Fun with Anonymums

Sadly, I’m nearing the end of Be My Guest August, and I hope you’ll agree that it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve had a ball!

Today’s very special guest is the most lovely Jess from Whoa, Mamma! whose been kind enough to share her thoughts on a wonderful book by the adventurous, secretive and refreshingly honest Anonymums. Thanks heaps Jess…

ANONYMUMS by the Anonymums
It was with great delight and excitement that I accepted an offer from the wonderful Mandi of ‘That Book You Like’ to contribute a guest post. I love Mandi’s sweet blog, dedicated to celebrating the love of the written word, fabulous cultural events and all things ‘bookish.’

Growing up, I always had my head in a book, and a journal by my bed to scribble away my life’s events. I loved reading and writing and I thought that I would grow up to be a writer myself, one day. Still dreaming.

Fast forward to Marriage and Motherhood, 3 daughters later. The last book that I had read that was over 10 pages long was a ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ pregnancy-type book.  I longed to read books again, but being a mum, it was so hard to find a block of time where I wouldn’t/couldn’t be interrupted.

When Mandi offered me an opportunity to contribute to ‘That Book You Like’ I jumped at the chance. What a fabulous opportunity to get back to my love of books. What to read, what to read? I began with the intention to review a novel but in all honesty, with so many mummy-interruptions it was getting hard to immerse myself in the story.

Then I had an ‘A-ha!’ moment and rubbed my hands with glee. I knew exactly what I wanted to read and review for you all. So last weekend I joyously ventured out to the bookshops once again, eagerly seeking a book that had long been on my wish list; Anonymums, by the Anonymums.

Anonymums (Harper Collins, 2011) is a fabulous and hilarious ‘real life’ account of  the Motherhood Experience as shared by three ‘anonymous’ mothers (hence the title), Mum A, Mum B and Mum C. All we know about the ‘Anonymums’ is that they are three married, Aussie mothers who write Blogs.

This immediately appealed to me, as I myself had just started blogging, joining a community of hundreds, if not thousands, of Mothers That Blog.

I popped a DVD on for the kids, told them Mummy needs “mummy-time”, made myself a pot of coffee, stroked the glossy cover, inhaled the scent of the lovely papery pages, smiled with bliss, and began…. 

The premise of the book is this. Mum A, reflecting on what her life has become and, in all honesty, slightly bored with it, devises an experiment to re-evaluate and re-invigorate her life, to reconnect with the woman she was BC (Before Children).

“…the bottom line was I wasn’t happy with me. The truth was, I could barely remember who ‘me’ was, anyway.

I had to do something to reclaim my identity. And fast.

It was time to spice things up a bit. To reconnect with whatever was left of me before it was too late” – Mum A

She enlists two worthy and very eager accomplices in Mum B and Mum C who are sworn to secrecy. Mums B and C are also ready to make big changes to their lives.  They correspond via secret emails and assume their Secret Identities as the ‘Anonymums’.

“I sometimes feel that a walking-talking MumATron has taken up residence in the girl I used to be and stuffed her in a small hole deep inside my body. Every once in a while I hear her screaming to be let out, but there’s just no room for her in the scheduled chaos that is my current life”- Mum B 

Over an agreed period of 3 months, they begin their covert operation to spice up each other’s lives.  All three mothers undertake cheeky ‘Truth’ and  ‘Dare’ challenges set by the other mothers, then once the tasks have been completed, each mother has to undertake her own Big Dare. After each task, each mum evaluates and shares how the experience has changed, affected or enhanced her life.

The results are hilarious and poignant. The Dares (involving Fire-engine Red Lipstick, Santa’s lap, and a whole lot of wax strips, youch!) force the Anonymums out of their comfort zones, giving them unexpected thrills and re-invigorating their lives and their outlook on Motherhood and Womanhood. The Truth Challenges lead to self-reflection, self-evaluation and even an epiphany or two.

I loved this book and could not put it down. I read it while stirring the Bolognese, I read it in between bathing the children. I was laughing out loud,  yelling out ‘Hallelujah!’ and ‘Amen!’. I may even have turned my back on my husband in bed and said ‘Not tonight, darling, I’m reading’.

