Reviews
A deadly business
28 May 2010|
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When wealthy client Hammond Kasprowicz rings up Susko Books with an unusual order, second-hand bookseller Jack Susko thinks it’s his lucky day. All he has to do is hunt down as many works of an obscure poet as he can – at $50 a book. He takes on the job without stopping to think – which is a shame, because he is soon entangled in the complicated politics of the Kasprowicz family and up to his neck in questions. Why does the eccentric millionaire want so many copies of this one poet’s work? What does his beautiful daughter Annabelle want with Jack? And why do bookshop-trashing thugs and dead bodies seem to be following Jack wherever he goes? With his smart mouth and an uncanny knack for trouble, Jack goes looking for answers. Bartulin’s first book, A Deadly Business, is an engaging, enjoyable read. The story is well-written and fast-moving, full of twists, turns, interesting characters and razor-sharp dialogue. Jack Susko is a very likeable protagonist who takes on a dangerous world with nothing but his cynical sense of humour. The wit and action continues in Bartulin’s second Jack Susko novel, The Black Russian, which is also available at Logan City Council Libraries. Author: Lenny Bartulin Reviewed by: Faith |
A must for Twilight lovers
12 April 2010|
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Set on a line of damned angels and triangle romance, readers would surely enjoy Lauren Kate’s edgy yet enthralling story that would make you not want to put the book down! Author: Lauren Kate Reviewer: Lena |
Love and the Platypus
22 February 2010|
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The year is 1883 and William Caldwell is on a scientific expedition to Australia. His mission is to ascertain once and for all whether or not the platypus lays eggs. This strange antipodean creature has proved a puzzlement for European scientists and young William has a chance to make a name for himself by finding proof one way or the other. We share William’s fascination and sense of wonder at the natural world as he discovers the wildlife of Australia. He also encounters a few colourful characters, including a drunken bullocky driver, the mysterious, poetic bushman Ben, and the blind Miss Ettie and her Aboriginal ’sister’. These characters each harbour secrets of their own, and they both hinder and help William’s expedition. Drayson’s narrative has a gentle pace, and his background as a naturalist gives the story veracity. It is a bonus to learn at the end of the novel that William Caldwell was a real historical figure. Love and the Platypus is a love story, but it is not merely the story of William Caldwell’s first love. It is the story of a love of Australia, of its creatures and its landscape. Author: Nicholas Drayson Reviewer: Phoebe |
Extreme teaching
11 February 2010|
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Seven Seasons in Aurukun is Paula Shaw’s personal account of teaching at the local school in Aurukun and making a life for herself in a challenging new world. In the unrelenting tropical heat, she discovers there’s an immediacy and intensity in everything. From the mischievous children in her bilingual classroom to the local politics, nothing is quite what it seems. Seven Seasons in Aurukun is a challenging read, not because of the writing style but because of the contemporary issues that it grapples with surrounding Aboriginal schooling and communities and the education system. Author: Paula Shaw Reviewer: Sue |
Forged friendship
1 December 2009|
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Hopetoun Wives … Jasmine, Brigid, and Miranda are three very different women who would never normally meet. But when they each follow their husbands to the mining town of Hopetoun in Western Australia, they forge a friendship. At first, the resources boom seems to offer them wealth and opportunities. For Jasmine, it’s the opportunity to forget the past while Brigid seeks to build a future and Miranda wants a chance to find some real friends and break free from her social circle. Together, they set up the Boomtown Cafe. The business quickly becomes a success, and the three women become a part of the local community. However, they soon discover that their paradise is precarious. Tensions between the mining folk and the locals are constant. These tensions escalate as the mining company seeks to take over a property that is historically significant – and belongs to a close friend of the three women. Will Jasmine, Brigid and Miranda’s choices mean the end of their friendship? Inspired by author Fran Cusworth’s own experiences in Hopetoun, this is a good light read by an Australian writer. |
