October books of the month

19 Oct 2016

From thrillers to Shakespeare adaptations, football legends to Indigenous history, this month’s book reviews offer readers of all genres a sneak peek at some worthy words.

Home by Harlan Coben

Two six-year-old boys snatched from under their nanny’s nose; a ransom sent to the wealthy parents. Then complete silence. Ten years later, and still with no trace of the boys, Myron Bolitar and his sidekick Win think they have located one of them. This thriller explores the importance of home with an absorbing story and intricate plot.

Sourdough by Casper Andre Lugg & Martin Ivar Hveem Fjeld

Healthy and delicious, learn the art of baking sourdough breads. These young Norwegian bakers showcase their skill and love of sourdough, sharing tips for getting started and the best grains and flours to create a moreish masterpiece.

Changing the Game by Ange Postecoglou

From playing for South Melbourne in the 1980s to coaching the Socceroos, Ange Postecoglou is a man who knows his football. At just 12, he coached his first team of migrant friends to victory at the state championships – he has kept winning since. In Changing the Game you are given an insight into Postecoglou’s dedication to the game and his life as player and coach.

Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood

Never disappointing, Atwood’s newest novel is a take on William Shakespeare’s mystical play The Tempest. Artistic Director, Felix plans a staging of The Tempest but is instead betrayed and his career ruined. Spending 12 years in exile and devastated by the death of his daughter, Felix waits patiently to seek his revenge. Receiving a job running a theatre workshop at a nearby jail, his revenge may be near.

The Story of Australia’s People Vol 2 by Geoffrey Blainey

In Geoffrey Blainey’s first volume of The Story of Australia, he covered the Indigenous people’s mastery of the ever-changing and challenging Australian landscape through to European colonisation. In this second instalment, Blainey explores from the Gold Rush to the present day. Recognising Australia's versatile and wide-ranging landscape, the events that have shaped the country in the past 150 years are revealed.