Review: High Protein 100+ fuss-free recipes by Faye James

Packed with over 100 fuss-free recipes and seven weeks of meal plans with weekly shopping lists High Protein 100+ fuss-free recipes is your complete guide to balanced protein-fuelled living.

Faye James is an Accredited Nutritionist and leading voice in nutrition, wellness and women's health.

"When we begin to eat the right kinds of protein we feel fuller for longer. We gain lean muscle and shed stubborn fat. Our bones get stronger, our cravings disappear, and our moods finally stabilize." - Faye James High Protein 100+

Faye James answers our most pressing questions about protein. How much protein do we need? What are the best sources of protein? What is the role of protein in menopause? The signs your not getting enough.

The book is set out in seven weeks of meal plans. With the current week's meal plan set out and on the adjoining page is a full shopping list. All you will need to make every recipe that week. Many ingredients will already be in your pantry. Following is each recipe with a full colour photo on the opposite page.

Each week's meal plan has breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. Simple, delicious meals. Most recipes serve two with some serving 4 and used for two meals; a dinner then the next day's lunch.

Every recipe has serving size, preparation time, calories, carbs, protein and fat content. The recipes can be easily adjusted to suit your requirements and taste. I would need to adjust spice levels.

Looking through the recipes there were only a handful of ingredients that I hadn't come across before and on checking a large local supermarket online all were available except one item which you would need to buy from a delicatessen.

High Protein 100+ fuss-free recipes is a recipe book I guarantee you will use every day. There is an array of flavour on the menu and recipes packed with protein to keep your body fit and healthy. Don't forget desserts and snacks. It's all included in this protein packed recipe book.

 

Pork, Ginger and Green Onion Patties 

Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken & Rice - 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: New Holland Publishers

Publication date: 26th April 2026

Genre: Non Fiction / Cookbook

Pages: 244

RRP: AU$29.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#highprotein100recipes #cookbook #sciencebackednutrition #weeklymealplans #australianauthor 

Review: Little F*ckers by Ryan Martin

This is not a book about perfect parenting. It's about embracing the glorious messiness of family life and celebrating the win of getting through another day, humour intact. 

Little F*ckers is not a book to be read cover to cover but more to jump to the chapters that cover your current parenting struggles.

Ryan Martin gives advice on many different challenges, scenarios and solutions. He uses humour as a great leveler and many scenarios and solutions come from his own life experiences as a parent.

There are sections on communication, helicopter parenting, building resilience, setting reasonable boundaries, technology and much more.

I found the section on building gratitude in your children the most interesting and liked that even with the author this was a bit hit and miss however even when you don't think you're getting through to your teen they will say or do something that will show you they are listening and taking it in.

The chapters jump around from toddlers to teens. I would have liked the book to be presented more in chronological age order making it easier for parents to navigate.

I found Little F*ckers to have some good content with practical advice that appears to be easy to put into practice. Ryan Martin adds plenty of humour and his own fails which prevents the book from coming across as preachy.

There is also advice to parents to lead by example.

"Your child doesn't need you to be infallible or to pretend you've got everything figured out. They need you to show them what it looks like to be human, to take responsibility when you mess up, and to bounce back with humility and grace rather than defensiveness and excuses." Ryan Martin - Little F*ckers.

There is an extensive index in the back allowing the reader to look up a situation and go straight to the relevant pages.

I think the takeaway from Little F*ckers is to put down that phone, connect with your children and have some fun. You will make mistakes but remember to celebrate the wins.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 26th May 2026

Genre: Non Fiction / Parenting

Pages: 425

RRP: AU$36.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#parentingbooks #nonfiction #ryanmartin #parentingwithhumour #parentingadvice #australianauthor #ausbookbloggers

Review: No Dancing in the Lift by Mandy Sayer

 With No Dancing in the Lift Mandy Sayer has written a raw, honest and compassionate ode to her late father Gerry Sayer.

Written like a love letter to her father No Dancing in the Lift reflects on the last few months of Gerry Sayer's life when Mandy became his sole carer.

Mandy Sayer's writing is very open and conversational. The story flows effortlessly making it an easy read.

