Book Review...Beatrix Potter - Artist & Illustrator

By Anne Stevenson Hobbs

As I have been sick the last four or five days, I have had some time to read, and this one caught my eye in the library not because I am a fan of her writing, but because I had watched a Sunday Theatre film about the life of her (Miss Potter, starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor) and it was fascinating.

And to the book, well I read it in a day. Not that it had much written words as such as it is a book show piecing a lot of her work, but the footnotes to each picture make for some interesting stories and facts. The show stealer however is the art, and what an artist she was!

From her Tales of... series with Peter Rabbit, Jeremy Fisher, Jemima Puddleduck, and all their friends, there were also other prints, sketches and paintings of houses, landscapes, and people.

She was also commissioned to do detailed lithographs for museums, universities and libraries on selected flora and fauna as well as art for other famous writers of her time. Add to this her Greeting card art she dabbled in, plus the countryside she owned (she bought up just about every farm in her favourite region and bred champion sheep), she was undoubtedly a larger than life woman.

For anyone interested in art or Beatrix Potter (it does touch on the biographical here and there) this is a great little read...and the kids will love it too. It has gotten me interested in reading her books I must admit.

Book Review...Sink The Belgrano - Mike Rossiter

Now I had made a concerted effort to move away from war ditty's for a while, but this jumped out at me in the library and I had to read it, especially as not too long ago I had read two submarine books which made reference to this story. I had high hopes for it, mainly as it wasn't written by an American so there was not likely to be any flowery references and Hollywood style descriptions. And I wasn't disappointed, however considering the title, there is little about the Belgrano and the Conqueror (the sub who sunk her) and their actual battle as it tends to provide a more historical lead in about the Falklands/Ilas Malvinas and the political and Defence strategy. But even so, these tit bits of information are invaluable to getting the whole story pieced together as well as creating more and more tension as the moment nears.
Unlike previous storys I had read, this covered off very well witness accounts from both the British and Argentinian forces, and those firing the torpedoes, and those left swimming in the drink, and unlike other tales, a lot came from the the ratings, not ranking or commanding officers which had a good truthful spin on it.
It is very well written, and so easy to read - I read it within four days, just couldn't put it down. And other than some 'stock standard' photos in it, there are a few that I had never seen and some curious ones thrown in as light humour.

It isn't quite a Pursuit, Operation Cerberus or Battle of Jutland in tension, dramatics, or historical longevity, but a gripping tale that once again had me thinking, "How the hell did we win?"

Book Review...Minstrels in the Gallery - A History of Jethro Tull



The incomparable Ian Anderson - this book is more
on him than anything, but then that's who Tull are.


You're either a Tull fan or not is how it goes...well, I am however I wouldn't say I own every album or book released like the fans portrayed in this book, but have a couple of CDs nevertheless. Being a fan specifically of Mick Abraham and Martin Barre, knowing and listening to Tull in the eighties as a teen was more an "in your face" at people who were more intent on Spandau Ballet or Flock Of Seagulls et al...

But they are a great band, of that there is not doubt but it will not suit everyone, however I bet nearly everyone will recognise (and rock to) the big hits such as Locomotive Breath, Thick as a Brick, and of course Aqualung.

But for someone interested in knowing more about the enigma that is Tull, more so Ian Anderson, listening to their music might be more informative than reading this book; this might be better suited to a die-hard fan as an appendix to almost everything they did. But in saying that, it had some great insights into the band and the man but came across too much as a resource book than a biography.

Unfortunately the photo section was lacking in anything eye catching considering some of the stories mentioned in the book not to mention they have toured almost annually since the 70s, and the discography and complete tour dates consolidated my belief this is a reference book.

Worth a read for some of the background, but not really a source of a great story considering it is on one of the great Heavy Rock/Folk bands going round.

Book Review...Farewell My Ovaries by Wendy Harmer

OK, this was actually a book I got out for Katie for her to read while in Wellington last week...but due to obvious events she never got to read it (even on the plan where some guy droned on and on and on).

So, seeing it sit there on her bedside table gathering dust, feeling unloved and unwanted, I thought, "hey, why not?" I had just finished a book so figured I could spit another out in a few days before it was due back.

Well, to give you an idea on what this is about, here is a portion from the jacket;

Claire Wallace has decided to throw her ovaries a farewell party - one wild night of unbridled lust before she says goodbye to all that.
This time it will be everything she has always imagined. This time she knows exactly how it will go. She's old enough, she's earned it.
But can you plan passion? And what's love got to do with it?



At this point I should point out that I have read all of Marian Keyes' books (Watermelon and Sushi For Beginners being favourites), and this one, in the same sort of chick-flick style was different. Written by an Aussie, there is no holding back on what people are actually thinking...and doing! Be prepared for blatantly frank descriptions of sex, just like reading a Penthouse Forum, and for that a few blokes might read it. But it was funny, in that style that only an Aussie could harness.

She has done other books, and I might consider getting one out...FYI, Katie is now determined to read it.

Book Review...Shark!

The actual title to this is Shark! Killer Tales From The Dangerous Depths - by Robert Reid



The title page offered
\much,  but the book
didn't really deliver


In a concerted effort to a) avoid watching the TV and listening to the radio and b) drink myself to death, I have forced myself to read to get my mind off recent events. This one looked like a good book to read, and a break from the more recent books about subs and so forth I have been reading about (although, my next book is another sub one!).

This book is based on sharks tales around Australia, although it does make mention to the US and Papua New Guinea on frequent occasions. It starts with interviews with those who are in the 'trade' - from the conservationists such as Rodney Fox, to the film makers such as Ron and Valerie Taylor, to those who hunt them like Vic Hislop. Some of these reads are OK, if a little disjointed, but does set you up for more in-depth looks later on.
It then has a section dedicated to killer sharks, especially the 'big three' which again seemed disjointed and movie scripted.


What??? Now they f--ken fly too!!!

The photo section was both small and very disappointing - most were of some of the people in the first section in their twilight years. Not one of shark attacks and buggar all on the sharks themselves which seemed odd considering they were the reasons for the book. The next section started to get better, it outlined some of the shark attacks around Australia, state by state (which didn't make sense, felt like it was a Tourist Guide, "come to Tassie, we have less shark attacks than anywhere!") but some gripping accounts on shark attacks, both fatal and those who survived. This lead into some of the bigger stories about the more amazing shark attack survivors such as Rodney Fox and Brian Rodger. But the last section to me was the most informative, and best told - bizarre tales about sharks and shark attacks including the famous "Arm in the Shark Murder Mystery", "The Shark Papers" and facts on lesser known sharks, such as the Cookie Cutter Shark.

Not a first pick as such, not sure what other books are out specific to attacks, but I will find one for comparison.

2.5 out of 5.