Showing posts with label Non Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Non Fiction. Show all posts

Saturday 25 November 2023

Book Review: The Girls by Chloe Higgins

 The Girls

by

Chloe Higgins

A memoir of family, grief and sexuality

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

Monday 6 November 2023

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

Sunday 29 October 2023

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.

Wednesday 11 October 2023

Book Review: Grandparents by Michael Carr-Gregg

 Grandparents

by

Michael Carr-Gregg 

A practical guide to navigating grandparenting today
 
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 3rd October 2023
Genre:  Non-Fiction 
Pages: 305
RRP: $29.99AU (C format paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Grandparents

When my children were young I found Michael Carr-Gegg's advice was always quite reassuring and grounding.
 
I found Grandparents was a book full of sound advice. Some areas weren't relevant to me at this stage however Grandparents is a book you can go back to and read relevant chapters when needed.
 
I think the book would be particularly beneficial to those who haven't had a baby in the house for decades. Having worked in childcare I don't have that feeling of starting anew.
 
I loved the following quote and I think it is very apt.
  "Grandkids above all will remember your sense of fun."
This is a book to read before the baby is born as it has sections on communication, preparing for the grandchild, the birth and the first few weeks. There is also a section on how you should react to the news of a pregnancy (okay, I thought that was a bit strange).
 
I do think the expectant parents could benefit from reading the book before handing it to the grandparents.
 
Take from the book areas that relate to you and your family dynamics - don't expect the entire book to resonate. 
 
Just as many of today's grandparents attended playgroups as young mums to connect and chat to other mums, playgroups are still a vital area for connection. As more and more grandparents are minding their preschool aged grandchildren the opportunity to discuss concerns and swap ideas with other grandparents is vital. I run a grandparents' playgroup in my local area where we support each other, talk about local facilities for children and connect in a relaxed atmosphere.
 
My rating 3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐
 
About the author
 
Dr Michael Carr-Gegg is an adolescent psychologist, a well-respected speaker and one of Australia's leading authorities on teenage behaviour. In 1985, he founded CanTeen, the acclaimed cancer patients' support group for teenagers in New Zealand and Australia.
 
He has written several bestselling books on parenting. he has also worked with organisations including Reach Out and Beyondblue and was the resident parenting expert on Sunrise. He has won many awards for his work. 
 
 

Wednesday 4 October 2023

Book Review: Undefendable by Sulari Gentill & Sarah Kynaston

 Undefendable

Edited by

Sulari Gentill & Sarah Kynaston

The story of a town under fire
 
Publisher: Clan Destine Press
Publication date: 26th November 2022
Genre: Non Fiction
Pages: 178
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Undefendable: The Story of a Town Under Fire 

As we approach another dry, hot summer who can forget the summer Australia burned.
 
In the summer of 2019/2020 the township of Batlow in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains was declared ‘undefendable’ from the fire megafront. While most evacuated, many stayed to fight. In the end, the undefendable town was saved by volunteers by farmers, teachers, electricians, retirees, and boys barely out of high school.

Sulari Gentill and Sarah Kynaston have delivered a heart-warming collection of poems, recollections and photographs from the very people who were on the ground during the fires of the summer of 2019/2020.

Sulari Gentill is herself a resident of the small close-knit community of Batlow - the town that was declared undefendable against the fires.

With a united front the residents, the Bush Fire Brigade and the Town Brigade banded together to do everything possible to save their town. They took on the fire and they won!

Everyone tells the story of their own personal experiences during that time. Most of the stories are in a conversational tone and told almost two years after the fires the awe and pride the story tellers feel comes through in the prose.
I really enjoyed Edmund Gentill's recollections. His writing is eloquent and with the resilience of youth his words are laced with humour.

Undefendable is a heart-felt anthology that showcases a town united, coming together and surviving when all odds were against them.

My rating 5/ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the editors
 
Sarah Kyneston is a berry grower, beekeeper and (as Sulari says) the person in Batlow who knows everyone.
Sulari Gentill is also the author of the 10-book Rowland Sinclair mysteries series, The Hero Trilogy (YA); and two standalone crime novels, Crossing the Lines, and The Woman in the Library.
 

