The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde

A whimsical funny crazy book which involves literary crime, time travel, and weird but interesting concepts. It is not just a clever book, it has heart, with irreverent but likeable characters and a fight between good and evil. I did wonder before reading it whether I'd like it, and was pleasantly surprised. I look forward to reading the sequels.

The Heart's Code - Paul Pearsall

Interesting concept of the heart being the seat of memory, instead of the brain. The author, a psychoneuroimmunologist, is at pains to ensure the book is not a "new age" book but a scientific investigation of the heart's code, a subtle energy unlimited by space and time. There's some fascinating anecdotes about heart transplant patients' experiences of heart memory and lots of fascinating reading. My only complaint is that there seemed to be a lot of repetition of ideas.

The Almond Picker - Simonetta Agnello Hornby

Starts with the impending death of the main character, and then proceeds to intrigue and mystify you with the question of "who was she?" as you listen in on the gossip of the many village characters and the family members who were connected to her. It's evocative of life in a little Italian village with its intricacies and relationships. (translated from Italian)

Shanghai Baby - Wei Hui

A sassy and explicit writing style which is at the same time candidly honest. Vron said she found the "look at me" style irritating, but I found it refreshing and whilst it's not a book I would normally be attracted to, once I started reading it I was drawn from page to page until the end, finding it an interesting look into Shanghai's modern scene.

The Power of Appreciation - Dr Noelle Nelson

Bought this book at the Mind Body Spirit Expo in Melbourne where we were exhibitors too and Dr Noelle Nelson signed my book. She's as lovely in person as her book is. It talks about practising appreciation as an attitude in one's life. Appreciation is a vibration, and it affects the way we experience our lives and our relationships, and is a powerful attractor. It also has physiological and biochemical effects on our brains and Dr Nelson also talks about Masaru Emoto's findings about water. The first half of the book is explanatory and the second half about applying appreciation in our everyday situations. It's a simple message which one might easily read & agree with but neglect to apply, but I've found that in applying the simple but powerful principles, my life has dramatically changed. It can be difficult to practice appreciation in the midst of anger or resentment, but that's when it's most needed and impactful.

Freakonomics - Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J.Dubner

Another book bought in transit Singapore, and read while on holiday in Bali. Interesting and easy to read. A "rogue economist" overturns a lot of generally accepted truths and reveals surprising information about many everyday issues, like crime rates, real estate sales and baby names!

Case Histories - Kate Atkinson

Bought this book while on in transit in Singapore - the book ended up very dog-eared by the time I'd taken it via Malaysia, back to Singapore, on to Bali then back to Australia! This is the first book I've read by the author, and I enjoyed it enough to want to read her other books. It's been just over a month now, and many books have been read in the meantime, but my recollection is that it was a bittersweet, funny and enjoyable story, a sort of detective story with a difference, peopled by interesting, quirky and very human characters. Good read!

Fragrant Rice - Janet de Neefe

I bought this at the author's stunningly beautiful restaurant "Indus" in Ubud, Bali because something about her story touched me. It was also a token of the beguiling beauty of Bali and my lovely time there. I found the first half of the book more interesting, as it was her story of falling in love with Bali as a teenager, then returning about a decade later when she met and fell in love with her husband, a Balinese. The part about when she first brought her husband-to-be to visit Australia, and her early experiences living in Bali, was funny and heartwarming. Mouthwatering and exotic recipes are generously detailed throughout the book, and the latter half describes the many wonderful ceremonies which are such an integral part of Balinese life.

The Long Hot Summer - Mary Moody

Mary Moody was previously better known as a gardening show presenter on Australian TV and for her gardening books! This is her third book about her life, which has captured Australians' emotions! In 'Au Revoir' she escaped to a 6 month sabbatical in beautiful rural France. In 'Last Tango in Toulouse' her world turned upside down. Now, continuing in her candid style, she bares all as her marriage faces its most intense challenge. After reading the first two, I wondered how the author would be able to continue to hold the reader's interest in the third book, but it was as absorbing and involving. I find her painful honesty refreshing and empathise with her as well as her husband.

The Path of Least Resistance - Robert Fritz

I first read this book in 1994 when my then boss David gave it to me, and was inspired to re-read it after recently reading The Magician's Way. I seldom underline the text in my books like I did with this. Reading it again, I was surprised that I agreed with the underlined bits - usually what I found important then is not as important now, because different aspects reveal themselves. It's a profound book - simple in its common sense, yet powerful in its message. It talks about the underlying structure in our life which determines the path of least resistance, leading to the results we experience. It's about getting this underlying structure right first, before we can go on to create what we want.

