Looking for a family activity that does not involve the TV and is fun and at the same time educational?

The Puzzle Trilogy: 303 Puzzle Quizzes from the Grabarchuk family may be just the thing for you.

The puzzles are colourful and completely interactive, i.e. you choose your answer and are then told whether it’s right or wrong. If the latter you are directed back to the question to try again.

The puzzles are visually oriented and in my opinion suitable for all ages and difficulty levels (ranked from 1 to 5 stars of difficulty). I was impressed by how varied and inventive the puzzles were –  visual, spatial, counting, geometry, matchstick, coins, searching – they really made me think.

These puzzles are great way to keep your mind active and look at things a little differently!

Don’t have a Kindle or like me, have a black and white Kindle? While these books work just fine on black and white Kindle models, I also got the benefit of the colourful diagrams by viewing the book on the free Kindle for PC reading application.

Check out the Grabarchuk Family Kindle Puzzles for yourself –  the Puzzle Trilogy: 303 Puzzle Quizzes  provides many hours of entertainment and is excellent value at less than $5.

Other reviews of Puzzle Trilogy: 303 Puzzle Quizzes: Experts Column ; Laurie Here

Booklover Book Reviews

As part of the Aussie Author Challenge 2012, each month I will be inviting an active challenge participant to guest post here at Booklover Book Reviews.

Last month Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader joined us and now in May I welcome guest blogger Psych Babbler from Over Cups of Coffee. An Aussie by choice rather than birth, Psych Babbler has been a great supporter of Aussie authors through her participation in the Aussie Author Challenge.

Tell us a bit about yourself Psych Babbler and the types of books you feature on your blog, Over Cups of Coffee:

I have been in Australia for almost 8 years now and am a full-fledged Aussie. I joke that I was always meant to be Australian but just born in the wrong country (India)! My blog is predominantly a personal blog so it does contain more than book reviews. However, reading being a passion of mine, does feature heavily on the blog.

I read a variety of books but most are fiction with the odd non-fiction in there. Having been an avid reader since a very young age, I was into Enid Blyton and the usual Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys and the rest. My reading habits have changed since coming to Australia — possibly due to maturity as well as trying something different. I moved on from reading only mysteries and thrillers and John Grisham to literary fiction and I guess a genre you could call ‘drama-cum-social issues’ appeals to me a lot (They are still under the literature section in bookstores!). I do enjoy works by Aussie authors (to whom I have been privy to only in the last 7 years again) as well as some Indian authors (Rohinton Mistry being my favourite) and American and English authors and these reviews feature on my blog. I am still a sucker for good young adult/fantasy work (Harry Potter!) and the occasional mystery and psychological thriller when I want a break from the emotionally draining stuff.

What are the last 5 books by Australian authors you have read/reviewed?

• Murder in Devon by Maggi Andersen
• Matilda is Missing by Caroline Overington
• Ghost Child by Caroline Overington
• I Came To Say Goodbye by Caroline Overington
• Trip of a Lifetime by Liz Byrski 

 
Which Australian author do you think deserves broader recognition and why?

Given that I only encountered Aussie authors since coming here, I have probably not even covered half of them! I have read Tim Winton and Craig Silvey (from the popular ones) and some others as part of my book club. I recently discovered Caroline Overington when the title of one of her books caught my eye in the library.

I found her three novels (fiction) to be a disturbing yet accurate depiction of some parts of society and the systems set up to supposedly help them. I found out that she used to be a journalist for social issues and it’s no wonder her knowledge about it is so close to home. Given that I work in the mental health field, I see in real life what she has covered in her three novels often. I think she really deserves a lot more recognition and more people should read her books. To some it may seem unbelievable but trust me, just because we have not experienced it first hand doesn’t mean this sort of stuff does not go on. All I can say to other readers of Aussie authors is please do read her books!

The Aussie Author Challenge Soapbox is at your disposal…

I definitely agree with Tony when he said that books here in Australia are too expensive and like him, I have resorted to borrowing books or buying them online. When you are an avid reader, as much as you want to help out bookstores, you also have to draw a line somewhere.

Apart from this, I noticed a disturbing trend in bookstores. Where just anyone can become an ‘author’. I don’t claim to have read these books but seriously, when you see a book called “It’s a Shore thing” by someone who looks like they have a below average IQ in the best sellers section, you have to think that something somewhere is seriously wrong (And yes, I am being very judgemental here and am happy to be proven wrong).