Saturday 26 August 2023

Book Review: Unsolved Australia - Lost Boys, Gone Girls by Justine Ford

Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls

by

Justine Ford

Publisher: Macmillan Australia
Publication date: 25th June 2019
Genre: Non Fiction
Pages: 283
RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls. 

I don't read a lot of non-fiction however I find reading about true crime can be quite intriguing and Unsolved Australia: Lost Boys, Gone Girls is filled with intrigue and mystery.

Lost Boys, Gone Girls is written by journalist and true crime writer Justine Ford.
Ford has picked thirteen cold cases where people have gone missing or found murdered and the cases are still unsolved, many from decades ago. She explains how cases are never closed, however they are reviewed over time with fresh eyes and using the latest technology hoping to find that extra clue that solves the case.

There are not only facts on the investigations into the disappearances and murders but also interviews with the people involved in trying to solve these cases; detectives, investigative journalists, private investigators, criminologists and a criminal psychologist.

Lost Boys, Gone Girls is written with compassion and understanding for the victims and their families.
To make the stories more entertaining we are not purely given known facts but the author has also added some assumptions and speculation on people's thoughts.

Justine Ford hopes that getting all the available information out to the public will spark a memory in someone's mind that may ultimately lead to solving a case.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Justine Ford is a true crime author, TV producer and journalist. Her first forays into crime were as a reporter on the top-rated Australia's most wanted.
In her long-spanning career, Justine has covered scores of chilling homicides and missing persons cases, winning the trust of families who are victims of crime and developing deep access to police all over Australia.

Challenges: Non-Fiction challenge & Mount TBR challenge

Thursday 3 August 2023

Book Review: Reaching Through Time by Shauna Bostock

 Reaching Through Time

by

Shauna Bostock


Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 4th July 2023
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 352
RRP: $34.99AU (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Reaching Through Time

With Reaching Through Time Shauna Bostock has delivered an extensively researched family history going back generations, with interesting facts on Indigenous and Australian history included.

I love family research and genealogy and it doesn't just have to be my own. I can pore over anyone's family tree for hours. Births, deaths, marriages and connections between families fascinates me.

Shauna includes a family tree at the front of the book and I kept turning back to it to see where each relative came in.
You never know what you will find when you start researching your ancestry and Shauna did discover that one ancestor was a slave trader in England. I liked that this book was an honest account of her ancestry and the bad wasn't covered up or omitted.

I enjoyed every aspect of Shauna's book. Her writing is very personable and open. I was astounded by how much research, travel and time went into uncovering all the details and there are pages and pages of sources listed in the back which is a testament to this fact.

Pages of photo inserts are included which give an added connection whilst reading. Thank you Shauna for sharing your precious family photos. They are a beautiful addition to the book.

Reaching Through Time is perfect for readers who enjoy Aboriginal history, Australian history and exploring the past.

4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

A formaer primary school teacher, Shauna Bostock's curiosity about her ancestors took her all the way to a PhD in Aboriginal history.

Friday 28 July 2023

Book Review: Don't Make a Fuss: It's only the Claremont serial killer by Wendy Davis

 Don't Make a Fuss

It's only the Claremont serial Killer

by

Wendy Davis

Publisher: Fremantle Press
Publication date: 1st June 2022
Genre: Non-Fiction (memoir)
Pages: 216
Source: own copy
 

Review: Don't Make a Fuss: It's only the Claremont Serial Killer

Don't Make a Fuss is a brave and courageous memoir highlighting the ongoing culture of women's unimportance and  suppression.
 
Wendy was attacked at her workplace by Bradley Edwards. Wendy's attack was minimised and her account ignored by both police and authorities. Edwards went on to murder two, possibly three, women in the Claremont area which sparked a police investigation spanning decades.

Wendy Davis tells her story in this important novel broken up between present-day and the current investigation, and at the time of the attack 30 years ago and how it affected her.

I was appalled how the initial attack on Wendy had little consequence for the perpetrator, brushed under the carpet. However, it affected Wendy's life for years to come.
The story made me angry how crimes against women are being downplayed and because Wendy had a strong personality her trauma was devalued. She was expected to just get on with it.
I can't even fathom the monumental stress she has had to live with during the dragged out court case with years passing from arrest to sentence of this evil man.

