To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Popular Penguin books, Penguin has released another 75 titles to bring the total number of books in this series to 174.

I’m a big fan of the Popular Penguins, particularly because they make classic and quality books available at an affordable price. The books are available at most Australian bookshops for around $9.95 and I have recently spotted titles at Big W for around $7. As far as I’m concerned, the only thing better than buying a good book, is buying a good book at a bargain price.

With the publication of the new titles, I’ve decided to revive my Popular Penguins Reading Challenge. It’s a perpetual challenge, so there is no time pressure. More than anything, I’m using this challenge as a way to motivate myself to pick up a classic occasionally and broaden my reading horizons.

If you would like to join in, you can sign up to the challenge at my Popular Penguins Reading Challenge post, where you can leave a link your sign-up post and come back to include links to any reviews you write of Popular Penguins titles. There is also a link to a spreadsheet that you can copy to keep track of your progress reading through the 174 Popular Penguins titles.

For a fun way to connect with the new titles, check out the competition running via the Australian Popular Penguins website. Match all 75 party guests with the book titles they represent and you’ll be entered into the competition to win 75 Popular Penguins of your choice plus a Mark Tuckey bookshelf to store them on. (Competition closes midnight, Monday 16th August 2010.)

How many of  the 174 Popular Penguins have you already read? What’s your favourite book from the Popular Penguins titles and what authors/titles would you like to see them include in the future?

Summary (Popular Penguins website)

Over the course of his short life, John Keats (1795-1821) honed a raw talent into a brilliant poetic maturity.  This wide-ranging selection of Keats’s poetry contains youthful verse, such as his earliest known poem ‘Imitation of Spenser‘; poems from his celebrated collection of 1820 – including ‘Lamia‘, ‘Isabella‘, ‘The Eve of St Agnes‘, ‘Ode to a Nightingale‘ and ‘Hyperion‘ – and later celebrated works such as ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci‘.

Comments
My preferences for poetry are a little like my preferences for artwork – I know what I like with very little understanding of what makes it enjoyable. With both, it’s all about what appeals to the senses and my own personal tastes.

Along with Wordsworth, Coleridge and Donne, Keats is one of my favourite poets. I studied some of his poems at school, but I don’t remember it ever being mentioned that he was so young when he died – only 25 years old. It is incredible that he wrote odes and sonnets of such beauty at such a young age.

This Popular Penguins collection of Keats poems includes favourites such as Ode to a Grecian Urn, La Belle Dame sans Merci and Ode to a Nightingale. There is a brief, interesting introduction, a selection of Keats’ work including a small collection of light-hearted and nonsense poems and excerpts from letters written by Keats to family and friends.

Reading through this short book has rekindled my love of classic poetry. I might have to track down a copy of the Popular Penguin edition of Shakespeare’s sonnets and lobby to have the works of Coleridge, Donne and Wordsworth included in the next list of titles they release.

Review Copy Details
Title: Poems of John Keats (Popular Penguins)
Author: John Keats
Publisher: Penguin, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-14-119495-0
Genre: Poetry

Summary (from Walker Books Australia website)

‘We Are What We Do’ are a movement whose aim is to inspire people – in this case, children – to use their everyday actions to change the world. Their maxim is: small actions x lots of people = big change. It’s not rocket science but it does work! The actions in the book – including one brand new knitting action – are fun and easy for children to do but add up to making a big difference. It gives children the responsibility for changing the world, one bit at a time.

Comments

This book is a fantastic implementation of a great concept – that big changes are brought about by lots of small actions. I love that the actions suggested in this book are so achievable and cover issues that kids can relate to. There are fun examples like teaching your gran how to text and more practical ones like growing your own vegetables and taking shorter showers.

To me the highlight of this book isn’t the actions, as great as they are, it is the fact that this book encourages kids to connect with other people. It encourages them to make others smile, to give compliments, to talk with others and to be positive about themselves and their potential. In a world where there is so much disconnection within families and communities, I think that this is a fantastic and very timely message.

I think it also has a much more significant impact. It is very hard to get someone to care about what is happening on the other side of the world to people that will never meet if they don’t even know what is happening to their neighbours and friends. Encouraging kids to think and care about their own circle of family and friends prepares them to step out to influence people beyond that circle when the opportunity arises.

I think that this fantastic book is a great idea for anyone who wants to encourage their kids to think more about their actions and the impact they can have in their world, whether that means being more positive and involved at school or working to protect the environment.

