Never too old for love!

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand (rrp $33.00)

by Helen Simonson

Hot on the heels of recent literary hits with an old-fashioned and classic english feel comes Helen Simonson’s engaging debut novel, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.

The perpetually proper and delightfully droll Major Pettigrew lives an ordered and well-mannered life in the country village of Edgecombe St Mary, where he tends to his garden, drinks endless cups of tea, and keeps to himself.  Circumstances arise which turn the Major’s world indside out, and he finds himself enjoying the company of a local shopkeeper, Mrs Ali. A friendship develops despite their differences, but being small-town country England rumours abound and every gossip-hungry villager has a say in the Major’s life!

As the cantankerous Major struggles against pushy relatives and incensed villagers, he comes to realise his true feelings. This charming book is unputdownable, with a story that is non-formulaic and very endearing. If you enjoyed recent whimsical novels such as Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society or Elegance of the Hedgehog, then you’ll adore the clever and intelligent Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.

In store now!

Destination Saigon by Walter Mason

Destination Saigon is written by a guy I met a few years ago, who has worked in the books industry on and off for a long time.  He describes himself as a writer and dreamer.   Walter has long had an avid interest in Vietnam, has learnt the language and travelled there frequently.   Destination Saigon is a collection of stories of his travels and travails in Vietnam.  He talks about the joys and occasional pain of being a large foreign white man in a country which is enigmatic to say the least.  Some of the chapters seem to end rather abruptly, but I still enjoyed reading the book.  It would be an excellent gift for anyone travelling to the country, because it has a different point of view from any travel guide.  Paperback, $25

Growing Up With Melina Marchetta

At my age (20ish) a lot of people, including many of my friends, don’t read much. They “don’t have time” or “can’t be bothered” and maybe its because we spend a lot of our time being told what to read, from school and into university, so that when you want to switch off reading isn’t what jumps to mind. The choice between ‘adult’ fiction and ‘teenage’ fiction is a tricky one, because chances are you’re going to be reading about someone a few years younger or older than yourself. Not always that easy to relate to.

Melina Marchetta is one of the authors helping to bridge that gap. I read Saving Francesca in year 9 for school, and On The Jellicoe Road became a favourite of mine in year 12.

The group of friends from Saving Francesca are reprised in her latest book, this time 5 years older, with 5 years worth of problems added into the mix and a different main character. By no means a sequel, The Piper’s Son is a stunning stand alone novel. But when you already know the characters, it adds a certain something to the experience. Having grown up with Melina Marchetta, it seems her characters have grown up with me too.

Thomas Mackee is an (about) 21 year old who has dropped out of uni and watched his family fall away from under him. The Piper’s Son is his story of coming back from the edge of a cliff, or in actual fact, a stage. Sometimes you have to fall.

When your uncle was “blown to smithereens” on his way to work  in the London Underground bombings, things understandably take a turn for the worse. He thought he wanted oblivion, to make the regrets and heartbreak disappear. A once tight knit family spread over state lines. A once inseparable group of friends spread over a few continents. Once Tom’s mind clears from his year in so -called oblivion, he realises that the rest of world didn’t stop moving when he fell off the map. With the help of some old friends and the family who need him as much as he needs them, Tom is figuring out how to live again.

Make no mistake, this fantastic, emotionally diverse book will make you laugh and cry. And you won’t be able to put it down.

So thank you, Melina Marchetta, for continuing to write great books for people my age that are about people who are around my age. It’s like it was meant to be. Recommended for young women and men aged 16 up.

The Age Cheap Eats 2010

The much anticipated 2010 edition of The Age Cheap Eats Guide (PB $24.95) has just been released. A Melbourne bible for those wanting to eat well but whose back pockets require they do it without breaking the bank, this annual release is always popular. As ever, the books covers cheap eats in the city and suburbs, and some in rural Victoria, including suggestions for eating along the Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley. Also scattered throughout are “The Best” winners, including the best souvlaki, the best coffee and the best hangover brekkies. With each listing including a star rating, a price range guide and other useful info like Melway references and whether the eatery is liscensed or B.Y.O, you are sure to know exactly what you are getting yourself in for. Easy to use and practical, with maps and indexes by suburb, cuisine and alphabet, this is your guide to being a Melbourne foodie on a budget! Jess

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Over summer I had a bit more time to read than usual, so I decided to tackle a book I’d put off reading due to it’s sheer size – Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, the winner of this year’s Man Booker Prize. It tells the fascinating story of Thomas Cromwell, a man of dubious lineage who rose to become one of the most influential men at the court of King Henry VIII.

