'A brilliant reconstruction of the saga of power, glory, invasion and decay that is the one-thousand year story of Constantinople. A truly marvellous book.' - Simon Winchester In 2014, Richard Fidler and his son Joe made a journey to Istanbul. Fired by Richard's passion for the rich history of the dazzling Byzantine Empire - centred around the legendary Constantinople - we are swept into some of the most extraordinary tales in history. The clash of civilisations, the fall of empires, the rise of Christianity, revenge, lust, murder. Turbulent stories from the past are brought vividly to life at the same time as a father navigates the unfolding changes in his relationship with his son.GHOST EMPIRE is a revelation: a beautifully written ode to a lost civilization, and a warmly observed father-son adventure far from home.
For readers of THE TEACHER'S PET and MISSING WILLIAM TYRELL. It's the so-called "scientific" rule that every true-crime lover knows: One death is a tragedy. Two is suspicious. Three is murder. But this mantra-called Meadow's Law-put an innocent woman behind bars for 20 years. In 2003, Newcastle mother Kathleen Folbigg was found guilty of smothering her four young children to death, one by one. The "science" posited that it was more likely that a mother would commit quadruple homicide than four infants die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The law agreed, and Kathy was sentenced to 40 years in jail. This book tells the complete, extraordinary story of Kathleen Folbigg's unlawful conviction and her eventual pardon decades later. It is also a story of science versus the law. Kathleen was convicted before the era of widespread genetic testing, and legal teams ignored evidence that suggested at least two of the children may have died from a heart defect; it was just too complex for anyone to understand properly. Fifteen years later, a group of more than 150 eminent scientists from around the world believed she was innocent. Over the course of two petitions, cross-continental research, and a letter signed by Nobel Prize winners, they sought her immediate release and pardon. And after two decades in prison, Kathleen was acquitted and set free. This is the biography of one of Australia's most famous murder cases, examining the evidence that both unjustly put Kathleen Folbigg behind bars and then cleared her name 20 years later. Written by the journalist who helped prove her innocence, it contains new information never previously reported to prove that science fought the law, and science won.
Nick Kaldas is a cop's cop. From Egypt to Marrickville, from investigating war criminals to taking down global drug operations, Kaldas has seen the worst humanity can offer. But he's also seen what human qualities can lead to greatness. This the compelling true story of an immigrant boy from Egypt who rose from beat cop to be one of the most senior police in Australia. During his time in the NSW police force, he was one of Australia's first Arab undercover cops, headed up both the Homicide and Gang Squad units, reformed the Counter Terrorism team and then became the Deputy Police Commissioner. But he has also faced down some of the toughest, most brutal criminal organisations in the world. In the Middle East, he was hand-picked by the United Nations to investigate the assassination of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri; investigate the illegal use of chemical weapons in Syria; and was a director of UNRWA, the UN agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees. Whether he is negotiating a hostage situation or gaining the trust of the Syrian secret police, Kaldas has learned a thing or two about resilience, courage and fortitude. In this memoir, Kaldas describes the most challenging cases that have shaped him; shares his key principles of what makes a great leader; and reveals what it takes to stand up for what's right in the face of insurmountable opposition.
Everyone's best friend just happens to be your best therapist Move over, Socrates and Plato! In this heartwarming guide to living your best life, award-winning photographer Alex Cearns shares the sage advice of our four-legged furry gurus. Their profound insights and goofy enthusiasm will remind you to cherish friendship and love, celebrate our differences and respect the need for a good nap. So sit, stay and enjoy the wisdom of dogs!