There is a Freedom in Anonymity that brings with it the courage to tell the truth without fear of being judged.  Anonymity gives one the courage to talk about real feelings, and not have to keep up the pretence that Motherhood is always wonderful. Many women, if not most women, feel pressured to be the ‘perfect’ wife and mother.  Anonymums is everything that you wanted to know about Motherhood but were afraid to ask, and everything that you really feel about Motherhood, but were afraid to say out loud lest you be judged.

Anonymums was like holding up a mirror to my face. My life and my inner-most thoughts were reflected amongst the pages. This book was not just about the ‘Anonymums’, it is about  Every Mum.

The ‘Anonymums’ lives changed over the course of 3 months. My life changed over the course of one book.

Hilarious, inspiring  and life-enhancing. If you’re stuck in a Mummy Rut, you need Anonymums. If you have a friend who’s a mum, she needs Anonymums. After reading this book, you’ll not only feel like you’ve made a new friend, but 3 new friends. Thank you, ‘Anonymums’! I’m off to buy some red lippie.

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Jess is one of my favourite mummy-bloggers, and her blog Whoa, Mamma! is fun, stylish and insightful. I’ll admit, it was her Grinderman coffee cup that first caught my eye. Her blog is full of great pics and wonderful observations. Please pop by and visit, you’ll have fun, I promise!

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Shopping for books in Perth, a delight

Today’s Be My Guest is the lovely Karyn from A Penguin a Week, sharing her love for a good book sale. Her wonderful post and pics made me feel warm and toasty reading over it…the fab Perth setting made such a wonderful change from the grey old Melbourne backdrop my pieces normally have. Thanks so much Karyn for letting us know what’s going on over in WA…

This weekend, two of the best things about Perth in winter coincided. On days of the most pleasant winter weather, in which the sky was the most brilliant blue, and the temperature stayed in the low 20s, the charity Save the Children held its giant secondhand book sale in the Undercroft of Winthrop Hall, at the University of Western Australia. It’s a picturesque setting, with its location beside the Swan River and its beautiful old limestone buildings, extensive lawns and groves of trees.

The opening evening is so popular that you have to arrive early and queue to get in; by the time the doors opened, the queue snaked around the building, and was about 250 metres long, revealing an eclectic mix of booklovers: older couples, young students, businessmen and families.

Once a certain number have passed through the door, new people can only enter as others leave, and so the wait can be frustratingly long.  But I cannot think of a more pleasant place to be forced to queue in.

The book sale runs for six days, from 5pm on the Friday afternoon, until 4pm the following Wednesday, and they have many thousands of books for sale, with the stock regularly replenished: as books are sold, new boxes appear and the tables are re-filled. It means there is no best time to go, and repeat visits are essential.

The excitement comes from not knowing what you will find, but knowing whatever it is, it will be a bargain. My search is for old Penguins to complete my collection, and they were priced between $2 and $3 per copy, prices I rarely find anywhere else these days. But they also had beautiful hardback art books for less than $10, and old and collectible hardback books for around the same price. And they have tables devoted to many other categories: children’s titles, foreign language, religion, cookery, travel, crime, Australiana, textbooks and many more, as well as vinyl records, CDs, maps, and sheet music. On Tuesday remaining books are sold at half-price, and on Wednesday you can fill a box for $15.

I was there when the doors opened on Friday afternoon, and again when they opened Saturday morning. And this year I was very lucky: I found 69 numbered pre-1970s Penguins to add to the collection, and 19 other early Penguins from ancillary series like the Classics and Pelicans. And for my young daughter, who has also caught the collecting bug, 12 Enid Blyton titles and a few early Puffins.

I was particularly excited to find 3 new Michael Innes’ titles, including his first mystery novel Death at the President’s Lodging, which I have heard is one of his best. It was a review of this book by Jane at the blog Fleur Fisher in her world which first enticed me to read Michael Innes, and he has gone on to be one of my favourite authors. I have been searching for a copy ever since. I plan to start reading it tonight.