I do hope that writing this book has been cathartic for Wendy. However, I am sure that the events of 1990 will be with her forever.

Thank you Wendy for this insightful memoir. We need to make a fuss and not only be heard but also actioned upon appropriately 

4 /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐



Tuesday 28 February 2023

Book Review: I Belong to No One by Gwen Wilson

 I Belong to No One

by

Gwen Wilson

Publisher: Hachette Australia
 
Publication day: 1st January 2015
 
Genre: Non Fiction / Memoir
 
Pages: 314
 
Source: Own purchase
 

My review of I Belong to No One

I found Gwen Wilson's memoir riveting. The writing flowed well making it an easy read. However, I didn't think the life she portrays in the book was that harrowing, or much different to any low socioeconomic families of that era.

Brought up by a single mother with mental health problems Gwen explains how neighbours and family often took her in. She was an intelligent and fiery young girl who wasn't afraid of hard work.
I few bad decisions and a stubborn personality sees Gwen hit rock bottom; pregnant and unemployed.

I Belong to No One is heart-wrenching in its reading. Although the author has spared her readers the graphic details of abuse she still manages to clearly portray the injustices and inequality suffered by women in the 70's.
Wilson is an inspiration to all in the way she turned her life around, offered forgiveness and moved forward.

My rating 3/5         ⭐⭐⭐

About the author (from the front of the book)

Gwen Wilson started writing her memoir in her fifties. Essentially self-educated, Gwen worked as a motel receptionist, dental nurse and switchboard operator until at nineteen, in the exciting days of the pre-container era, a chance opportunity saw her land a role in customs clearance on the male-dominated Port Adelaide waterfront. A stable marriage and a successful career in shipping and logistics followed until she retired, after which Gwen entered university for the first time and now holds a Master's degree in Electronic Commerce. Gwen and husband Bill live in Wollongong, New South Wales.

Challenges: Mount TBR challenge (on my shelf since October 2015)
                    Non Fiction readers challenge (memoir)

Wednesday 18 January 2023

Guest Book Review: Why Do Birds Do That? by Dr Grainne Cleary

 Why Do Birds Do That?

by

Dr Grainne Cleary

Over fifty answers to the most often asked questions.
 
Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 5th October 2022
 
Genre: Non Fiction / Wildlife
 
Pages: 288
 
RRP: $32.99AUD Paperback
 
Source: Won in a competition
 

Guest review of Why Do Birds Do That?

I was so happy to win this book in a competition because I knew of two young avid bird enthusiasts who would be fascinated by the facts and information found within. 
 
The book was shared between the cousins and here is what they thought of it...
 
Dom, 13
I enjoyed reading the book as I am crazy about birds. I like the way the book was written with the questions and then the answer was given in the first two lines. I really liked how it gave me extra information on the bird behaviour.
 
Owen, 13
It was a good book for anyone interested in birds. I liked the book because it answers common questions on birds. I liked the way the book was written with questions and answers, and it was easy to read.

 
 
 
Dom and Owen enjoy going bird watching and talking about birds. They have attended bird watching events with local bird observers club. 

Thank you Dom and Owen for your reviews. I am pleased you both enjoyed the book.
 
About the book

For thousands of years birds have fascinated us. We've observed what they do - their behaviours, their characteristics, their survival skills, the food they eat and their habitats - and wondered why they do it.


Why Do Birds Do That? answers many of these often-asked questions, such as: Why do birds sing in the mornings? Why are some birds so colourful and others are not? Why do starlings form murmurations? Why do birds have 3 eyelids? and Why do birds attack their own reflections?

In an easy-to-find question & answer format, Why Do Birds Do That? provides fascinating and comprehensive information about the birds we watch every day.

If you have ever wondered why birds behave as they do, you will find the answers in this book.
 
About the author
 
Dr Grainne Cleary received her PhD from Trinity College, Dublin. She has lived and worked in Australia for many years where citizen science became a passion. Grainne has been a Research Fellow at Deakin University and has also worked at Sydney University, Taronga Park Zoo and National Parks & Wildlife NSW.

Grainne, author of Your Backyard Birds, is an enthusiastic communicator about birds and their habits. She is often sought for radio interviews, q&a segments and television to discuss topical birding news.

