Books | Liz Ledden

On the reading pile

Liz / February 17, 2016 / No Comments

The reading pile of late includes:

Lonely Planet South India & Kerala – for trip planning in progress! Yes, there are travel apps and e-books and travel sites galore for such things, but I still have an enormous place in my heart for ‘real’ travel guidebooks. Something about flipping through the pages instead of scrolling down a screen… not to mention bookshelf appeal. Kerala’s mix of tropical backwaters, spice trade history and mountainous tea plantations sound amazing – I can’t get there fast enough.

Withering-By-Sea – a captivating middle grade read that I was lucky enough to win from a recent NSW Writer’s Centre giveaway. Australian author Judith Rossell has created a beautifully written Victorian-era adventure story featuring an orphan named Stella, who lives in a seaside hotel with three awful aunts. It’s full of intrigue and a little dark – story perfection for my inner 10 year old.

Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert’s guide to ‘creative living beyond fear’. I’ve yet to crack this open but I’m anticipating a mega dose of inspiration and motivation…

SCBWI Bulletin – a quarterly mini-mag issued by the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. This is a major children’s writing body with branches all over that I recently joined. With articles on everything from editing, characterisation, meditation for writers and the ins and outs of critique groups, it’s a great little membership perk.

Finding Monkey Moon – a beautiful picture book by Elizabeth Pulford and Kate Wilkinson (Walker Books) that is right up my heartfelt/emotionally driven PB alley. It’s about a little boy’s search for his lost favourite toy, and ultimately about bravery as he has to search deep into a dark park to find it.

Reading pile aside… we now have a rotating reading shelf (bookshop/library style) thanks to the best roadside rescue of all time!!! The kids’ current reads and library loans can now be easily seen and obsessed over. Here it is:

Happy reading!

Picture book love: The Rabbits

Liz / November 11, 2015 / No Comments

The Rabbits, written by John Marsden, illustrated by Shaun Tan, Lothian Books, 1998

A sparsely narrated yet immensely powerful text, The Rabbits depicts a long ago invasion echoing white settlement of Australia. It emphasises the differences of an unrelenting stream of rabbits arriving by ship to a desert-like land, with those already inhabiting it depicted as kangaroo-like creatures. The rabbits’ unstoppable nature is stated in a clear, matter of fact tone, yet Tan’s complex illustrations delve deeper into their dominance and their impact. The grey-toned industrial scenes and use of black space in many of the later pages depict a harshness, as though colour has been replaced. The final statement and image offers little in the way of hope. A haunting, thought-provoking book that breaks the children-only boundaries of the perceived picture book audience.

Picture book love: A bear and a tree

Liz / September 11, 2015 / No Comments

A bear and a tree, written and illustrated by Stephen Michael King, Viking/Penguin Group, 2012

In A bear and a tree, a kind bear about to hibernate helps his friend Ren understand why a tree has lost its leaves. Seasonal changes and the passing of time are depicted largely through the illustrations. Gentle watercolour images reflect the soft, heartfelt narrative, and white space is utilised to highlight moments of action. Some double page, full frame spreads feature few or no words, allowing for quiet contemplation of Ren and Bear’s journey. A satisfactory resolution is reached when the bear helps Ren attach remnants of each season and their adventures to the tree, suggesting themes of team work, friendship, creativity and reassurance. This is a poignant story with a gentle strength, by one of my favourite author/illustrators.

Picture book love: The important things

Liz / July 29, 2015 / No Comments

The important things, written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas, New Frontier Publishing, 2010

The important things is the tale of Christopher and his mother, who are navigating the world together after the boy’s father has disappeared from their lives. Their sadness is depicted in their slumped bodies in front of a photograph featuring a faded image of the father positioned between the mother and the boy. When the mother decides they should take the father’s belongings to a second-hand store, she is mystified when they begin reappearing at home. This nostalgic tale uses a mix of sepia tones and bright colour for mood and emphasis, and suggests that what’s insignificant to some can have powerful meaning for others.

Picture book love: The tiger who came to tea

Liz / July 19, 2015 / Comments Off

Picture book love is a series of short picture book reviews, spanning old favourites on high rotation in our house, to newer releases/future classics.

The Tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr (William Collins Sons & Co Ltd., 1968)

One day, young Sophie is visited by a tiger who eats and drinks everything in her house. Sophie and her parents are left with nothing, so head out to a café for dinner. They buy groceries in case the tiger returns, ‘But he never did’. The tiger could be seen as threatening, however this is countered by his impeccable manners and affection with Sophie. Sophie appears a trusting character, implied by illustrations of her offering cakes to the tiger, and clutching a tin of tiger food anticipating his return. The imagination and innocence of childhood is portrayed in this timeless classic that remains in print almost fifty years after publication.

More: Judith Kerr and the story behind The tiger who came to tea

{Book love} Henna for the Broken-Hearted

Liz / March 9, 2012 / 8 Comments

When I first heard about Henna for the Broken-Hearted by Australian author Sharell Cook I immediately knew it would be right up my Asia-loving alley. A traveller turned expat finds new love and her life’s calling (writing) in mystical, magical India. A place I have travelled around and grappled with and would love to give another chance some day.

Sharell’s story is an inspiring one. At age 30 her marriage falls apart and she has a less then enthralling accounting career. A volunteer stint in Kolkata and subsequent travels around India combined with meeting soulmate Aryan lead to a life rejuvenated. She now lives in Mumbai and blogs at Diary of a White Indian Housewife (which I’m madly trawling through the archives of to catch up with), as well as writes professionally. Oh, and is now married to Aryan!

Though Sharell’s story is far more dramatic (and dare I say interesting) than my own, parts of her story really resonated with me and my own experiences living in Asia and searching for meaning. I had the love bit sorted already(!) but also realised my true passion (writing) while living in Cambodia, meanwhile grappling with cultural differences and all the ups and downs of living in a developing country

I found at the end of Henna for the Broken-Hearted I wanted to know more…what happened next? What other obstacles did the author face? What other uniquely Indian things were encountered? I love this genre of book and will happily take any recommendations for others like it!