Mandy shares her grief and memories of growing up with a father who was often absent; however their time together built lasting happy memories.

There are lots of fun moments as Mandy recalls many of her father's antics and some dubious fatherly outings. I can see life with him was never boring as we learn how her father's influence shaped the person she is today.

Their bohemian lifestyle as Mandy was growing up was a real eye opener for me and I appreciate the deep love she had for her father despite his failings.

I liked the honest and open way Mandy includes details of her dysfunctional and complicated family.

There is much to learn from Mandy's take on her experiences. Many would have looked back on this life and seen only disaster and neglect however Mandy is a glass-half-full woman and I really enjoyed her outlook on her unusual upbringing. 

If you like to read memoirs No Dancing in the Lift is one I would highly recommend.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Publisher: Transit Lounge Publishing

Publication date: 1st September 2025

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 240

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media

#nodancinginthelift #mandysayer #memoir #australianauthor #ausbookbloggers

Review: Lee Gordon Presents by Jeff Apter

 Lee Gordon Presents ... How one man changed Australian life forever is a thoroughly researched and mind-bending roller coaster ride that was the life of Lee Gordon.

About the book:

Post-war Australia didn't know what to make of promoter Lee Gordon. To some he was a typical Yank: crass, loud and outspoken, focused on just one thing - making money. But to others Lee Gordon was a mentor, a guru and a lifeline to the big time.

When Lee Gordon arrived in Sydney in September 1953, the only place Australians could see international stars like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope was on the big screen. But over the next 10 years, Gordon would promote tours for almost 500 international acts, everyone from Sinatra to Sammy Davis Jr, Liberace to Bill Haley, Buddy Holly to shock comic Lenny Bruce.

By the time Gordon died in mysterious circumstances, alone in London, in 1963 - aged just 40 - he'd not only established the entertainment industry in Australia, but also changed the country's culture forever.

Review: 

Jeff Apter recounts the birth of the Australian live entertainment industry in this tell-all biography of Lee Gordon

Lee Gordon made big money and lost big money. He played hard and was generous to a fault. The wins, the losses, the successes and the flops it's all included in this nostalgic look at the birth of live entertainment in Australia.

Lee Gordon was a man larger than life, he was charismatic, a born salesman who didn't baulk at taking risks.

Lee Gordon Presents ... would be of interest to anyone interested in the music industry and its connection to Australian history.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 1st July 2025

Genre: Non Fiction / Biography

Pages: 272

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Book Review: Misfit: the unravelling of Samantha X by Amanda Goff

I really struggled through Amanda Goff's memoir Misfit: The unravelling of Samantha X.

I have to say first that I don't understand mental health issues but I don't judge people who have mental health problems.

 

In my review I am not judging Amanda as a person. Her choices in life are hers and I did feel for her struggle with self acceptance.

What Amanda tries to explain in this memoir is how her struggle with bi-polar shaped her life, causing bad decision making, addiction and self destruction.  

 

In this raw and honest autobiography Amanda Goff opens up about her life as Australia's most famous escort, her battle with bipolar, alcohol and depression.  She explains the conflict she endures every day as she tries to leave behind a major part of her life. A time when she was both happy and confident and struggling with self-hate and regret. 

 

I am sorry to say I found the book repetitive, often confusing and a bit boring. 

I wasn't sure if Amanda was proud of Samantha X or hated that part of her life. Maybe both.

The writing jumps back and forward between 'everyone's judging me' to 'I don't care what anyone thinks about me'.

 

I can only hope writing this memoir was cathartic and it will help Amanda leave Samantha behind and start enjoying life.... as herself. Stop telling people she meets who she used to be and just be herself.

 

My rating 2.5 / 5 ⭐⭐½

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 4th March 2025

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 224

RRP: AU$34.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: The Promise by Arnold Dix

How an Everyday Hero Made the Impossible Possible 

Arnold Dix usually worked with no fuss and no fanfare until 2023 when a single catastrophe, on the other side of the world, changed his life forever.

 

Dix, a unique blend of geologist, barrister, scientist, farmer, engineer and truck driver, captured the world's attention for his role in the rescue of forty-one men trapped in a collapsed tunnel in the Himalayas. 