Recommended for all bird enthusiasts.


 
 


 
 

 

Monday 12 September 2022

Book Review: The School by Brendan James Murray

 The School: The ups and downs of one year in the classroom
by
Brendan James Murray

One teacher. One school. One year.

 
Imprint: Picador Australia
 
Publication date: 25th May 2021
 
Genre: Non-Fiction / Biography 
 
Pages: 416
 
RRP: $ 34.99AUD
 
Format read: Paperback
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 
My review of The School
 
Brendan James Murray has been a high school teacher for over a decade. In The School he combines students and events from his vast teaching career into one year at a Government high school situated on the Victorian coast.
 
Murray includes moments from his own life as a student filled with self doubt and bullying as the story moves from present day to his own days at school. His obvious affection for his students shines through as he talks about a myriad of students that come and go through his teaching life and the ones that made a lasting impression. 
 
I didn't agree with all of Murray's thoughts on the education system but I must admit I was nodding along to many of his words.
 
Highly recommended reading for all teachers and parents of teenagers. Adolescence is a hard road and for some teens their teachers are the only positive role models they have. It was encouraging to read about a teacher who is so passionate about his role, not only as a teacher but also as a mentor to these children.
 
The School is an insightful and, at times, heart-wrenching account of life in a secondary school. 
 
My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 
About the author
 
Photo credit: Yanni
Brendan James Murray is an award-winning author and teacher. He has twice received National Literary Awards from the Fellowship of Australian Writers for his short stories, and his first book The Drowned Man, was joint winner of the Ned Kelly Award for Best True Crime in 2017. His second book, the critically acclaimed Venom, was featured in the ABC's Conversations program as part of the 'Best of 2018' series. He lives in the Mornington Peninsula with his wife, who is also a teacher.





Monday 1 August 2022

Book Review: Super Easy Knittting for Beginners by Carri Hammett

 Super Easy Knitting for Beginners
by
Carri Hammett
 
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group
 
Imprint: New Shoe Press

Publication date: 2nd August 2022
 
Genre: Craft / Hobbies
 
Pages: 144
 
RRP: $14.99USD (paperback)
 
Format read: eBook
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley
 
My review of Super Easy Knitting for Beginners
 
I have been knitting for a few decades now but I approached this book as if I was a complete beginner.


The book takes you from simple basic stitches to more advances techniques. It starts with the basics of knitting with crystal clear step by step instructions and lots of tips and helpful photos. It includes everything you need to know before you start including yarns, tolls and handy extras. There is so much in this book that I would have loved to know when I started knitting! 
All projects state what you will learn and what you will need at the start of each pattern.
 
Each new chapter builds on previous skills learned and adds additional skills so you are advancing your knitting prowess. There are chapters on stripes, colour blending, stranded knitting and adding beads. You won’t just be knitting scarves and beanies.
 
Hand knitting is making a comeback with online groups to give a helping hand, charity groups and face to face groups popping up everywhere.
 
I liked that needle size is given in US sizing and mm, as sizing is different in Australia. Google did come in handy with some of the wool weights.
 
Super Easy Knitting for Beginners is a comprehensive and well explained guide to knitting that I would recommend to anyone wanting to learn the craft.  

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


I am knitting this gorgeous little baby blanket from a pattern in the book. Perfect for beginners with a simple knit and purl stitch. The wonderful thing about a blanket is you don't have to worry about size, just match your needles to the wool you are using and knit away. I used an 8ply pure cotton.




About the author

Carri Hammett is the original owner of Coldwater Collaborative, a gem of a yarn shop in Excelsior, Minnesota. Carri loves to collaborate with both her customers and her readers as together they express their love of knitting and expand their knitting knowledge and skill. She is the author of Mittens and Hats for Yarn Lovers; Scarves and Shawls for Yarn Lovers; Ready, Set, Knit Cables; and Knitting 101.
 
 
 
 

Friday 1 July 2022

Spotlight on other books I've read this month - June

 
Title: Helpless
Author: Marianne Marsh & Toni Maguire 
Genre: Non Fiction
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pub Date: 5th March 2009
Pages: 297
Source: Own purchase 
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
My review of Helpless

Absolutely heartbreaking!
I read this book in a day. Tony Maguire writes Marianne's story with candour.
A young, lonely little girl manipulated and abused by a trusted neighbour. It's impossible to imagine that nobody stopped him, nobody cared for this child.