It’s not unusual these days to see reports of the demise of the book, the suggestion that it is a redundant technology, soon to be replaced by the enthusiastic embrace of digital downloads and e-books. And though I can see the practicality of e-book readers, I think these grim predictions ignore the emotional attachment people feel for physical books. The enjoyment of a book can be multifaceted, not just related to the reading, but also to the searching, finding, collecting, owning and displaying. The Guardian flickr group devoted to bookshelves shows how much people love their books, and the crowds at the book sale this weekend only confirmed it.

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Karyn keenly collects numbered Penguin paperbacks from before 1970. I am smitten by her bookshelf (you can see it here) and her blog, A Penguin a Week which shares her journey as she reads her way through her collection. A fascinating concept, and wonderfully constructed set of reviews. Thanks so much Karyn for documenting your love of Penguin paperbacks, it’s one I share.

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Lots of wonderful little ideas

I really love today’s post, it’s just brim full of wonderful ideas…books, makings, and time for tea. Today’s Be My Guest is Jo from Little Melbourne, and she’s kindly shared with us some of her favourite things. Thanks so much Jo…

To Read | A few of our Favourite ‘sleepy time’ reads
Asking for one more story before bed is the oldest trick in the book. And you fall for it every time. Here’s what we’re reading:

The Green-Eyed Mouse and the Blue-Eyed Mouse, by Bob Gill
This sweet story centers around two timid mice, Noah and Rafaella, who meet each other for the first time by peering through a dark hole. Seeing only the other’s eyes, the mice guess that they belong to anything from an exotic animal to a snake to a traffic warden. Until, on the count of three, they face their fears and emerge to discover that they’re not so different after all.

The retro drawings, die-cut holes perfect for peeking, and clever colour-coded text make it an instant classic that teaches one of life’s most important lessons: You can’t judge a book by its cover.

Spot It! Find the Hidden Creatures, by Delphine Chedru
Following clues in the brief text, readers must search out the hidden creature in each spread, often disguised in clever and unexpected ways. The unique designs and concealed animals turn this book into a treasure hunt for clever young readers. Once grown-ups and kids begin the hunt, they won’t be able to resist finding all of the creatures!

Zoo, by Bruno Munari
Come and visit the animals in Bruno Munari’s zoo. The book is a visual delight, and the story witty and playful – exactly the sort of book to dive into with your little one.

Lost and Found, by Oliver Jeffers
Lost and Found is a simple tale about a boy and a penguin and their growing friendship. Jeffers jumps into a childs mind and thinks out each scenario with the depth and obsession of a child and this clever style engages with children instantly as they can see themselves in the boy.

Walk the Dog A Parade of Pooches from A to Z, by Bob Barner
This tail-wagging book features an alphabet of jumping, barking, playing dogs. From Airedales to Zwergpinschers, the 26 breeds gather to form one big, boisterous, barking pack. Bob Barner’s colourful collage illustrations and a bouncy, fun-to- read-aloud text make this book a playful introduction to man’s (and kid’s) best friend.

Press Here, by Herve Tullet
The single touch of a finger sparks a whimsical dance of colour and motion in this joyful celebration of the power of the imagination. Press here. That’s right. Just press the yellow dot…and turn the page.

To Create | Something to do at home to cure the boredom blues

MAKE IT YOURSELF CHALK

1 cup of plaster of Paris
1/2 cup of cold water
Popsicle/Icypole Molds
Tempera Paint (powdered is best)

Combine Plaster of Paris, water and tempera paint. The amount of tempera you add will determine how dark the coloured chalk will be. Pour the mixture into candy or popsicle/icypole molds and let dry.

Take the chalk out of molds and use for drawing on the sidewalk. This chalk will be most effective right after taking out of the molds. You could also use a toilet paper roll and a little tip is to line your molds or rolls with wax paper to allow the chalk to slip easily out of the molds.

Let the fun begin!

To Eat | Eating and Reading….A Match made in heaven
Not too big, not too small, Teatime & Tales Cafe and Bookshop has a bit of everything: a cafe stocked with carbs, treats and caffeine, a loungy area with plenty of cushioned seating, activities on offer for little cooks and artists, and, of course, books galore. Little mini’s are kept entertained with toys and books, for Mums there are cushions for nursing and there’s even Wifi. A babies and kids menu is a given.

