Staff Reviews

The elements of Marie Curie: how the glow of radium lit a path for women in science by Dava Sobel

Available in print

For decades Marie Curie was the only woman in the room at international scientific gatherings, and despite constant illness she travelled far and wide to share the secrets of radioactivity, a term she coined. She is still the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields.

Her ingenuity extended far beyond the laboratory walls; grieving the death of her husband, Pierre, she took his place as professor of physics at the Sorbonne, devotedly raised two daughters, drove a van she outfitted with x-ray equipment to the front lines of World War I, befriended Albert Einstein and inspired generations of young women to pursue science as a way of life.

Approaching Marie Curie from a unique angle, Sobel navigates her remarkable discoveries and fame alongside the women who became her legacy – from Norway’s Ellen Gleditsch and France’s Marguerite Perry, who discovered the element francium, to her own daughter, Irene, a Nobel Prize winner in her own right. The Elements of Marie Curie deftly illuminates the trailblazing life and enduring influence of one of the most consequential figures of our time.

Boy from the Valleys by Luke Evans

Available in print

From his humble beginnings in a quaint Welsh mining village to the dazzling lights of Hollywood, much-loved star, Luke Evans takes us on a poignant and inspiring journey that spans from the heart of Wales to behind the scenes of the global stage.

Growing up in a small village in the Rhymney Valley, south Wales, Luke Evans’' early life was shaped by his Jehovah's Witness upbringing. While most children of his age spent their Saturday mornings watching Going Live on television, young Luke would dress in a suit and tie and join his parents to knock on doors to spread the word of his religion. From an early age, he felt different. This feeling of displacement was not limited to his faith; as he came to terms with his own sexuality, he also faced a difficult and uncertain path. In his poignant, tender and often humorous account, Luke shares his bold decision to leave home – and the religion – at seventeen to move to London, where the vibrant Soho scene captured his heart, invigorated his creative journey as an actor and opened a whole new world of opportunity.

In finding himself, Luke also discovered his passions of singing, acting and performing. Starring first on the West End stages in iconic productions like Miss Saigon, Avenue Q and Rent, he quickly captivated the hearts of audiences and caught the eye of Hollywood's elite, going on to secure roles in blockbuster films such as The Hobbit, Beauty and the Beast, Fast and Furious and Dracula Untold.

In this intimate memoir, Luke takes us behind the scenes of his career on the stage and screen. He writes beautifully of the relationship he now has with his family and the respect they all have for one another on their different paths. Luke's story is a powerful tale of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of finding a sense of belonging and identity, but mostly (and hopefully) a story of inspiration.

Songbird: an intimate biography of Christine McVie by Lesley-Ann Jones

Available in print

Christine McVie - born Christine Perfect - was the quintessentially English rock star, as both the backbone and the beating heart of Fleetwood Mac.

Straddling the band's incarnations to achieve global fame alongside Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham and John McVie, the classic line-up, she wrote and performed many of their greatest hits.

As famous for their occasionally life-threateningly decadent lifestyles as for their musical brilliance, they were held together by this strong, constant figure whom they dubbed 'the mother' of the band. It was Christine who contained the flock, regrouped them when they went AWOL, focused and blended their talents and always got them back on track.

And yet, as the 'engine' of the band during their Rumours era - an album that unwittingly charted the complete romantic disintegration within the band - Christine's personal life was every bit as tempestuous as those of her bandmates, weathering affairs, divorce, addiction and fiery passion, all of which bled into her now iconic song-writing.

Told by an author who herself was friends with Christine, and with new contributions from those who knew her best, Songbird offers a true insider's view, and deep psychological insight into Christine as a both a woman and a musician - the first, the only, the ultimate picture of a rock legend and a national treasure.

Australia's greatest stories by Graham Seal

Available in print

Some of the world's oldest stories are told beneath Australian skies. Master storyteller Graham Seal takes us on a journey through time, from ancient narratives recounted across generations to the symbols and myths that resonate with Australians today.

