Reviews (2)

Photography raised to a fine art.
Richard Woldendorf and Tim Winton collaborate to produce a breathtakingly handsome compendium of photography showcasing the beauty, grandeur, majesty, and scenic wonder of Australia in Down To Earth: Australian Landscapes. A remarkable body of work transforming a varied spectrum of landscape images into works of memorable and impressive photographic art recommended to students of photography, as well as the non-specialist general reader who appreciates images drawn from natural landscapes and elevated to the standards of fine art.

DOWN TO EARTH an appreciation.
As an Australian who has lived for 28 years in the tropics of Australia, I can testify the this book is WYSIWYG. I have seen some of the places depicted, and can assure anyone that the photographs are genuine. I can only urge any person with an artistic frame of mind (or indeed anyone with an interest in Australia) to have a look at this book. They will find it rewarding.

Cheerio

Robbie White ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A worthwhile read
I started reading this slim volume quite a few months ago and I put it down, never intending to finish it. Some of the early parts of the book rubbed me the wrong way, to the point where I wondered just how much of a true Christian Mr. West really was. Recently, I picked it up and basically started where I left off, and my previous judgementalism gave way to a certain admiration. Morris West has not only the wisdom of a man of advanced years but the worldly experience that gives him a valuable perspective to share on such issues as evil, violence, dissent, and death. He has seen things most of us with never see, and this book is all the more enlightening because of that fact. Although not a Catholic like Mr. West is, I share his experience of a life that is centered around the institution of the church, and can appreciate the love/hate relationship one can have with the Body of Christ. Like many, he cries out for a church that values the person above laws and regulations. I look forward in the future to reading some of his fiction (although much of it is out of print and rather hard to get at this time).

Thank You!
I've long admired West's ability to move me with words. His papal trilogy in particular ranks as one of my favorite in literary fiction. To read this delightfully honest and heartfelt memoir is to gain even greater insight to the wisdom and insights of his fictional work.

West, long a respectful rebel of sorts, has managed to approach subjects and questions many wish to avoid. In doing so, rather than turning these into platforms for personal grievances, he elevates their importance in community discussion.

Despite his literary prowess, West manages to come across as an everyday man, a man you'd like to converse with over coffee. No, don't remind me that the most likely place for conversation would be at his deathbed. He may be getting older, nearer to unknown that he says he welcomes willingly, but his words will remain as a part of our culture. His thoughts and ideas will remain to challenge future generations.

Mr Morris West, thank you for that gift.

What a View!
Morris West qualifies as one of my favorite writers. He's thrilled and educated me through his Vatican trilogy while also challenging our views of spiritual ministry in a modern era. In this book, a memoir of sorts, West tackles similar topics from a non-fiction stance. In so doing, we catch a glimpse of his own emotions and experiences and how they played out in his fiction masterpieces. West has refused to be boxed in by dogma or religion, instead he points to God as a still viable part of our lives while refusing to dispense pat answers. West shows his truth faith--the honesty to question and still believe in the Answer.

West¿s revealing memoir and inspiring spiritual testament
With sales of his books having exceeded sixty million copies, Morris West is not only Australia's best-selling writer, but also one of our best-known storytellers. With his so-called 'Vatican Trilogy' - 'The Shoes of the Fisherman', 'The Clowns of God' and 'Lazarus' - he virtually invented a genre, the papal novel.

In the past, West has resisted calls for an autobiography, holding that the 'chronicles of my works and days have already been presented under the decent draperies of fiction'. However, having turned eighty, West has put aside fiction to give an account of his twentieth-century pilgrimage.

The book is not an autobiography as such, but rather part memoir, part philosophical meditation, part spiritual testament. We learn of his early family life before becoming a trainee with the Christian Brothers, of the trials of religious life, and of life as a writer on the international stage. West reflects on the nature of evil, on violence, and on the roles of dissent and prophecy in the Church. He also writes movingly of his encounters with Brother Death.

West has, over the years, defiantly retained his rightful place as a son of the Church, and in doing so has encouraged countless others troubled by rigid orthodoxies. Changes in the Church in recent decades, and in West's own life and attitudes, are well captured by two pieces of his journalism that are reproduced in full in the book, both about recent popes. The first is a glowing obituary of John XXIII, 'The Good Pastor', written in 1963. The second is a very critical reflection on the current pontiff, written on the occasion of the papal visit to Australia for the nation's first beatification (of Mary MacKillop).

Late in his life, West has given us an uplifting account of his experience of being a Christian in these troubled times. It is written with grace, intelligence and wisdom. [A Selection of the John Garratt Catholic Book Club.]

