Reading Connection for Adults

It is 1957 and, after the death of her husband, pianist Ilona Talivaldis and her nine-year-old daughter Zidra travel to the remote coastal town of Jingera in New South Wales. Ilona, a concentration camp survivor from Latvia, is searching for peace and an opportunity to start anew. In her beautiful vine-covered cottage on the edge of the lagoon, she plans to set herself up as a piano teacher. The weeks pass, and slowly mother and daughter get to know the townsfolk - including kind-hearted butcher George Cadwallader who is forever gazing at the stars; his son Jim, a boy wise beyond his years; Peter Vincent, a former wartime pilot and POW; and Cherry Bates, the publican’s wife who is about to make a horrifying discovery... For Jingera is not quite the utopia Ilona imagines it to be - and at risk is the one thing Ilona holds dear.

Reserve Now | Close

When Marnie Still receives a phone call that summons her to the side of a once-beloved friend, she is wrenched from her orderly London life and sent back into a past from which she has fled but never escaped. Ralph, Marnie and Oliver once knew each other well and are still inextricably bound by ties of love and betrayal. Now at last they meet again in Ralph's secluded cottage in the Scottish highlands, to spend the precious days that Ralph has left with each other. It is nearly Christmas; outside it is icy and dark, and inside time is running out. As they talk and share memories, Marnie is taken back to the summer all those years ago when everything changed between them and heartbreak and desire broke up their little group. Will Ralph have the chance to say what needs to be said before it's too late? Can they put the devastating events of twenty years ago to rest and rekindle the intimacy they once shared? Heartbreaking and poignant, The Winter House is the compelling story of families and lives assembled from the broken remains of what has been lost.

Reserve Now | Close

When the two ladies of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency arrive at the Okavango Delta, their eyes are opened, as if for the first time, to the natural beauty of their homeland. With teeming wildlife, endless grasslands, and sparkling rivulets of water running in every direction, it is breathtaking. But they can’t help being drawn into a world filled with other wildlife: rival safari operators, discontented guides, grumpy hippopotamuses. On top of that, the date has still not been set for Mma Makutsi and Phuti Radiphuti’s wedding, and it’s safe to say that Mma Makutsi is beginning to grow a bit impatient. And to top it all off, the impossible has happened: one of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni’s apprentices has gotten married. . . . Of course none of this defeats the indomitable Precious Ramotswe. Good sense, kindness, and copious quantities of red bush tea carry the day. As they always do.

Reserve Now | Close

They were best friends, driven by one shared vision - to rule the world of virtual reality games. Cill, hard-edged and beautiful, Var and Benny, brains and business acumen, and Bart, the genius behind the idea. Their newest invention, developed to transport the player into a fantastical virtual world, is just about to be launched. Then, suddenly, Bart is found brutally killed, defeated by their own game. Their close-knit group is torn apart. Who could have engineered a virtual death with such devastating consequences? Even Eve Dallas, New York City's most cunning investigator, is hard-pressed for an answer. But as she digs deeper, peeling back layers of secrets, revenge and misplaced allegiances, she realises with growing dread the depth of the killer's master plan. And she knows his game is far from over...

Reserve Now | Close

Richie had been a celebrated musician, wealthy, popular, and adored by Chrissie and their three daughters. But when he dies, without warning, Chrissie has to deal not only with her grief but with the knowledge that her beloved Richie had another family, one which he had deserted many years before but which now needs to be involved. And their involvement extends not only to the immediate aftermath of a sudden death, but to the longer-term and much more difficult issue - who will inherit his legacy? Chrissie and her girls, comfortably off in London, or Margaret, the deserted wife, living in the North East with Richie's only son? This is an intriguing and timely novel about inheritance, and what happens in a tangled family when someone dies.