To Do | Celebrating Book Week at The National Sports Museum
Celebrate with the National Sports Museum and the MCC library with the theme One World, Many Stories – Books and the Hidden History of the MCG. Come along to a workshop, learn how to draw your own caricature and meet author-illustrator of The Invincible Bunyips, Paul Harvey each day at 11.00am, 11.30am, 1.00pm or 1.30pm. Here’s some more ideas to celebrate Children’s Book Week 2011.

To Visit | Closed Loop Cool Kids Day 28th August
The Closed Loop Cool Kids Day is open to all kids between the ages of 4 and 12. There will be loads of different activities running throughout the day to keep big and little kids busy, and keep mums and dads happy.

On the big stage they’ll be entertaining you with live performances.

Off stage, cool kids can have a crack at rock climbing on the Anaconda rock wall, meeting a snake (eeek!!!!) or a celebrity (oooh!!!), face-painting, pot planting, building, painting and crafts, loads of games and cool prizes.

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Jo’s site Little Melbourne is another one of my favourites, as it’s a great place to find out about what’s on and happening in Melbourne for parents and their little ones.

The range of activities means there is a little something for everyone, and budget conscious suggestions are frequently included. If you’re keen to get the kids out of the house, have a browse on this great site.

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That author you like…

I’m so rapt to be able to feature a post by today’s Be My Guest, Jackie from My Little Bookcase. I love Jackie’s work, and her love for kid’s reading is unsurpassed. I share her love of Nick Bland’s Twinkle, and really enjoyed hearing more about his work. I trust you’ll enjoy it too. Thanks so much Jackie…

That Author You Like…Nick Bland
I’m thrilled to be one of Mandi’s guests this month. I was also a little excited to write about something that wasn’t necessarily related to children’s books or reading with children.

Alas, it seems I’m not making enough time for ‘me’ moments (I will have to change that), so I’m sticking with children’s literature for now.

There is a children’s book author and illustrator who has captivated me with his work of late. In my eyes, he is absolutely kicking goals.

This picture book creator is Nick Bland. He has been around for a number of years now but his latest books have caught my eye. His first published book, A Monster Wrote Me A Letter, was published by Scholastic in 2005. Scholastic were definitely onto a good thing because each book he produces just keeps getting better and better (well, I think so.)

Information on him is hard to come by but I understand that while working in a bookstore he devoured picture books to help him refine his story-telling and illustrations.

The first Nick Bland book I read was The Wrong Book (2009). It made me giggle, out loud, as do The Very Cranky Bear (2008) and the The Very Itchy Bear (2010). They are easy reads, but great for reading aloud.

Then I read Twinkle (2010), which could possibly be my very favourite picture book. It made me cry, happily. I’ve actually written an official review of this book so you can read about it here.

The Aunties Three (2011) is a rambunctious hoot which has my daughter and I roaring with laughter at every reading. Grug and The Gruffalo are making it big on the screens and stage, but The Aunties Three is one picture book I’d love to see adapted as a play script. Three high-spirited toddlers are trying to reclaim order in their house as they host a visit by their three aunties who are stern and demanding. It’s a recipe for success isn’t it?

The Runaway Hug (2011) is his latest book, illustrated by Freya Blackwood. I instantly thought this book was clever and warm. A young girl asks her mother for a hug. Before giving her daughter a hug, the mother announces that it’s her last hug. Lucy protects this hug fiercely and passes it around to each family member before giving it back to Mum. It simply captures the warmth of family life.

You will also have to look out for Some Dads (2011) which has only just been released this month in time for Fathers’ Day. It’s bright and colourful. Poking a little fun at dads, the book is humorous and comforting at the same time. The rhyming text is short and simple but the full-page illustrations will make you laugh out loud.

That leaves the following books for me to track down, and I will track them down: A Monster Wrote Me a Letter (2005), Aussie Jingle Bells (2006), I’ve Lost My Kisses (2007), Donald Loves Drumming (2008) and When Henry Caught Imaginitis (2008). One thing is for sure, he’s got a fan in me and I’ll be keeping a close eye on him.

What is it about his work that I love?

