Tuesday, September 11, 2007

 

The Offical Adobe Print Publishing Guide

Keep your eyes out for the up coming edition of Technical Communications, as you will see my review of The offical adobe print publishing guide by Brian P. Lawler.

Monday, September 03, 2007

 

Cheeky Little Cats

Harper Collins has released a collection of over 100 of the cutest, naughtiest cats and kittens from Australia. If your a cat lover and want a good laugh, or even see a cat that looks like your own, or even other variety of colours, then this is the book for you.

Over 100 pages of colour photos with cute and catchy little titles and saying under them. It is sure to bring a smile to your face. Cheeky Little Cats, lives up to its name and doesnt disappoint.

Be like 'Jet and Bailey' and have a look inside, you are sure to be as surprised as CatCat at the antics and behaviour of cats.

As Molly would say, "Do yourself a favour" add it to your collection or even as a great gift idea for Christmas.

ISBN:9780732285913

Sunday, August 19, 2007

 

Island of Dreams by Lucy Gordon

Island of Dreams
Lucy Gordon
Harlequin Books April 1985
ISBN 978-0373083534

After a bit of light reading one night, I picked up a copy of Island of Dreams by Lucy Gordon. It's not something that I would normally read, but being in the mood for a little lighthearted romance, this book was at hand. I had picked it up for my mother, who loves a little read of Mills and Boon.

Set in Brannock, a little island still living in its traditional past, and a hot tourist destination when the weather and season is right, Morag Lewis, a nurse and resident of Brannock grew up and lived on the island. Looking for work, she had to go to the mainland but was lucky enough, when an opportunity opened up to be a full time nurse to the owner of the island.

When he passes away, the island is brought by a ruthless business man, Jarvis Darce. The whole island goes into panic, fearing for their way of life ending and being transformed. Morag, the only person not afraid of a bully, is propositioned into marriage to save and run the island the best way possible for the villiagers. But can she marry a man that threatens her way of life and find love?

186 pages of fun filled romance in a ruthless business transaction and a bargain for love and romance.

If you love romance stories, then you will enjoy reading Lucy Gordon's Island of Dreams.

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Sunday, July 29, 2007

 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J. K. Rowling
ISBN: 9780747591054

Having followed the series from the beginning, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was the final piece of decoration on a wedding cake. J. K. Rowling, has outdone herself with the final installment of the Harry Potter series. There is no mucking about to re-establish characters or to retell the entire series so far. J. K. Rowling has jumped head first into getting on with where we left off. Although there are times we are reminded of how past events have affected Harry and this thoughts on those manners. Harry, Ron and Hermione are off on a quest to finish what Dumbledore asked Harry to do. On their journey, they realise what is important to the them and the love they have for their families. Somethings the bonds of friendship are tested but the desire to keep everyone safe is what keeps them going. There is a lot of internal conflict inside of Harry as he goes from being the boy to becoming a leader. Ron and Hermione's relationship is played on for most the book. It is not until the great war breaks out that their true feelings come out.
The 7th book in the series, takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions from laughing out loud and crying at some of the sadder moments.
Although it is the last in the series to be written by J. K. Rowling, I am sure that we will be seeing many more books following on from where Rowling's left off.
J. K. Rowling has written in a style that is creative and really shows the bonds of friendship tested to the extremes and to the why in which Rowling is able to bring her words to life on the pages. As a reader you are able to feel that you are right there in the journey, along side Harry.
Those of us who have fallen in love with the characters and animals and other wonderful magical creatures, will not be disappointed in reading about them again and a few new ones. All of the characters have developed in some amazing individuals. Some more so then others in a time so trying with the Dark Lord's rise of terror with the help of his Death Eaters. Whilst the Order of the Pheonix are left to hid and try to save each other through skilled use of magic and with the help of friends.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a page turner. There is nothing more that J. K. Rowling could have done to make the 7th book better.

Rating: 5/5

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Thursday, July 19, 2007

 

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia by Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight


The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia
Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight
ISBN: 9780207199353

Every wondered what a bird was called? Wanting to find a bird suitable for your neighbourhood? Love looking at birds and needing a great reference book for your collection? Then your looking and wondering are over, The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia is the perfect book for anyone interested in birds and their habits living in Australia.

No more searching the index nor content pages trying to find the bird your looking for. From the moment you open this book your looking at all kinds of birds, with their common names listed as well as the pages you will find them on.