How is it that reality TV stars or actors become ‘published authors’? I’m sure there are those who can write and act but when you do see some of them on TV like the one I mentioned before (I can’t remember her name) or the ex-wife of Peter Andre, you know all you are getting is trash. I think it’s especially sad because you have so many other hardworking authors struggling to find publishers when someone else with their 15 minutes of fame can go ahead and write something and get published not because they have something intelligent to say but just because they might sell thanks to their previous ‘popularity’. I guess you could say the same about sports stars (even though I do own some autobiographies of Aussie cricketers). Nowadays there are some who will come out with an autobiography in the middle of their career and to me it’s just a bit too self-indulgent. Again, I find myself thinking there must be an ordinary person somewhere who has done extraordinary things and compiled a memoir but just hasn’t had the chance to be published due to lack of connections or not being known.

I understand this seems quite judgemental and me assuming a lot, but if best sellers are going to be about make-up and fashion or just plain trash, then it’s just a sad reflection of the society we live in.

It’s been a pleasure to have you join us today Psych Babbler!

I wholeheartedly agree with you on your soapbox topic – it is a crying shame that so many truly gifted people’s work never gets the exposure it deserves.

When looking for your next Aussie read, take the time to check out Over Cups of Coffee.

Booklover Book Reviews

Love and Other Stories Book Description

Love is a collection of short stories, ranging from Elsewhen, in which an alternative Muslim Ireland is the home to a doomed love affair, to Wolf and Water, a Stone Age adventure, to And the Green Sea Ebbs Away, among colonists and natives on a sea planet, to the title story, Love, a murder story, to Our Fenian Dead, in which an Irish revolutionary tries to make a new life in the Wild West, to Affect and Repression, a psychoanalytic comedy. (Amazon)

My teaser:

From short story ‘Elsewhen’

I awake from sleep, the photograph of death, and go immediately to check my image in the mirror. The face is the same: had I expected it to change? I put on my grandmother’s chador, consider, does it look as well with my red hair as it did with hers? (Location 50-59 Kindle)

I received this title from the author for review.

Find out more about this title - Love and other Stories by Lucille Redmond.

Looking forward to reading your teasers!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Have you entered my current international giveaway of a paperback copy of BITTER GREENS by Kate Forsyth, 5 star historical fiction based on the story of Rapunzel? Entries close 3rd June 2012. ENTER NOW

Booklover Book Reviews

Flavours of Melbourne Synopsis

Flavours of Melbourne explores Melbourne’s nooks and crannies, upstairs and downstairs and through the complex laneway system. Beautiful photography, history, recipe, street art, restaurants and bars – all come together in this exciting new book about Melbourne’s food and wine scene.

Showcasing restaurants like Guy Grossi’s Florentino and Merchant, Martin Pirc’s Punch Lane and Aaron Whitney’s Portello Rosso are showcased with stories about their history and what makes them legendary today. Bars like Madame Brussells, Rooftop Cinema, Bar 1806 and Emerald Peacock, to name only a few, are also featured, sharing information about their secret cocktails and venues.

For the locals who want to know, and the visitors who want to view Melbourne through the eyes of a local, this book is a must-read, and an exceptional guide to what’s on offer in food and wine.

344 pages, 38 x 32cm hardcover with dust jacket, coffee table book

BOOK REVIEW

What first strikes you about Flavours of Melbourne is its bright and inviting dustjacket imagery which I was pleasantly surprised to find is mirrored on the actual hardcover of this weighty book.

It features an introduction by Melbourne food and wine personality Rita Erlich, the photography of Brad Hill and a lovely section on the history of Melbourne, including historical timeline and sepia photographs.

The main body of this coffee-table book is split into chapters, each showcasing a particular laneway or arcade. A map is provided along with historical background to that location, photos of street-art found there and the notable restaurants and bars. Each restaurant and bar is then given special focus including interior photographs, their chefs specialities and contact details.

Flavours of Melbourne exudes an eclectic cosmopolitan vibe without being over-styled. The photography, a large portion shot at dusk or in the evening is earthy, moody and raw.

The city skyline is featured and open shutter ‘movement’ shots convey the vibrancy of the city’s nightlife.

I particularly enjoyed the quotes from chefs and fascinating shots of street-art — hidden treasures seemingly reserved for the most astute observers.

Down a Melbourne laneway through an open door I smell a coffee brewing, and food not seen before.

Today I find the beauty in grimy, bricked up walls, painted over with murals until the council calls.

These historic alleys once dives for crims and thieves, today they are celebrated like golden autumn leaves. (Jonette)

The book is easy to navigate with helpful contents listings by laneway name and by the featured venues signature recipes. And those recipes — absolutely mouthwatering. Some of my favourites include Grossi Florentino Cellar’s Tortellini Di Zucca and Bopha Devi’s Amok (traditional Cambodian steamed curry).

