Junior Books

I've loved reading since I was very young and still have a soft spot for junior books. Working in a High School Library allows me the perfect excuse (as if I need one!) to read these books.

When I say 'junior books' I'm talking about those aimed at 10-15 year olds, bit old for those little basic readers but not quite at that Young Adult (YA) levels. They are fun, friendly and for good readers, a quick read. They are a great way to get back into the swing of reading if you have had a bit of a dry spell.

This week we had the lovely pleasure of getting the first new books for the year in our Library (its so nice to get new books, even better when they don't actually have to pay for them out of your own pocket!) Among them we some great deals we got from BigW and also Scholastic Books (great sale - got some picture story books for $1!!!)

This meant I finally got to read the latest instalment in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series - Book 8 "Hard Luck". If you have been hiding under and adult size rock and haven't seen these books, or even the movies these are a great fun series which mixes words and pictures in an almost graphic novel style. These books are really great for those reluctant readers because they are fun and about things school kids deal with - friendship, weird family, 'rules' of school. We have multiple copies of each book at school and they are always borrowed out - usually with a waiting list. While they are immensely popular with the boys even the girls like these books and have been published in 41 languages! If you are ever stuck for a gift idea for boys these are definitely a good idea (if they don't already have them) - another popular series in a similar style are the Capitan Underpants series.

The other book I read today was a fun light-hearted collection by Michael Morpurgo called Mudpuddle Farm: Six Animal Stories. Michael, a former school teacher is known for his many children books such as War Horse, one of five which have been made into movies. Along with his wife they also have 3 farms in London which are open for city children to come for a work stay. These six stories centre about life on Mudpuddle farm with animals who can talk to each other and Farmer Rafferty. These short stories are complemented with cute illustrations along with crazy, expressive print (think round in circles) which make for a fun read. This is a perfect book for parents to read along with their younger stories, and then for them to read on their own when they are older. This book is split into 6 short stories - perfect to stretch it out for a week of bedtime stories (even if I did read it all in under an hour!)

What was the last Junior or YA book you read? Its nearly school holidays - why not check out your local library to see what they have planned!

Happy reading

Something Different

I can't remember where I heard about this book first - I think it may have been from Oprah's Book Club Email. I tried to get a copy through my local library and the lovely staff there were able to find it through Inter-library loans (thanks Geelong Regional Library http://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/!)

This Is Not The Story You Think It Is: A Season of Unlikely Happiness by Laura Munson


This is an interesting book. Its not a novel but a diary like account of a tumultuously few months in the life of New York Times columnist Laura Munson when her husband of 20 years told her he might not love her anymore and wants to leave.

Laura tries to face this upheaval in a grown up and mature manner, using various methods she has learnt to try and help her husband find his way through this crisis. Her realistic and honest writing is a refreshing change and her description of her life in Montana made me want to visit.

With some level headed honest advice this book is easy to read and will help many see how the best way to happiness is taking control for yourself.

Details about Laura can be found on her website  http://www.lauramunson.com/ or blog http://blog.lauramunson.com/

Review of Don't Fence Me In - Grassroots Wisdom From a Country Girl

Don't Fence Me In: Grassroots Wisdom From a Country Girl
by Rachael Treasure

This is truly a 'treasure' of a book (pun intended!) Rachael Treasure who, to quote an incident from this book is the 'godmother' of Aussie Rural Authors, has branched out from her usual brilliant Rural Novels to impart us with some home grown, grassroots Aussie Cowgirl wisdom. Even if your not a farm girl (or even one at heart) this little gem of a book has something for everyone. I have to admit when I finally got a copy of this book my mum actually borrowed (stole) it off me and read it first,...more This is truly a 'treasure' of a book (pun intended!) Rachael Treasure who, to quote an incident from this book is the 'godmother' of Aussie Rural Authors, has branched out from her usual brilliant Rural Novels to impart us with some home grown, grassroots Aussie Cowgirl wisdom. Even if your not a farm girl (or even one at heart) this little gem of a book has something for everyone. I have to admit when I finally got a copy of this book my mum actually borrowed (stole) it off me and read it first, I had to keep telling her to stop 'spoiling' it for me by reading out tasty titbits but its just that kind of book. With everything from sustainable farming to hugging your kids (something we practice in my family!) this is the kind of book you will go back to time and again. This book will make a perfect present for your daughter, your mother, sister, your best friend.... yourself. Just do yourself a favour and get a copy! This was also number to on my list for the Aussie Readers Challenge 2014!

Aussie Readers Autumn Challenge starts this Saturday!

Yep another month is about to end and for us here an Australian this means Autumn starts this Saturday 1st March!! For me this means I get to start on my reading list for the Aussie Autumn Reading Challenge. With 13 books to pick from my dilemma was which to pick first??? To solve that I used Random.org which also has a Sequence Generator option so this will be the order I read the books in:
1 Nurses of the Outback by Annabelle Brayley
9 Safe Harbour by Helene Young
3 No Biking in the House without a Helmet by Melissa Fay Greene
5 The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
11 Firestorm by Tamara McKinley
7 Daughters of Mars by Tom Keneally
6 The Never Never Sisters by L. Allison Heller
8 The Secret River by Kate Grenville
2 The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens
10 House for all Seasons by Jenn J. McLeod
13 Saving Grace by Fleur McDonald
12 Silver Clouds by Fiona McCallum
4 Mullumbimby by Melissa Lucashenko

For the Goodreads links see my initial enter at http://geckogirlreads.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/book-list-for-aussie-readers-autumn.html

Can't wait to start reading. I have already read almost 2 off my Aussie Author Challenge (goes for the whole year).