All the odd numbered pages have clear illustrations of birds corresponding to the information on the facing page. Each birds is clearly labled, with beautifully drawn pictures showing the markings, inflight and normal postures in which you might see the bird in its natural surroundings.

Like any good reference book, maps are included showing the birds desired habitat.

Well worth the read, also a great gift for someone interested in all aspects of Australian wildlife.

Rating: 5/5

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Break over

After a semester getting back into the groove of studying back at university, DDBRE is back up and running.

Within the next couple of weeks, there will be a few more reviews posted of some up and coming books plus a few classics.

Also, if your going to buy a book in the coming months, keep an eye out in your bookstore for this great support to our Indigenous communities and buy your books on September 5, to show and lend your support to our Indigenous communities.

Media release

BOOK INDUSTRY LENDS SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN LITERACY CRISIS

For the past three years, members of the Australian Book Industry have actively worked towards addressing the crisis in literacy in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

The Indigenous Literacy Day, a major new campaign supported by over 200 booksellers and publishers, authors and professional associations, aims to raise over $100,000 on Wednesday September 5 2007.

Working in partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation and with the support of the Australian Publishers Association and the Australian Booksellers Association,

Indigenous Literacy Day aims to raise funds to buy books and literacy resources for remote Indigenous communities in Northern Territory and in north-west New South Wales.

For the past three years, Fred Hollows Foundation has worked closely with the Jawoyn communities to provide books for crèches, additional and extended resources for libraries, early readers for schools as well as reading resources for women’s centres. In some categories, these are the first books received by the communities (literacy rates in these communities have been measured as being worse than in many third world countries)

The idea for a single fundraising event grew out of the successful 2006 Australian Reader’s Challenge which involved 14,000 participants (including schools, libraries, individuals, booksellers and publishers) who read approximately 150,000 books and raised $80,000.

David Gaunt, Chair of the Indigenous Literacy Day, said: “We are overwhelmed by the generous support of the many members of the Book Industry who are donating 5% or more of their sales on September 5”.

“We would like to encourage all Australians to actively support this project by making a donation or buying a book on September 5. Booksellers and publishers have pledged a percentage of their sales for Indigenous Literacy Day.

Brian Doolan, CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation commented: “The Fred Hollows Foundation is proud to be associated with this important initiative – aimed at improving the literacy of Indigenous people. The program helps to address a key social determinant of health – the poor level of literacy in many Indigenous communities”.

Further information and information on how to make a donation is available from:www.worldwithoutbooks.org

Further details: www.worldwithoutbooks.org


Tuesday, March 13, 2007

 

Mary Higgins Clark - Let me call you Sweetheart - Thriller/Suspense

Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Mary Higgins Clark
ISBN: 0671568175

Kerry McGrath is thrown into a world into which she either steps up and put her ambitions on hold or let it slide and not worry about it.

When Kerry's daughter is involved in a car accident and requires the assistance of Dr. Smith, a well-known and respected plastic surgeon, Kerry sees a woman who looks so familar to her but she cant make out who she is and the name is not of someone she knows. When she again visits the Doctors office, she is met again by the same face but different woman. What is the doctor doing recreating the same face on women? Kerry asks herself. From that moment, her quiet life is changed.

She now feels that the man in prison for the murder of Suzanne Readon, is innocent or there is something to his statement about Dr. Smith lying at his trial.

Along Kerry's journey to find the truth, the players in the murder mystery start to come undone in many ways. Kerry's world is intertwined with an antique expert, a mobster, the Doctor, an ex-husband, his father-inlaw, her young daughter, Geoff Dorso and the Hoovers. All of them play an important role in her making up her mind if she wants to look into the Suzanne Readon murder case, known as the Sweetheart Murder.

Mary Higgins Clark, once again puts her readers in the hot seat of this suspenseful novel. You will be guessing to the very end about who dunit, why they did it, and what is the connection with everyone. You will be hooked in the book and want to know what is happening and what Kerry is going to do.

Rating 4.5/5

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Friday, March 09, 2007

 

Snowday...I wish

Hi everyone. I thought that I better drop you all a line and let you know about what is happening. I have a few books here to get through and then the reviews will be posted. I just finished a book for Technical Communications and it should be published soon in the journal.

The new Harry Potter book will be released on July 7...Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. A very interesting title for the 7th and final book of the series. I am looking forward to getting a hold of this book and reading it, as I am a BIG Harry Potter fan. Fingers crossed that Professor Snape is good and not evil as the book is making us believe.

If your interested have a look at Nielsen Bookscan site for the Top 10 list of books for Australia. Let me know if you have read any of them.

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