Category: Books and writers

Reading Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir

‘What’ is two plus two?’ With this thorny question, which our hero cannot answer, begins the epic space quest that will end all quests – especially if our hero (who doesn’t know who the heck he is) gets it wrong.

I got so caught up in this book that I missed my train stop twice. For me, this was a strange achievement for a novel packed with science. And what exciting science it is. Both the story and the science move faster than a detective thriller. Our hero must detect through rapid experiments and improvisations, not made any easier by being in the wrong gravity, how to survive. Next, there is the question of fulfilling his mission, if only he could remember what it was. And who he is.

This novel covers several themes: the story of trying to remember oneself after losing memory. The story of trying to work out just where that not-quite-remembered person actually is, and how that happened. And the reverse take on climate change.

In this story, the earth is going to cool down fast, too fast. I am going to quote a bit. I’m sure the author won’t mind -perhaps its even part of the reason he wrote the novel, for all I know. That and a love of science.

‘Nineteen years. That’s my estimate for when half the people now alive will be dead. .. The math of famine is easy. Take all the calories the world creates with farming and agriculture per day and divide by about 1500. The human population cannot be greater than the number .. The major crops are sensitive to temperature changes. Dr Leclerc, Ch. 14.

Dr Leclerc goes on in grim detail about how the messed up climate will mess up food production. The mission boss, Ms Statt, adds how once agriculture is disrupted, hungry populations go to war against one another for the remainder, causing further disruption to food production and thus intensifying the famines. So there it is: whether our climate cools down too fast, as in this fictional scenario, or warms up two or three degrees, as in our actual terrifying reality, bad things happen.

By now, everyone knows that it is also easily the best story ever written about meeting and communicating with an alien species.

This is not just Science Fiction; it is SCIENCE fiction. By the way, it turns out that high school science teachers rock. Just as well. It’s looking like only young scientists can save us.

I will leave you will a list of Very Important Scientific Equipment: String. Tape measure. Stop watch. Pen. Something to write on (or use your arm or a wall. Optional extras include sticky tape and popsicle sticks. Never get stuck in space without these essential items! Do you want to know why? Well, now you have to read the book, don’t you!

That movie? Movies are a visual medium and the maths and science and the careful working out of how to communicate with Rocky are over simplified. But that cannot be helped. In my view, the movie is a very good take on the story and uses visual elements brilliantly, not to mention the dead pan humorous body language of the star. An excellent movie based on a very good book.

You might also enjoy my revisit, after 50 years! to The Foundation Series by Issac Asimov.

Where to find the Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – who also wrote The Martian– which got turned into a movie with Matt Damon. Find it at Book Shop Org (supporting local bookshops) or at Waterstones. Or visit the sci-fi section of your revered local bookshop. The SCIENCE-fiction section, that is.

You are at Mark’s blog called Baffled Bear Books. Mark is a dark coffee tragic and bibliophile as well as the Guardian and blundering typist for Mawson Bear, Ponderer of Baffling Things and one of this bright world’s few published bears.

Cancer Daily Life, by Carola Schmidt, Illustrated by Rafael Antonio

Cancer Daily Life is a bittersweet collection of illustrations that readers highly involved in the C world can relate to, including friends and family of people with cancer.’ From back cover.

This short, colourful picture book finds the odd things, the weird things, and even the ironic things can bring a guarded smile, during cancer treatment. It’s a little something you could give a friend who is going through cancer, especially when you are lost for words to say to them yourself. (This certainly describes me.)

There are ironic reflections on the long days of feeling sick and lonely and terrible. There are little glimpses of the fears to be tackled and the fantasies conjured up during the hard hours of treatment. Recommended as a little splash of colour in the daily life of the “C” world.

Where to find Cancer Daily Life: Bookshop Org,  Amazon.