Narrated in two time-lines; Marianne as a young child and then in middle-age, married with her own grown children.
One thing I noticed in this book is Marianne doesn't delve on her mental state, which I would presume was bad, just a few mentions of self harm. This story is not about garnering sympathy, it's a cleansing, a coming to terms with her past.

My deepest regret is the perpetrator doesn't appear to have been punished. It's hard not to wonder if other victims followed.
A highly recommended read.
 
Title: The Secret World of Connie Starr
Author: Robbi Neal
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Harlequin - HQ
Pub date: 1st June 2022
Pages: 436
Source: Better Reading Preview
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
My review of The Secret World of Connie Starr
  
The Secret World of Connie Starr is a powerful story set in the country town of Ballarat during and after WWII.
Through the Starr and Mabbett families Robbi Neal explores social and family issues relevant to the time period; the bonds of friendship, how the war affected all families, polio, air raid shelters, rationing and the importance of the church.

The story isn't so much about Connie but her whole family. Her father is the local pastor, a sensitive man who has bouts of depression due to feelings of failure. It is Connie's mother, Flora, who runs the household and supports the town folk in their time of need.
Robbi includes issues of underage sign-ups, teenage pregnancy and the loss of a child.
World events during the time period are seamlessly included throughout the narration.

A brilliantly observed story of people and their foibles, regrets, loves and disappointments.
 
Title: One of Us
Author: Kylie Kaden
Genre: Domestic Fiction / Thriller
Publisher: Pantera Press
Pub date: 3rd May 2022 
Pages: 364
Source: Beauty & Lace Book Club
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My review of One of Us
 

In One of Us we get to climb security fences and peek through the hedges at the residents of an exclusive gated community.
The story follows the lives of two families on the Apple Tree Creek estate. Gertie and Ed have three children and have lived on the estate for five years when he tells her he needs a break and is moving out. Rachael new to the estate, pregnant with her third child, finds her sports star husband has cheated on her again. These two very different women soon become firm friends supporting each other.

One of Us is a gripping domestic noir filled with simmering secrets. I was intrigued with this story right from the prologue; a husband attacked and a wife in tears. The question of who was attacked is in the back of your mind as you read. Then there is the mystery of the attacker with many of the characters having a motive. 
 
Around these mysteries Kaden has written a story about marriage and motherhood, what goes on behind closed doors and women trying to do their best whilst fighting their own feelings of failure and struggling under the burden. There are multiple themes throughout the novel that I am sure will resonate with readers. 

This review is part of the Beauty & Lace Book Club

 
 



 
 
 

Sunday 9 January 2022

Book Review: 138 Dates by Rebekah Campbell

 138 Dates
by
Rebekah Campbell
 
The true story of one woman's search for everything
 
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
 
Imprint: A&U New Zealand
 
Publication date: 2nd July 2021
 
Genre: Non Fiction / Memior
 
Pages: 416
 
RRP $29.99AUD 

Format read: Paperback
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via DMCPR Media.
 
About the book
 
 On the outside, Rebekah Campbell has an enviable life. She is founder of hot Sydney startup Posse.com, writes a popular blog and gives inspirational talks at conferences for female entrepreneurs.

But when she turns off the light each night, she is alone and terrified of the future. She knows that what's important to her isn't money or startup glory or social media followers. She wants love. She wants a family.

And she is stuck. She hasn't been on a date in ten years. She's too embarrassed to list herself on the internet and can't bear the risk of getting rejected.

She decides to act. She'll take the tactics she's learnt building companies and apply them to finding a man. Her epic journey will take her on dates with 138 different men in Sydney, New York and San Francisco, while at the same time confronting the immense challenges of launching a business.

She'll face exhaustion, humiliation and heartbreak; she'll meet some strange and dangerous characters. And she will strip herself of the ego and expectations that have been holding her back. She will not stop.


138 Dates proves that the end is always worth the effort.
 
My review
 
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Not being the target audience and all.
 
If you follow Rebekah on social media you know how this turns out but this little spoiler didn't affect my reading pleasure.
 