He uncovers tales of ancient floods and volcanic eruptions, and shows us Australia's own silk road. He locates the real Crocodile Dundee and explores the truth behind the legend of the Pilliga Princess. He retells old favourites such as the great flood at Gundagai, the boundary rider's wife and the Australian who invented the first military tank, and presents little known figures like mailman Jimmy, who carried the post barefoot across the Nullarbor Plain, architect Edith Emery and Paddy the Poet, as well as the unusual sporting techniques of the Gumboot Tortoise.

These yarns of ratbags, rebels, heroes and villains, unsettling legends and clever creations reveal that it's the small, human stories that, together, make up the greater story of Australia and its people.

Australian ghost stories by James Phelps

Available in print and eAudiobook

The most haunted home that world-famous ghost hunter Lorraine Warren ever stepped foot in was a three-bedroom brick home in suburban Sydney - forget the horrors of Amityville and delve into Australia’s most haunted places.

Australian Ghost Stories is a spine-tingling collection of true crime tales that will leave you feeling haunted long after you've turned the last page. From the ghostly apparitions that haunt historic landmarks to diabolical presences in everyday suburban houses, these are stories of ordinary Australians and their encounters with the unexplainable.

This thrilling blend of true crime and supernatural encounters will leave you questioning everything you know about this world ... and the next.

I decided to live as me by Kim Suhyun

Available in print 

As soon as the author, Kim Suhyun graduated into the adult world, she faced a harsh reality. Everywhere she looked people stepped on each other to get ahead, obsessed over money, and judged others based on the unrealistic standards they saw on social media. It seemed impossible not to compare herself to others and feel that she was ever good enough.

With words of comfort and charming illustrations throughout, Kim Suhyun will inspire you on your own journey of self-love, self-acceptance and self-compassion. Blending self-help and memoir, I Decided to Live as Me will help you free yourself from the pressures of living up to other people’s expectations and focus on what truly matters: living not for anyone else, but for yourself.

The thinking heart by David Grossman

Available in print

A hundred and fifty years of conflict. What does that do to a person’s soul, to the spirit of a nation? To both the occupied and the occupier?

International Booker Prize-winning Israeli novelist David Grossman has spent decades campaigning for peace in Israel and Palestine. But after October 7th, 2023, a day marking the biggest loss of Jewish life in this century, David Grossman was prompted to trace the years leading up to that day and the ensuing war through a string of failures by a morally bankrupt party clinging to power.

He documents the struggle being fought on both sides between those committed to conflict, and the many who simply want to live in peace. Ultimately, Grossman arrives at the most important question of all: Will there ever be a lasting peace in the region?

Together we fall apart by Sophie Matthiesson

Available in print, large print and eBook

A beautifully crafted debut novel from a compelling new voice in Australian fiction.

For the past seven years, Clare has been living in London. She works for a judge on child protection cases. Her partner, Miriam, is devoted to raising their young son, Rupert – their days are dominated by nap times, laundry, and hiding from each other.

When Clare returns to Melbourne to visit her ailing father, another crisis looms – her brother Max’s long-term drug addiction. She turns her efforts towards helping Max into rehab, but is this at the expense of her family back in London? Moving, heartbreaking and devastatingly insightful, Together We Fall Apart is a story about running away and coming home.

The wild reciter by Peter Kirkpatrick

Available in print

Poetry and Popular Culture in Australia 1890-2020

Just over a century ago poetry was all the rage in Australia. Newspapers and magazines published it, entertainers and elocutionists performed it on stages across the country, and ordinary Australians recited it in schools, local halls and suburban parlours. Yet this communal experience of poetry has now largely disappeared.

In The Wild Reciter Peter Kirkpatrick examines how this change occurred by exploring the shifting relationships between poetry and popular culture, and in particular the arrival of a new media and the introduction of poetry slams. Many extraordinary yet wholly forgotten works are brought to light, while some well-known poems and their authors receive a critical makeover.

'The Man from Snowy River' encounters the Wild West; Lesbia Harford turns singer-songwriter; Kenneth Slessor finds his groove; Yevgeny Yevtushenko blows up the Adelaide Festival; rock music inspires both John Laws and the Generation of '68; Dorothy Porter resorts to crime fiction; and Clive James abandons media fame for poetic glory.

