Indie Award 2011: Children’s books

The Indie Award is run by a group of Australian Independent booksellers, who choose the books they most enjoyed reading and selling in the previous calendar year.  It is in it’s third year, and the short lists have just been announced.

There are four categories and one of them is children’s.

The short listed books for the children’s category in 2011 are:

The Very Bad Book by Andy Griffiths.

The Legend of the Golden Snail by Graeme Base

Mirror by Jeannie Baker

Keepers #1: Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner

The winners of each category are voted on by the member, and then an overall award winner is chosen.

Stay tuned for the announcements.  It’s a great way to celebrate Australian writing and books.

Enjoy your FREE coffee with this bean-inspired tale…

The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul

by Deborah Rodriguez

rrp $32.95

This is the second novel set in Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez, the first was

the much-enjoyed Kabul Beauty School, and 2011′s Little Coffee Shop Of

Kabul is no less a treat.

Once again, the story is set around the dangerous hub of Kabul, where flying bullets and falling rubble is a part of everyone’s day as much as the ritual of morning coffee.  The story centers on five enigmatic women with individual secrets and troubles who meet at the coffee shop, run by the indomitable Sunny.

There’s young Yasmina, alone and pregnant, Isabel, the journalist, Candace, the rich American pursuing an Afghan lover, and Halajan, the 60 year old matriarch-type figure who has lived through many terrible events.

Whilst an engaging and hugely delightful novel, full of well-written and and intelligent prose, this is no mere throw-away book group read.  The author does not shy away from the horrors of life in a war-torn, ravaged and starving country full of frightened and suspicious people.  The strength and love the characters show for each other and fellow Afghans is life-affirming and spiriting, this book will stay with you long after the last page has turned.

While stocks last, each copy comes with a voucher for free coffee at your nearest Jamaica Blue Coffee Shop, to savour with this fine novel.

Enoy!

In store now.

Victorian and Queensland floods appeal

Since we started our Queensland flood appeal, Victoria has joined the northern state in having huge areas of the state covered in flood waters.  While the scenes shown on television haven’t been as dramatic or had the same toll on human life as the floods in Queensland, the effects on our towns and primary producers have  been devastating.  Therefore we have decided we will split the donations we receive between the two states.  We hope everyone will be happy with our decision.

We thank everyone for their support.  Heather

Indie Award 2011: Shortlist

As I described in an earlier blog the Indie Award is chosen by independent Australian booksellers.  There are four categories, with a winner in each category to be voted upon by the member booksellers.  There will then be an overall Book of the year selected.

The short list has now been announced to the public and is as follows.

Debut Fiction:

The Old School by PM Newton

Rocks in the Belly by Jon Bauer

Book of Lost Threads by Tess Evans

The Legacy by Kirsten Tranter

Fiction:

Bereft by Chris Womersley

That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott

Indelible Ink by Fiona McGregor

When Colts Ran by Roger McDonald

Non-Fiction

How to Make Gravy by Paul Kelly

The Happiest Refugee by Ahn Do

The Well at the World’s End by A J Mackinnon

Street Fight in Naples by Peter Robb

Children’s

The Very Bad Book by Andy Griffiths

The Legend of the Golden Snail by Graeme Base

Mirror by Jeannie Baker

The Keepers Book 1: Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner

When the winners of each category are announced and from that the overall winner chosen, we will blog again.

Guess How Much I Love You

For a limited time only, buy any two books in the classic Guess How Much I Love You range and receive a free mini plush bunny. Just as cute as ever, Sam McBratney’s story is available in several editions, including paperback ($16.95), hardback ($29.95), mini gift hardback ($18.95) and the adorable baby’s snuggle book ($24.95).

Indie Award 2011

The Indie award was established in 2008 by a group of independent booksellers of which Fairfieldbooks is a member.  The inaugural winner was Breath by Tim Winton, and in 2009 Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey won.  In 2010 there was no award issued as the timing of the prize has changed.

The award has four categories, Fiction, Debut fiction, Non-fiction and Children’s. The authors must be Australian citizens to be eligible. The members of the group, which number over 180, have voted for the books they most enjoyed reading and selling in calendar 2010 and from those a short list of 4 books in each category have been chosen. The short list will be announced soon in the press and then each category will have a winner.  The members will vote on an overall winner and that will be announced in early March.  I am busy reading the books so that I will be able to make a considered vote.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the short list.

Australia Day holiday opening hours

Fairfieldbooks will be open on Australia Day 26th  January from 10 am until 4 pm.

Have a great day with family and friends.

Chicken Socks activity packs: Holiday fun

Klutz is a company who have been producing terrific activity books and kits for children for years.  They also have a range called Chicken Socks of books and kits aimed at a younger age group. We have just received into the shop a host of them.  There are melty beads, fun with highlighters, a sewing kit, foam pictures, crayon rubbings and more.  They are great value and will provide hours of fun, perfect for the holidays.  Suitable for children 4 years and up, with a bit of help from someone older. From $18.

 

Never Let Me Go

by Kazuo Ishiguro

rrp $23

The haunting and mesmerising story of three children who grow up in an exclusive and secluded boarding school in the English countryside will stay with you long after you’ve finished the last page.  Author Kazuo Ishiguro, of The Remains of the Day fame, was nominated for a Booker Prize upon its release five years ago.

Never Let Me Go is narrated by Kathy, a “carer” in her late 20s who is thinking back to her seemingly idyllic upbringing at the Hailsham estate and her two best friends, Ruth and Tommy.  The students are taught about the world and their role in society, but never venture outside the school grounds.  Their already-set future on the outside is always alluded to by their teachers (called ‘guardians’) and it builds quite a portentous feeling.  The denouement is equally shocking and thought-provoking, which questions the meaning of life and the nature of humanity.

Ishiguro’s simple and minimalist prose, in the voice of Kathy, never quite prepares us for the heartbreaking events later in the novel.  This beautiful book has recently been adapted to film, and is due for release in Australia in late February.

Read the book before you see the film!

In store now.

Pocket Microscope

Chasing bugs around the garden will be so much more fun with this new pocket-friendly microscope. A great gift for any budding scientist, the Pocket Microscope will fill many boring afternoons with hours of educational fun. $16.95