• His illustrations are rich and complex (Most of his illustrations are oil paintings). There is so much going on in the illustrations that you need to spend time pouring over the pages even after the kids have gone to bed.
• His stories are written to entertain children and he knows what makes them laugh, but there’s another layer to his stories that entertain the adult reader also.
• His rhyme is not forced. It’s so natural that you hardly know you’re reading rhyme. This makes reading them aloud so enjoyable. I doubt that they were as easy to write as they are to read.
• I think he understands children so well. He captures them so accurately (physically and behaviourally) in his illustrations and parents relate to that.
• The concepts of his storylines are so clever and unique, but at the same time they resonate with families. There is so much depth in his stories.

Have you read a Nick Bland book yet? Any favourites in your home?

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Jackie’s website My Little Bookcase celebrates the value of a traditional book, the joys of reading and quality time shared between parent and child. It is one of my personal favourites, and I’d encourage you to pop over for some great reading ideas. Thanks Jackie!

P.S. Don’t forget, this month’s give-away is a short one! To go into the running to win a double pass to MWF’s Shaun Tan’s The Arrival, see details here.

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Who’s that guy?

My next Be My Guest buddy is Amanda from Rumble (Underground), and she’s put together something a little different for TBYL. I hope you enjoy her music review! Thanks Amanda…

Who’s this Adam Lambert guy?
I have to admit to being something of a music snob.  If you’d told me two years ago that I’d be listening to a pop singer from a reality show – I’d have been just a wee bit annoyed with you to say the least.

Yet here I am hanging off every note that Adam Lambert sings.  This is why:

I first heard Adam when he was on American Idol 2008.  Friends were raving about this guy – friends that shared similar taste in music to me.  So I gave him a go.  This performance was one that polarized the judges, but that showed me this guy was no cookie-cutter singer:

It was also a risky performance – taking a Johnny Cash song and performing this arrangement on a show that is watched by much of middle-America.  You can see from the clip that Randy Travis is having a hard time understanding Adam.

Adam was the first contestant to gain permission to perform a Led Zeppelin song on the show.  Apparently children of the band were watching the show and told their parents they had to let Adam sing “Whole Lotta Love”.  This version is from a one-off concert that Adam performed on 27^th Februay 2010:

After Idol, Adam went on tour with the rest of the top 10 contestants from the show and while on the road, wrote, recorded and produced his first album,  For Your Entertainment.  Adam collaborated with several highly respected producers Greg Wells, Ryan Tedder, Max Martin, Sam Sparro, RedOne, Dr. Luke, and Linda Perry, among others and sang songs written by people such as Lady Gaga, Pink, Muse…

Once his album was released, Adam embarked on his headlining, virtually sold out world-wide “Glam Nation” tour.  The tour was a success not just because it was sold-out, but because it happened in an environment where bands like Scissor Sisters were cancelling shows due to lack of interest…

Adam has a background in musical theatre, has been lead singer in his own band and performed in avant-garde cabaret around Los Angeles.  This is one of his first performances in 2004 on “The Zodiac Show” where he sang the civil rights anthem:

Adam performed the same song six years later to the day on exactly the same stage during the penultimate performance of his Glam Nation Tour.  I was there to watch this performance and can honestly say, I’ve never been so moved by a performance in my life:

Adam is an amazing talent.  He is capable of singing a broad range of musical styles, gives a thoroughly professional, engaging and fabulous performance every time you see him on stage and is, from all accounts a delightful man.

Check out this Adam Lambert guy – he never fails to deliver the good music.

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Amanda site, Rumble (Underground) is a platform for people who are geographically diverse, to share ideas, music and art. This is mainly done through the production of really interesting podcasts, featuring discussions with a variety of fascinating characters.

Thanks Amanda for joining in with this month’s fun!

Happily Ever After

For my very first Be My Guest I’m thrilled to introduce, for your reading pleasure, Fiona of My Mummy Daze with a fab review of some insightful chick lit. Thanks Fiona…

Happily Ever After? by  Benison Anne O’Reilly
Around about the time that Will and Kate tied the knot in their beautifully, elaborate fairy tale wedding, I found myself wondering whether their romance and marriage would have the same fairy tale ending.