Happy Reading

1st Book for the Aussie Reading Challenge

The Rabbits

by John Marsden, Shaun Tan (Illustrator)

 

I chose this book as part of the  Aussie Author Challenge 2014 (Fantasy Book) as Fantasy really isn't my genre to read and I knew we had this in our school library. I had seen it before I actually never read it.

This was an 'alternative' telling of the immigration of Australia, with the 'Rabbits' invading the territory of the native animals. Not only do they come, but the ruin the land and leave it barren.

With amazingly detailed drawings by Shaun Tan this is a great retelling of what happened to Australia, even if hopefully we don't ruin Australia as bad as the Rabbits did

Review of Silver Rain by Jan Ruth

Silver Rain

by Jan Ruth

While Silver Rain is set in Wales it could easily be set anywhere in the world. Silver Rain tells overlapping stories of middle life Kate and Al who find themselves in very different situations in their lives. Kate's second husband has recently died and she goes to visit her sister-in-law while trying to get her head around whether or not she actually loved her husband, what she is going to do about her hopeless sister and who is going to look after her ageing mother. Poor Al couldn't be more different, while he is still finalising his divorce this ladies man has found himself a young professional girlfriend and thinks life is all good. They cross paths in the ramshackle farm her sister-in-law calls home, which happens to be Al's family home 'Chathill Farm' but his (adopted) brother George is none to happy to see him. Will these too opposites become friends (or even more) or are they just too different (I'm not going to spoil it and tell you!)

Jan skilfully tackles many issues faced by middle-aged people everywhere such as dealing with aging parents, downsized jobs, failing marriages, and awkward dates in Silver Rain and she does this so realistically, even with a few well placed laughs as well as some heart in your throat moments.

This story does change between Al & Kate's stories but there is no overlapping boring bits like some in this style do and flows quiet easily. I wanted to sit and just read it but kept getting rudely interrupted, but it was quiet easy to just pick up where I left off.

If you haven't read any of Jan's other books check out my reviews:
Wild Water Review



Midnight Sky Review



Jan also has three other books which I am looking forward to reading,Her Novel :
White Horizon
And two collections of Short Stories:
The Long and the Short of it. A Long Way From Home

Another Challenge - Aussie Readers - Aussie Authors Challenge 2014

Well going to add to my challenge list this year by also doing the Aussie Author Challenge 2014  - since I do already read a lot of Aussie Authors I thought this shouldn't be too much of a stretch (although I did struggle to find a fantasy book to read - not my genre at all!). I've started with the bronze level which means 12 books for the year within the categories:

1. Female Author: Wings of Fear by Helene Young
Actually I really want to read this whole series this year. Helene's books are great! I have her new book in my Autumn Challenge List.
2. Female Author: What Alice Forgot by Laine Moriarty
Had this one in my TBR pile for a while - really looking forward to reading this.

3. Male Author: Bereft by Chris Womersley
I'm pretty sure we have this one at school - will have to check but it sounds interesting.

4. Male Author: Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
This will be my first attempt at reading Tim Winton since I was in year 12 (just a 'few' years ago!) I'm not really looking forward to this one but this is a new book for our year 12's this year so I thought it would be a good idea to select it.
5. Debut Novel: Cicada by Moria McKinnon
This one sounds quiet interesting - I'm looking forward to it coming out.

6. 2014 Release: Rocking Horse Hill by Cathryn Hein
LOVE Cathryn's books - can't wait for this one to come out in April!

7. 2014 Release: Time Will Tell by Fiona McCullum
Same with Fiona's new book (did I mention I love Aussie Rural books?)

8. Classic: They're a Weird Mob by Nino Culotta & John O'Grady
Ok so I picked this one because even my DAD (who isn't a big reader) has read this - I think it was a TV show at one stage. It sounds really funny.
9. Fantasy: The Rabbits by John Marsden & Shaun Tan
I struggled with this category because Fantasy really isn't an area I read or want to but I remembered we had this book at school so I thought I could give it a go.

10. Historical Fiction: Elianne by Judy Nunn
I have a few of Judy's books but haven't had a chance to read them yet - looking forward to this one.

11. Favourite Genre (Rural Romance): Don't Fence Me In: Grassroots Wisdom From a Country Girl by Rachael Treasure. My mum pinched this off me when I brought it home and loved it. I can't wait to read it myself!
 
12. Favourite Genre (Rural Romance): The Farmer's Wife by Rachael Treasure
I LOVE Rachael's books. Her first book Jillaroo (this is the sequel) was my first taste of 'modern' Aussie Rural Fiction (after Tony Parsons) and I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel. If I have time I might re-read Jillaroo first (it was released in 2002 - read just a 'few' books since then)

Since I have all year to read these books I decided to pick different books from my Autumn Challenge List to add some variety. Looking forward to ticking off these ones - I might make a dint in my TBR pile!    

Happy Reading