Reserve Now | Close

Alex Taylor is a lucky man. He has a large house in the London suburbs, a well-paid job and a beautiful wife. On the surface everything is rosy. But it isn't. He is bored by his job as the chief accountant at a small chain of travel agents, has a love/hate marriage, and drinks more than he should. He and his wife Amanda, who's an estate agent, communicate by leaving each other notes stuck to the refrigerator door. They only have sex when they're drunk. They have no children. He dreams of leaving his job to open a coffee shop. But then his world changes. A solicitor tells him that he's been left something in an ex-girlfriends will - a daughter, Caitlin. A daughter he never knew he had and who has no other relatives. On the same day he discovers that his wife is sleeping with his boss. Suddenly he is alone with a massive new responsibility. And part of the deal with social services is that Caitlin is going into 'a stable family environment'. So he hires Erica, a single Mum whom Caitlin takes a liking to. He gives up his job and starts to set -up the coffee shop that he has always dreamed of running - with Caitlin alongside him. But his new life is not easy. How will Alex dodge social services, form a relationship with Caitlin - a thirteen-year-old stranger - and somehow find it within himself to put down new roots and rebuild his life from scratch?

Reserve Now | Close

The subtitle of this wonderful memoir declares its contents: this is 'my life with Harold Pinter', not Lady Antonia Fraser's complete life, and certainly not his. In essence, it is a love story and as with many love stories, the beginning and the end, the first light and the twilight, are dealt with more fully than the high noon in between. The result is a marvellously insightful testimony to modern literature's most celebrated marriage, between the greatest playwright of the age and a beautiful and famous prize-winning biographer. Must You Go? is based partly on Antonia Fraser's own diaries, which she has kept since October 1968 when she suffered from withdrawal symptoms after finishing her first historical biography, Mary Queen of Scots. Antonia Fraser has also used her own recollections, both immediate reactions (she always writes her Diary the next morning, unless otherwise noted) and memories. She has quoted Pinter where he told her things about his past, once again noting the source, and has occasionally quoted his friends talking to her on the same subject. Intriguingly her Diaries always pay special attention to any green shoots where Pinter's writing is concerned, perhaps a consequence of a biographer living with a creative artist and observing the process first hand. Harold Pinter and Antonia Fraser lived together from August 1975 until his death thirty-three years later on Christmas Eve 2008. 'O! call back yesterday, bid time return,' cries one of his courtiers to Richard II. This is Antonia Fraser's uniquely compelling way of doing so

Reserve Now | Close

Jane O'Connor and husband Sean moved to Kinglake, 65 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, 16 years ago. They were drawn by the lush native bush, the space to raise their beloved animals, and the close-knit community. On Saturday 7 February 2009, Jane and her family were sweltering through one of the hottest summer days on record, listening with concern to reports of fires sweeping through Kilmore and Wandong, 50 kilometres to their east and - according to the reports - heading south. But as the clouds of smoke loomed closer, and became tinged with a colour that from experience heralded danger, they realized that the fire was in fact heading towards them. But by then it was too late to evacuate; they were trapped as the firestorm swept towards them, obliterating everything in its ferocious path. Without Warning details the horrifying events of that day as Jane and her family fought for their lives in the face Australia's worst natural disaster. It details how they survived the day and the immediate aftermath, living in a landscape of death before emergency crews could reach them. Lucky to be alive, they then had to grapple with the grief and destruction of their community, and find a way to survive the even longer journey of recovery and rebuilding.

