Need 2 Read

THE FOG by Brooke Hardwick ($32.99)

Kate is heading to Rathlin Island for a writer's retreat. After the breakdown of her marriage, she is suffering from writer's block.
She is hoping this will help. There are others there as well. Ruby is sent by her publisher because she is behind on her third book. Mark and Sarah are playwriter's and are also married.
Everyone is here for a ten-day retreat that will help them get over their writer's block.
It doesn't take long for things to become strange. Kate can't remember why her husband left her. In fact there are a lot of things Kate can't remember. As time goes on, she starts to remember more and more. Part of the retreat is everyone has to keep a journal. As she remembers she writes it all down, the only thing is that some of what she is remembering doesn't make sense.

A very twisty book. Things are not as they seem. The twist at the end was not what I was expecting.

Lyn

LONG LIVE EVIL by Sarah Rees Brennan ($32.99)

Was this book a bit of a mess? Yes. Did I cringe at some of the 2020 meme language and references? Yes again. But damn did I enjoy it.

The first 50-100 pages were hard to get through, with so much world building and less focus on the characters. But once the book was set up, it was the characters who really carried the story. I loved how rambunctious yet deeply human The Cobra was, the secret complexities that were slowly revealed about the seemingly one dimensional Last Hope, and how Rae, the main character, grappled with what it truly means to be good or evil.

Through having Rae being transported into her favourite fantasy series, Brennan was able to provide commentary on the patriarchal nature of storytelling both in books and real life, and a range of different social issues. I particularly loved how she gave side characters so much depth and humanity.

I can’t wait to see where this series goes.

-Sage-

Happy fathers day to all the Dads, Papas, Grandpas, Opas, Fathers, Papis, Pops, and Pas!

RENNIKS AUSTRALIAN COIN & BANKNOTE VALUES by Michael Pitt ($45.99)

This is the 32nd edition, covering coins from 1800 to 2023.
Covering coins and banknotes it gives values and descriptions of all notes and coins.
Do you have someone who collects 50 cent peices are are they into collecting older coins.
There is a section pre-decimal notes and how to grade them on condition. A simplified guide showing current values, at date of publication General information on each issue is given but not specialised details such as variations & errors, including multiple modern packaging variation.

Lyn

The new Liane Moriarty has arrived!!

AUSTRALIA'S GREATEST RACECARS by Luke West ($39.99)

Any fan of motor sport will want this book. Filled with pictures and information on all the great cars that have won races and remained in our memories.
There is the Holden HT Monaro GTS 350. With its bright yellow paint, it is remembered by all. How about the 1970 Ford XY Falcon GT-HO. Built to rival the Monaro. Or Peter Brocks Holden Torana A9X that won 1979 Bathurst.
All the V8's that were driven by the greats of the sport , Brock, Moffat and Johnson and the cars that won and made Bathurst one of the greatest races.
This book isn't just for Holden or Ford fans, it is for fans of racing and cars in general. With over 200 colour photos it is a book that will make you relive all the greatest motor racing moments.

Lyn

THE FULL MOON COFFEE SHOP by Mai Mochizuki ($32.99 - PAPERBACK)

If you love the vibe of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi then this story is for you! Giant talking cats, mystical co-incidences, astrology and, of course, a cute cafe make for a sweet story about people who find themselves at a crossroad in life.
There is the writer who is stuck in the past, the executive who needs to take a risk, the actress who has made a mistake and the IT guy who wants to be more adventurous - they all need a little help. Thus enter the mystical cats of the Full Moon Coffee Shop - they will serve you delicious treats while they unpick your horoscope and help you move forward to become your best self.

If you love cats and astrology this book will tick every box! It is a planetary hug from the cosmos.

-Sasha-

MY DAD IS... By Ed Allen ($18.99)

A piture story book that children and Dads can read together.
My Dad is all about the best dads. Ones that tell great stories. Do the best BBQ's, even if they do make the snags a little darker than they should be.
His farts sound like trombones and he could win a competition as the loudest snorer.
He is strong and gives the best hugs.
What more could you ask for in a Dad.

Lyn

EXPLORE AUSTRALIA 2025 ($55.00)

Is Dad an explorer at heart? Does he like to take off and see what this great country has to offer? He knows how to get there but not what to see when he does. Well, this book could be the answer.
A state by state guide of great places to see and things to do.
In NSW if you wanted to go to the Blue Mountains there is a list of towns with the best things to see and do . The top attractions to see and the special events that are on.
Warragul is in the Phillip Island South Gippsland section of Victoria. Here the highlight is West Gippsland Arts Centre. Other places to see include Baw Baw national Park, Coal Creek, Walhalla, Gippsland Heritage Park, Mount Worth and Yarragon.
A big book at over 450 pages, I'm sure you will find something of interest.