Making the world a better, less annoying place one wish at a time. LONGLISTED FOR THE 2024 INDIE BOOK AWARDS 'I wish I could think, hope, laugh, dream and, indeed, write like Richard Glover. And I wish every Australian could read this book. A soaring tribute to the power of wishful thinking' Trent Dalton'Glover asks life's big questions and helps us celebrate the simple joys - bin night, tax receipts that don't fade and the secret thrill of high-pressure hosing' Lisa Millar, co-host ABC-TV's News Breakfast'Charming, funny and sincere, this is yet another winning book from the only Boomer worth listening to. A triumph!' Tom Ballard, comedian'He is right about leaf blowers, for example, but quite wrong about breakfast in bed ... Richard's view of the world will frequently have you punching the air and shouting, "Yes!"' Jean Kittson, performer, writer and comedian'If life is better when we laugh, then this book is the balm' Jacinta Parsons, broadcaster, writer and co-host of ABC Melbourne's 'Friday Revue''There is an eternal hopefulness in all this man does. I only wish more of his wishes were granted' Tommy Dean, comedian and regular on ABC 702's 'Thank God It's Friday'Do you hate noisy restaurants, pre-ripped jeans and pedestrians who walk five abreast?Do you also have a problem with plastic-wrapped fruit, climate-change deniers and take-away sandwiches priced at $14.95?And, most of all, do you think the world would be a better place if people got back their sense of humour?Here's proof you are not alone. Heartfelt and hilarious, serious but sly, Best Wishes is the encyclopedia of 'can do better'. It's a plea for a better world - one wish at a time.
The voyage of Rose de Freycinet, the stowaway who defied the French for love. In 1814, in the aftermath of the French Revolution, nineteen-year-old Rose Pinon married handsome naval officer Louis de Freycinet, fifteen years her senior. Three years later, unable to bear parting from her husband, she dressed in men's clothing and slipped secretly aboard his ship the day before it sailed on a voyage of scientific discovery to the South Seas. Living for three years as the sole female among 120 men, Rose de Freycinet defied not only bourgeois society's expectations of a woman in 1817, but also a strict prohibition against women sailing on French naval ships. Whether dancing at governors' balls in distant colonies, or evading pirates and meeting armed Indigenous warriors on remote Australian shores, or surviving shipwreck in the wintry Falkland Islands, Rose used her quick pen to record her daily experiences, becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the world and leave a record of her journey. Suzanne Falkiner tells this story of courage, enduring love, curiosity and a spirit of adventure - and of the pivotal voyages that led to it - while revealing a uniquely female view into the hitherto largely male world of 19th-century life at sea. PRAISE'A beautifully written, heart-lifting saga of adventure and romance' Grantlee Kieza'A leisurely, thoughtful work, richly and broadly detailed, quietly absorbing' Helen Garner
Wild Swans meets Educated in this riveting true story spanning four generations 'Revelatory and remarkable' - TRENT DALTON'Memorable and vivid' - RICHARD GLOVER'Lands with a thump in your heart' - LISA MILLAR'Heartbreaking and uplifting' - MEAGHAN WILSON ANASTASIOS'An heroic saga' - MIKE MUNROThe dragon circles and swoops ... a tiger running alone in the night ...Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter?The collision was over the estate of Mimi's beloved Aunt Theresa, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant's 32 children, Mimi's father, Francis, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi's mother, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed, chronic mental illness. Soon after, 'tiger' Mimi arrived, and her struggle with the past - and the dragon - began ...Riveting, colourful and often darkly humorous, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and finally putting them to rest. Throughout, her inspiration is Francis's late older sister, the jet-setting, free-spirited Aunt Theresa, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness.PRAISE FOR HOUSE OF KWA'House of Kwa enchants and enthrals like the best kind of sweeping, dynastic fiction, but it rattles the bones and breaks the heart with the pure facts of Mimi Kwa's extraordinary story. Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.' Trent Dalton'An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.' Lisa Millar'A startling tale of the past, its terrible grip on the present, and the battle to set yourself free. Full of scenes that hover between tragedy and farce, House of Kwa is one of the most compelling stories you'll read this year. Memorable and vividly told, this is a book for anybody forced to survive their own parents.' Richard Glover'From the back streets of China to war-torn Hong Kong to suburban Australia, this is an heroic saga that reveals just some of the stories behind the multi-cultural nation we are today.' Mike Munro AO'This is a charming and compelling story, an insight into a deeply traditional Chinese family in times when China was undergoing internally and externally induced upheaval.' South China Morning Post'A rich and riveting read which heralds a new chapter in Kwa's life as a writer. The spirited tiger, full of life and driven to achieve, has many stories to tell yet.' The Weekend Australian'House of Kwa answers the question of how one should write about one's family with generosity and love - to read it is to experience Kwa's wonder at the strength and resilience of her family, as well as the intimacy of her relationships with them. Traversing the boundaries of a traditional memoir, House of Kwa is the biography of a family that explores the way our lives are shaped by the past we can and cannot remember. Kill Your Darlings'A rare work of non-fiction which balances page turning prose with lyrical depth. Do yourself and everyone you know a favour and dive in!' Megan RogersAn utterly captivating, gripping and inspirational tale of one woman's triumph over adversity. In this extraordinary multi-generational memoir, Kwa fearlessly grapples with questions of love, loyalty, and the power of the human spirit. Intimate and revelatory, House of Kwa is the most heart-breaking and uplifting book I have read in years and announces the arrival of an exciting writer. Meaghan Wilson Anastasios'If you're a fan of the book Educated by Tara Westover, as I am, and most readers I know are, then you have to read this.' Joan McKenzie, Joan's Picks, Whitcoulls'Mimi's narrative about their family life is heart-breaking, hilarious, and often unbelievable.' Magic talk FM'An exotic journey that takes readers through the contributions Chinese immigrants have made to multicultural Australia.' ABC Nightlife'Kwa is an engaging storyteller.' Asian Review of Books'Extraordinary - I couldn't put it down. Wonderfully written, this intriguing family story reads like a page-turning novel. The journey of the Kwa dynasty and its legacy is told in such rich, colourful detail, you feel like you are there. I loved it. Sue Smethurst'I laughed, I grieved, I was intrigued. It took enormous strength to write this story of trauma, abuse, mental health, dislocation, racism and reinvention. Above all it is a story of love and kindness. It will resonate with so many people.' Kirsty Manning
A fearless, frank and funny memoir about reinventing the rules of parenting Sean had wanted to be a mum since the age of four, when he fell in love with Mrs Potts, the motherly teapot in Beauty and the Beast. But there was just one problem: he was not, in fact, a woman. When he was swept off his feet by a handsome Australian man in New York City, Sean's dreams of marriage and parenthood suddenly became a reality. The only things standing in his way: outdated marriage laws, hundreds of thousands of dollars and a healthy dose of internalised homophobia. Though he had to battle intense family drama, depression and a difficult move to the other side of the world, he succeeded in becoming a father to boy-girl twins.What happens when the traditional parenting rules, 10,000 years in the making, simply don't apply? Not Like Other Dads is a raw, rollicking memoir about gay parents raising kids without a map - or nap. Hilarious and tender, Sean's story helps all of us celebrate who we really are ... empowering straight and queer parents alike to rewrite the parenting script.PRAISE'Will have you laughing, crying and feeling deeply moved by the true power of love. A brilliant read' - Maggie Dent 'Raw, honest and hilarious ... unlike any other parenting memoir you have read' - Edwina Bartholomew 'A true modern-day fairy tale with love at its heart' - Jessica Rowe 'Sean Szeps writes about family with healthy realism and great dollops of love. A delight' - Holly Wainwright 'Through Sean's openness to share his vulnerabilities, we're reminded why it's important to welcome and accept diverse families' - Narelda Jacobs
Prep, plan, shop and $ave ... and solve the daily dinner dilemma15 weeks of inspiring meal plans, invaluable shopping lists and over 100 delicious recipes Never worry about what's for dinner again, and save your precious time - and money! - with Paulene Christie and Slow Cooker Central. With the power of inspiring meal plans, invaluable shopping lists, prep hacks and storage tips, and delicious recipes perfect for every occasion, putting dinner on the table every night of the week will be a breeze. Over 100 delicious recipes, including new and trusted family and freezer favourites From light to hearty week-nighters, showstoppers for Saturday nights and roasts for Sundays - and a bonus desserts chapter 15 individual weeks of inspiring meal plans and invaluable shopping lists - choose the perfect combination for your family Pantry basics, supermarket, shopping and storage tricks so you can buy in bulk and manage your budgetPlan ahead to save time, money ... and eat well, every night. No stress!
