State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett is best known for her award-winning novel Bel Canto and will no doubt attract further accolades for her stunning new novel set in the Amazon. The story begins in Minnesota when Marina Singh, an employee of a large pharmaceutical company, is dispatched by her boss to the wilds of Bra... (continued)

Calebs Crossing by Geraldine Brooks and Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

Review Gillian, Berkelouw Mona Vale I've been spending a lot of time in the past lately - not literally of course but in the past as conjured by two remarkable authors - David Mitchell and Geraldine Brooks. Between them they have transported me to Dejima in Japan in the late 18th century and to ... (continued)

Leo the Snow Leopard Isabella and Craig Hatkoff

Review Tineke, Berkelouw Mona Vale From the authors of Owen and Mzee, a new heartwarming true story comes in the form of Leo the Snow Leopard. This is a beautifully photographed book and well written story beginning at Leo's rescue as an orphan by a Pakistani shepherd and ending with him leading... (continued)

100 Cupboards ND Wilson

Review  Sarah, Berkelouw Mona Vale Henry is 12 years old.  After his parents are kidnapped, he goes to live with his Aunt Dotty, Uncle Frank and three cousins.  One night Henry wakes to the noise of his bedroom walls being scraped and after brushing the flaking plaster away, two h... (continued)

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley

Review by James, Berkelouw Mona Vale. This is the first part of a six volume series chronicling the life of Scott Pilgrim. The Canadian writer and cartoonist O'Malley has created a quirky, humorous and refreshing graphic novel.   23 year old slacker, Scott Pilgrim has just met the girl of... (continued)

When the Killing's Done By T C Boyle

Review by Gillian, Berkelouw Mona Vale. Alma Boyd Takesue works for the National Parks Service and leads campaigns to clear the islands off the coast of California from feral animals and reintroduce native species. Alma is a scientist, rational, highly methodical in her approach to her work, a s... (continued)

Brooklyn Colm Toibin

Reviewed by Shreya, Cronulla

This is a beautiful story about love, sacrifice and belonging. We are transported to Brooklyn in the 1950s where we see the world through the eyes of an innocent Irish girl, Eilis. This book will make you smile, it will make you cry and just when you think you know Eilis, she will su... (continued)

Princess Bride William Goldman

Reviewed by Ash, Cronulla

This spirited and exciting adventure story features all of the best parts of your classic fairytale with daring swordfights and a zoo of deadly creatures to boot! Told with a  playful sense of irony, Goldman captures a wonderful world of cheeky enchantment with surprises lurking... (continued)

Five Bells by Gail Jones

Review by Gillian, Berkelouw Mona Vale Gail Jones is bewitched by the beauty of Sydney Harbour and its glorious perimeter. During her recent talk at our store, Jones speculated that only an outsider could write a book so centred on the harbour articulating its dazzle unabashed and without qualif... (continued)

Summer Without Men Siri Hustvedt

Review Gillian, Mona Vale Store Mia and Boris are no ordinary couple. Mia is an award winning poet and Boris a world renowned neuroscientist. They have a daughter, Daisy, who aspires to be an actress. Their comfortable world is cracked open when Boris commences an affair with a white-coated coll... (continued)

Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve

Review by Steven, Berkelouw Eumundi The familiar Arthurian legend is turned on its head in this engaginglycynical version of the story. The year is 500 AD, or thereabouts. Britainhas been abandoned by the Romans, leaving its inhabitants to sort out theirown power struggles. The warlord Arthur is... (continued)

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Reviewed by Natalie, Cronulla

Edgy, street-smart action adventure from start to finish! Even if you mange to put this book down, your mind will be on the fate of the characters until you manage to snatch it up again. I had my greedy eye on the next book way before I finished the first. Though it's main charac... (continued)

Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper

Reviewed by Natalie, Cronulla

A clever blend of historical and imaginative fiction, this book is the canny and enchanting observations of 16 year old Sophie of life on her tiny island kingdom. You will be drawn right in and having happily taken her hand, you will be scrabbling right beside her at the books dramat... (continued)

Worldshaker by James Harland

Reviewed by Natalie, Cronulla

Both grim and amusing, Steam-punk style Worldshaker is a fast moving action adventure which sees Col, grandson of the Supreme Commander of the mighty Juggernaut city, encounter a disgusting Filthy, opening his eyes to the reality of all he has ever known. Great adventure, great read! ... (continued)

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Reviewed by James, Berkelouw Mona Vale Several years ago, with the interest in vampire fiction exploding (largely due to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series), I resolved to read the most famous of all vampire novels, Bram Stoker’s Dracula. What I experienced was one of the most wonderf... (continued)

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Reviewed by James, Berkelouw Mona Vale The world Eoin Colfer has created in his Artemis Fowl series is one that successfully combines fairy magic with high-tech espionage.   When Artemis Fowl, child genius and criminal mastermind discovers a fairy civilisation below ground, he decides to ... (continued)

Obama's Wars by Bob Woodward

Reviewed by Jake, Mona Vale Store Woodward's Obama's Wars illustrates the intense pressure of political decision making in the twenty-first century. Woodward, with incredible access to Obama and other senior White House and US military figures, brings to life Obama's turmoil over the decision to... (continued)

Odd and the Frost Giants By Neil Gaiman

Reviewed By James, Berkelouw Mona Vale Neil Gaiman is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. He can effortlessly engage readers across a wide age range with a style that is both contemporary and timeless.  The unexpected appearance of this book left me grinning in anticipation.   ... (continued)

Merry-Go-Round By the Sea by Randolph Stow

Reviewed By Gillian, Berkelouw Mona Vale I reread this book for two reasons - one being its re-release as a "Popular Penguin" and secondly because of the news of Randolph Stow's death in England.   The story begins in 1941 in the early years of WWII and is told from the point of vie... (continued)

We Had It So Good by Linda Grant

Reviewed By Gillian, Mona Vale Californian born Stephen Newman goes to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar having worked his passage as an errand runner on a luxury ship. He did this to appease his hard working immigrant dad who thought it was better to cash out the fare provided by the schola... (continued)