Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: culture

  • Rising Sun Falling Rain

    Rising Sun Falling Rain

    Rising Sun Falling Rain is set in Japan in 1947, after the bombing of Hiroshima. Australia and New Zealand sent into teams of men to help restore and support the Japanese people who were facing severe hardship and devastation at every turn.

    New Zealand Serviceman Mike Mitchell volunteered to be part of J Force, arriving to take over as a driver, ferrying the local villagers helping out at the Hospital, to and from each day. He is young, naïve and horrified at what he is seeing, as he takes his first trip with Buster, on the hospital run.

    One of the volunteers is a beautiful, young girl who is gracious and respected by the other people on the truck.  Mick is captivated at first sight but told emphatically – no fraternising!

    Trish Devine has gently woven the culture of Japan, their strict traditions and the diversity of social standing into a captivating story as Mick and Emiko fall in love, both for the first time, the issues that arise from this and the decisions they both must make if they wish to have a life together.

    Sensitively written, she captures the sentiment prevalent during the post war years towards the Japanese in New Zealand and Australia, the conflict that comes from keeping secrets and the heartbreak when those secrets are discovered.

    Rising Sun Falling Rain wraps around many of the profound aspects of life; new beginnings forged from devastation, hope, love, friendship, acceptance and family. A most enjoyable, deeply immersive, heart wrenching debut novel from Trish Devine.

  • Why We Sing

    Why We Sing

    Why We Sing poses the question, why do we sing and also establishes why we should continue on singing over the duration of our lives. Beginning with the foetus, Julia Hollander traces the development of the larynx in the unborn child. Scientific discoveries have revealed that the tongue moves in the mouth, lungs begin to expand and the diaphragm practices its movements by hiccupping.

    Following this we learn about the listening skills developing and the mother’s voice becoming recognisable. This is a fascinating way to introduce the topic of singing, along with many interesting facts about cultural differences, birds and history.

    Julia Hollander is a community music teacher and has seen the great benefits that singing can bring. She has done Scientific Research to explore how our bodies create song and how it enables children to access language. We use singing as a show of faith, to pass on political messages and to experience a sense of freedom.

    We then follow the author’s journey as she travels to discover exactly how song is used in other cultures and the many ways it can help all people. From despair, aging, loneliness and death, to celebrations and warrior songs, the scope of these explanations is immense. Julia has also found plenty of evidence to show that singing in schools promotes children’s’ learning.

    In recent times the author joined a protest group to attract attention to the issue of Climate Change. She has found a form of singing that calms the situation while raising awareness of the dire straits of the world. Long may she sing!

  • Arelhekenhe Angkentye – Women’s Talk, Second Edition

    Arelhekenhe Angkentye – Women’s Talk, Second Edition

    Poems of Lyapirtneme from Arrernte Women in Central Australia

    Women from throughout the arid dessert regions of Australia gathered in Alice Springs in February 2019 to attend a festival with the theme of Lyapirtneme, an Arrernte word meaning growing back, to talk ‘women’s business’, share company, food and participate in discussion, to take some time out from their busy life caring for their mob and create poetry.

    Out of that came this powerful collection of simple words from the women, Arelherkenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk, from many whom had never placed words on paper to tell about their life, their struggles, healing, culture and the world around them. Many of the pieces were written on small pieces of paper, some round, some square, not large pieces of paper at all, just enough for a few words.

     For many it took great courage to write how they felt but in the doing they have created a lasting memory, a gift of understanding of reaching out with words from ‘their country’, their culture and their life.

    The work was never intended to form a book, but such was the flow of words, the rich telling of the poems that a crowd funding was done with the end result, Arelherkenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk, which begins with a beautiful piece from a mother to her son My Little Turtle.

    Words Unsaid from Sylvia Purrurle Neale pays tribute to a grand old gum tree that offered shelter, comfort and shade but had reached the end of its time, leaving behind ‘a huge hole, a memory, a sadness that will never go’, which is poignant in its simplicity and also has so many layers to the grieving felt.

    Inside knowledge comes to light in We Share, the many gifts the bush passionfruit has to offer, along with Witchetty in tribute to the delicacy of Witchetty grubs and honey ants.  When we were kids captures the easy going nature of children out looking for a treat; bush tucker; little wild cherries, bush bananas and oranges, Yum.

    Two Strong Blokes makes you chuckle, Two old men make you weep a little. Brothers makes you stop and ponder, such is the power of words.

    Divided up to into sections, slowly browsing the pages is simply a journey into another world; a world of ancient people, of timeless rhythm, of fun, laughter, hard times, healing and the gift of giving.

    Arelherkenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk reaches out, crosses barriersand offers a priceless peep into a world little known and often misunderstood, through the eyes of women, who world-wide are always there to care, comfort and share the knowledge.

    Truth talking, healing, sadness, life, vitality and beauty are all encompassed in this anthology of poetry created by the Arrernte women of Central Australia.

  • Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1

    Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1

    As she lies dying, Grandmother, the Koori Warrior gives Wylah, the artist, her boomerang in the hope that she will take on the mantle and find the warrior within, to become the new Koori Warrior and thus save her tribe and their animals.  