Lyn

THE IMMORTALS OF AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL by Andrew Clarke ($39.99)

Is your Dad a footy fan? Does he like the players of old or the new breed of player? This book covers both. From Roy Cazaly to Dustin Martin and all the greats in between. There will be names you have heard of but don't know why they are considered great and there will be names that you immediately recognise.
You are given a rundown on each player, where they played and what made them a great player. A list of stats covering games played and what team they played for and how long.
Some of these players went on to become household names, while others have left their mark on football, but the reasons have faded.

Lyn

AUSTRALIA ACCORDING TO HOGES by Paul Hogan ($24.99)

This is a book filled with stories and the odd picture. Hoges has been around for a long time, so many fathers and grandfathers will know who he is.
He starts with his history in Australia and how his ancestors came over with the First Fleet. He gives a funny insite into our history and our famous people.
There is also a section where he helps you to learn speak "Strayan". Learn what it means to be a 'sook'. Did you know that 'youse' was a word started by Jeff Fenech? And all the other words and phrases that many of us use in everyday life.
A very funny and Australian book, a great gift for Fathers Day.

Lyn

GREAT GOLF COURSES AUSTRALIA by Brendan James ($39.99)

Is your Dad a golfer? Does he dream of playing at all the great golf courses around the world? How about the ones in Australia?
This book is the ultimate guide to around 50 courses around Australia. If you are going on holiday and want to know what courses are around this book will help you. With over 20 courses listed in Victoria he is sure to find somewhere that he wants to play.
Written by Brendan James who written for Golf Australia and who took all the photos this is a book by someone who knows a thing or two about golf courses.

Lyn

# victoria # fathersday

BERNIE THINKS IN BOXES by Jess Horn and illustrated by Zoe Bennett ($24.99 - hardcover)

Bernie like to put different parts of her life in boxes. She has a breakfast box and a dinner box, a home box and a school box. She has a park friends box and a school friends box. Thinking in boxes helps Bernie organise her world and it makes her happy but sometimes things happen and Bernie's boxes crash into each other. When Bernie sees her teacher, who belongs in the school box, at the store she can't talk to her at all because Miss Williams doesn't fit into the shopping box!
When Bernie's school friend Toby decides to have his birthday party at the park Bernie cannot make anything fit! The school friend box doesn't fir into the park box, the park box definitely doesn't fit into the party box! How will Bernie explain to Toby that she missed his party?

This is a gentle picture storybook that introduces neuro-divergent thinking to little people. Bernie learns to navigate her boxes and her classmates' learn to understand that Bernie needs to do things a little differently.

Gorgeously illustrated with expressive characters and plenty of detail this book is recommended for pre-school through to early primary readers.

-Sasha-

WIZARDS OF OZ by Brett Mason ($34.99)

World war two intrigue and deceptions, political machinations and science come together in Wizards of Oz!
Mark Oliphant and Howard Florey both grew up in Adelaide, attended university there, and each took scholarships that would take them to the heart of the academic world in Britain in the 1920's. Each man was a brilliant researcher at a time when incredible discoveries where being made in their respective fields. Oliphant pushed the boundaries of physics at a time when our modern ideas were beginning to emerge. Florey came to medical research to take part in the explosion of knowledge that would bring us numerous vaccines and antibiotics. Both men stood out for their knowledge but also for their ability to organise people and secure funding for the research they believed to be vital - skills that would change the course of the war and the world as we know it.

As Britain realised it would be standing alone against the onslaught of the German blitzkrieg the government took control of every aspect of civilian life and that included the work of its scientists. Every part of the nation was geared toward winning the war and personal projects were put aside for any potential weapon or defensive measure that could be created. For Mark Oliphant running his own department at a British university this mean putting his team onto the vital task of creating a radar system, initially for the country and then to miniaturise it so it could be fitted into fighter planes. Essentially to do the impossible as no-one considered it feasible to create the power needed at the size requested. Along the way Oliphant realised the dangers that the potential of nuclear weapons represented and began to push the British and American governments to be the first to create one - a task eventually picked up by the Manhattan project.