The Promise is more a memoir of Dix's life than simply a story of the tunnel rescue. We learn what makes Arnold Dix the person he is and the life that led up to him orchestrating the tunnel rescue.

 

Dix writes with compassion and enthusiasm for everything he has undertaken in life. He comes across as intelligent, down-to-earth and unpretentious. His confidence, passion and charm draw people to him. He believes in uplifting his fellow man and treats everyone with respect and reverence. Arnold's compassion led him to assist thousands of migrant workers in Qatar, putting his own life in danger.

 

"We should lift each other up instead of tearing each other down. We should individually play our part to bring a little joy, a little kindness, to our surroundings. Collectively, those small acts of kindness will combine to leave a lasting mark." - Arnold Dix (The Promise)

 

Arnold Dix shares precious family photos and scenes from the rescue through colour plate inserts.

 

I would have liked more information on the women that came forward to clear an access road, by hand, on the mountain.

 

The Promise is an unforgettable story of a life lived to the fullest through selfless acts of kindness and bravery. This outstanding memoir will restore your faith in humankind. There are some truly selfless people in our world.

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 29th January 2025 

Genre: Non Fiction / Memoir

Pages: 303

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: The Big Book of Australian Yarns by Jim Haynes

Jim Haynes' The Big Book of Australian Yarns and amazing true stories is a fabulous collection of little known Aussie historical events and a fun look at some of the people who made Australia the country it is today. Daredevils, larrikins, legends, rule-breakers, entrepreneurs, the charismatic and the down-on-their-luck, all have a story and Jim Haynes brings those stories to life.

 

Jim Haynes himself has been well travelled, and well lived, and I can only imagine the extensive amount of research that went into this knowledgeable book as it is filled with names, dates and quotes from real news articles. 

 

I learnt so much about Australia's unknown history and also history in general. Looking back over events mentioned in the book I can see how times have changed. An aerial display from a hot-air balloon set to take place in Townsville caused a scandal and was later debated in parliament as the women were deemed to be too scantily-clad and also the performance being on a Sunday was said to be assisting the desecration of the sabbath. And who knew parachutes were invented before aeroplanes!

 

A story that really shocked me was, the Army riot in 1916, when Army recruits mutinied, defied orders, marched into Liverpool, took over the town and wrecked the hotels. Thousands then took the trains into Sydney and terrorised the city. I honestly can't imagine this happening today.

 

I liked that the book was set out in sections with each group of stories in that section relating back to the main topic. This meant I didn't need to read the book straight through, cover to cover. I could just pick a topic to read when I had time. 

 

I recommend The Big Book of Australian Yarns to everyone. It is chock full of nostalgia, humour and wow moments. Legends, larrikins, eccentrics, bizarre and unconventional characters, Jim Haynes has included them all.

 

The Big Book of Australian Yarns is entertaining and enlightening, a remarkable history of unknown and forgotten Aussie characters. 

 

 My rating  5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 29th October 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / History

Pages: 544

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

 
 

Book Review: Ten Ways to Find Love ... and how to keep it by Dr Lisa Portolan

I'm probably not the best person to review Ten Ways to Find Love as I've been married for 40 years and the dating scene has changed a lot since I met my husband. However, the "How to Keep It" part may be of interest to those in relationships AND those looking for love. 

Dr Lisa Portolan has a PhD that relates to dating apps and how intimacy is navigated and negotiated through digital landscapes. This makes me think that Lisa is well equipped to write a thought provoking book on love. 

The book is written in two parts with part one being Ten Ways to Find Love.

1. Date like you're on holidays 

2. Turf the little white lies

3. Sharing

4. Kindness

5. Get rid of the shopping list

6. Accept yourself as perfectly flawed

7. Invest in yourself

8. Get beyond the chitchat

9. A delicate balance

10. Positivity

I agreed with Lisa's 10 key headings, they all seemed pretty straightforward. However when she gets into case studies it's all about hook-ups, fakeness online and unrealistic expectations. It's little wonder people can't find a real lasting relationship.

 

Part two is ten ways to keep love. Again with ten key headings.

