Jessie

Staff Review: Jess writes: Forget everything you know about David Sedaris. In this collection of fictional short stories Sedaris swaps his usual personal essay style for allegorical tales of beastly human behaviour. Sedaris' characteristic satirical wit is still there, but be warned, there are tears as well as laughs in these unconventional tales told by farmyard animals, from the the Toad, the Turtle and the Duck who debate the nature of racism while queuing in a complaints department, to the Grieving Owl who befriends a hippopotamus in order to learn more about the hippo's rectal leeches. Sedaris includes many nasty twists which are sardonically insightful, challenging the way we think about ourselves. While these stories of selfish and shortsighted animals can be dark and confronting, Sedaris' writing is equally humorous and engaging. As always, Sedaris is a must read.

Staff Review: Jess writes: This book is a hilarious collection of the comic strips Matthew Inman – aka The Oatmeal – publishes on his blog theoatmeal.com, including 27 book exclusives. The Oatmeal blog is known for its satirical comics, snarky commentary and illustrated instructions to get you through the more mundane aspects of daily life. From everyday topics such as "How to Use a Semi Colon: the Most Feared Punctuation on Earth", to the more fanciful "Six Reasons Bacon is Better Than True Love" ("love is fleeting, but bacon stays in your arteries for all eternity"), these strips will both enlighten and insult you. Inman's observational humour is married with surreal touches and the variety in the content keeps the collection interesting. This isn't a book you'll read cover to cover but it's one you won't be able to resist dipping into whenever you're in need of a good laugh. If you like slightly absurdist, occasionally crude, very witty comics then 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth will be right up your alley.

Staff Review: Jess writes: Elisabeth Tova Bailey's slim but beautifully written book is a blend of memoir and natural history. Bed-ridden by a mysterious illness, Bailey finds solace and inspiration in the life of a snail who takes up residence by her bedside. Her intimate observations of the snail lead her into examining the depths of gastropod life. As her illness extends from months to years she is drawn farther from the human realm and closer to the world of her small companion. This change of perspective and pace provides Bailey with a life-affirming insight into the natural world. Bailey elegantly merges scientific detail about the natural world with poignant reflections on the nature of illness and the human condition. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating reminds us how wonderfully complex our world and its inhabitants are, and how there is much to notice if we can only slow down for long enough. This book is a real pleasure to read.

Staff Review: Jess writes: The ocean plays a large part in Tim Winton's novels, and in this homage to coastal life, we get to see why! Originally published as a coffee table book in 1993, Winton's flowing prose is accompanied in this new compact hardcover by Narelle Autio's stunning ocean photography. Winton grew up on Australia's west coast, and he tells of mornings spent in and by the water, fishing, diving and beachcombing, and of afternoons where he lost himself in books. This is a fascinating glimpse at the environment and the books that influenced one of Australia's best loved authors. A short but beautifully written memoir, Land's Edge reveals Winton's reverence for the ocean and his fear that the ocean he knew as a boy may be lost to the future. He questions his readers, asking "after the last open coast of Australia is tamed, polluted and overfished, what's left except nostalgia and the desert at our backs?" Land's Edge will take you on a ride through the landscape of Winton's past and of the Australian coast, and is well worth the journey.

Staff Review: Jess writes: Artist and storyteller Jeannie Baker has been creating children's picture books for over 20 years. Her incredible latest book Mirror is cause for great excitement, showing Baker at her best. This unique picture book is comprised of two parts, designed to be read simultaneously. Baker's intricate collages tell the story of an Australian family living in a city, set next to the story of a rural Moroccan family. Side by side we experience a day in the life of these two families. Their stories run parallel as one father and son set out through the traffic to the hardware shop, while the other father and son travel on donkeys through remote terrain to the outdoor marketplace. Yet despite their vastly different lifestyles and landscapes we see that these two stories are essentially the same, a mirror of each other. Baker explores the culturally diverse but universal themes of family, community and home with beauty and humanity. Mirror is an important Australian picture book for ages four and up.

Staff Review: Jess writes: Alternately told by single parent Nate and his 10-year-old autistic son Kieran, it would be easy to pigeonhole Kindling as the new The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, but that would be a mistake. This is an unmistakably Australian tale, which unfolds at a barbeque that is uncomfortably close to a bushfire raging in Pendarra Hills. Things start to heat up as Kieran overhears that in fact he was responsible for the accidental house fire which caused his mother's death. Having been taught by his father to always do the right thing he decides he must make amends for his part in this tragic accident by assisting at the nearby bushfire. As Nate frantically searches for Kieran they are both forced to face challenges they have been able to hide from until now. As a father of an autistic child himself, Groth captures the voice of both characters with wonderful authenticity. This is an engrossing novel which explores the joy in our own and others' imperfections.