Carola Schmidt, the author, is a Pediatric Oncology Pharmacist and author of several scientific books on paediatric oncology. She wrote Chubby’s Tale: The True Story of a Teddy Bear Who Beat Cancer, illustrated by Frederico Schmidt. Mawson and his friends reviewed it here. Carola also wrote Bald is Beautiful: A Letter for a Fabulous Girl, a book about ‘about love, beauty, happiness, and friendship when going through various changes in our lives ‘. Find it at Amazon and Abebooks.

Rafael Antonio is an illustrator for games, books and comics.

Mark, your host at Baffled Bear Books, is guardian of writer-Bear Mawson. Of Mawson’s book It’s A Bright World To Feel Lost In ” was said, “Reading this book is like receiving a great big hug of reassurance and a huge hot chocolate with fluffy marshmallows.” Review by Lady Bracknell. Of Mawson’s She Ran Away From Love was said, “‘A magical little grand tour into the meaning of happiness.’ Sharrie Williams, Author of The Maybelline Story.

The Bad Bridesmaid, by Rachael Johns

Waylen: ‘Mum’s about to call you, and I thought I’d better give you a heads-up.’
Fred (aka Winifred): ‘Don’t tell me she’s got a new boyfriend.’
Waylene: ‘Worse. She’s getting married’.

So begins a desperate campaign by Fred, or Winifred as she hates to be called, to stop her mother, Tracy, marrying for the sixth time. She accepts being nominated as her mum’s Matron of Honour only because being on the spot will give her a better chance to stop what she feels is a terrible mistake. How far will she go to carry out her plot?

Rachel Johns novel the Bad Bridesmaid is avidly read by our romance loving bear, Lizbeth
Our in-house lover of romance, Lizbeth Bear, sets aside Sense and Sensibility to find out just how bad a bridesmaid can be

As we compulsively read on to find out why on earth Fred is so antagonist toward marriage generally and for her mother in particular, we are taken from Perth to Norfolk Island and even across to the world to London. Why has her mother married so often though? And isn’t Fred just a little too upset about her mother apparently finding happiness?

Fred is even writing a book called “21 Rules For Not Catching Feelings” in which the 21st rule (this is not a spoiler) is, ‘If anyone shows signs of attachment, end it immediately.’ When she meets her prospective brother-in-law, Leo, Fred is horrified to discover she might in fact be catching a feeling or two. Her Rule 21 faces a severe test.

Among the little treats for readers to love along the way are the descriptions of Norfolk Island where the wedding is planned to take place, the references to Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and to the old movie, The Parent Trap, and the fact that Fred works in a library and that her house mate is a rag doll cat called Aunty. (Go on, try resisting all that. You have to read it now, don’t you.)

Author Rachael Johns not only has 30 novels to her name but also hosts an online bookclub and does podcasts and library visits. I heard her speak at a local library and she is very entertaining. Her books tend to be corralled under the heading “Women’s Literature” but she herself prefers the term “Life Literature”. For a good example of an often sombre, thoughtful and satisfying read about serious issues faced in life, consider looking for her novel, “The Greatest Gift” which revolves around issues of infertility and egg donation. This bloke really recommends that one.

Where to find The Bad Bridesmaid

All Rachael’s books can found through Rachael Johns own website . You can also listen to audio extracts there. They are available on all the big on-line retailer sites and in actual bookshops too. Print, Audio, and Ebook formats are available. I suggest getting a copy or several in print because after reading them, you are going to want to press them on to your friends so they can enjoy them too.

Your host, Mark, is Mawson Bear’s Guardian, photographer, editor, blundering typist, chocolates fetcher and cushions re-arranger. Mawson’s own Blog is Mawson, A Writer-Bear for Our Befuddled Times.
Baffled Bear Books ABN: 4787910119.

A gentle book about that Lost and Crumpled feeling: It’s A Bright World To Feel Lost In

Have you ever felt all alone on the world’s wide floor. And no-one’s said what for. Nor if you can be found? That lost feeling can crumple you anywhere.