Flavours of Melbourne is a quality coffee-table book sure to keep you and your guests enthralled. The pages are refined but not gloss, in keeping with the funky and earthy vibe of the compilation, and the red ribbon page marker is a lovely touch. Whether you are a Melbourne resident or just someone looking forward to visiting Melbourne one day like me, Flavours of Melbourne is well worth a look.

BOOK RATING: The Story 4 / 5 ; The Writing 4 / 5

BOOK DETAILS: Flavours of Melbourne (Booktopia) ; Flavours of Melbourne (Smudge Publishing)

Genre: Non-fiction

Author Information: The unique bond of mother and daughter has inspired a series of books showcasing regions of Australia. With a passion for food, wine and all things local, Jonette George and Daniele Wilton have explored the Mornington Peninsula and the Bellarine Peninsula and beyond, in an attempt to highlight the wonderful fruits to be found in our backyard. Danielle and Jonette each hold a degree in Communications and are both avid writers, designers and publishers. (Smudge Publishing)

Other reviews of Flavours of Melbourne: ANZ LitLovers ; The Age

* My receiving this book for free from Smudge Publishing via Quikmark Media did not impact my ability to express my honest opinions having read the novel.

Booklover Book Reviews

One arrival for me this week, for review:

FATAL INDUCTION by Bernadette Pajer

A Professor Bradshaw Mystery

(Amazon | B&N | Book Depository)

Seattle, 1901. The race to win an electrical competition incites Professor of Electrical Engineering Benjamin Bradshaw’s obsession for invention in the second entry this exciting historical series. The contest winner’s telephonic system will deliver music from the Seattle Grand Theater to homes throughout the city, and Bradshaw is confident he can win.

The contest is in full swing when President McKinley is assassinated, casting Bradshaw and the entire nation into shock. Then Bradshaw uncovers a crime closer to home: a gypsy peddler’s cart is suddenly abandoned behind his house. What happened to the father and child who lived in this cart? When Bradshaw discovers the peddler’s child may have witnessed a murder, he follows the girl’s trail, plunging into a seedy underworld of bars and brothels.

Frustrated by the police department’s apathy and caught between power struggles, he doesn’t know whom to trust. Each step of his investigation entangles him deeper in crime and corruption until he realizes that to save the child, he must transform his contest entry into a trap to catch a killer and to protect his own household.

Bradshaw’s electrical forensic and investigative skills, combined with a keen understanding of human nature, bring the Seattle police—and murder—to his doorstep during the social and scientific turmoil of the early twentieth century.

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Mailbox Monday is currently being hosted by Martha @ Martha’s Bookshelf.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Have you entered my international giveaway of a paperback copy of BITTER GREENS by Kate Forsyth – 5 star historical fiction based on the Rapunzel fairytale? Entries close 3rd June 2012. ENTER NOW

Booklover Book Reviews

My Recent 4.5+ star Recommendations

Most Popular Book Reviews this Week

Reviews Coming Soon

INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY
- Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth - Historical, Romance, Adventure, Aussie Author – Paperback – Drawn 3 June

Booklover Book Reviews

Graven Images Synopsis

2005 – the year of the London terrorist bombings. A young Cambridge biologist, Owen, penetrates a sinister pagan group while seeking to avenge the death of his archaeologist girlfriend, whom he believes was killed to halt her research into Bronze-Age stone circles. Pretending to adopt their beliefs, he penetrates their inner core. Applying his scientific skill to decode ancient legends, he discovers a secret comparable to the Rosetta stone, a secret that transforms our knowledge of the earliest days of European civilization. But in doing so, he is drawn into a terrorist plot, and finds himself sliding helplessly from respected academic to hunted criminal, out of his depth in lies and intrigue. 


Graven Images draws connections between the byways of historical fact, University politics, and contemporary culture. It’s a provocative adventure whose nail-biting tension is lightened by moments of comedy, leaving you wondering how much of this is really fiction. (Amazon)

BOOK REVIEW

Graven Images by Ray Norris is an ambitious novel with tension and blurred lines of reality and religious fanaticism remiscent of The Da Vinci Code overlayed with an academic sensibility similar to one of my favourite TV series ‘Lewis‘.

I particularly enjoyed the problem solving and detailed research protagonist Owen undertook in his search for the truth, and survival. Ray Norris has created a captivating ensemble of eccentic characters and planted red herrings aplenty to keep the most perceptive reader guessing.

