Reviewed by Gayle Williams Margarita Nazarenko’s Unbothered is not a manifesto for indifference. Rather, it is a guide to developing personal standards and living by them with confidence, free from the weight of other people’s opinions. At its core, the book encourages readers to cultivate enough self‑trust that external approval no longer dictates their emotional
Reviewed by Ian Hamilton This novel-memoir has smatterings of cultural references but the one that comes to mind, but not mentioned, is Frost’s poet “The Road Not Taken” because our protagonist’s story centres on his choices deliberate and choices fateful. I don’t think Frost ever wrote the complementary poem “The Road Taken” but the two
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Whether wishing to learn of the vivid life of one of history’s greatest figures or appreciating the brilliant scholarship involved in bringing this to the reader, Edmund Richardson’s biography of the legendary Macedonian/Greek is enormously satisfying and thrilling to read. Thousands of versions of Alexander have been scattered around the world.
Reviewed by Rod McLary Patricia Cornwell is a best-selling author of over forty books – most of which feature her much-loved character Dr Kay Scarpetta a forensic pathologist. Her first novel Postmortem won the Creasey, the Edgar, the Anthony and Macavity Awards – the first book ever to win these major awards in one year.
Reviewed by Clare Brook Reality and magical realism blended to create a nail biter plot concerning life for a Muslim girl in a private and very conservative American College. This sums up The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue by Zoulfa Katouh. It connects stereotypical attitudes with the lived experience of those from another culture. It
Reviewed by Gayle Williams Eileen Cummings’ I Am the Daughter They Stole is a first‑person account of an extraordinarily brave and resilient woman. As the title suggests, Aunty Eileen is a member of the Stolen Generations. Born in 1943 on a cattle station in Arnhem Land, where her mother worked as a domestic servant, she
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Readers with more than the slightest interest in Nature will love this book. On one level it is an excerpt from the life of Min Drysdale who lives a solitary life on an island with her father and deputy ranger Werner. Because of her largely separate existence, Min has become an
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Few readers would turn away from a gripping murder and the mystery that accompanies it. Imagine a yarn, fiercely told of a murderer in your community and the excited buzz of police carrying out their investigations. The belief that this is what I could expect is sold clearly to new readers
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Architecture provides an interesting and informative backdrop to this gripping novel of obsession and paranoia. Together they add a suspense which at times is twisted and can be frustrating to the reader. Design is the most obvious element of architecture but is, Woods states, about ‘constraints: budget, boundaries, building envelopes.’ The
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders Egyptian dynasties began about 5,000 years ago and humans had been there more than 30,000 years by that time. This was not just one of the longest lasting civilisations on earth, but perhaps the pinnacle for architectural grandeur. Maria Golia is the most recent writer to complete the challenge of shortening
Reviewed by Gayle Williams Zena Kamgaing’s Dinner Time invites cooks into the vibrant, “big, bold flavours” of her Nigerian‑Cameroonian heritage. The collection showcases Kamgaing’s deep affection for food and her instinctive command of flavour, offering dishes that are both accessible and richly satisfying. Her recipes are designed to welcome cooks of all experience levels, proving
Reviewed by Rod McLary Sword Echoes: Pirate Academy 3 is the third in this series of adventure books for children from about nine through to early teenage years. It is as exciting and adventurous as the first two – and for those readers new to the books, there is a handy ‘The Story So Far
Reviewed by Ian Lipke The moving story of a man who was struck down by mesothelioma and his friend who moved the equivalent of the earth to save him. The story opens with a number of lovely character studies of young men at university. Life as lived by these men rings true to the ears
Reviewed by Ian Lipke The first part of this book is a story of hunger for power, of ambition in the raw, of naked corporate greed. The book is based on the elite technology industry in Japan and tells the story of six high achievers who have beaten all opposition to compete for a highly
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders A history of Scotland is as much about its contribution to the world as about the events that took place within its borders. Scottish people, places and innovations are familiar: where would the world be without whisky, Loch Lomond, bagpipes, chloroform, Robbie Burns and Adam Smith? A constant stream of emigration