In the shop window you have promptly identified the cover with the title you were looking for. Following this visual trail, you have forced your way through the shop past the thick barricade of Books You Haven't Read, which were frowning at you from the tables and shelves, trying to cow you. But you know you must never allow yourself to be awed, ( Read more... )

Some amusing quotes about Australia from Oscar Wilde's work (one of my favourite playwrights.)

In Lady Windermere's Fan

DUCHESS OF BERWICK: Do you know, Mr. Hopper, dear Agatha and I are so much interested in Australia. It must be so pretty with all the dear little kangaroos flying about. Agatha has found it on the map. What a curious shape it ( Read more... )

"For writers, like children who have never quite grown up, life retains a quality of strangeness."
in Books of revelation, The Age A2, Saturday July 19 2008

Arguably the three best things in life, this is Alexander McCall Smith's sequel to The Sunday Philosopher's Club. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book, which made me laugh and on more than one occasion think about the daily moral dilemmas we face, although I was slightly disappointed by the ending. I hope there is another book in store. I thought I' ( Read more... )

I'm a quoteaholic, really I am. Ask anybody. Well, ask Gemini. I have a quote for just about every occasion. Quotes can be beautiful, inspiring, funny, uplifting or reassuring. I collect quotes like some people collect stamps.

This means there are several quotes I live by. As an optimist, I share Helen Keller's belief that "no pessimist ever ( Read more... )