Other books that might interest you

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  Being There - Backstories from...

  Tony Leon

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  ‘On Sunday 2 June 2024, I received a phone call that propelled me again into the swirl of a political drama, with plenty of subplots and prima donnas and lesser villains. In just four weeks, it changed the course of the country.’ 
  In Being There, Tony Leon goes behind the scenes, reflecting on how history is made, both here and around the world, through his unique mixture of anecdote and informed opinion. His vantage point ranges from a ringside seat in the formation of the government of national unity (GNU) – recounted in detail here for the first time – to close encounters with the likes of Harry Oppenheimer, Yasser Arafat and Boris Johnson, and reappraisals of FW de Klerk, Nelson Mandela and Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Leon writes of the dangers of modern politics, from the purgatory of social media to the perils of political fundraising in tough times. The challenge of leadership, in a world often led by populist grifters, runs like a golden thread through the book. Leon reflects on the nostalgia we often feel, through pain and pride, for childhood and schooldays, and the many ‘what-ifs’ that inform a well-lived and varied life on the frontlines of South Africa. Written with his customary blend of humour and flair, and with an eye to the future and what the present and the past can tell us about it, Being There is both important and highly readable

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  Growing Up Torres Strait...

  Samantha Faulkner

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  A journey through Torres Strait Islander culture and identity, past and present 
   
  "My people are expert navigators, adventurers, innovators, ambassadors, teachers, storytellers, performers, strategists, chefs and advocates for change. The blood runs deep when I reflect on the past and the present and imagine what our future might look like." —Leilani Bin-Juda 
   
  What makes Zenadth Kes/Torres Strait unique? And what is it like to be a Torres Strait Islander in contemporary Australia? Growing Up Torres Strait Islander in Australia, compiled by poet and author Samantha Faulkner, showcases the distinct identity of Torres Strait Islanders through their diverse voices and journeys. 
   
  Hear from emerging and established writers from both today and the recent past, including Eddie Mabo, Thomas Mayo, Aaron Fa'Aoso, Jimi Bani, Ellie Gaffney, Jillian Boyd-Bowie and Lenora Thaker. These and many more storytellers, mentors, traditional owners, doctors and teachers from the Torres Strait share their joy, culture, good eating, lessons learned and love of family, language and Country. 
   
  Discover stories of going dugong hunting and eating mango marinated in soy sauce. The smell of sugar cane and frangipani-scented sea breeze. Family, grandmothers and canoe time. Dancing, singing, weaving hats and making furniture from bamboo. Training as a doctor and advocating for healthcare for the Torres Strait. The loneliness of being caught between two cultures. Mission life, disconnection and being evacuated to the mainland during World War II. "Is that really your mum? Why is she black?". Not being Islander enough. Working hard to reconnect to your roots, and claiming back land and culture. 
   
  A book to treasure and share, this groundbreaking collection provides a unique perspective on the Torres Strait Islander experience. 
   
  With contributions by: Ellen Armstrong, Tetei Bakic, Jimi Bani, Leilani Bin-Juda, Jillian Boyd-Bowie, Tahlia Bowie, Aaliyah Jade Bradbury, John Doolah, Donisha Duff, Aaron Fa'Aoso with Michelle Scott Tucker, Ellie Gaffney, Velma Gara, Jaqui Hughes, Adam Lees, Rhett Loban, Thomas Lowah, Edward Koiki Mabo with Noel Loos, Thomas Mayo, Lenora Thaker, Sorren Thomas, Ina Titasey as told to Catherine Titasey, Lockeah Wapau and Daniella Williams.

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  Deep Waters - A Memoir of Loss...

  Beth Ann Mathews

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  In this intimate story of relationship resilience, marine biologist Beth Mathews’s adventurous life as a professor and mother in Alaska is upended when her healthy husband is slammed by a rare type of stroke. Jim’s radical approach to recovery clashes with Beth’s instinct to keep him safe at home and sets them on a collision course as he insists on ambitious sailing expeditions with Beth and their young son in Alaska’s magnificent yet unforgiving waters.

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  Alpine Divorce An - From their...

  Robert Barr

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  Robert Barr was born in Glasgow, Scotland on the 16th September 1849.  Five years later the family emigrated to a farm near Muirkirk in Upper Canada.  
  His early years were uneventful as the family settled into their new lives and Barr began his education. 
  A career path as a teacher opened up for him and, by 1874, he had been appointed as headmaster at the Central School at Windsor.  Concurrently he also wrote travel and humourous articles for magazines.  Within two years their success in the regional periodicals encouraged him to change careers to become a reporter and columnist. 
  In August 1876, at age 27, he married Eva Bennett and they began a family. 
  A half decade later he was the exchange editor of the ‘Free Press’ but decided to relocate to London to establish an English edition and to write fiction, which both met with much success. 
  Over the years he was a prolific writer and in 1892, along with Jerome K Jerome, he established ‘The Idler’ magazine and, just after the turn of the century, became its sole proprietor. 
  Although a number of his crime novels and short stories are parodies on Sherlock Holmes and other best-selling detectives of the time, he also wrote short stories across a whole range of subjects and genres usually with intriguing ideas and many laced with wit and humour. 
  Robert Barr died at his home in Woldingham, Surrey of heart disease on the 21st October 1912.  He was 63.

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  Moe & Me - Encounters with Moe...

  Lorne Rubenstein

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  Globe and Mail golf columnist Lorne Rubenstein has authored multiple acclaimed books and had his work featured in major golf publications. Moe & Me is a riveting exploration of the life of Moe Norman, known for his unusual swing on the course - and his crippling insecurity and introverted nature off of it.

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  Honest Thief An - A Tale of...

  Fyodor Dostoevsky, Tim Zengerink

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  What if a thief turned out to be the most honest man of all? 
  An Honest Thief by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a short story packed with emotional depth, moral tension, and haunting confession.  
  When a kind-hearted narrator takes in a struggling drunkard as a tenant, a story of loss, guilt, and quiet nobility unfolds.  
  Through simple dialogue and profound emotion, Dostoevsky invites us to reconsider what makes a person truly honorable. 
  What you'll discover inside: 
  - A Portrait of a Haunted Soul – The strange case of a man whose petty crime masks deeper wounds. 
  - A Tale of Unexpected Redemption – A moving revelation that challenges ideas of morality and worth. 
  - A Timeless Moral Dilemma – The story forces us to ask: Can there be honesty in wrongdoing? 
  - A Modern Adaptation – Carefully translated and reformatted for today’s listener without losing its philosophical weight. 
  Perfect for fans of thought-provoking literature, this audiobook delivers a stirring reflection on what it means to be human.

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