A remarkable, honest and thought-provoking testimony
Morris West has written a truly challenging testimony as he nears the end of a fine career and eventful life. For me, he summed up how I feel as a Catholic facing the challenges of the Church at the end of the millenium. His candidness and honesty are refreshing. His ideas worth consideration. And his words often inspiring. I am grateful he took the time to tell me so intimately about his own faith journey ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The best True Life book I have ever read
This book, this author is an inspiration to life itself ! I found, once I started, I could NOT put the book down, and then attended one of her talks and the finer details that came through .. truly amazing, inspiring and awesome ! As you read, YOU are in Changi, YOU are there, feeling every emotion that was felt by the author, crying, laughing .. this is the BEST book I have ever read and I class it up in the levels of the Diary of Anne Frank and more ! ... Read more

Book Description

A Combat Tracking Team in the Vietnam War: "The tracking lead jerked like a fast jag on a fishhook.Caesar's ears shot up and his shoulders hunched forward.The Viet Cong was fifty yards to my right front, stretching his arms above his head...There were three men at least...and a machine gun on the track facing me.Scarcely able to breathe, I reeled Caesar back..and gave a thumbs down.Enemy.And I had them cold..."Trackers is a gritty and moving account that reveals the Australian Army's little known use of combat tracker dogs during the Vietnam War.A war veteran tells his story with vivid and compelling immediacy, blending the terror of hunting the elusive Viet Cong with the relationship between him and his larrikin labrador-kelpie-cross, Caesar.A graphic portrayal of the timeless reality of war -- the horror, the madness, the tedium, the dark humor -- Trackers hurls readers into a surreal world of seething jungles, random minefields, and lethal "friendly fire." Amid the mayhem, the author finds vital refuge in Caesar's playful innocence. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

something for everyone
What a fantastic book! I had no idea dogs played a role like this in the war. Whether your interested in war, working dogs or just want to read a great story i would recommend this book. Pete describes perfectly the innocent nature of a dog even in these extreme circumstances. I can't say enough good things about Tracker's so just pick it up and enjoy.....

well written book of the australian tracker dog teams
wonderfully written book of the australian involvement of tracker dog teams in vietnam...thousands of allied lives were saved through the relationship built by the tracker dogs and handlers, together with the scout, sentry, mine, tunnel, booby trap, and other military working dog teams...over 4,000 dogs and in excess of 10,000 handlers kept our troops safe....the lives of our allied military forces depended on the trust built between handler and dog....

Outstanding
I love books written by people who have been in the working dog field with dogs such as Service Dogs of the Police,Military working roles. I personally find books written on the obedience trailling and Schuzhund competitions basically repetitive and in the main, boring.

Service work and associated training to me, is the real world of dog training, I enjoy competition and encourage people to compete.But I get tired of the never ending waffle of the best way to train involving food, toys, clickers, working in drives etc.

This book is excellent taking one into the real world of extreme dangers of the Vietnam war. Well written, reviting, and refreshing after the waffle of other dog books.Well done Peter. ...

Great book!
I have read numerous books about war dogs. This is by far my favorite. I was totally engrossed from beginning to end. The book will make you laugh and a few pages later make you cry. Mr. Haran's accounts of his experiences in training tracker dogs for Vietnam, and doing two tours as a dog handler in the "J" (jungle), really bring home the effectiveness of man-dog teams and illustrate the deep bonds that develop between the two forged under fire. I can't say enough good things about this book. If you are a dog lover, or if you're interested in war dogs at all, you should read this book. You won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Book Description

Eclipse was the code name given by the Allies to their last operation of the war in Europe--the occupation of Germany. Alan Moorehead's original intention was to chronicle the collapse of German Europe sociologically and politically, psychologically and even emotionally. He was after atmosphere more than fact, especially since ECLIPSE was written too soon after the fact for responsible history.

In the final tally, ECLIPSE is a commentary. Starting with the collapse in Italy, Moorehead advances through France, the Rhine, finally into the heart of Germany where the last Nazis were finally stopped. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Clear View of Battle
Moorehead brings the risk and result of WWII's European Theatre warfare into clear and concise presentation. This work must be one of the most effective accounts of the fight, as it proves both accessible and deep. The author maintains an unbiased and wide-ranging perspective upon events while capturing the horror and heroism inherent to battle. While a fan of Stephen Ambrose's works, I must say that Moorehead -- as a first-hand witness -- provides landscapes and portraits of WWII unrivaled by any historical author.

Superb description of what it was like
Moorehead was first and foremost a supremely talented writer. This book is chiefly an account of his experiences following the Allied advance, as much memoir as reportage. The most vivid passages are set in Italy. No other book gives such an immediate feeling for the time and place.

Experience and judgements
I enjoyed this book immensely. Moorehead writes of his wartime experiences in a vivid and personal way. He has the ability to tell what is happening, his reaction to the events, and what he thinks the future holds. Fascinating reporting and reflectons. His prose flows and I was swept along by it.