Florey had an equally impossible task. To isolate and produce at quantity the antibiotic first identified by Alexander Fleming: Penicillin. Fleming had realised its qualities but halted research when he realised how temperamental and expensive commercial quantities would be to produce. Florey and his team set to work. If they could work out how to extract, purify and produce penicillin on a commercial scale the lives of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who usually died from infections in a war would be saved.
For each of the men this would mean years of dedicated work that would take them across the Atlantic to the manufacturing behemoth of the United States and back. Today the names Fleming and Oppenheimer are most associated with these discoveries but without these two Australians these discoveries might never have occurred, and without radar the war would have been lost.

-Sasha-

My Dad, My Rock by Victor D. O. Santos and illustrated by Anna Forlati ($24.99 - hardcover)

Oliver imagines telling the grandpa he has never met all about the most important person in his life: his Dad. This is a heart-warming story about all the important things dad's do and even more importantly who dads can teach us to be.
with dreamy and warm illustrations this is the perfect book to share between dad and child on Father's day.

-Sasha-

WIFEDOM by Anna Funder ($36.99)

Wifedom is the story of George Orwell's wife, part biography, part memoir and part fiction. This is the story of George Orwell's first wife Eileen O'Shaughnessy and the effect she had on him and his writing during their time together. In other biographies on Orwell the authors have glossed over Eileen or completely ignored her. Here Anna Funder uses newly found letters by Eileen to friends to shine a light on the Orwell's life together. Through the Spanish Civil War and WWII in London, to writing his best-known novels Animal Farm and 1984.
It highlights how hard it is to be a wife and how hard it is to be yourself when you are involved with a man whose goal in life is to be a great author.
Beautifully written it exposes how much influence Eileen had over Orwell and how she herself could have been a great writer if she had not dedicated her life to being his wife.
This was our July Book Club book and scored very highly. Most thought it was very well written and gave wonderful insight into the lives of Eileen and George. The scores were between 5 and 10. So highly recommended by some not others.

Lyn

#1984

THE LAND OF LOST THINGS (ADVENTURES UNLIMITED #1) by Andy Griffiths and illustrated by Bill Hope ($16.99)

If you are at all familiar with Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton's Treehouse series then you know to expect marvellous hilarity and completely chaotic fun! Do you remember the time you and I flew to the moon? Or when we went to the bottom of the ocean? What about when we went to the Land of Lost Things? NO?! Really? Well, we better tell that story right now! It all started when I couldn't find my lucky rabbit's foot.....

With a similar reading level to The treehouse series, Adventures Unlimited will capture the most reluctant of readers with its non-stop action, silly plots and edge of your seat escapes! Bill Hope's detailed illustration will give kids reasons to linger on each page to find extra little jokes and the matches the story's chaos energy brilliantly.

-Sasha

THE CRAG by Claire Sutherland ($32.99)

Skye moved back to Horsham four years ago. She and boyfriend Callum brought a house together, got two dogs and were thinking of starting a family.
One day on a walk with her dogs Skye finds the body of a young woman. She had been murdered and dumped in a pit. Her injuries are similar to a rock-climbing accident. The only problem is she was found 5km from Mount Arapiles, the local cliffs that are used for rock-climbing.
Skye is asked to help the police because of her climbing experience and the fact that she works as an ambulance officer. She is secretly thrilled to be helping out.
With a suspect on their radar the police think they have their man. Can the police solve this murder before anyone else dies?

This was a good female led book. The police officer, Elly and Skye being the main characters, also focusing on the female victims. The police procedures are also a focus.
This is Claire's first book, and she has chosen to write about something she knows, rock-climbing. Victorians will know a lot of the places written about. Also the fact that St Kilda win the AFL Grand Final will make this a winner with some people.

Lyn

BOOKS MAKE GOOD FRIENDS ACTIVITY BOOK by Jane Mount ($22.99)

This is the perfect fun activity book for tweens and teens who love to read!
With book bingo, maps, shelves to decorate, reading challenges, bookmarks to tear out and many more activities to inspire readers of all levels to enjoy their books. There are even a miniature bookshop and bookmobile to create and decorate!
Writing prompts to get creative with your own stories will keep young bibliophiles busy and then there are stickers for decorating too.
This activity book has a bit of everything, and adults who enjoy book journaling might love this too!