Check out the We Are What We Do website for more action ideas and information about the UK We Are What We Do organisation.

Review Copy Details
Title: 31 Ways to Change the World
Author: We Are What We Do
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-40632-7-809
Genre: Non-Fiction, Social change, Community development

Related Links

• Review of 31 Ways to Change the World at Suite101
  

Summary (from Australian Geographic Education website)

Jump aboard the campervan with Taha, an Australian boy of Greek heritage, and his mum. They’re off on a journey of discovery that’s going to lead them to some of our country’s most fascinating places and interesting locals.

Taha’s adventures make compelling reading for all young explorers, and while their engrossed in tales of Taha and his mischievious ways, they’ll also learn about the geography, local industry, history and culture of each region – a new location in every book – that Taha visits.

Comments

This is a fun new series about Australian geography and culture for primary school kids. Taha is a fun character with a great sense of humour and an eye for interesting people and places as he travels around Australia with his mother in their campervan.

My older kids have read the first four books in this series and enjoyed them. There are some great facts included in the story as well as lots of great illustrations and photos of the places Taha visits. The format of the books is great – lots of variety with presentation of information and very visually appealing.

The first four books in the series are available now, with two additional titles to be published in both September and November. These books would be a great classroom resource and the Australian Geographic Education website has teacher resources for the series available.

I’m looking forward to the next four books, although I’m disappointed that the series is so short with only eight titles. I think it’s great that they avoid focusing on the major capital cities and instead feature some country towns and more remote areas, but there are so many great areas that missed out – including my hometown of Newcastle.

Review copy details
Title: Our Australia series
Author: Phil Kettle
Publisher: Australian Geographic, 2010
ISBN:

• Our Australia #1: Mildura (ISBN: 978-0-980710330-5, 128 pages)
• Our Australia #2: Broken Hill (ISBN: 978-0-98071-331-2, 128 pages)
• Our Australia #3: Longreach (ISBN: 978-0-98071-332-9, 128 pages)
• Our Australia #4: Alice Springs (ISBN: 978-0-98071-333-6, 128 pages)

Genre: Children’s Fiction/Non-Fiction, Australian geography
Age: 8+ years

Related Links

• Review of Our Australia series at Suite101.com

Summary (from Penguin Books website)

Huge floodwaters have engulfed a remote Victorian goldfield, reducing the prospect of digging up a fortune from very slim to impossible, and adding disease to the many possibilities of sudden death in harsh conditions. As sickness starts to take its toll and calls mount for the rescue of diggers stranded by the raging torrent, Sergeant Niall Kennedy must try to keep order in a place where frictions can become murderous. Does a suspiciously abandoned tent suggest there has already been a killing? And why has Mosquito Creek’s erratic Commissioner Stanfield drafted in special troopers behind Kennedy’s back?

In a new country where everyone’s past has a question mark, asking too many questions is dangerous. But how else can you get to the truth?

Comments

I enjoyed this novel, although it didn’t have quite the feeling of suspense that I expected. I found that the ‘current’ crises – the rising floodwaters and the intrigue centred on the Commissioner – didn’t hold my attention as much as the central characters’ back story. For me, the highlight of the novel was the way it showed just how similar the characters on the goldfields were despite their disparate backgrounds and personal circumstances. Everyone had secrets to hide and everyone was haunted by ghosts from their past.

I generally enjoy reading about this period of Australian history and did enjoy the setting and descriptions of the Victorian goldfields in Mosquito Creek. I noticed the absence of significant reference to Indigenous Australians and Chinese settlers on the gold fields, but this didn’t particularly influence the flow of the story or appeal of the novel in general.

Overall, this was an interesting read with its appeal primarily the result of the characters and historical setting.

Review Copy Details
Title: Mosquito Creek
Author: Robert Engwerda
Publisher: Viking, 2010
Genre: Australian historical fiction

Related links

• Review of Mosquito Creek at Suite101

I recently took part in a blog meme titled ‘How Aussie Are You?’. It was simply meant as a bit of fun, especially since my aversion to sport, meat pies and the outdoors often makes me wonder whether there is something my parents aren’t telling me about my true nationality.

One question, about having an ‘actual conversation’ with an Indigenous Australian, did get me thinking. I think the wording of the question is clumsy, but I have assumed that the word ‘actual’ was used to imply that the conversation was one of substance rather than simply words exchanged with a tour guide, gift shop staff member or other superficial ‘tourist’ conversation.

