Issue 105

Sim

Marley & Me by John Grogan

I’ve been psyching myself up for this book for at least a year now. I was attracted to it immediately (due to once owning a beautiful yellow Labrador), but have managed to avoid it because I knew it would result in many, many tear-soaked pages. I finally built up the courage to read it and I adored it. I have never laughed so much while reading a book. I’ve also never cried so much about a book. For the record, I did laugh more than I cried though

Marley & Me is the true tale of John and Wendy Grogan and their life with an exuberant and large Labrador. It is the most wonderfully written book I have read in a long time. I found myself nodding along the way, remembering the things (both the good and naughty) that my dog used to do. I also found myself reminiscing about the times with my puppy, and it was like a lovely reminder.

I encourage everyone with a Labrador to read this book. I encourage everyone with a dog to read it too. And if you’re thinking about buying a puppy, you’ll have fun reading it too.

Tim

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

I picked this book up when I was looking for something to read on holidays. I saw that it had received plenty of critical acclaim, so thought it should make a pretty good read. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
                                                               
The Corrections is meant to be a comic, tragic masterpiece about a thoroughly dysfunctional family getting together for one last Christmas. Instead it’s a dreary, depressing book with a host of irritating characters that are almost impossible to identify with. Try as I might, I could not get into this book. Not recommended.

Carly

Travellers’ Tales: Stories from the ABC’s Foreign Correspondents Compiled by Trevor Bormann

This is a great book to evoke your sense of adventure whilst on the road.
Travellers’ Tales are intriguing real life accounts from Australian Foreign Correspondents in various war-torn, far-flung, third world countries. They provide an insight of events that may not have made the news, and an idea of what happens behind closed doors.

It is crazy to see what these people go through to “get a good story”, but does re-enforce the fun that can be had off the beaten track.

Although the stories seem at times quite dang
erous, it will leave you grateful for your quiet, safe and peaceful surroundings of the Aussie outback. Highly recommended for those interested in foreign politics, as well as adventure.