1. Love as work

2. I choose you

3. Use your words

4. Once upon a time in love

5. Physical touch and passion

6. Create a relationship that's right for you

7. The individual and the team

8. Kindness

9. Breaking the rules

10. Fun

Part two also includes case studies and quotes from people who have been in long term relationships.

 

"Complicating the issue is our consumer culture's fixation on the disposable and the new. When it comes to finding love, many of us become stuck in a cycle of looking for the next, even better relationship. Ironically, while we are on this quest for romantic novelty, we may also be craving long-term partnerships, feeling like failures if we don't achieve them." 

Although I didn't really find anything to connect with in this thought provoking book I think it will be of interest to readers who enjoy self-help books.

 

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 4th February 2025 

Genre: Non Fiction / Self Help

Pages: 272

RRP: AU$29.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

 

Book Review: The Lost Recipes by Ross Dobson

 Losing yourself in nostalgia is like a balm. Ross Dobson brings his readers The Lost Recipes, forgotten recipes, steeped in nostalgia. Recipes that have been overlooked, disregarded and barely noticed.

 

If you love cooking, nostalgia and all things Australia, you will love The Lost Recipes. Honestly, even if you hate cooking you will love this book! Filled to the brim with simple, delicious and easy to make recipes, with a huge dollop of nostalgia.

The recipes are set out in four sections:

• Fruit & Veg
• Meat & Seafood
• Baking
• Sweets

Each recipe is headed with the source; town and date.

Some recipes are from as early in Australian Colonial history as 1876 to 1952. Some recipes include a few words from Ross about techniques and his memories.

 

The book includes an extensive bibliography of the newspapers and magazines he found the recipes in, most of which no longer exist although can still be read through Trove.

 

I remember The Commonsense Cooking Book used in school Home Economics classes and I feel Ross Dobson has taken common sense cooking to a whole new level.

 

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 29th October 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / Cooking

Pages: 240

RRP: AU$34.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend by Janet Hayward

With girls using beauty products at a younger age Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend is a fabulous tool to empower girls to look for all natural treatments for skin, body, hair and nails. Treatments that you can make at home.

 

This cute little pocket sized book gives us 30 inexpensive and natural beauty treatments and 30 healthy treats to nourish your body from the inside and outside.

 

DIY Beauty is huge with #diybeauty and #diyskincare garnering millions of views on Tiktok.

 

Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend has a list of 30 ingredients; fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, with some facts about the benefits of each ingredient, and recipes to make delicious food and drinks with each ingredient plus how each ingredient can be made into a beauty product for skin or hair. 

I loved this little pocket book that extols healthy habits in a fun and fresh format.

 

Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend is the perfect gift for tweens and teens. It would be a great alternative to chocolate this Easter.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 30th October 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / Beauty

Pages: 128

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: Australia's Greatest Stories by Graham Seal

 Australia's Greatest Stories wasn't quite the book I was expecting it to be. With a subheading of TrueTales, Legends and Larrikins, I was expecting a book of great Aussie yarns, true stories with a bit of a Banjo Patterson feel. 

Australia's Greatest Stories is more a series of events that formed Australia as we know it today. 

From pre-colonisation to major events in history that formed our nation; the changing face of politics in Australia, the gold rush, the Spanish flu, the great depression, world war two, major inroads by Australian women just to name a few.

 

Graham Seal has written a comprehensive history of Australia including facts and achievements by people who have previously been excluded from our history. 

I found these little known historical events to be quite interesting and at times amusing.

 

The book is not written in chronological order but rather through a series of nine headings with events, stories, poems and images that fit under each heading.

 

Graham Seal adds a very extensive notes section with links to articles to verify his research.

 

Australia's Greatest Stories would be of interest to anyone wanting to know the real Australia and the people behind some of the country's little known events. 

 

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st October 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / History

Pages: 343

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: Getting Back Up Again by Craig Semple

In a world that often glorifies toughness and resilience, acknowledging vulnerability can be challenging, especially in professions that are lauded for their ability to endure and overcome. 

Getting Back Up Again gives step by step strategies to getting your life back on track.