Dangerous predators and ravenous herbivores: the story of Australia's feral nightmare Winner of the 2022 Whitley Award, for a book about invasive species zoology.Isolation was once the impenetrable barrier that protected Australia and its unique fauna. But a little over two hundred years ago a foreign power took possession and brought with it the foreign animals that now dominate the country's ecosystem. They are the enemy within.Since that time, around 10 per cent of Australia's endemic terrestrial mammalian species have become extinct. Today Australia is dealing with the damage caused by all hard-hoofed animals, domestic and feral.Yet the bigger feral story is the ravages of acclimatisation, caused as new settlers tried to make the colony more like their homeland and released the rabbit, the fox, the hare, feral cats, common mynas, starlings, sparrows, redfin perch, and the many other invasive species that have brought native Australia to its knees.In this book, Guy Hull details the history and toll of the numerous animal species that have contributed to the decimation of Australian species, their assault on land and agriculture, and the modern strategies that are - hopefully - reclaiming the country for our native fauna and its human population.
Losing your religion is harder than it looks ... From devout ten-year-old performing the part of Jesus in a primary school play to blaspheming, undergraduate atheist, Monica Dux and her attitude to the Catholic Church changed profoundly over a decade. Eventually, she calmed down and was just 'lapsed'. Then, on a family trip to Rome, her young daughter expressed a desire to be baptised. Monica found herself re-examining her own childhood and how Catholicism had shaped her. Was it really out of her system or was it in her blood for life?In Lapsed, Monica sets out to find the answer. Her investigations lead her to test a miracle cure in Lourdes and visit the grave of a headless Saint who claimed to be married to Christ (and wore a wedding ring made of his foreskin to prove it). She speaks to canon lawyers, abuse survivors and even a nun who insists that the Virgin Mary starts her car every morning.With wry humour and razor-sharp observations, Lapsed is the story of one woman's attempt to exorcise her religious upbringing, and to answer the question, is Catholicism like a blood group and, if so, is it possible to get a total transfusion?'Enlightening, forensic and laugh-out-loud funny' -- JANE CARO'A frank, funny and heartfelt exorcism of our need to believe in a man in the sky' -- SHAUN MICALLEF
"There has never been a better time to be a teenage girl. But perhaps there has never been a harder time. Parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson interviewed and surveyed close to 400 teenage girls to find out about the challenges our daughters face with social media, friends, boys, anxiety, identity and more. In Miss-Connection, he draws on their responses as well as cutting-edge psychology research to explain how we can help and connect with our teenage daughters while recognising the reality of their world and offering reassurance and solutions."--Publisher's description.
One young woman missing, two found murdered -- the gripping true story of Australia's longest-running homicide investigation In the early hours of January 27, 1996, after an evening spent celebrating at Club Bayview in the Perth suburb of Claremont, 18-year-old Sarah Spiers called a taxi to nearby Mosman Park. But when the cab arrived, she'd already gone.Sarah was never seen again.Four months later, on June 9, 1996, 23-year-old Jane Rimmer disappeared from the same area, her body later found in bushland south of Perth. When the body of a third young woman, 27-year-old Ciara Glennon, was found north of the city, having vanished from Claremont in August 1997, it was clear a serial killer was on the loose, and an entire city lived in fear he would strike again.A massive manhunt focused first on taxi drivers, then the outspoken local mayor and a quiet public servant. However, almost 20 years later, Australia's longest and most expensive investigation had failed to make an arrest, until forensic evidence linked the murders to two previous attacks - and an unlikely suspect.Stalking Claremont, by local newsman Bret Christian, is a riveting story of promising young lives cut short, a city in panic, an investigation fraught by oversights and red herrings, and a surprising twist that absolutely no one saw coming.