-Sasha-

THE BRAVEST SCOUT AT GALLIPOLI by Ryan Butta ($34.99)

Harry Freame was born on 27th February 1880 in Nagasaki Japan, to a Japanese mother and an Australian father.
He travelled the world working on ships and taking jobs. He returning to Australia in around1912.
When the War started Harry went to Kensington Barracks in Sydney to enlist. He cut five years off his age and stated that he was from Kitscoty, Canada to make sure he was accepted.
On October 18th he boarded the ship Afric, along with the rest of the 1st Battalion and set off. Their destination, Gallipoli.
He set foot on Anzac Cove at 7.40am on 25th April 1915.
This is where the real story of Harry Freame starts.
At Gallipoli he was known as "the Marvel of Gallipoli", he was a trusted scout and was known to many of the men in charge of the ill-fated campaign. He received the first Distinguished Conduct Medal to be awarded to an Australian.
When World War 2 started, Harry was recruited by the government as a translator to be sent to Japan. His real purpose was to collect information as a spy. He left Australia in October 1940. Six months later he was back in Sydney dying.

Why does no-one know about this man? Why did the government not acknowledge his efforts and death as a spy? As a famous soldier of the Gallipoli campaign why isn't he talked about in schools or in our History?
A thought provoking book that will draw you in and make you want answers.

Lyn

Paige Not Found by Jen Wilde ($26.99 - Hardcover)
Yet to be published (1st August 2024)

Paige is an autistic twelve year old who loves dinosaurs, playing Realm Of Wonders and her best friend, Mara. She is socially awkward and often faces criticism from her parents because of this. One night, her life is turned upside-down when she finds an email notification on her dad's computer while he's asleep. She later finds out a massive organisation called Nucleus has implanted a device called the Dot, in her brain, to control her emotions and unleash serotonin whenever she's anxious all without her knowledge or consent because she is autistic. When she finds out Eliot Preston, the founder of Nucleus is deciding to merge his organisation with Homepage (a social media giant that has faced backlash for releasing private information), she knows she has to stop him and help all the other neurodivergent kids with Dots impanted in their brains.

A gripping, suspenseful and relatable book for young adults that explores the stereotypes and discrimination against neurodivergent people and helps explain the thought processes and feelings of young kids with autism.

-Charlie

We had a surprise drop in by new local author ! Andy signed copies of his book Here Comes The Sun.
If you are after an inspiring read about Andy's journey of finding a purpose and starting a thriving business come in and grab a copy!

FALL WITH ME by Becka Mack ($22.99)

Lennon Hayes is on her honeymoon. She's in Carbo, and she's alone. She caught her husband to be with a waitress the night of their wedding rehearsal.
Next door is Jaxon Riley and his date Brielle. All they have done is fight and have loud s*x. Part of the reason for the fighting is that Jaxon can't remember Brielle's name. He tries many different versions, but in the end Brielle leaves. Lennon thinks it's funny. They end up talking at the bar, Lennon has the best s*x of her life with Jaxon and leaves.
Deciding that she needs a new life she accepts a job with a hockey team as the photographer and social media person.
Arriving in Canada who is the first person she sees? Jaxon. He is a member of the team she will be photographing.

If you've read Becka Mack before, this is the next book in the series.
If you like your books with a bit of spice, then this one has plenty of it. At just under 500 pages, it is a long read but worth it.

Lyn

THE CREEPER by Margaret Hickey ($34.99)

Set in Victorias High Country, there has been a multiple murder su***de. Bill Durant, nick name "Creeper" has been found dead near the bodies of 5 hikers on Razor track. He has been called the murderer, but not everyone is convinced.
Senior Constable Sally White is the new police officer at Edenville. It's a good post. Not much crime, and the people are friendly.
Her boyfriend Jim has lived in the town his whole life. He also helped the only survivor back down the mountain.
With the ten-year anniversary of the murders coming up she is drawn into the dark world of the Durant family by Lex Durant. He claims Bill was innocent. As Sally looks into the investigation there are many things that were overlooked in the initial investigation.

Sally White is to be the new main character in this new crime novel series.
This was a good read. It took me ages to figure out what was going on and I didn't pick the real killer, so that's good. Having read Margaret's other books, I was looking forward to reading this one and it didn't disappoint.

Lyn

THE PROFOUND BENIFITS OF A STINT IN PRISON by Andrew Hamilton ($34.99)

Andrew Hamilton thought he had a good life. He had a fiancée, a popular pizza restaurant, two dogs that he loved and a thriving side business. It was the side business that got him into trouble. He was supplying massive amounts of L*D and magic mushrooms to Sydneysiders.
After a three-day co***ne bender, his house in Surry Hills was raided by police. He was arrested and charged with trafficking drugs, refused bail and set to Parklea Correctional Centre. Thinking he would just spend the time sleeping and relaxing he had no idea of the effect it would have on him.
In 2023 Andrew Hamilton made a new career choice. He chose to become a comedian. His comedy is based around his time in prison.
As I was reading this, I had a smile on my face. I can see just by the book that he would be a funny guy. His stint in jail made him realise that he didn't ever want to go back and so far, he hasn't.