 

After twenty-five years on the police force, and a sudden and devastating collapse of his mental health, Craig Semple realised he could no longer outrun the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Craig talks about his struggles, and in his inspiring book Getting Back Up Again, offers readers a candid and profound exploration of his own mental health journey.

Craig candidly shares his struggles and triumphs. This down to earth approach not only makes his experiences relatable but also paves the way for others to recognise their own challenges and embark on their own journey towards recovery. 

 

Getting Back Up Again is not merely a recounting of personal struggles, it is a roadmap for resilience. Craig offers readers practical strategies for navigating life's challenges and illustrating that recovery is possible for anyone willing to take that first step.

 

Getting Back Up Again is not only a powerful tool for people battling with mental health issues but also for their family and loved ones.

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 24th September 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / Self Help

Pages: 192 

RRP: AU$24.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Three Ways With Stale Bread by Ross Dobson

Three Ways With Stale Bread is a compilation of 300 plain and simple recipes presented in a casual and relaxed format with ingredients highlighted throughout the recipe rather than given as a list.

 

There is nothing flashy about Three Ways With Stale Bread. The book is plain and simple just like the recipes inside. There are no glossy photos of the finished dishes. This is more a recipe book to be left on the kitchen bench and actually used on a day to day basis.

In this innovative recipe book Ross Dobson has formulated a simple method of using leftover ingredients, with a list of 100 common ingredients you would find in fridges and pantries all over Australia and corresponding recipes.

 

Simply look up the ingredient you have at hand from the list of 100 common ingredients, turn to the relevant page and there will be three quick and simple recipes using that main ingredient.

100 ingredients and 300 delicious, fuss free recipes with an extensive index and conversion chart in the back of the book.

 

I'll let Rob have the last word:

 

This book is not about reinventing your pantry ..... it's all about making the most of what you have at hand. It is all about being creative, thoughtful and resourceful. 

- Ross Dobson

 

Three Ways With Stale Bread is the perfect book for gifting in times like these when we are all looking for ways to be more thrifty.

My rating 4/ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 3rd September 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / Cooking

Pages: 224

RRP: AU$29.99 (paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Book Review: No Autographs, Please! by Katherine Wiles

No Autographs, Please is the highly entertaining memoir and backstage pass to life in the chorus by decades-long member of Opera Australia, Katherine Wiles.

 

Katherine has a very personable way of writing and I don't think I've enjoyed reading a memoir as much as I enjoyed No Autographs, Please! I found myself eager to pick the book up every chance I could get. High praise from someone who doesn't read much non-fiction.

Written with candour, Katherine writes about life in the chorus; the things that went right and the things that went terribly wrong, the rehearsals, bone-aching tiredness, the glamorous and not so glamorous, the friendships and the behind the scenes hijinks.

 

I've only ever been to the opera once, and that was in high school, but after reading No Autographs, Please! I felt I had a whole new appreciation of all it takes to put on a production. I have a real yearning now to watch a performance and become a part of the whole opera experience.

 

Katherine writes about the wonderful experiences she has had through Opera Australia, the impact of Covid, her battle with stage fright and her favourite onstage performances. All written with humility and real emotion. Katherine's love for all the opera encompasses shines through on every page.

 

You don't need to be an opera fan to enjoy this open, engaging and humorous memoir about life in the chorus line.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 3rd September 2024

Genre: Non-Fiction / Memoir

Pages: 288

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: A Single Lifeline by Heidi Coupland

A Single Lifeline

by

Heidi Coupland

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 2nd July 2024

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 256

RRP: AU$34.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: A Single Lifeline

I'm not a big memoir reader but I really should broaden my reading and seeing as I was sent A Single Lifeline by the publisher I thought I would give it a go. Well, I read A Single Lifeline in one sitting. I very rarely do this, even with crime thrillers.

 

Heidi Coupland's memoir is filled with heart and love. Written whilst her husband was undergoing cancer treatment some years ago and although published now it is narrated in real time.

 

From her husband's diagnosis with Leukaemia through to the treatments, the ups and many downs Heidi shows a strength that comes from the deep love she and her husband have for each other.

Pete's journey through chemo, bone marrow transplant and setback after setback is harrowing and the human will to survive against insurmountable odds is amazing.