The Magician's Way - William Whitecloud

I enjoyed reading this book. Normally I find stories that have a message to teach quite contrived but this was absorbing, insightful, gave me some "aha's" and laughs. It's about getting out of your own way to allow the magic to manifest in your life, and it delivers precise "technology" to show you the way. It's well written and flows easily. Some of the concepts are based on Robert Fritz's The Path of Least Resistance, which inspired me to re-read the latter (above), but The Magician's Way gets the message across more enjoyably.

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Dare I say this is my all time favourite? The first few glorious chapters about a precocious boy's experimentation with different religions were delightfully funny.. When it was first published a couple of years ago, I had initially resisted reading it because I couldn't imagine how a book about a boy being adrift on an ocean with a zebra, hyena, orangutan and Bengal Tiger could hold my interest. But it is fabulous! Can't wait for Yann Martel's next book!

The Distance Between Us - Maggie O'Farrell

The latest book by Maggie Farrell. I've read both her others too, My Lover's Lover and After You'd Gone. I enjoyed this as much as I did her other two. About love, relationships; quite atmospheric, melancholy and emotionally-charged. Her earlier two were quite suspenseful too. Her style is to switch back and forth, not in chronological order, and it adds a certain edge.

Fingersmith - Sarah Waters

My introduction to Sarah Waters, and it was an absorbing story with amazing plot twists, set in Victorian England. Best described by a review on amazon.com "this hypnotic suspense novel is awash with all manner of gloomy Dickensian leitmotifs: pickpockets, orphans, grim prisons, lunatic asylums, "laughing villains," and, of course, "stolen fortunes and girls made out to be mad." Divided into three parts, the tale is narrated by two orphaned girls whose lives are inextricably linked. Waters's penchant for byzantine plotting can get a bit exhausting, but even at its densest moments--and remember, this is smoggy London circa 1862--it remains mesmerizing. A damning critique of Victorian moral and sexual hypocrisy, a gripping melodrama, and a love story to boot, this book ingeniously reworks some truly classic themes. --Travis Elborough"

Infinite Love is the Only Truth - David Icke

Infinite Love is the Only Truth - All Else is Illusion is the full title of David Icke's latest book, newly released in Australia. David's more "transcendent" in his style here, but the usual conspiracy theories abound. His iconoclastic material drew a few laughs from me, and the stuff about DNA is interesting.

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill - Mark Bittner

I'm completely besotted by this gorgeous, honest, funny and heartwarming book. If you're not a bird lover, you could become one after reading this book. If you are a bird lover like me, the book takes you on a deeply rewarding emotional journey. I fell in love, laughed and cried with every one of these feathery personalities. The book squeezed my heart, wrung it out, and filled it up, reminding me of the parrots I've met & loved in my life. The author's irrepressible urge to plant a kiss on his favourite birds and his willingness to share his meal with them made me smile because I know how that feels, and it may seem weird to non bird lovers. One also learns some interesting facts as the author has done some research in this area.

Mark's life intertwined with the birds' is also an interesting story. Some people may judge his unusual spiritual approach about not getting a job, but in the bigger picture, one can see how his spiritual journey led him to where he is today. He writes with a refreshing honesty, and comes through as a sensitive and compassionate soul.

Providence of a Sparrow - Chris Chester

Witty, heart-warming, and stayed with me long, long after I finished reading. Even now, months later, I feel an ache in my heart thinking about it. A really engaging and literary book about the author's relationship with a very personable sparrow, but encompasses his life as well. Interesting insights. Highly recommended, bird lover or not!

What I Loved - Siri Hustvedt

Picked up the book at a 2nd hand shop in Queenscliff. Never heard of the author - but intrigued by review snippets: "genuinely disturbing urban thriller....compelling right through to riveting...mesmerizes, arouses, disturbs."

It was evocative, and I felt immersed in this man's life, his loves, the people. But there were sections when I wished it'd just get a move on and not dwell in such excruciating detail on the artist's work. Quite riveting in parts, especially around the mystery of the young boy's character and what he grew up to be. After reading a few NY writers, I think the writing leaves me feeling hollow. Entertained while reading, but hollow and sad when finished. I felt the same with Tama Janowitz's "A Certain Age: A Novel".