'That's nothing. Pressure is having a Messerschmitt up your arse.' Keith Miller, when asked if he felt under pressure while captaining the NSW cricket team. Numerous heroes of Australian cricket have also proved themselves on the battlefield, from Gallipoli to Vietnam and beyond. Among them are some of Australia's most illustrious cricketing names: Donald Bradman, Keith Miller, Keith Carmody, Jack Fingleton and, in more recent years, Doug Walters. In this sport/history page-turner, veteran sports journalist Greg Growden tells their extraordinary stories of bravery, hardship, courage and human endeavour.
The chilling true story of the heinous murder of Karlie Pearce-Stevenson and daughterKhandalyce and how the case was cracked In August 2010, the bones of a young woman were found in Belanglo State Forest, where, years earlier, Ivan Milat had tortured and slain seven young backpackers. Dubbed Angel, her remains lay unidentified for years. Who was she, how did she die, and at whose hand?Then, in July 2015, the bones of a child were found in a suitcase by a highway in South Australia. Months later, a call to Crime Stoppers led to an identification. Two-year-old Khandalyce Pearce had left Alice Springs in 2008 with her mother and hadn't been seen since. Through DNA, Angel was quickly identified as Khandalyce's mother, Karlie Pearce-Stevenson. In the grimmest of scenarios, mother and daughter were reunited at last. The Lost Girls is the chilling true story of this heinous double murder and how police tracked down the perpetrator, who not only killed the girls but stole the young mother's identity to defraud authorities and her family. Gripping and authentic, The Lost Girls celebrates the short lives of a young woman and her daughter, and the investigators determined to bring them home.
'A MULTI-LAYERED BOOK ABOUT HOW OUR WORLD IS CHANGING AROUND US'- ReadPlus The old milk bar on the corner is coming down to make way for something new. Little Davey Durak is gathering scrap - a short piece of wood here, a long piece there.But what's Davey building? Bruce the builder wants to know, but Davey won't tell ...Bestselling author Andrew Daddo and award-winning illustrator Stephen Michael King come together for the first time to bring you this very special picture book. MORE PRAISE'Whatcha Building is a gentle tale of a little person with a big environmental message. There are many layers to unpack, explore and simply enjoy. Highly recommended across the Primary years.' - Magpies'a multi-layered book about how our world is changing around us ... There are many themes and ideas presented here that will initiate a variety of conversations and explorations, especially regarding how the world is changing, what is being lost and what we should try to hold on to.'-ReadPlus'A fantastic new offering from two remarkable talents'- Kids' Book Review'Whatcha Building? relays a wonderful message of community and awareness of recycling and sustainability. The text and illustrations are carefully considered whilst absolutely entertaining us at the same time. A down-to-earth book to share with dads; a reading experience that is sure to be recycled over and over.'- Boomerang Books'loved the imaginative use of recycled materials in the illustrations, reflecting the preservation of community. This book provides avenues for conversation and reflection, and encourages children to respect their community and maintain its history.'- Reading Time'Young readers will have fun trying to predict what it is that Davey is building while others will relate to their neighbourhood slowly but surely changing as "progress" comes to town.'- The Bottom Shelf'I love the illustrations in this story as they not only accompany the text but they add more depth to each page. Stephen Michael King has used recycled garbage, cardboard, pen and ink to create the illustrations and this combination brings life to the story.'- Educate. Empower.