This pioneering study reimagines the history of Australian verse to arrive at a more expansive notion of poetry.

Out in nowhere by Fleur McDonald

Available in print, CD and eBook

Left alone on the vast cattle station with her baby while her husband, Alex, works the farm, Hallie Donaldson is having trouble adjusting to the flies, dust, snakes and isolation in the Flinders Ranges.

At least today, Hallie knows that she and their daughter Ruby can watch Alex on the security camera erected at the windmill where he'll be working. But something goes horribly wrong, and he suddenly disappears from view.

Alex is found later, dead at the bottom of the windmill.

The god of the woods by Liz Moore

Available in print

Some said it was tragic, what happened to the Van Laars.

Some said the family deserved it. That they never even thanked the searchers who stayed out for five nights in the freezing forest trying to help find their missing son. Some said there was a reason it took the family so long to call for help. That they knew what happened to the boy. Now, fifteen years later, the Van Laars’ teenage daughter has gone missing in the same wilderness as her brother. Some say the two disappearances aren’t connected.

Some say they are.

The boyfriend by Frieda McFadden

Available in print

She's looking for the perfect man. He's looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She's seen it all- men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot. Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet. Then the brutal murder of a young woman-the latest in a string of deaths across the coast-confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Theory & practice by Michelle De Kretser

Available in print and eBook

It's 1986, and 'beautiful, radical ideas' are in the air. A young woman arrives in Melbourne to research the novels of Virginia Woolf.

In bohemian St Kilda she meets artists, activists, students - and Kit. He claims to be in a 'deconstructed' relationship, and they become lovers. Meanwhile, her work on the Woolfmother falls into disarray.

Cher: the memoir, part one by Cher

Available in print

The extraordinary life of Cher can be told by only one person . . . Cher herself. After more than seventy years of fighting to live her life on her own terms, Cher finally reveals her true story in intimate detail, in a two-part memoir.

Her remarkable career is unique and unparalleled. The only woman to top Billboard charts in seven consecutive decades, she is the winner of an Academy Award, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Cannes Film Festival Award, and an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who has been lauded by the Kennedy Center. She is a longtime activist and philanthropist. 

We are the stars by Gina Chick

Available in print, CD and eBook

Gina Chick, the inaugural winner of Alone Australia, tells the story of her extraordinary, indomitable life in one of the most powerful, moving memoirs you will ever read. From day one of her wildly unconventional childhood, Gina Chick blazed her own trail, which led her to dance through the hidden world of 90's Sydney nightlife into the arms of a conman. She fled to the wilderness to find healing, began a wondrous love affair with the deepest lessons life - and death - can offer, and found that all the answers are written in the wisdom of the body and the whirling silence of stars.

If you're ready to get lost in jungles, wander into wolf-dens, sing with storms, rescue orphaned animals, dive to the depths, dance 'til your knees wobble, fall in love, find yourself by losing it all, and most of all be real; this book is for you. We Are the Stars is a magic carpet ride through the exquisite mystery of the human heart. You've never read anything like it.

The economics book

Available in print 

“What happens in a recession? How does money work? Why do we pay tax? Explaining the key milestones in the field of economics in a clear and simple way, The Economics Book answers these questions and more besides and is the perfect introduction to the subject. Untangling knotty theories and shedding light on abstract concepts, entries unpack each complex idea with a combination of easy-to-follow explanations, innovative graphics, and intriguing quotes.

Discover centuries of economic thought, from the earliest development of private property to the cutting-edge development of modern game theory, and from the "Tragedy of the Commons" to the revolutionary economics of online social networks. And explore the "big ideas" behind the numerous different economic theories and policies used around the world and throughout history. Fully revised and updated with eight brand-new pages of content, The Economics Book is a truly accessible and comprehensive route into a fascinating subject.”

The accidental artist: drawings and stories by Billy Connolly

Available in print

'My drawings started by accident. I was on tour in Montreal a few years ago and found myself sheltering from the pishing rain in an art store. I went in to get dry and came out with an armful of felt-tip pens and a sketchbook, then went straight back to my hotel room and started to draw. I've never looked back.' Welcome to the visual world of Billy Connolly - comedian, actor, storyteller and artist. In elegant, simple lines Billy conjures up a land of fantastic beasts, mysterious inventions, and blissful calm.

