Indie award

We are very excited to be a part of a group of booksellers who sponsor a literary award for Australian writers. The short list is:
Debut fiction: The virtuoso by Sonia Orchards
Fiction:   Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
Non-fiction: Tall Man by Chloe Hooper
Childrens: Pearl Versus the World by Heather Potter.
My pick is Jasper Jones, but the winner will be announced on the 28th September. Here’s Hoping Craig!!  Heather

Favourite books – On The Jellicoe Road

This title by Melina Marchetta is a truly beautiful young adult book sitting in the cross over to adult fiction, and is definitely a stand out read of my teenage years. The complex main character is 17 year old Taylor Markham, whose at a boarding school called the Jellicoe School in New South Wales. She has practically no memory of her father and was abandoned roadside by her mother as a young girl. On The Jellicoe Road is Taylor’s story, as she tries to untangle the mystery of her past.

At school, holding positions of responsibility that seem of little consequence to her, Taylor has power despite not being particularly popular, known to be unreliable and distant. Taylor must lead Jellicoe in the territory wars between the Jellicoe school and the Cadets who are from a school in Sydney along with the Townies. The leader of the Cadets, Jonah Griggs is a strong and eventually important male character which helps the book appeal to boys more than Marchetta’s previous books.

Written parallel to Taylor’s story is excerpts from a manuscript written by the woman who found Taylor who lives on the school grounds, Hannah. Hannah is the only adult that Taylor has any faith in, faith which is ripped away when Hannah disappears early in the book, which really throws the fragile Taylor for a loop. The story is of five teens who lived on the Jellicoe road twenty years before the relevance of which is cloudy at first but becomes more and more intriguing until you just can’t figure it out and can’t wait for all to be revealed.

The story has a mix of romance, mystery and a whole lot of tension. As the book progresses at times painfully slowly, readers must be patient as all the signposts and clues come together. Taylor’s erratic journey to grow from a conflicted and confused teenage into a calm and collected young woman is tumultuous and, as a reader, absolutely riveting.

-Steph.

Sunday in September!

So it’s Geelong and St Kilda as most people suspected some time ago.  Congratulations and commiserations!  And the Wallabies got hammered in New Zealand – again!  Luckily our cricketers are winning [ if anyone's interested in the one day series against the Poms!]

Our shop window’s had a bit of makeover with a ‘Spring’ theme and there are lots of new books to see.  Have a look as you’re passing by and let us know what you like [or don't].  You might have seen the Popular Penguin series – Books from the last century, re-released in the old style Penguin jacket from the 1950s.  We also have Mugs and Notebooks in the same style but you’ll have to be quick!  We have  very few Mugs left.

Dan Brown’s new blockbuster , The Lost Symbol, is in store now and going fast – not quite like the infamous Da Vinci Code or the last Harry Potter but very popular all around the world with queues at book shops in London, New York and Abu Dhabi [I expect].  It’s an impressive hardback edition – You might find it cheaper on-line or in a supermarket somewhere but not  with such helpful, informative staff, in your local shopping strip, surrounded by so many other good shops and restaurants!

New from Dan Brown

Don’t forget that we also stock a few CDs – We don’t stock the top ten and we’re not trying to compete with JB but we have a few interesting albums including pop, rock and jazz – we can often get CDs in to special order.

Talking of sounds, we also sell Audio Books – these are mostly CD based but there are some tapes too.  CD books can get quite expensive e.g the Harry Potter series read/acted by Stephen Fry but we also have a range of books from Bolinda which are  the same price (or close to it) as the original book.  Great in the car in the traffic or on long trips.  Great too for those with short arms like me and too lazy to find the reading glasses again!  My friend with macular degeneration loves them.

Have a good Sunday and I hope next week serves you well.

Dick

Book launch coming up – Michael Pryor

Michael Pryor is launching his new book, Time of Trial, 4th in the Laws of Magic series, at Fairfield library in the morning on Saturday 3rd of October.  If you’ve enjoyed The Ranger’s Apprentice series or the Harry Potter books then the Laws of Magic should be next on your list.

Michael will be there to tell us about his book and meet and greet the assembled multitude.  We will be there selling copies of the book.  Michael will be happy to sign copies as required.  All are welcome.

Volume 4 in The Laws of Magic Series

Review of A Beautiful way to die

A beautiful way to die by Malla Nunn, is a mystery set in South Africa in 1950.  The policy of apartheid was just taking hold, although it wasn’t called apartheid at the time.  An Afrikaaner policeman has been murdered and the story is about the investigation into the murder.   The small town has white, coloured and Afrikaaner people in the melting pot, and race as well as class divisions create tensions between all of the groups.  As well as a terrific mystery, the social history aspects of the story kept me interested as well.   A first time author, Malla Nunn is well worth reading.  $23.oo

- Heather

Review of Bourke St Bakery

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This is my new favourite baking book.  Bourke St Bakery is a Sydney company with a few outlets in suburban Sydney.  The book is divided into Breads, pastries and sweets, preceded by general information and tips on baking.  I’ve made some very grown up brownies from the book, and they were fabulous.   You soak prunes in brandy for 3 days before making the batter.  Don’t worry, there is a non-alcoholic option if children are going to be eating them,  although, frankly, I’d keep them for the grownups! There are loads of photos, and it is a very good looking book.  A terrific gift for the baker you know.  $69.95  Heather

Our first blog

Hello there.  We have joined the blogosphere and we will give you news about our shop and the books we like.

Our shop is a general bookshop but with particular strength in children’s books.  We also sell cards and a small range of toys and puzzles for children.  We have regular email newsletters which you can sign up to receive.   Our email address is books@fairfieldbooks.biz

Several staff will be contributing to this blog and we will sign our names so you get to know whose book reviews you like best.    Jess will review mostly children’s books.  Steph will also review children’s books.  Heather will review adult fiction and cookbooks, and Dick will review fiction and some non-fiction.  Marissa will also look at adult fiction and Fiona will talk about children’s books and adult fiction.

I hope you will enjoy what we do.  Cheers, Heather