that finds she has exceptional magical skills. After being adopted by the Magicians’ Guild, her life is altered forever, although she is unsure as to whether it is for better or worse.
The resentment she expected to encounter, due to her background, was nothing compared to the disdain and cruel taunts inflicted by Regin and his cronies. Not only does she have to deal with constant harassment from classmates, the High Lord, Akkarin, enforces her into his guardianship. From the outside, this seems that she is being favoured, but Sonea, Lord Rothyn and the administrator know the real sinister reason.
~Monique

Fave Australian Novel survey

The survey to find the favourite Australian Fiction Novel (any era, any genre) run by Australian Book Review (ABR) has finally closed, and the thousands who voted surprised ABR with a few golden oldies making it into the top 10.

1. Cloudstreet by Tim Winton

2. The Fortunes of Richard Mahony by Henry Handel Richardson

3. Voss by Patrick White

4. Breath by Tim Winton

5. Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey

6. My Brother Jack by George Johnston

7. The Secret River by Kate Grenville

8. Eucalyptus by Murray Bail

9. The Man Who Loved Children by Christina Stead

10. The Tree of Man by Patrick White.

If you'd like to read any of these wonderful Australian novels, simply click on the title and you'll be taken to our catalogue to place a reservation.

The full list of the 290 books voted for in the ABR survey is available at http://www.australianbookreview.com.au/

Happy Reading!

Deb

'Catcher' author passes

Author J.D. Salinger has died at the age of 91. He is famous for being author of one of the most controversial books of the 20 century, "Catcher in the Rye". It continues to sell over 250,000 copies annually, nearly 50 years after it was first published and regularly appears on school and book club reading lists.

Salinger was not comfortable with the attention brought to him by the success of Catcher and became a recluse. His only other publications were short stories and novellas, none of which came up to the scrutiny or success of Catcher.

His other published titles include Nine stories, Franny and Zoey and For Esme - with love and squalor. Despite numerous attempts by Hollywood, Salinger was not interested in seeing a screen adaptation, so Catcher was only ever a book.

Revisit your school day reads or find out for yourself why Catcher was so controversial, or find discover his other works for the first time. You won't be disappointed.

A colourful Biography!

Born on a blue day is a book written from the perspective of a high functioning autistic man. It is a fascinating insight into Asperger's Syndrome and Savant Syndrome, and what growing up was like for someone with these conditions. Daniel is now a spokesperson for those with autistic disorders and is able to live and travel on his own. Daniel weaves and intelligent and interesting story, rich in humor and colour. The audio book is read by the author, and this gives the story an additional level of complexity and enjoyment.
~ Monique

Thin air by Rachel Caine

If you could control the weather, you’d think that life would always be sunny..... but where’s the fun in reading about that!!!

After having her memory ripped out and thrown away like yesterdays rubbish by a powerful Djinn, Joanne Baldwin wakes up freezing in a forest, with no idea of who she is or how she got there.

With the help of her two rescuers, who claim to be friends, she begins to piece together the outline of her life. Apparently she’s a part of an organisation called the Wardens, made up of people who can control the elements. Jo’s special ability is to control the weather. As outrageous as she finds that, it’s hard to argue with it, when she makes it rain. A Demon finds Jo’s memory and begins to assume her identity, the only thing needed to make the transformation complete is Joanne’s life!

Book 6 in the Weather Warden series is just as great at the first 5, with its fast pace and wry humour; it’s almost guaranteed to make you ignore everything else that you should be doing!
Leanne

Robert B Parker mourned

Crime novelist Robert B Parker, known for his Spenser series, has died aged 77.

Parker produced over 60 books, 37 of which were based on Spenser, the most recent in 2009. This series was the inspiration for the 80's TV show called Spenser: For hire, starring Robert Urich. His Jesse Stone series became telemovies starring Tom Selleck in 2005 and his western Appaloosa was made into a movie in 2008.

He won the 1977 Edgar Allan Poe Award and the 2002 Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and Mystery Ink's 2007 Gumshoe Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Check out why he was a top ten best-selling author by reserving one of his titles today or if you're a fan, leave a comment telling us what you loved about his books.

No HOSTing of vampires here!

It seems that our Reading Rewards blog has been Stephenie Meyer free, I am about to change all that by blogging about The Host. For those of you who have never heard of "Twilight" (do these people actually exist?), Stephenie Meyer has written another novel, not about vampires, werewolves or the like, but about aliens.