Reserve Now | Close

Coaxed to swing a racket while still in the crib, forced to hit hundreds of balls a day while still in grade school, Agassi resented the constant pressure even as he drove himself to become a prodigy, an inner conflict that would define him. Now, in his beautiful, haunting autobiography, Agassi tells the story of a life framed by such conflicts. Agassi makes us feel his panic as an undersized seven-year-old in Las Vegas, practicing all day under the obsessive gaze of his violent father. We see him at thirteen, banished to a Florida tennis camp. Lonely, scared, a ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980s icon. By the time he turns pro at sixteen, his new look promises to change tennis forever, as does his lightning fast return.And yet, despite his raw talent, he struggles early on. We feel his confusion as he loses to the world?s best, his greater confusion as he starts to win. After stumbling in three Grand Slam finals, Agassi shocks the world, and himself, by capturing the 1992 Wimbledon. Overnight he becomes a fan favorite and a media target.Agassi brings a near-photographic memory to every pivotal match, and every public relationship. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals, Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his brief time with Barbra Streisand and his doomed marriage to Brooke Shields. He reveals the depression that shatters his confidence, and the mistake that nearly costs him everything. Finally, he recounts his spectacular resurrection and his march to become the oldest man ever ranked number one. In clear, taut prose, Agassi evokes his loyal brother, his wise coach, his gentle trainer, all the people who help him regain his balance and find love at last with Stefanie Graf.With its breakneck tempo and raw candor, Open will be read and cherished for years. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate readers who know nothing about tennis. Like Agassi's game, it sets a new standard for grace, style, speed and power.

Reserve Now | Close

The title says it all - QUICK SMART COOK is packed with clever ideas for when you′re short on time, as well as smart dishes for stress-free entertaining. The latest must-have collection by Valli Little, food director of delicious. magazine and bestselling author, QUICK SMART COOK features more than 120 all-new recipes, each beautifully photographed and organised in an easy-to-follow format. With Valli′s creative ideas for everything from Thai tomato soup to Italian-style stuffed beef fillet or a peach and ginger crumble, you′ll never be short of inspiration again. Whether you ′re a seasoned cook in search of new ideas, or a novice looking for easy techniques and time-saving dishes, QUICK SMART COOK is sure to become your new kitchen essential.

Reserve Now | Close

More than 150 of the best walks, tracks or trails in Victoria. This title is suitable for people interested in outdoor activities, including walkers, hikers, bikers and natural history enthusiasts. For the first time in a single volume, this book brings together more than 150 of the best walks, tracks or trails in Victoria, which can be walked, cycled or driven by the moderately fit individual. They are located in national and state parks, state forests, conservation reserves, historic parks and local government and public easements. Other routes follow state highways, old railways and gold routes, or pass bushranger haunts and back roads linking towns, historical and geological or geographical features. Most of the routes chosen do not require specialist navigation or bushcraft skills, and vary from a short 45 minutes on a boardwalk to four-day long-distance walking and camping. "Walks, Tracks and Trails of Victoria" covers the best the state has to offer, from deserts to coastal and mountain environments. It highlights the features of each location and encourages you to enjoy the experience at an informed level. Easy-to-interpret maps are included to help you navigate, and the book's convenient size allows you to bring it with you on your adventures. Highlights of a particular walk or ride are identified in this title. It features easy to follow directions on location and duration of walk/ride. Most of the routes chosen do not require specialist navigation or bushcraft skills. It includes recommendations on safety. Maps are simple and easy to interpret. It is presented in an easy to handle size in the field or a great display item on the coffee table.

Reserve Now | Close

New Zealand music teacher Jane Carswell thinks she’s relaxed into her middle years until she begins yearning for something more – a personal longing that takes her to Chongqing in China. Hardly a religious person, Carswell finds herself teaching English at a Christian school and developing an interest in the writings of St Benedict. In China she begins her own monastic journey and strongly bonds to her new community. Writing as Western capitalism is questioning itself, Carswell’s meditative memoir suggests another way of living. She poignantly observes China during its own cultural shift away from tradition towards capitalism, and struggles with returning home after a life-changing time working and living in abroad. Spiritual, powerful and thought-provoking.