It would be grand to be found by, well, Someone. But how does that happen? Does anyone know? Is anyone there?

‘Reading this book is like receiving a great big hug of reassurance and a huge hot chocolate with fluffy marshmallows.’ Lady Bracknell, review on Amazon

It’s A Bright World To Feel Lost In is a book about optimism, searching for new adventures, and making the most of life and love. Review on Goodreads by Debbie Young, author of Sophie Sayer Mysteries.

“Ready comparisons can be made to the giants of literary beardom, such as Paddington and Winnie the Pooh”. Review by Joey Madia.

‘Mawson is a precious teddy  who should be a staple read on every little one’s bookshelf. He certainly has a home on ours.  I know he certainly inspired my own inner child.’ Lyndie, Bookaholic reviews. 

After The Bloodwood Staff, by Laura E Goodin: A fun riff on adventure books

‘If you’re thinking that I’m just a middle-aged woman who should stay at home with her cats and her book club for a couple of decades until its time to go into a hospice and die, then you can think again.’ (Sybil in Chapter One.)

So, its been another dreary week of blah work and same-old, same-old, has it? You deserve something for yourself. So you head to a book shop (of course) seeking an old time adventure, a ripping yarn, a tale of deering do and plucky heroes, a tale that involves absolutely no commuter trains and no grey-walled offices. Oh look, here’s one with a cover of a faded mustard colour and the title, After The Bloodwood Staff by Laura E. Goodwin, printed in enticing Art Nouveau font. Oh, this looks perfect.

‘Why would you want me along? Fat, unemployed, out of shape.. how would I stand up to pirates or savages or wild beasts or even leeches? …. The thought of trudging through a jungle picking leeches off his private’s and drinking blood from a cut on the neck of his pack horse .. ‘ ( Chapter One In Which Hoyle Meets An Adventurer.)

You start to read. The main character, Hoyle, enters a bookshop (good man; already you like him) after his pretty dreadful week. He selects an obscure vintage 19th Century adventure novel called After The Bloodwood Staff which has a cover of faded mustard colour and a title printed in enticing Art Nouveau font .. (Umm, what?) .. But a woman snatches it from his hands. This is Sybil who has convinced herself that it contains a Vital Clue to a mysterious artefact.

Next thing Hoyle knows, he is travelling to a far flung land (Australia) to trudge through gum-tree-jungles alive with creepy birds (kookaburras) in search of the artefact described in the vintage novel, the ‘Bloodwood Staff’. It’s a bizarre journey for a soft middle-aged city dweller to set out on with someone he barely knows. But then again, why not?

‘What is this, Lord of the Rings? he thought irritably. Be careful what you wish for. You wanted an adventure? You wanted to do something meaningful? Well, here you go.‘ (Hoyle in Chapter 21).

In this twist on the classic vintage yarn, with chapter headings like ‘In Which Things Go Badly Wrong’ and ‘In Which The Anarchists Descend Into Anarchy’, the redoubtable Sybil leads Hoyle and Ada, a foul mouthed ‘urchin’ from Sydney, into one predicament after another. We get kidnappings, hideouts, bad-guys, murders, daring rescues, mad evil villains, mysterious ancient powers, and even romance! It’s all here, the adventure that is going to take you away from that working day dreariness, at least for an afternoon. You might even close the book wondering, as I did, whether to just leave your present existence behind and charge off on a crazy adventure yourself. I mean, apart from the leeches, why not?

After The Bloodwood Staff is published by Odyssey Books.

Also from Laura E Goodwin is the fun romp, Mud and Glass, packed with conspiracies and mayhem on a university campus. I loved this madcap book. Just a couple of of the lessons I took from it are – do not underestimate librarians, and never order a cup of macadamia-chilli ice-cream, even if you do want to ‘feel more alive’. See more about it in my review.

Mark is guardian and blundering typist for Mawson, one of this bright world’s few published bears. Mawson is the writer-bear of It’s A Bright World To Feel Lost In and She Ran Away From Love. 