The question came to mind again when late last week I found myself chatting with a complete stranger at a coffee shop where I was killing time with my two sons while waiting for an appointment.

An older lady was sitting alone at an adjacent table and after exchanging a few meaningless comments, I invited her to join us. For the next 40 minutes I had the most fascinating conversation with this woman as she talked about her younger years as a teacher in New Guinea, her Swedish ancestry and her love of drawing and classical music. Complete strangers, we managed to cover a lot of conversational ground and I was fascinated and inspired by the information she shared about her life story.

What I shared with this woman was an ‘actual conversation’. Not idle chit chat, my aversion to which I have referred to before, but a meaningful exchange of ideas and information. We didn’t get personal – I have no idea of her name, political preferences or religious beliefs for example – but we did engage in a conversation that went beyond the superficial.

We live in such a busy world. We are constantly rushing from one place to the next with minds cluttered with endless ‘to do’ lists and schedules, leaving little time or attention for engaging in meaningful conversation with those closest too us, let alone with acquaintances or strangers. I’m so glad that I took the time to include this woman in our lives, however briefly, and I hope that she went home that afternoon feeling that she had connected with someone as well.

Excluding family and close friends, when was the last time you took the time to have an ‘actual conversation’ with someone? Do you ever strike up a conversation with a stranger at a coffee shop, on your bus or train journey home from work or with one of the mums at school? Do you keep thinks light and fluffy conversation-wise unless you’re with close friends? Do you wish you had more time to stop and smell the conversational roses?

Summary (Popular Penguins website)

Flame-haired Grady McNeil is beautiful, rich and defiant. Her privileged society life leaves her wanting, and excitement comes in the form of the highly unsuitable Clyde, a Brooklyn-born, Jewish parking attendant. When Grady’s mother and father leave her alone one summer in their New York penthouse, her secret affair intensifies and she is forced to make decisions that will alter her future indelibly. Truman Capote’s recently discovered debut novel is a captivating portrayal of first love.

Comments

I haven’t read any Truman Capote before, although I have always loved the movie Breakfast at Tiffanys and have that novel on my TBR pile.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect and have to say that I found the plot of Summer Crossing a little shallow and the ending far too abrupt. This is perhaps not so surprising given that this novel was ‘discovered’ only relatively recently and is evidence of Capote’s earliest writing career.

Despite my issues with the plot, I found the imagery of the book quite captivating and very evocative and I read the novel quite quickly. The afterword by Alan R Schwartz, Capote’s lawyer and trustee of The Truman Capote Literary Trust, was also very interesting, particularly as I was not particularly familiar with Capote’s personal story.

Review Copy Details
Title: Summer Crossing
Author: Truman Capote
Publisher: Penguin Books (Australia), 2009 [Popular Penguins series]
ISBN: 978-0-14-104537-5
Genre: General Fiction

Summary (from Walker Books Australia website)

John is obsessed with dominoes. But not with playing the traditional game, he is obsessed with toppling. He spends hours setting up spirals, ramps, patterns and lines of dominoes all for that satisfying toppling beginning with a small push in the right direction, everything falls as it is meant to.

When John’s friend Dom falls sick and is diagnosed with cancer, it is John and his friends’ worlds that fall apart. Can they face Dom and support him through this uncomfortable illness? It’s hard for all at first but John and his friends find a way to comfort Dom and laugh with him again. They even find support and understanding from an unlikely source within their class, the school bully.

Comments

Another wonderful novel by Sally Murphy in the style of her previous novel Pearl verses the World.

It’s definitely worth keeping the tissues nearby if you are reading this with your children. If your kids are reading it by themselves, its worth following up with them to make sure they don’t have any questions or issues arising from the story, as Dom’s diagnosis with cancer and other elements of the story could be confronting for some children.

I love Murphy’s free verse style with her novels and the illustrations by Rhian Nest James are a wonderful complement to the story, adding depth and meaning and enabling Murphy to keep the text and descriptions to a minimum.

I’ve always believed that it is important to give children opportunities to think about ‘bigger’ issues in a way that is age appropriate and I think that Toppling is a wonderful way of doing just that. The free verse format, relatable characters, humorous touches and appealing illustrations all work well together to create a novel that is very readable for a younger audience despite the serious issues it raises (such as serious childhood illness, friendship and bullying).