Heidi Coupland doesn't try to wring the emotion, preferring to focus on her and Pete's strength through love. It was the generosity of friends and strangers that brought tears to my eyes. Everyone pitching in to help out with their children.

Heidi also covers their early life together, meeting, having children and how their different personalities complement each other.

A Single Lifeline is a raw and honest read as Heidi recounts the emotional as well as the physical journey after a cancer diagnosis.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Book Review: Buckham's Bombers by Mark Baker

 Buckham's Bombers

by

Mark Baker

THE AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN WHO HUNTED HITLER'S DEADLIEST BATTLESHIP

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 30th July 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / War Stories

Pages: 304

RRP: AU$34.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Buckham's Bombers

In Buckham's Bombers Mark Baker brings to life a unique part of airforce history with the story of one of the finest Australian air crews of WWII.

 

Baker recounts the events that led up to the destruction of Germany's most powerful battleship, the Tirpitz.

 

Buckham's Bombers is an extraordinary story of courage, perseverance and outstanding bravery. 

Baker has recounted the story from extensive interviews and contributors' recollections, both recorded and written.

 

I have read many fictional WWII stories but I found Buckham's recollections to be far more harrowing than any fictional story.

 

Buckham's Bombers follows Bruce Buckham, and his crew, from enlistment to training, the different aircraft used, and the bringing together of his crew. This is not only about Bruce Buckham and his crew but also the working of the RAF and RAAF, and the aircraft used during the war. 

 

Interspersed throughout Baker's narration are notes by Bruce Buckham in his own words and I loved his turn of phrase. Many times he played down his own role in an operation praising his crew for getting them through.

I learnt so much from this book: How the RAF & RAAF worked together. How the top echelons saw the men as numbers and not fathers,sons,uncles. How men who developed a mental illness, now known as PTSD, were labelled as having LMF (lack of moral fibre). This shocked and angered me!  

 

Buckham's Bombers is a confronting read. I laughed at their hijinks and deeply felt their losses. I also felt great pride for these men who fought, and died, for my freedom.

 

The book concludes with pages of acknowledgements, endnotes, bibliography, index and photographic inserts, showing just how much work went into this extraordinary story of Buckham and his crew.

 

I could go on and on about the extensive research Baker did before writing this book, years in the making, but it would be much better to read it and see for yourself. It is a truly fascinating read!   

 

 

My rating  5/ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: Stories My Grandmothers Didn't Tell Me by Andra Putnis

 Stories My Grandmothers Didn't Tell Me

by

Andra Putnis

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 2nd July 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / Biography

Pages: 304

RRP: AU$34.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Stories My Grandmothers Didn't Tell Me

I often wonder with biographies if we are really getting the full story or just the watered down version of the person's life. The nice bits.

 

I can honestly say that Stories My Grandmothers Didn't Tell Me comes across as a 'warts and all' telling. The grandmothers reveal long held secrets and even air, what might be considered to them to be, their dirty washing.

 

I loved Andra Putnis' grandmothers for their honesty. Nothing is held back in this sincere biography.

 

Stories My Grandmothers Didn't Tell Me is a heartfelt story on a grand scale. I have read much about the lives of ordinary people displaced by World War II and the measures they went to to escape persecution; however I have never come across anything on the war in Latvia and the people who were forced to flee their homeland.

Stories My Grandmothers Didn't Tell Me is a book that champions the courage and resilience of these remarkable women. It opened my eyes and my heart to these women.

 

Andra retells conversations with her grandmothers, Milda and Aline, and also other members of the family and people from the Latvian Community in Australia. The story goes beyond the war and escaping Russian rule to venture into life in Australia and trying to adapt to a new country whilst also trying to hold onto their own heritage.

 

Thank you Andra Putris for sharing your family's story with me and also your treasured family photos which were truly an honour to pore over.

 

Stories My Grandmothers Didn't Tell Me is an emotional story, filled to the brim with love.

Do yourself a favour and read this remarkable book!