Rebekah is open and honest as she takes on finding love as she would a business venture, organising do's and don'ts lists and practically interviewing her dates. 
I did find her quite judgemental and not very warm when she was on the dates. She was all business.  
I admire her tenacity as she goes on 138 different dates and I enjoyed all the descriptions of the different restaurants and meals she had. 
 
As she combines looking for love with the stress of running a start-up, Rebekah talks a lot about her business and work although I still feel she played down how stressful and time consuming starting your own business is.
 
I really enjoyed this candid and entertaining look at dating in your mid thirties and the call out not to give up on your dreams. However, I feel the real take out was Rebekah's acceptance of herself. It's hard to find love when you don't love yourself.
 
My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
 About the author
 
Rebekah Campbell is the co-founder of Hey You, a mobile app used by more than one million Australians to order and pay at cafes. She has kept a blog about her experiences as an entrepreneur which was named 'Best Business Blog' by Smart Company and became a New York Times column in 2012. Rebekah writes a monthly opinion piece for AFR BOSS Magazine and has contributed to MamaMia, Women's Agenda and Stuff. She is a high-profile public speaker who spoke at TEDx Sydney and numerous events for Business Chicks. Rebekah was named a Woman of Influence in 2015 and APEC Young Woman Innovator. She is currently the host and curator of the City of Sydney's virtual event series 'Reboot', supporting 18,000 Sydney business owners to recover from the impact of COVID 19. Rebekah's personal passion is her everything which she finds at the end of this book.  
 
 

Wednesday 29 December 2021

Book Review: Christians by Greg Sheridan

 Christians
by
Greg Sheridan
 
The urgent case for Jesus in our world
 
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
 
Publication date: August 2021
 
Genre: Non Fiction / Religion
 
Pages: 384
 
RRP: $32.95 AUD
 
Format read: paperback
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via DMCPRMedia
 
About the book
 
From the historical Jesus and his disciples through to the present day, Greg Sheridan has written an impassioned, informed and utterly compelling case for the truth and importance of Christianity in our lives. He presents a strong argument for the historical reliability of the New Testament, meets the living Jesus there, explores the extraordinary personality of Paul, celebrates Mary's activism and examines the magnificent richness of John.

Filled with insights, intelligence, warmth and humor, Greg also introduces us to a range of fascinating Christians today, among them political leaders, and young activists offering the radical Christian interpretation of love to their generation. His book explores the journey of those who have been guided by faith, such as Gemma Sisia, whose school in Tanzania has transformed the lives of thousands of children, and the dynamic Chinese Christians pursuing their beliefs under harsh restrictions. He examines where Jesus can be found in popular culture and talks to Christian leaders - Pentecostal, Catholic, Evangelical and others - in Australia, the US and Britain.
 
My review
 
From the media release: At a time when the chasm of understanding between secularism and faith has never seemed wider, Christians is timely, relevant and convincing. Bill Hayden tells the moving story of his long journey to belief and Peter Cosgrove recounts the experience of prayer and religious belief in the midst of deadly combat.
Christians is a new take on Christianity in popular culture, revealing how people and the New Testament work to powerfully affect lives today. 
 
Christians is a book to learn about the living Jesus. An awe-inspiring look inside the New Testament. Sheridan is not so much trying to convert people but give Christians a fresh look at Christianity and re-invigorate their faith.
Filled with indisputable facts. It does help to know some basics of the bible to understand what Sheridan is explaining about history.
 
Written in a conversational tone Sheridan explores the gospels and uses historical fact to back up his musings. I did find the book hard to read as a novel. It was more a case of picking it up and reading parts of the book to suit my mood.
 
 "Much of the New Testament is sublimely beautiful as literature. Apart from it's religious significance, it justifies reading for aesthetic pleasure as well as literary appreciation and scholarship."
 
Christians was highly entertaining, fascinating reading and thought provoking.
 
My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
About the author
 
Greg Sheridan is foreign editor of The Australian and a hugely respected journalist for over 40 years. Greg is fascinated by intellectual, spiritual and human aspects of Christianity, and his previous books include God is Good For You and When We Were Young and Foolish.

Challenges entered: Non Fiction Reading Challenge

                                  Aussie Author Challenge