‘A magical little grand tour into the meaning of happiness’. Review about She Ran Away by Sharie Williams, Author of The Maybelline Story.

The Esme Trilogy: Esme’s Gift, by Elizabeth Foster

‘A parade of craft cruised the lagoon: gilt-edged ferries and gondolas in jewel-like colours – dazzling blues, crimsons, emerald greens. Sea dragons looped above the rooftops, twisting their sinuous forms … . Esme’s Gift Ch. 3.’

Mark, guardian of Mawson Bear says: Oh dear, our world is not in its finest shape right now, is it? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be elsewhere. Fortunately, I have to hand Esme’s Gift, the sequel to Esme’s Wish and I can plunge once more into this other world and see again the towers of the city of Esperance and the siren islands of Aeolia.

Esme’s Wish follows on after Esme returns to Aeolia. The evil Nathan Mare is at large and intent on finding the secret knowledge entrusted to her. But in the classrooms and library of Pierpont school she can find friends and allies. And what a library it is.

‘(Ancient gondalas) repurposed into shelves, lined the library’s walls … No longer fit to carry passengers, they now carried books to the shores of the readers’ minds. Esme’s Gift Ch. 12.’

Esme must gather the strange ingredients of the only elixir that can save her mother. To obtain these elements takes all her courage and all the combined gifts and powers of her friends. But some people are not who they seem to be, and the tension never lets up.

Esme’s Wish and Esme’s Gift are written by Elizabeth Foster with the ‘Young Adult’ audience in mind. But if you happen to be older (after all, some of us have yet to find a potion to wind back the years – and if the high risk alchemical experiments in Esperance are anything to go by, we should stay well away from any such potions or concoctions, or who knows what could happen!) .. if you are an older reader who loves beguiling fantasy worlds and tales of ghosts and of quests into caverns guarded by monsters and ghouls, and if you also don’t object to dragons .. The books of the Esme trilogy will be a treat for you.

Reading of Esperance in Aeolia, a realm of seas, islands, lagoons, oh – and dragons.

Where to find this other world: Esme’s Gift is published by Odyssey Books, a small press where ‘books are an adventure’. You can immerse yourself in this trilogy by looking at Amazon at Barnes and Noble, and more. You can see more about Esme’s search for her mother and about the author, Elizabeth Foster, at GoodReads.

Your host, Mark, is Mawson Bear’s Guardian, photographer, editor, blundering typist, chocolates fetcher and cushions re-arranger. Baffled Bear Books ABN: 4787910

Girl In The Attic, by Dan Djurdjevic

‘She’d checked her room three times and yes, the lock on her door was fastened .. She was safe. She finally felt her self drifting off to sleep. Until she heard a cough – a girl’s cough- coming from the attic.’

Rose’s dad quarrelled with both Rose and her mother and then abruptly left home. That was three years ago. About then her mum started drinking. Rose herself has been shoplifting, taking useless things that she doesn’t even want. She got punished by her mum by having to sleep up in the attic but that didn’t stop that urge. By the third offence Rose was in big trouble with the judge and forced to see a pyschiatrist as part of the sentence. The shrink seems to be suggesting that something is very, very wrong with her.

Rose is scared. Scared of her lapses of memory about the hours when, according to the friends she is fast losing, she has behaved completely out of character. And she is scared of the sounds coming from the attic.

What is the secret of the attic?

In this easily readable, well paced novel, author Dan Djurdevic spans a number of ‘difficult issues’ confronted by young people – and by older ones too! Compulsive behaviours such as gambling, getting tangled up in the justice system, being harshly judged by friends and badly treated by employers, feeling that no one is listening to you, no one believes in you. But these matters don’t bog you down. Rather, in this story, they flow into each other, all necessary elements of the mystery that keeps you reading on. I am so tempted to add a spoiler somewhere here, even a little one. But with restraint I will simply say – you don’t get your resolution until the last page! Read on.