Are respected academics as above reproach as they seem, or is this the perfect cover for some of the most fanatical in society?

I think the impressive story framework was in a few instances let down by the execution though. I found some passages containing dialogue, and particularly those involving female characters, stilted. The text could also have benefited from a stronger edit – in my opinion, some of the recap passages were not necessary for an engaged reader.

Graven Images by Ray Norris is an interesting fictional exploration of the notion of  terrorism from within rather than from abroad, and the very fine line between academic fervour and fanaticism.

BOOK RATING: The Story 4 / 5 ; The Writing 3 / 5

BOOK DETAILS:  Graven Images (Amazon); Graven Images (B&N)

Genre: Drama, Action-Adventure, Mystery, Crime-Detective

* This review counts towards my participation in the Aussie Author Challenge 2012.

Author Information: This is the first novel from Ray Norris, a British and Australian astrophysicist whose day-job is to research the origin and evolution of galaxies shortly after the Big Bang. He also researches Australian Aboriginal astronomy, and the astronomy of British Bronze-age stone circles and other megalithic monuments. As well as over 250 professional publications, he frequently appears on radio and TV, and performs in a stage show called “The First Astronomers”. For relaxation, he walks the moors of Dartmoor and the Australian bush, and writes.

- Read more about Ray Norris the astrophysicist

* My receiving this book for free from the author did not impact my ability to express my honest opinions having read the novel.

Booklover Book Reviews

Two arrivals for me this week, one via mail for review and the other borrowed from the library’s audio catalogue:

FLAVOURS OF MELBOURNE written and edited by Jonette George

(Smudge Publishing | Booktopia)

344 pages, 38 x 32cm hardcover with dust jacket, coffee table book

Flavours of Melbourne explores Melbourne’s nooks and crannies, upstairs and downstairs and through the complex laneway system. Beautiful photography, history, recipe, street art, restaurants and bars – all come together in this exciting new book about Melbourne’s food and wine scene.

Showcasing restaurants like Guy Grossi’s Florentino and Merchant, Martin Pirc’s Punch Lane and Aaron Whitney’s Portello Rosso are showcased with stories about their history and what makes them legendary today. Bars like Madame Brussells, Rooftop Cinema, Bar 1806 and Emerald Peacock, to name only a few, are also featured, sharing information about their secret cocktails and venues.

For the locals who want to know, and the visitors who want to view Melbourne through the eyes of a local, this book is a must-read, and an exceptional guide to what’s on offer in food and wine.

NOCTURNES: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro – audio

(Amazon | B&N | Kobobooks | Book Depository)

Gentle, intimate and witty, this quintet is marked by a haunting theme: the struggle to keep alive a sense of life’s romance, even as one gets older, relationships flounder and youthful hopes recede.

What books did you welcome into your home this week?

Mailbox Monday is currently being hosted by Martha @ Martha’s Bookshelf.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Have you entered my current international giveaway of a paperback copy of BITTER GREENS by Kate Forsyth? Winner announced 3rd June 2012.

* * * ENTER NOW * * *

Booklover Book Reviews

I am pleased to announce another great international giveaway here at Booklover Book Reviews.

Thanks to Random House Australia I have a paperback copy of BITTER GREENS by Kate Forsyth to giveaway to one lucky reader. 

Synopsis: Charlotte-Rose de la Force has been banished from court by the Sun King, Louis XIV, after a series of scandalous love affairs. She is comforted by an old nun, Sœur Seraphina, who tells her the tale of a young girl who, a hundred years earlier, is sold by her parents for a handful of Bitter Greens …
After Margherita’s father steals a handful of greens – parsley, wintercress and rapunzel – from the walled garden of the courtesan, Selena Leonelli, they give up their daughter to save him from having both hands cut off.
Selena is the famous red-haired muse of the artist Tiziano, first painted by him in 1513 and still inspiring him at the time of his death, sixty-one years later. Called La Strega Bella, Selena is at the centre of Renaissance life in Venice, a world of beauty and danger, seduction and betrayal, love and superstition.
Locked away in a tower, growing to womanhood, Margherita sings in the hope someone will hear her. One day, a young man does …
Three women, three lives, three stories, braided together to create a compelling story of desire, obsession, black magic, and the redemptive power of love.

Kate Forsyth is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than twenty books, ranging from picture books to poetry to novels for both children and adults. Kate’s books have been published in 14 countries around the world, including the UK, the US, Russia, Germany, Japan, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Poland and Slovenia. She is currently undertaking a doctorate in fairytale retellings at the University of Technology, having already completed a BA in Literature and a MA in Creative Writing. Kate is a direct descendant of Charlotte Waring, the author of the first book for children ever published in Australia.