Some drawings are charmingly simple, others feel complex, strange or rebellious. Through them, Billy offers fascinating glimpses of his childhood and his Scottish homeland, takes us on journeys to far-flung places, and shares his life-long obsession with music, wildlife and fashion. 'People think I paint or draw things on purpose. I don't, I just draw. It is a portal for my imagination. And, just like my stand-up, I never know where it will lead.' The Accidental Artist brings together the best of Billy's drawings with a selection of his most beloved stories. It is a joyful collision of colour, creativity and storytelling, and an exhilarating new portrait of Billy's extraordinary life.”

Rick Stein's food stories by Rick Stein

Available in print

“Accompanying the major new BBC2 series, Rick Stein's Food Stories is an exciting collection of new classics that celebrate modern Britain. Rick's recipes reflect his mouth-watering and heartfelt exploration of today's British cuisine and how different cultures have influenced the nation's evolving palate.

Rick highlights traditional favourites such as Bangers and champ with red wine gravy, Crumpets with potted shrimp, and Tattie scones with smoked salmon and puts his twist on new food and flavours that have come to our shores, including Kubo pork belly adobo, Arroz roja and Paneer jalfrezi."

Muster dogs: mischief and mateship by Monica O'Brien, Michael Boughen and Melissa Spencer

Available in print

“Dogs, puppies and more dogs! Since Muster Dogs first hit our screens in 2022, it has captured the hearts of people worldwide. The gorgeous hard-working puppies and their dedicated breeders, educators and trainers not only charmed us, they taught us about the drive and capacity needed to work this land and feed our population. But what really resonated with fans was the loyalty, connection and mutual dependence between dog and handler. The intuition and drive of the muster dog, whether kelpie or collie, is truly something to behold.

In this book, captured in vivid colour are the characters - both canine and human - and moments of drama that have made the show, as well as the tough but glorious locations around Australia that they call home. With more than 200 photos of these pups at work and play - creating mischief and demonstrating mateship - this is a tribute to the uncomplaining, reliable and often unsung heroes of our land.”

When the shooting stopped, August 1945 by Barrett Tillman

Available in print 

This fascinating history tells the story of the final weeks of the war, detailing the last brutal battles on air, land and sea with first-hand accounts from pilots and sailors caught up in these extraordinary events.

Barrett Tillman expertly details the first weeks of a tenuous peace and the drawing of Cold War battle lines as Soviet forces concluded their invasion of Manchuria. When the Shooting Stopped draws on accounts from all sides to relive the days when the war finally ended and the world was forever changed.

Home maintenance for dummies by Tom Kraeutler

Available in print

Home Maintenance For Dummies gives you the know-how you need to inspect, tune up, and make repairs to every room of your house. Learn how to stop drafty windows and doors, fix roof leaks, unclog pipes, silence squeaky floors, test your water pressure, fix a dripping faucet, and beyond. Plus, learn tricks of the trade to stop wasting energy, lower energy bills, and improve the comfort of your home.

Some home maintenance jobs are easy to ignore, but you'll save thousands in repair costs if you keep things running properly. And when things do break, you can save even more money with DIY repairs. You'll be amazed how easy it is to do many common upkeep tasks yourself. With step-by-step guides, detailed diagrams, and instructions for every room of the home, you'll finally be able to fix those little problems that have been nagging at you.

Everybody loves chocolate by Jennifer Donovan

Available in print

Whether you want to bake homemade cakes or brownies, create spectacular desserts for a party or craft mini chocolate treats, you’ll find something to love here.

Take a tour around the globe and learn the best chocolate recipes from the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia–Pacific and Africa. A one-stop bible for chocoholics, this book offers everything you need to quench your sweet tooth cravings.

Machines: a visual history by Dominic Chinea

Available in print

Filled with stunning illustrations and lively, engaging text, Dom Chinea guides readers through this celebration of the history and uses of 100 machines that have allowed artisans to create beautiful items for centuries. Fans of prime-time TV shows The Repair Shop and Make It at Market will not want to miss Dom’s insightful and complete appraisal of history’s most game-changing mechanisms, with commentary that allows readers to get under the hood of inventions that have defined modern life as we know it.