The Host is a well written novel about Melanie Stryder, a “wild human” that was captured and implanted was with a “soul” called Wanderer. Wanderer has been to many planets and lived lives in many host organisms, and was warned of the dangers of being implanted into an older human. All of these dangers she was ready for, but what she wasn’t prepared for was that Melanie refuses to remain quiet in her head and relinquish her thoughts and secrets.

It is only when Melanie and Wanderer both discover, that because they share the same thoughts, they love and dislike the same people, that they seek out Melanie’s uncle and hopefully their reasons to live ,Jarrod and Jamie.

In my mind, this book has many similarities to John Marsden’s “Tomorrow when the war began” series, and is as compelling. It was also a great read on audio book.

Monique

The Making of Julia Gillard

This is the first biography of Julia Gillard to appear in Australia, with a few more due later on this year. This one is a good, short, sharp outline of Julia's early history and political rise. As she is still young and still at the start of her political career, it is more about what she may achieve, rather than what she has already achieved. Nevertheless, seeing as there is a reasonable chance that she will rise to the the very top of the Australian political tree (will she break the ALP "old blokes" network?) it is enlightening to read about what has shaped her and what motivates her, as well as to learn the basic facts of her life so far. Recommended for all those who take an interest in the Australian political scene.

Teresa

Reading challenges 2010

It's summer and when it's too hot, or when you just can't sleep, what better way to beat the heat than to settle down with a good read?

Unfortunately, you can't always curl up with a book by your favourite author(s), often because you've read them all or they just aren't available from your library because they are a favourite of many others too. So what do you do?

A group of NSW librarians has created the Readers Advisory Wiki, full of great info for librarians and readers in general, which includes a list of 2010 Reading Challenges for all Readers.

The challenges cover a wide range of genres, which could help you to discover new types of books that you wouldn't have normally have tried. You can register for the challenge, or just follow along anonymously.

When you find a title on one of the challenge lists that you want to read, just enter the details into our catalogue, place your hold and we will notify you when it arrives.

Happy Summer Reading!

Michelle

The truth hurts

I will admit to not being a Wayne Carey fan at all, in fact I thought he was arrogant and full of himself!! However, I was interested to read his biography, The Truth Hurts.

I now understand him a lot better. From growing up in an abusive household, one of five children, the family lived at Wagga in NSW, then moved many times and eventually Wayne lived in Adelaide.

The story tells about his home life and football career from juniors through to playing for North Melbourne where he was the captain for many seasons until that incident with Kelli Stevens which sent him on a downward spiral which eventually cost him his career, marriage and almost his life. It is an honest account of his life to date, and you can't help but think that the media have a lot to answer for in his eventual fall from grace.

This, by no means forgives him for what happened at the time, but you can't help but think that the media have a lot to answer for in his eventual fall from grace.

Janine

Sad ending to a miraculous beginning

An exact replica of a figment of my Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken is a heart breaking story of the love and loss of a still born child. A touching memoir, that takes the reader through the excitement of a first pregnancy, the imaginings of a future life with this “bump” and then the devastation, healing and later on a further pregnancy.
For those of us who are lucky enough to have never gone through this experience, it is unthinkable. For those readers that know someone who has suffered this tragedy, it gives an incite into what the parents may be going through and what may be of assistance, when there is nothing that can bring their baby back.
Monique

Moon Fever

Beneath a rising moon by Keri Arthur is another “too hot to handle” title from this traditionally racy author. After numerous murders at the Sinclair mansion, Neva Grant’s twin, and Ripple Creek’s Ranger, is mauled and slashed and fighting for her life in hospital. It is then that Neva decides to take matters into her own hands to uncover the killer that lurks around the mansion, killing the Sinclair’s mates during the moon phase.

Neva decides that to investigate the murders, she needs to stay close to the mansion, and to do this she must seduce Duncan Sinclair, the wolf with the hard loving reputation and the only Sinclair not a suspect.

Keri weaves a werewolf story jam packed with lust, moon dancing, sex and seduction. Similar in style to her Riley Jenson Guardian stories, they are more of an erotic romance then fantasy fiction. What Twilight has in longing, Keri Arthur provides in sex!

Monique