The story is set in the 1520′s, as Henry is becoming increasingly frustrated by his lack of a male heir by his wife Catherine of Aragon. His attention has been captured by the charming Anne Boleyn, and he thinks he might have better luck with her. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church does not allow divorce, and the stage is set for a battle of wills between King and Church – ultimately resulting in the creation of the Church of England (which conveniently does allow divorce!).

Into this turmoil steps Thomas Cromwell, a shrewd and ambitious opportunist. He had not been born with the advantages of the usual members of court, but through his intelligence and wit had become the protege of Cardinal Wolsey. He survived Wolsey’s fall by becoming indispensable to the Boleyn family, and by the time the King had tired of Anne, had become the King’s right hand man. He then helped orchestrate Anne’s downfall.

As the story is told from Cromwell’s point of view, we see the events and characters through his eyes. We also see the whole man – not only the ambitious manipulator, but also the loving family man, witty companion and loyal friend.

It’s a fascinating tale of  intrigue, action, drama and pathos, told with energy and wit in an original and modern style. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and wondered why I had put it off so long! Highly recommended. $33. Fiona

Our Choice

Our Choice, Young reader’s edition by Al Gore is the perfect book to explain the ins and outs of climate change. As well as explaining what climate change is and how it happens, this book focuses on what we can do to help the problem, covering topics like wind power, carbon offsetting and even how to simply save energy. Aimed at junior reader’s, the book is clearly laid out with lots of diagrams and graphics to support the text, keeping the important subject from being dry or unapproachable.

As well as easily answering the questions of those simply interested in the climate crisis, Al Gore’s Our Choice would also make a great resource for school projects or any studies relating to the world’s climate and how it is changing before our eyes.

Top Ten Wall!

Our Top Ten lists have grown up and we’re now calling them the Top Ten Wall!!  It’s actually only two bays of our fiction section but the selections are big news for customers and staff alike.

When you come in, looking for that book for a youngster, we can now show you our suggestions in one place, where you can make your own selection.  Of course we’re delighted to help you further with details on any of the choices or to show you other selections if our Top Ten doesn’t quite satisfy!

The detailed selections can be seen in the Top Ten Category, shown on the right hand side with the reviews, jottings etc.

Introducing The Greatest Blogger In The World!!!

Not an award we actually won, before anyone gets to ahead of themselves. Instead, it is new book by Andrew McDonald entitled The Greatest Blogger In The World. Written by a Melburnian bookseller, I’ve not long started reading this children’s novel and it’s proving entertaining right from the beginning.

The main character Charlie Ridge is a young boy with a duck named Barcode, a stay-at-home Dad (but he, Charlie says, doesn’t stay home much) and a best friend named Phattius Beats who has an illegal red cordial stand at their school. With material like that it’s no wonder Charlie decides to enter a competition to become the Greatest Blogger In The World.

Charlie is a loveable young boy who you like right from the start, even though he edits his school work to make sure its not too good! He also has a kindergarten aged brother who is a tuxedo wearing character unto himself;

“He doesn’t like to be called Joshua because it makes him sound like a baby. He keeps telling me that his name is Josh, but I don’t want him getting any ideas about where he fits in around here.”

A laugh out loud funny novel great for young kids, especially boys, 9/10 years plus.

-Steph.

Maisy’s Book of Things That Go

Lucy Cousin’s Maisy is always a popular character and the latest book in the best selling series, Maisy’s Book of Things That Go (HB $19.95,) is sure to be no exception. And this title has even more to recommend it than normal – accompanying the trademark illustrations kids love are pop-up rockets and tabs or wheels on every page to make the things that go, go. From bicycles and boats to hot air balloons, every page has a clever moving part and a look-and-find component. Sure to keep the little ones entertained for hours, this is one of the best Maisy books yet.

Recommended for kids 4-6.

Jess

Far Out, Brussel Sprout!

Originally published in 1983, the Far Out! series is an Aussie favourite. With five in the series, Far Out Brussel Sprout!, All Right Vegemite!, Unreal Banana Peel!, Real Keen Baked Bean!, and Roll Over Pavlova! (all PB $8), these books are filled with classic Australian rhymes and chants that every child should know. Compiled by June Factor from Australian archives but also from children themselves as they wrote to her with material of their own, most of the rhymes are silly, funny and VERY Australian!

She danced across the ballroom floor,

Her dress it was fantastic.

All of a sudden she rushed for the door -

You can’t trust Coles’ elastic.

and

‘Doctor, doctor, I feel like a curtain.’

‘For heaven’s sake, man,

Pull yourself together!’

As schoolyard favourites from my own childhood, I remember these books well, and am pleased to see them back in style in a smaller pocket-sized format. Hilarious illustrations by Peter Viska complete the perfect recipe to get your kids reading and laughing!

Jess