Reserve Now | Close

I really enjoyed reading, Eats, shoots & leaves : the zero tolerance approach to punctuation by Lynne Truss (Profile, 2003). I didn’t know punctuation could be so amusing! Lynne has a delightfully humorous approach to the English rules of punctuation while at the same time pointing out many of the common errors people make. Encouraging people to laugh at themselves is a subtle, but effective way of promoting change. In particular she discusses the use of apostrophes, commas, semi colons, colons, dashes, and hyphens. I found the book instructive without being pedantic. Lynne tells interesting stories of how the wrong use of punctuation can give an entirely different meaning. She also uses quotes from famous people, historical stories, as well as sign writers to make her point. In addition Lynne points some of the discrepancies between American punctuation and English punctuation styles which I found particularly helpful as I often find myself writing for an American audience. I also found the title very clever. It is based on a joke about a panda which has a double meaning because of the placement of the comma. This fits so well with the tone of the book.

Reserve Now | Close

I enjoy books that are written as letters and The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (Allen & Unwin, 2008) is such a book. By leaving time gaps between the letters the reader’s imagination is left to fill in the details. I find this a very clever device and Mary Ann Shaffer employs it well. Compiling the story in short letters has the effect of moving the story along at a good pace and it doesn’t get bog down in the details. Nevertheless there are enough short descriptive pieces to give the reader a good feel for the location. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society is a moving story of life and loss following the German occupation of Guernsey during World War II. Juliet Ashton is a London writer who begins corresponding with several residents from Guernsey and develops such good relationships with them that she arranges a visit in order to write a book. However events conspire that permanently change the direction of Juliet’s life. This is an enjoyable read, full of interesting characters and believable situations. It creates enough intrigue that you just want to keep turning pages til the very end.

Reserve Now | Close

This easy paced novel at first seems like a simple little tale of life and its quirky characters in an Irish village. However, as we are gradually introduced to the main characters, 3 sisters from Afghanistan, more layers and intrigue are added. The sisters have fled their country after the over throw of the Shah and the rise of the Islamic fundamentalists. They are seeking a place that they can call home, where they can live in peace and hopefully use the older sisters culinary skills in their own restaurant The story of their flight is skilfully woven into the small villages own tales of gossips, bullies and well meaning citizens. Throughout the novel we are treated to some wonderful culinary descriptions and recipes from the Middle East. This novel reminded me a little of Rosalie Hams “ The Dressmaker”. A recommended read for a cold wintry weekend with a pot of soup simmering in the background!

Reserve Now | Close

The story is set in Germany, just outside Munich during WW2. The narrator is DEATH and the story is wound around the experiences of a young girl who is fostered out to a family in a small town, and the narrator as he encounters the girl as he goes about his business of collecting thousands of souls- the result, of course, of the terrible persecution and war raging in Europe. The family eventually hide a young Jewish man and we experience the wonderful friendships that develop within the household, despite the fear of both discovery and the war outside. This is a complex novel with well developed characters, an interesting style and thought provoking ideas. Do not be put off by the rather awkward start to the book. As soon as you hit the first chapter the story commences in earnest

Reserve Now | Close

For those of you who enjoy a good thriller, you can't go past Lee Child's books and his rough, tough ex- Army Special Investigator character, Jack Reacher. In this his latest thriller, Jack and his old team are being called together by one of their own. The problem is soon apparent- one of the group has met a dreadful end- thrown from a helicopter into the desert below. The story is well crafted, easy to follow without being obvious and full of the punchy, earthy comments and observations by Jack. It is one of those stories that will keep you reading way past your bed time!

Reserve Now | Close

This historical novel is set in Georgian London and the period is vividly portrayed, as we have come to expect from Tracy Chevalier The story follows a chair maker and his family leaving their familiar, safe environment of a country village after the tragic death of a son and heading to the seething, developing, dirty mass that is London city. The son Jem is befriended by a city born girl used to the ways of the streets and together they become entangled in the life of William Blake- poet and supporter of the revolution in France. The characters are well developed and the everyday existence of the poor working classes comes alive to the reader. Another well crafted and researched novel by Tracy Chevalier

Reserve Now | Close