Would they live out a real life ‘happily ever after’?

My inner child reassured me that of course they would – they are a Prince and Princess afterall.

I spent my childhood years hearing this fairytale ending reinforced to me via Disney movie after Disney movie. As a consequence, from a young age I expected hoped for a white wedding and a fanciful happily ever after, complete with my own handsome prince.

I certainly got the white wedding (well, I think it was ivory to be precise) and I married my prince before jetting off into the sunset for a tropical honeymoon. And then we lived happily ever after. Right?

I think we’ve all lived long enough to know that marriage and life as a ‘grown-up’ isn’t that simple. There’s ups and downs and triumphs and hurdles, with lots of mediocre in between.

I’m far from unhappy in my marriage, but I’ve learned very quickly that it’s not always smooth sailing. For as quickly as we set sail in good weather, a storm appears on the horizon. But, thankfully the rough seas don’t last long, and the strong winds and our sturdy bow actually give us the strength to power through to blue skies.

So it was reassuring when I came across Benison Anne O’Reilly’s novel, ‘Happily Ever After?’.

If you’re a fan of chick lit by the likes of Cathy Kelly then I think you’ll love this book too. It’s particularly enjoyable if you like following female characters that are real and relate-able, despite being at times flawed.

Reading Happily Ever After? was like following the sagas you hear at the hairdressers or beauty salon – not too far-fetched and happened to ‘a friend of a friend of mine’. It was refreshing to read about characters that I could relate to, and without a plot that mirrored more fantasy than reality.

I really couldn’t put the book down. The kids probably watched a little (OK, a lot) too much TV that week!

As Ellie, the would-be princess, strives for a happily ever after of her own, she soon realises that married life is in no way the fairytale she once thought it might be. Throughout the novel she journeys us through her challenges and realities as a wife, working mother, daughter (and let’s not forget daughter-in-law).

Benison has expertly penned this novel with amazing realism. I had to check if it was an autobiography, as her descriptions of Ellie’s experiences and feelings seemed so truthful, accurate and real. I’m a huge fan!

An enticement…
When Isabel was about five months old mum called me one day to say she was coming over for a visit.

She made some tea and sat down across the kitchen table from me. Then, jiggling Isabel on her knee, she announced, ‘I have some news for you. I’ve handed in my resignation at work. I’m taking early retirement.’

‘Oh…but I thought you were planning to stay on for a couple of years so you could redo the bathroom.’

‘I can do without a new bathroom I’ve decided. What I can’t do without is a happy daughter. I’ve been watching you slowly sink these past few months, especially with Tony away – I’m still angry with him about that, I don’t care if it was a good opportunity. Anyway, I think it would be best if you went back to work and I will look after Isabel for you.’

‘Mum, I can’t ask you to do that.’

‘You didn’t ask, I volunteered.’

‘But then I might not bond with her.’

‘Oh rubbish. It’s not like she’d be sitting in a child care centre for hours on end, Eleanor. Just think – her grandmother will be looking after her. I’m pretty experienced at this caper. So what do you think?’

I took a gulp of milky tea as tears of relief dripped down my face. I had kept this guilty secret to myself for months, too scared to acknowledge the truth. My little daughter had been so longed for that it had seemed disloyal to admit that I hated my life. And how could I separate the profound love I had for this baby from my feelings of utter incompetence as a mother? ‘The authorities’ had unwittingly given me the responsibility for this tiny, deeply precious, life but I barely felt capable of looking after myself. Now finally the truth had been acknowledged: I was sinking. I didn’t have to pretend anymore. Who else but my mother could have sensed this?

‘No-one told me it would be like this Mum.’

‘No, no-one ever does, sweetheart. It’s a conspiracy to ensure the survival of the species. Having said that, Isabel is more demanding than most – but gorgeous aren’t you darling?’ she said, giving Issy a quick cuddle and smile to let her know there were no hard feelings. ‘Anyway, would you?’

I nodded. Now the tears flowed in earnest and Isabel was required to squish over so I could get a cuddle as well. I thought of all the times over the years when I complained about my mum being too bossy or too loud or too opinionated or even on occasion downright embarrassing, but I was reminded that day that she is also the nicest, kindest mum in the whole world.