Lyn

HI FROM OUTER SPACE by Fiona Katauskas ($17.99)

Alex wants to be a cartoonist and is determined to win the National Young Cartoonist competition - she has all the talent but what story is good enough to win? But Alex need not worry because while walking her dog to the park she suddenly comes face to face with an actual ALIEN!
Hi is from Planet Wendy and he is visiting for three days to learn all about Earth Leaders. Suddenly Alex is hosting an interplanetary visitor that no-one else can see and there are all sorts of shenanigans including a viral Tiktok, a haunted shoe emporium, a rock concert and meeting an actual billionaire (he's more than a bit weird)!

With themes of friendship, family, leadership, humour, and school projects kids are going to love Hi and Alex and I am sure there are going to be more crazy adventures for the pair of them. If your kids love the Treehouse series, David Walliams, or Anh Do's books then Hi from Outer Space is going to be a hit! Perfect for the 8-12, independent reader crowd.

-Sasha

AUSTRALIA'S MOST BIZARRE CRIMES by Peter Coleman ($34.99)

Strange, funny, and downright bizarre crimes from all over Australia in this collection are sure to entertain everyone from true crime buffs to those who love a good yarn!
Coleman has collected crimes from throughout Australia's settled history and they vary from brazen and outrageous to completely idiotic.

There are crims who plan meticulously and those who never planned anything in their entire lives and are just hoping things work out! There's a man who decided to post himself home to Wales but ended up in America. The time Chopper tried to take a judge hostage and got kicked in the nuts for his trouble; and who could forget when the ARIA's tried subliminal advertising? Peter Coleman has put together an often hilarious collection of criminal undertakings.

-Sasha-

A NOVEL LOVE STORY by Ashley Poston ($22.99)

Have you ever read a book that made you want to be there? Made you think that you knew the people personally?
Eileen is on her way to spend a week in a cabin reading romance books and drinking wine. She is supposed to be going with her best friend and the members of her book club. Instead, she is going by herself.
Taking a wrong turn somewhere she ends up in the town of Eloraton. The town is familiar, the people are like old friends. She then realises that Eloraton is the setting of her favourite romance book series. The people are characters she knows and loves.
There is one thing that is different. The grumpy bookshop owner. Why is he out of place? Is he there because he is the next character to find his love? Will he, knowing that the book series can't be finished because the author has died. Eileen feels that she must try and fix all that is broken or turning out differently than it would have in the book.

A lovely romance all about books, romance, your favourite friends and lovers. There is also a lovely little bookshop. What more could you want in a book.

Lyn

THE BOOK THAT WOULDN'T BURN by Mark Lawrence ($32.99)

Epic fantasy set in a world of dust and books.
Livira knows nothing but the dust that surrounds and imprisons her small village. The well at its centre, the only reliable water source, giving enough to water the meagre crops and keep the people alive. She longs to see the world but she never imagined leaving would be the result of a mercenary sabber who comes out of the dust to take everything in the village, including the people. Rescued by the King's soldiers and taken to the city, Livira is given a chance at a better life becoming an apprentice Librarian in a Library so vast and mysterious no one really knows it all.

Evar has lived his whole life in the Library. Trapped within a single huge chamber with his brothers and sister. They are unable to open any of the four doors that block their way into the world. He knows the Library is old. Older that the civilisations that have used it. Older than Empires that have risen and fallen time and again using its knowledge. He also knows that they have been trapped to keep them safe from the sabber. The enemy that would slaughter them without mercy. That won't stop him from finding a way out.

Somewhat slow in parts, usually when exploring the characters inner lives, there is enough pace and action here to keep going. I found as the story progresses and the various threads come together and the last quarter of the book was absolutely riveting! The world building is good and the library itself is intriguing. I am going straight onto book two "The book that broke the world" and I hope I don't have long to wait for book three!

While this is adult fantasy I have no hesitation recommending to teens (13+). There are some s*xual references, and some violence, but neither are graphic.

-Sasha

INCREDIBLE COASTAL CRITTERS by Chris Humfrey ($24.99)
Come with zoologist Chris Humfrey’s into his enlightening peek into the wonderful world of Australia’s marine life and the ocean that surrounds them.
With many pages worth of fascinating information on each of these spectacular animals this book is almost certain to teach you something new about our mysterious submerged creatures.
Perfect for young children.

Shane