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: The Girls by Chloe Higgins

 The Girls

by

Chloe Higgins

A memoir of family, grief and sexuality

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Picador

Publication date: 27th August 2019

Genre: Non fiction / Memoir

Pages: 320

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Girls

When Chloe was seventeen she and her mother stayed home, so she could study for HSC exams, whilst her father took her two younger sisters on a ski trip. On the way back from the trip the car was involved in an accident and burst into flames. Both the sisters were killed.

The Girls is what followed, for Chloe, after that fatal day.

 

I find it very hard to review memoirs, especially those that involve grief and mental illness as I've never had this extreme level of grief.  

 

I appreciated that Chloe was candid in her writing. It is no use writing a memoir if you are only going to write the good stuff and gloss over the bad. It's all included; the drugs, the sex and the bouts of depression.

 

The words flow and her writing is easy to read even though the content is tough.

The story jumps around a lot in time and sometimes I found the time stamp hard to figure out.

I am glad writing this book has helped Chloe work through her own grief and by the end of the book I was pleased she was starting to heal.

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Challenges: TBR challenge

                    Non-fiction challenge

Book Review: Wild and Crazy Guys by Nick De Semlyen

 Wild and Crazy Guys

by

Nick De Semlyen

How the Comedy Mavericks of the 80's Changed Hollywood Forever

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Picador

Publication date: 11th June 2019

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 336

RRP: $12.99AU (eBook)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Wild and Crazy Guys

I'm sure Wild and Crazy Guys will be enjoyed by anyone interested in celebrity and film trivia.

 

The book follows the careers of well-known Hollywood stars Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy and John Candy from the early days of Saturday Night Live (SNL), an American live television sketch comedy variety show, to the many movies the actors appeared in.

 

Nick De Semlyen provides a no holds barred behind the scenes look at the friendships, the rivalries, the bust-ups and the tantrums as the book covers their careers during the 70's and 80's.

I didn't know any of the 70's movies mentioned but I did know the actors and the 80's movies they starred in and it was interested to learn how the ideas came up for these movies.

The author describes the inspiration behind many of the movies and comedy acts, detailing not only the successes but also the flops. Many of which were conceived in a drug-fuelled haze.

The book is set out like a documentary, with interviews from the stars themselves, flashbacks and pages of colour-plate photos.

If you are after a bit of nostalgia or are just curious to find out what the comedy of the 80's was all about, Wild and Crazy Guys will not disappoint.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Challenges: Non-Fiction reading challenge

                    TBR challenge

Book Review: The Sunday Story Club by Doris Brett & Kerry Cue

 The Sunday Story Club

by

Doris Brett & Kerry Cue

An anthology of stories from the heart

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 25th June 2019

Genre: Non-Fiction / Anthology

Pages: 272

RRP: $32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Sunday Story Club

The Sunday Story Club is a collection of stories that have evolved from a real life face-to-face gathering of women where through contemplative questions the group have deep and structured conversations about things that really matter.

 

Doris, a psychologist, author, poet and psychotherapist and Kerry, an author, journalist and mathematician came together to organise a salon at which people could engage in meaningful, in-depth conversations but instead of discussing weighty topics of the day they would discuss their own inner worlds.

The Sunday Story Club is a collection of fifteen questions and ensuing short stories that have been explored at some of their meetings.

I didn't expect to be quite so moved by the stories shared in this book. Each story was unique showing vastly different circumstances but all highlighting resilience, bravery and hard-won wisdom. There are stories included with themes of bullying, dysfunctional families, anorexia, cancer, infertility, depression and self-image; each woman speaks from the heart about her life experiences.

In this busy technical age of emails and texts The Story Book Club is a book to remind us of the power behind real face-to-face conversations to enlighten and heal.

Brett and Cue have also included notes on starting your own story salon and sample questions to steer the conversations.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the authors

Doris Brett is a clinical psychologist as well as multi-award winning author. She his published books in a variety of genres ranging from novels to poetry to memoir, to narrative therapy for children and even a book on bread-baking. She lives in Melbourne with her husband.

 

Kerry Cue is a humourist, mathematician and journalist who has written for every major newspaper in Australia. Kerry is also the maths blogger, Mathspig. She studied Science/Engineering at Melbourne University and taught maths and science for ten years before becoming a bestselling author of twenty humorous and education books.