Fiona’s book review originally appeared here.

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Fiona’s blog My Mummy Daze, is a wonderfully fun and honest blog which I’d love you all to visit. Fiona’s words are insightful, humourous, helpful and entertaining.

Thanks again Fiona for joining in with Be My Guest August.

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Why, hello world…

I am so happy to be back in the land of the living I could jump up and down!

On second thoughts, given my newly reconstructed mammaries (that’s something I never thought I’d type) I’m pretty sure dancing around might hurt a bit, so I’ll refrain. I’ll just grin a little instead.

Before I share with you what I’ve got planned for this month, I want to give the biggest shout-out possible to the staff at Casey Hospital.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this stage of my medical adventure; the hospital was a fair stint from home, I’d never been there before and I was quite nervous about going under the knife again. Right from the outset, the staff at Casey were without exception wonderful, and put my mind at ease.

The nursing staff of Ward A took such amazing care, knew their job so well, and were more than happy to have a little chuckle with me to lighten the mood. No one likes to spend time laid up, but these guys make it more than bearable. So, thanks Casey peoples, you’re super.

And now I’m pleased to say that I’m home sweet home. Moving a little slower than usual, but very happy to have a clear head and a little bit of time to do some reading and writing.

Because I’m not quite up to form and wont be able to go out much for the next couple of weeks, I’ve decided to make this month BE MY GUEST AUGUST. I am so excited to be able to include some really interesting new voices on TBYL! I’ve asked a few friends and fellow bloggers to share their thoughts on something that they’re loving at the moment – and I think it should make for a really colourful and fun-filled month of reviews.

I’ll start off Be My Guest August tomorrow with a book review from the wonderful Fiona of My Mummy Daze fame. She’ll share her thoughts on some fun chick lit.

I hope you’ll join me in hearing from my new friends, I’m very excited.

Pst…a big announcement coming in a couple of days too. Stay tuned (wink, wink).

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The Way of the Sword

Well, it’s the end of another couple of weeks of school holidays, and Evan has really enjoyed a bit of down time. It’s really wonderful having him home to hang out with, and I particular love seeing him curled up in the corner of the couch, on a cold winter’s day, devouring one book after another.

I’m finding it quite hard to keep up with his reading at the moment, he gets through books so quickly. He has recently raced through a couple more of the Young Samurai series, which he introduced us to a couple of months back.

He’s kindly put together a review of book 2 in the series, and I’m so pleased to be able to share it with you:

The Way of the Sword, by Chris Bradford
The Way of the Sword is the sequel to the first book The Way of the Warrior in the Young Samurai series and I could not resist reviewing this book seeing how I enjoyed the first book so much.

Just like I said with the first book, this is a book that keeps you reading from start to finish. I recommend this book for kids over 9. On the back cover it does say 11 plus – but I don’t think it’s that bad.

The series is about a boy named Jack Fletcher whose dad was killed by a ninja called Dokugan Ryu in a boarding while they were trying to find Japan in a trading ship called the Alexandra. Jack then gets found by a samurai called Takeshi Masamoto and is trained as a young samurai.

In this book it is Jack’s second year as a samurai in training and he trying to get into an ancient ritual called the Circle of Three which tests the young samurai’s skill, courage and spirit.

But at the same time he is in danger from the Scorpion Gang and their leader Kazuki. Still, this is not his biggest problem – he is now a target of his ninja enemy Dragon Eye.

Getting into the Circle of Three is essential for Jack’s survival and then being able to be taught by the highest-ranking master, Takeshi Masamoto, at his samurai school, so that he can learn the  invincible samurai technique, The Two Heavens.

If Jack does not learn this technique he will be easy prey for his enemies Kazuki and his gang and even more so, Dragon Eye.

I thought this book would be great and I was completely correct! I finished it in a mater of days because whenever I started reading I just couldn’t stop. Whenever I had spare time I was reading and I can promise you I’ll be reading the next one! This book is exiting, scary at times but most of all it’s compelling and it makes you want to buy the next book so you know what happens next. 