The new book from the bestselling author of Flesh Wounds. A funny and frank look at the way Australia used to be - and just how far we have come. 'It was simpler time'. We had more fun back then'. 'Everyone could afford a house'.There's plenty of nostalgia right now for the Australia of the past, but what was it really like?In The Land Before Avocado, Richard Glover takes a journey to an almost unrecognisable Australia. It's a vivid portrait of a quite peculiar land: a place that is scary and weird, dangerous and incomprehensible, and, now and then, surprisingly appealing.It's the Australia of his childhood. The Australia of the late '60s and early '70s.Let's break the news now: they didn't have avocado.It's a place of funny clothing and food that was appalling, but amusingly so. It is also the land of staggeringly awful attitudes - often enshrined in law - towards anybody who didn't fit in.The Land Before Avocado will make you laugh and cry, feel angry and inspired. And leave you wondering how bizarre things were, not so long ago.Most of all, it will make you realise how far we've come - and how much further we can go.PRAISERichard Glover's just-published The Land Before Avocado is a wonderful and witty journey back in time to life in the early 1970s. For a start, he deftly reclaims the book's title fruit from those who have positioned it as a proxy for all that is wrong with today's supposedly feckless and spendthrift young adults. Rather than maligning the avocado (and young people), he cleverly appropriates the fruit as an exemplar of how far we have come since the 1970s' Richard Wakelin, Australian Financial Review'This is vintage Glover - warm, wise and very, very funny. Brimming with excruciating insights into life in the late sixties and early seventies, The Land Before Avocado explains why this was the cultural revolution we had to have' Hugh Mackay 'Hilarious and horrifying, this is the ultimate intergenerational conversation starter' Annabel Crabb PRAISE FOR FLESH WOUNDS'A funny, moving, very entertaining memoir' Bill Bryson, New York Times 'The best Australian memoir I've read is Richard Glover's Flesh Wounds' Greg Sheridan, TheAustralian
'I adored this book - a wondrous compendium of Iceland's best sagas' - Hannah Kent A new friendship. An unforgettable journey. A beautiful and bloody history.This is Iceland as you've never read it before ...Broadcaster Richard Fidler and author Kri Gslason are good friends. They share a deep attachment to the sagas of Iceland - the true stories of the first Viking families who settled on that remote island in the Middle Ages.These are tales of blood feuds, of dangerous women, and people who are compelled to kill the ones they love the most. The sagas are among the greatest stories ever written, but the identity of their authors is largely unknown.Together, Richard and Kri travel across Iceland, to the places where the sagas unfolded a thousand years ago. They cross fields, streams and fjords to immerse themselves in the folklore of this fiercely beautiful island. And there is another mission: to resolve a longstanding family mystery - a gift from Kari's Icelandic father that might connect him to the greatest of the saga authors.
. 'Strap yourselves in for a thrilling tale' -- Inside Sport Some of Australia's greatest sporting legends are horses -- Phar Lap, Kingston Town, Black Caviar. Now a new legend has captivated the heart of the nation -- Winx. After a patchy start, the unremarkable-looking bay filly settled into a winning streak that continues four years later and includes 22 Group 1 wins and an astonishing record-breaking four Cox Plates. Winx: Biography of a Champion, traces the rise and rise of this extraordinary racehorse and captures the colour, excitement and nail-biting moments of her assent to the top of the world. A rich and compelling story of the highs and lows, the colour and passion of the sport of kings, it's a fitting tribute to a great Australian sporting legend. The wondrous Winx deserves nothing less.
Twelve lost boys, their coach, and the heroes who rescued them. When the 12 young members of the Wild Boars soccer club walked into a Thai cave with their coach, they expected to be out by nightfall. A birthday cake waited in the fridge for one boy, another boy had a tutoring class. They had rope and torches but no food. Then a sudden monsoonal downpour flooded their route out. They were trapped - imprisoned in a cave said to be haunted by a mythical broken-hearted princess. So began the greatest search-and-rescue mission in living memory. People from across Thailand, and soon from across the world, joined hands to find the boys and get them out. ABC foreign correspondent Liam Cochrane was on the ground as the dramatic events unfolded. Using his local knowledge, and working with a team of Thai researchers, he puts us at the centre of the story, witnessing the boys' agonising wait, the divers' battle against muddy torrents, the race to pump out flooded caves, the secret drilling plans. With unrivalled access, he reveals fresh details about the boys' time inside the cave and gives an exclusive account of the rescue from lead diver John Volanthen. Amidst the hope, there are tensions, tragedy and powerful players guiding the rescue. But most of all, this is the inspirational story of an amazing group of boys and what can be achieved when the world unites.
The bestselling, award-winning 'Rudie Nudie' is now in paperback! Ages 2+ 'One, two Rudie Nudie, Rudie Nudie in the bath...' Emma Quay captures all the joy and energy of childhood in this irresistible rhyming tale. With its charming illustrations and lively text, 'Rudie Nudie' is destined to become an instant family favourite! Ages 2+
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