From the back cover: A young adult mystery that explores themes of compulsive behaviour, addiction, the importance of family, the nature of chance and how choices shape your destiny.

Where to find this book:
Amazon: Girl In The Attic (Note that you can read this for free with Kindle Unlimited membership just now).

More mysteries from Dan Djurdevic:
Amazon: The Mirror Image of Sound, Nights of The Moon, The Shadow of Dusk.

My review of The Mirror Image Of Sound is here.

You are at Baffled Bear Books, brought to you by Mark, who is Guardian and blundering typist for Mawson Bear, one of this bright world’s few published bears. Mawson is the writer bear of It’s A Bright World To Feel Lost In and of She Ran Away From Love and of Dreamy Days and Random Naps.

A reading of Chubby’s Tale, The true story of a teddy bear who beat cancer

#Cancer #Kids #Teachers #ReadAloud #AmReading #ChildhoodCancer #Pediatrics #Oncology #Hematology Yay! The fabulous Joey and Tony Madia did a wonderful, super cute reading of Chubby’s Tale: The true story of a teddy bear who beat cancer in their channel Saturday Morning Story Time Live. Check this out! A huge thank you to Joey and Tonya!

A full reading of Chubby by Carola’s fav actors!

Yay! The fabulous Joey and Tony Madia did a wonderful, super cute reading of Chubby’s Tale: The true story of a teddy bear who beat cancer in their channel Saturday Morning Story Time Live. Check this out! You can see the Youtube of their reading and learn all about Chubby by clicking this link.

We also reviewed Chubby’s Tale right here too. We follow Chubby’s brave journey. The chemotherapy makes some of his hair fall out. Oh dear, who will take home from the shop a teddy with bald patches?  How does it all work out?  Well, that’s all in this book which I (and Mawson and his friends) recommend highly.

Where to find Chubby’s Book:  Amazon (And it’s FREE. to read on Kindle Unlimited.) You can also follow Chubby on Facebook. You can also make your own Chubby! See this link. To see just one of the lovely reviews, see this link.

The author, Carola Schmidt, is a Pediatric Oncology Pharmacist and also author of several scientific books on paediatric oncology.

A Cape, A Rock and A Murder

Ruth Finlay Mysteries Book 3 About A Cape, A Rock and A Murder When Ruth lets her neighbour and sidekick Doris accompany her on a trip to Cape Bridgewater, an idyllic coastal location known for its pristine natural beauty, the last thing she expects to find is a body. With a feature to write and […]

A Cape, A Rock and A Murder

Isobel Blackthorn is author of the Canary Island quartet, which has received glowing reviews incuding The Drago Tree, A Matter of Latitude and Clarissa’s Warning.You can see my review on this blog of The Perfect Square, which is a meditation on art and artists. Her dark fiction includes Twerk and The Legacy of Old Gran Parks and Cabin Sessions. Her collections of stories includes, All About You, Eleven Tales of of Refuge and Hope.

Facing Africa, by Isobel Blackthorn

“Facing Africa had me quietly rooting for a sweet outcome beneath all that blazing sky and swirling dust” – Henry Roi About Facing Africa Fuerteventura, 1901. The island, just off the coast of Africa, is in the grip of a severe drought. As merchant and journalist Javier Morales campaigns to reforest the island, Famara, the […]

Facing Africa

Click on the above to read more about this book. You can see my reviews and details of more of Isobel Blackthorn’s books right here on this web den.

Isobel Blackthorn is author of the Canary Island quartet, which has received glowing reviews incuding The Drago Tree, A Matter of Latitude and Clarissa’s Warning.You can see my review on this blog of The Perfect Square, which is a meditation on art and artists. Her dark fiction includes Twerk and The Legacy of Old Gran Parks and Cabin Sessions. Her collections of stories includes, All About You, Eleven Tales of of Refuge and Hope.