Given that he didn’t get his head out of this book until it was finished, I’d say Evan was pretty impressed with this novel. A very good way to keep a kid occupied for a couple of days!

And now I have to let him go back to school for another term. I’ll be counting down ’til the next break…

Letting off some steam

I was kind of surprised when Evan’s teachers decided that they were up to the challenge of taking a big group of ten and eleven year olds toCircus Oz - Steam Powered last week, but they’re a brave lot and took it on. It was the first time this year that the kids have been on an evening excursion, and of course the kids were all abuzz about being allowed out so late on a school night. Under fab supervision, they excitedly made their way to Birrarung Marr to hang out under the big top.

It’s been many years since I’ve been to the circus, but the thought of it always makes me feel a little flurry of excitement. One of my most vivid childhood memories is of being taken to the Great Moscow Circus in Launceston, an amazingly big deal for a small town Tassie girl.

As such, I would have quite enjoyed going to see the show myself, especially as I quite like the whole ‘steampunk’ theming that Circus Oz have gone with this tour, but I was pleased that Evan got to have a fun night out with his mates. I did pick his brain though, and he’s given me a bit of a run down on how it was…

What was the best thing about the performance?
The hilarity! I loved how they made it serious and exciting, but still hilarious to watch. My favourtite act was Fantasia Fitness, it was really funny how she kept falling over, saying that she meant to do it, and then doing sit-ups and push-ups [nothing like a bit of classic slap-stick, hey?].

Was it scary?
I got a bit nervous for the people doing the tricks, but it wasn’t really scary.

What were the costumes like?
They seemed a bit olden-days, they looked like the kind of the clothes that people wore lots of years ago, especially the hats.

What kind of acts did they have?
They had lots of different acts – juggling, lots of acrobats, a giant see-saw, some really weird magic acts, and a bike that kept falling apart.

Who do you think would enjoy the show?
An entire range of people, from young to old. There were lots of families there (including a Grandma who had pink hair) and they all seemed to have lots of fun.

Photo: Circus Oz

 

You can check out their promo video here, it’s pretty cool.

Circus Oz – Steam Powered is in Melbourne until July 17, and then moves on to tour Australia. You can find all the dates and details here.

 

On Evan's recommendation, it sounds like a pretty good fun night out.

When was the last time you went to the circus?

The Way of the Warrior

It’s taken Evan a while to find a new book series that he’s really keen on, since growing out of Adam Blade’s Beast Quest series.  He was an extremely dedicated reader of the series, and new editions did us well for many birthdays and Christmases. He’s enjoyed a few new books, like Troubletwisers which he reviewed a week or so ago and the old faithful Diary of a Wimpy Kid but they’ve not grabbed his fancy in quite the same way as his Beast Quest collection.

http://www.youngsamurai.com

That is until this week, when he discovered the Young Samurai series.  His clever dad Matt picked it for him, and Evan’s not stopped raving about it since he started reading The Way of the Warrior.  He’s even spent a record amount of time not playing the PS3 this week.

He’s been surprised by how easily he’s gotten through ‘the longest book he’s read’ and made mention of the fact that he’s learnt a lot of Japanese words – a pretty impressive achievement for a kid’s adventure book.

Once he finished the first book in the series yesterday, he was very keen to share his thoughts on it – here’s his review…

The Way of the Warrior, by Chris Bradford

The Way of the Warrior sees Jack Fletcher, a young rigging monkey on a boat called the Alexandria, with his dad.  They are searching for Japan when pirates attack the ship looking for his dad’s map. They kill his family and the crew. His Japanese journey of revenge and studying begins.

Jack has many friends by the end but it’s a tough road for this young English boy and to many people he is just a gaijan (outsider barbarian).

From the moment I picked this book up I couldn’t put it down and I ended up finishing it in under a week. It’s a great book about a boy with ascary, confusing and extraordinary adventure – you really need to read it. It has a series of 6 books by Chris Bradford.

I recommend this book to around people 9-14 and a bit older. I can’t wait to start reading the next in the series. Reviewed by Evan J  

Ev’s moved on to reading The Way of the Sword now and is working on tracking down the third book in the series.  He doesn’t do things in half-measures, that boy, and that puts a big smile on my face.