Grug goes to school by Ted Prior

Available in print

Available in a brand new large paperback format for the first time. Have fun going to school with Grug!

What will you learn at school today with Grug? This classic Aussie hero is back from the bush to enchant a new generation of youngsters!

At school I'll grow by Carly Gardiner

Available in print

At school I’ll grow, there’s so much to know! Beginning school can be an emotional time for young children. Feelings of excitement, curiosity and anticipation of the unknown are commonplace.

This beautiful book, informed by the Australian Curriculum and accompanied by whimsical illustrations, allows readers a glimpse of the wonder, learning and friendships they will experience in this, their first year of school.

I can do it even if I'm scared by Lisa Katzenberger

Available in print

A sweet story about how to face our fears no matter how silly they may seem, from Lisa Katzenberger, comes a positive take on new experiences, fear, and worry.

Have you ever been so scared that your tummy tumbled and your heart hiccupped and your fingers fiddled? You're not alone! Elephant, Cheetah, and Gator feel the same way. Join these three friends as they find their brave self by first imagining themselves as brave and growing into being brave!

I Can Do It Even If I'm Scared is perfect for:

• Preschool classrooms and teachers looking for books on feelings, social emotional learning, mindfulness and social skills
• School counsellors and children's therapists looking for cognitive behavioural therapy technique books for children
• Parents looking for books on bravery, courage, and facing fears

Hooray! It's our first day by Martha Mumford

Available in print

Get ready to start school with the bunnies, as our four favourite friends set off on an exciting lift-the-flap adventure to get to their first day of school. With lunchboxes, fresh pencils, school bags and treats to find hidden under the flaps, it's an action-packed treasure hunt! Can you find everything you need to get ready for your first day – and get the bunnies there on time?

Reassuring and full of fun, this is perfect for any little one starting or returning to school.

Easy paper crafts for kids By Catherine Woram

Available in print

Kids love crafting, and paper-based crafts are particularly popular, as they require no specialist equipment or hard-to-find craft supplies – just this exciting book and some paper, scissors and glue! Easy Paper Crafts for Kids is divided into four vibrant sections containing 45 fun projects.

The first section, Cutting, features découpage, collage-making and mosaics, while Folding contains simple origami projects as well as cute hanging mobiles, classic paper planes, dress-up hats and fans. In Printing and Painting, kids can look forward to paper-plate masks, treasure maps and marbling paint techniques.

Finally, Modelling contains a papier-mâché pig, doll’s house furniture and a supersonic cardboard space rocket. Every project can be completed in four easy steps – just follow the instructions and you can't go wrong.

The secret life of LEGO® bricks By Daniel Konstanski

Available in print

This first official book for Adult Fans of LEGO takes the reader on a visually stunning journey from the very earliest hollow bricks to the complex shapes and building techniques of today.

LEGO® bricks are design icons and marvels of engineering. Virtually unchanged for over fifty years, the brick is still at the very centre of ethos: each brick connects to every other brick, allowing the construction of almost anything you can imagine. LEGO minifigures may be the friendly faces of the LEGO world, but bricks in all their different shapes and forms are its very foundation.

The Secret Life of LEGO Bricks explores the brick’s rich history in full colour and unparalleled detail. Granted unprecedented access by the LEGO Group, Daniel Konstantski has interviewed design masters, element testers and the so-called ‘rock stars’, the set designers, to reveal for the first time how and why new LEGO bricks are made.

This is the book the fans have always wanted: a truly behind-the-scenes look at the story of the beloved LEGO brick and the company which makes it, with a wealth of exclusive visual material from the LEGO Archive in Billund.

LEGO fans have long wanted to learn the inside story of beloved LEGO bricks from inside the LEGO Group: to have long-standing questions answered and see the veil pulled back on how LEGO elements and products came to market – or didn’t – through the LEGO brick’s 70 year history. Such an authoritative telling of the story has never been possible – until now.