Details
Title: Toppling
Author: Sally Murphy
Illustrator: Rhian Nest James
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-921529-42-9, 127 pages
Ages: 8+
Genre: Children’s fiction

Related links

• Review of Toppling at Suite101.com
• Sally Murphy’s Aussie Reviews website
  

I find myself mentioning Twitter more and more often in general conversation of late. After sitting mesmerised by my computer screen last night and again this morning as I watched #spill unfold, I went to be wondering how I ever managed without my Tweeps to keep me informed and entertained.

So, to avoiding writing a serious post about today’s political events, I’m going to list all the reasons I love Twitter.

Hashtag Discussions of Significant Events
Whether it’s #spill/#spillard, #WorldCup2010 or #JustinBieber, I get to supplement my meagre knowledge of politics, sport, celebrity or the event/crisis du jour by eavesdropping on more knowledgeable and/or entertaining people chat about it. Sometimes I add my own comments, other times I just watch and learn. (Disclaimer: I’ve never actually followed a discussion on Justin Bieber. I just want to make that clear. Not that I’m judging, but… well, actually, yes I am.)

Hashtag TV
Watching #Masterchef, #QandA #Greys, #Lost, #origin football? If you are, you can curl up on the lounge with your laptop/iPhone and chat with fellow tweeps watching the same show. If you can’t be bothered, you can simply follow the tweets to know how it all ends and save yourself some time. Win-Win.

No Virtual Reality Games
I know that Mafia Wars did temporarily infiltrate Twitter, but it was much easier to ignore than repeated gifts of a calf or sheaf of wheat for my farm in Farmville or invitations to dine at CafeWorld. You know I love you too, Facebook friends, but you do realise that your Farmville farm isn’t real, don’t you?

Following Followers (or not)
You want to follow me? Fine. Go ahead. I only need to follow the people I find interesting or entertaining (or both). Tweet about what you had on your toast for breakfast and I’ll leave you to it without cluttering my Twitter stream with your comments. If only I could filter all my social interactions this way.

Hashtag games
I rarely join in, but I’ve enjoyed many of the hashtag games that regularly do the Twitter rounds. #LesserMovies #GreaterNovels #SpillMovies #FishMovies – there are some seriously quick-witted people out there and I thank you all for the many laughs you’ve given me.

Brushing shoulders with Celebrity
On Twitter, I get to rub shoulders with ‘celebrity’. I’m not talking about being one of Oprah’s gazillion followers, but rather actually interacting with various public figures (authors, politicians, journalists etc) in a meaningful way, even if it is only a one-off tweet or comment. 

Finding My Tribe
I’m not sure how it happened, but somehow the whole process of interacting on Twitter seems to draw together people with similar interests and complementary personalities. I’ve met people from all over Australia and all over the world with various backgrounds that have become friends – not e-friends, but genuine friends. I’ve been encouraged and supported, entertained, shared insights and information and simply had my world improved and made more interesting by some amazing people that I would never have met otherwise.

Do you love Twitter? Hate it? Don’t understand what all the fuss is about? Leave a comment and let me know why.

I don’t have a lot of indulgences in my life – I don’t drink a lot of alcohol, smoke, gamble, drink coffee, coke or even soft drinks in general. I don’t watch much television and I don’t go out all that often without my kids in tow.

You know, reading over this, it has suddenly become clear why I don’t get many party invitations.

I’ve listed all the things I don’t do, so I should point out that I do have some weaknesses. I’m rather fond of chocolate, spend far too much time chatting on Twitter and have a love of books and the written word that borders on obsessive.

I also love tea.

It has been one of the delights of 2010 that I have discovered The Tea Centre at a local Westfield shopping centre. I’m slowly working my way through their extensive catalogue of teas – black, green, white, flavoured, fruit and more. My current favourites are Sydney Special, Strawberry Cream, Ritz Carlton and Stockholm Blend.

After years of being limited to Earl Grey, English Breakfast and Irish Breakfast while friends had 19 different varieties of coffee on offer at cafés, I’ve finally found out what it is like to have a range of choices. It has been wonderful, spectacular, amazing. (Further evidence, as if you needed it, of why those party invitations don’t make it to my mailbox).

A good friend would be pleased that I have found pleasure in such a simple thing, that I’ve found a way to indulge my senses in a way that doesn’t cripple my budget or endanger my soul. A good friend certainly wouldn’t accompany me to my own little piece of paradise, then go home and send me an email with a link to this article about a recent study which has found a strong association between tea and rheumatoid arthritis.

This post is for you, Meredith. You really are a killjoy.