An Interesting Immediate Impression
One of WWII's leading correspondents here describes the Allied push onto mainland Europe and the subsequent drive for Berlin. The book is not a blow-by-blow account of the military maneuvers, but rather a series of anecdotal impressions of the soldiers, the people, and the ebb and flow of war covering Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and finally Germany. Published in 1945, it's fairly interesting if only because Moorehead doesn't write from the armchair long after the fact. For anyone interested in the war, it's a worthwhile read, although it begs for more maps (which the new Soho edition may have). ... Read more

Book Description

In his memoir of his year spent reporting on the Vietnam War for Reuters, journalist Lunn contrasts his friendships in Saigon and his crouching under gunfire during trips to the front. ... Read more

Book Description

This compelling personal account of an Australian World War II fighter pilot reveals the experiences of one who earned a reputation among allies and enemies alike for his acts of bravery, his selflessness, his dogged determination, and an infectious sense of humor. Nicky Barr shot down 14 enemy planes, and was subsequently shot down three times himself and captured as a prisoner of war in Italy, where he escaped four separate times. Exploring adventure, war, courage, the terror of mortality--and the love for his wife that sustained him through it all, his story provides insight into the power of the human spirit and its determination to survive. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the true story of how a girl in Australia was taken from her parents and educated in a Catholic mission. In 1965, she was forced to become a domestic on a wealthy estate, where she woke before dawn every day and slaved for fifteen hours. She ate off a tin plate and slept on a shabby cot above a garage. All because of the color of her skin. This sort of thing wasn't supposed to happen anymore. Here is the frightening yet victorious story of how it did and how that young woman who fought her way out.
"[An] affecting memoir...Her harrrowing story, dispassionately told, could well be fiction."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
... Read more

Book Description

This is the compelling autobiographical story of an Australian army officer attached to an American special forces unit on the Cambodian border in the Vietnam war. For the men in Stan Krasnoff's unit, life entailed sleep deprivation, bad rations, and the forging of a brotherhood. For the Special Forces gathered together to conduct a daring series of covert intelligence-gathering operations for the U.S. government, every day posed the threat of being killed-or worse, being taken prisoner. This is the story of a select group of men who, under the command of Major Bo Gritz, lived life on the razor's edge and faced the enemy up close and personal. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Shadows is Fantasy
Stan Krasnoff's tale 'Shadows on the Wall' is at best a piece of fiction, which is tied together with pieces of fantasy. Firstly, the then Captain Krasnoff was not in Vietnam during operation Rapid Fire IV. He did not get to Saigon until 5 December 1967. His participation in Rapid Fire Operations was limited to five patrols that amounted to less than 24 hours in the field. Copies of the official after action reports from these patrols do not match Krasnoff's hyperbole, especially the 'heart yammering' action where he allegedly killed the enemy soldier in the 'spider hole'. Krasnoff has made basic errors of description throughout the novel and some of his Acronyms are wrong. Shadows on the wall does not live up to its extravagant promotion. At best the words are a promotional tease written by someone with not one iota of knowledge about special forces operations in Vietnam and at worst it is a deliberate misleading of the reading public. False advertising, if you will. The book should be treated as a tale based around some actual events, but Shadows on the wall should never make it to the history or reference shelves of any library. In the telling of a story that needs no embellishment, this writer has done himself a disservice. It is a sloppy book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Amazing Story
What an amazing story. It's made all the more powerful by the blending of historical background and the knowledge that the story is being told by someone with firsthand experience of the institution as well as a direct connection to the main characters. This is a good read, about a subject not often heard about in the States. This book will be making the rounds of my friends and family.

It's to the point.
The story is only 135 pages long. There's very little speculation on what could have happened during the weeks of of the girls' trek home. The book is very matter of fact.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'm glad I read the book first. I suspect they'll be adding "Hollywood" to the screenplay.

OK, Easy Read
A true account told by one of the daughter of 3 young mixed blood girls. Living on an outback property the girls are taken from their aboriginal families and taken down south to a town where 'others' like them (half bloods) are to be raised, educated and cultured. The premise of the book and movie is how these young girls escape and manage to walk hundres of kilometers back home.

The book is just small and easily read in a few days. Told somewhat like a history book, it has actually accounts and police recorded information on the progress of the girls escape. It takes a little while to get into it but if your interested in Australian scenery, the outback, early Australian history, then give it a go. It is by no means a book to rave about, but a nice easy read, thats not heavy going.

Remarkable and True
This is a truely moving novel and all the more so because it is true. Set in the 1930's it is a story of three aboriginal girls who were forcably taken from there families in the desert of western australia and put in a native settlement to be trained in the ways of 'white' society.
The way aboriginals were treated was apauling and it is one of australias darkest secrets refered to now as the 'stolen generation'.
Molly who is fourteen leads her two sisters in an escape and journeys something like 2400km across the australian desert, amazing by anyones standards but these are children.
they are pursued by trackers and search planes, and walk until they reach the rabbit proof fence. A fence that crosses australia from north to south and will lead these three determined children home. ... Read more

Book Description

Here are the words of the man who led Italy to fascism and aided Hitler during the war, written in early 1944 as it all began to fall apart. A fascinating historical document of first-rate importance, these memoirs come from his personal account (annotated but unaltered) of the events immediately preceding and following the capitulation of the Italian armies and the collapse of his regime. Included as an appendix: the final conversation with the Cardinal of Milan three days before Il Duce's execution by Italian partisans.
... Read more