Read my review of BITTER GREENS.

Giveaway Details:

The winner of this giveaway will be selected at random and entries are open internationally. This giveaway will also be promoted on Twitter (@BLBookReviews).

There are ways to increase your chances of winning a copy of this book:

+2 entries, tweet about this giveaway (providing link to this post) or even easier retweet my giveaway announcement

+4 entries, provide a link to this giveaway entry post on your webpage

TIP: Do the above before filling in the below form, so you have the link/info required to qualify for the additional entries.

The lucky winner will be announced on 3rd June 2012!

Booklover Book Reviews

Bitter Greens Synopsis

Charlotte-Rose de la Force has been banished from court by the Sun King, Louis XIV, after a series of scandalous love affairs. She is comforted by an old nun, Sœur Seraphina, who tells her the tale of a young girl who, a hundred years earlier, is sold by her parents for a handful of Bitter Greens …

After Margherita’s father steals a handful of greens – parsley, wintercress and rapunzel – from the walled garden of the courtesan, Selena Leonelli, they give up their daughter to save him from having both hands cut off. 

Selena is the famous red-haired muse of the artist Tiziano, first painted by him in 1513 and still inspiring him at the time of his death, sixty-one years later. Called La Strega Bella, Selena is at the centre of Renaissance life in Venice, a world of beauty and danger, seduction and betrayal, love and superstition.

Locked away in a tower, growing to womanhood, Margherita sings in the hope someone will hear her. One day, a young man does …

Three women, three lives, three stories, braided together to create a compelling story of desire, obsession, black magic, and the redemptive power of love. (The Nile – Australia)

BOOK REVIEW

I rarely read the fantasy genre, but the creation of fiction from historical factual seeds is something I find fascinating. In this case the seed is the mystery surrounding the first authors of the fairytale we now know as Rapunzel.

I am hooked on the complexity and compelling tension of stories told within stories, as Forsyth has done in this novel.

In Bitter Greens Kate Forsyth delivers a tale of beauty, strength and gravity. Her fierce respect for the art and power of storytelling shines through every page.

While being effortless to read, Forsyth’s prose has a certain grandness and wonder about it – the world she creates is vibrant, alluring and evocative.

‘So when is your birthday?’

I told her, and she said, ‘Born under the sign of the lion – most suitable given your hair and your eyes. You should call yourself Selena Leonelli. That’s a name with power.’

Selena Leonelli. It rolled around my mouth like the sweetest of jujubes. I smiled at her, and the unfamiliar movement of muscles around my mouth seemed to tug up my heart from the black pit into which it had fallen. A new name seemed to signal the possibility of a new life.

As glorious and cinematic as this novel is, I must give a warning to the faint hearted reader – this is very much an adult fairytale. It deals with love, loss, brutality and violence. It is as emotive as it is enthralling.

You do not need to be a fan of the fantasy genre to enjoy this novel. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will fall in love with Kate Forsyth’s Bitter Greens, a five star read.

As much as I like reading ebooks these days, this is a title to purchase in hardcopy – it is big and beautiful and has made a lovely addition to my display bookshelf.

BOOK RATING: The Story 5 / 5 ; The Writing 5 / 5

BOOK DETAILS: Bitter Greens (The Nile); Bitter Greens (Amazon – Kindle); Bitter Greens (Kobobooks)

Genre: Romance, Drama, Action-Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy

* This review counts towards my participation in the Aussie Author Challenge 2012 and the Australian Women Writers Challenge 2012.

Author Information: Kate Forsyth is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than twenty books, ranging from picture books to poetry to novels for both children and adults. Kate’s books have been published in 14 countries around the world, including the UK, the US, Russia, Germany, Japan, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Poland and Slovenia. She is currently undertaking a doctorate in fairytale retellings at the University of Technology, having already completed a BA in Literature and a MA in Creative Writing. Kate is a direct descendant of Charlotte Waring, the author of the first book for children ever published in Australia.

- Read this article where Kate Forsyth tells us more about the real life of Charlotte-Rose de la Force

- Watch a video interview with Kate Forsyth discussing her motivation for writing Bitter Greens

Other reviews of Bitter Greens: Karen Brooks, Booktopia, Book’d Out, Kill Your Darlings, Adventures of a Bookonaut, All the Books I Can Read

* My receiving this book for free from Random House Australia via the author did not impact my ability to express my honest opinions having read the novel.

Booklover Book Reviews