    Authors Jordon Gould and Richard Pritchard tell the story of Wylah, the young Peek Whurrong girl from Maar Nation, who must save her family from an invading dragon army. Set in a fantasy alternative history world, the story of ‘Wylah The Koorie Warrior’ has been 40,000 years in the making,

    When her students started becoming disruptive Wylah, their indigenous art teacher, decides to distract them by taking them out of the cave to enjoy a ride on a kangaroo. However, she soon notices that Po, one of her more troublesome pupils is missing, so she returns to the cave.

    Before she and Po can leave the cave there is a sudden rock fall and they become trapped inside. After being dug out they realize that their world has changed; the conquering dragons have stolen all the village people including her family; her grandmother lies dying on the ground.    

    It is Wylah’s task to rescue her people and animals in order to bring them home. She can’t do this by herself. In order to defeat the powerful dragons, she has to find and reunite the five great Guardians of the tribe; this will be challenging. She has to transform into a warrior, so she must think strong and be strong, which will take time and effort.

    As young readers will be entranced not only by the sensitively captivating illustrations, but also by the adventures of Wylah they will learn and understand more about the different cultural aspects, history, language and story of Australia’s First Nation people. Book two of Wylah’s heroic acts is on the horizon.

    Note to teachers and Parents: The publishers have provided ‘Teacher Tips’ and tie ins to the Australian curriculum on their website. There is also a list of English and Peek Whurrong words contained in the story in a glossary at the end of the book.

  • CHINA BLONDE

    CHINA BLONDE

    As a Newsreader with Sky News, Nicole Webb believed she had her life pretty well organised. She had worked hard over the years to attain this position. She was also the proud owner of a lovely little Mini Cooper convertible. Life was very good and she was enjoying every moment.

    Turning thirty-five saw change begin to happen when she decided to do something very different; volunteer at an orphanage in Africa for six weeks, a decision that was to have a massive influence on what happened next.

    Meeting James, a hotelier, on a ‘blind date’ proved to be the next momentous event in her life, an event that saw her getting married and at the age of 38 years, falling pregnant with their child; two events Nicole never thought would be a part of her life.

    Along with being pregnant, they accepted a opportunity to move to Hong Kong. Four years later they were again offered a chance to move to China, a decision that was to be far more challenging than either of them expected, but one that was to enrich their lives in ways neither of them ever anticipated.

    Once the decision was made to move, Nicole realised what she was giving up in her lovely, expat lifestyle in Hong Kong. China was far from anything she or James had ever imagined: Their beautiful, charming and cheeky blond haired daughter was the centre of attraction each time they stepped outside the door of their home for the next two years, The Westin Xi’an.

    With a large dose of humour and good dollop of being able to laugh at herself, she shares her life as an expat wife of a Hotelier in China, the Middle Kingdom, a world that was vastly different to anything she had ever experienced or was even prepared for, learning how to do just about everything from the beginning.

    Her journey to the hairdressers becomes a mission in its own right, finding a suitable school for Ava, a massive undertaking, trying to discover other Mums that made up the expat community proved challenging and that was without trying to learn the language, cope with the dense smog, the noise, traffic and immense amount of people everywhere.

    Nicole Webb has offered a refreshing and honest peek through the window that people who travel for work and their families have to learn to accept as a part of their life. She has also presented a wonderful look at life in a vastly different culture, the love and insight that is gained by taking on  a challenge and the understanding that no matter what the culture or the background, people are all connected by the same ‘common thread of humanity’.

    More than a memoir and much more than a travel guide to China, China Blonde is a refreshing, enjoyable journalist’s eye-view into a world that has to be experienced to be understood and one that will definitely resonate with anyone who has ever lived or is living a similar lifestyle.

  • Born Into This

    Born Into This

    Adam Thompson has in his delicately crafted debut work Born Into This, captured the essence of what life is like from a First Nations peoples perspective, of life in the fast paced modern day world of Australia and all its efforts to slowly move towards  some form of acceptance and reconciliation.

    Sensitive, funny, quirky and telling, the stories that make up the anthology are about people, life, living, challenge and the very everyday nature of change. The Old Tin Mine investigates the price of pride and refusal to take on change. Honey is a fascinating read that captures in entirety the outcome of abuse, disrespect and like the circle of life, what goes round, eventually comes around, this time with a tragic end.

    Careful use of words build a verbal artwork in Bleak Conditions which creates a reflection on family bonds, tolerance and the marginalised that live in the parks of the country, as Jarrod is rescued in the depth of a Tasmanian winter, yet again from a camp on the edge of a park. How long can family bonds hold or will they remain broken forever?

    Dorothy gets very upset about what she perceives as in an imposter, a school friend of sorts who claims to have Aboriginal ancestry, or does she. The Descendant looks at the very heart of what it means to be Indigenous, with roots that go back thousands of years.

    Born Into This is indigenous only because Adam Thompson is Indigenous, He has worked for more than twenty years for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, caring for the land and heritage to preserve community history. The one salient and overlying emotion captured in each of the stories is they could be about anyone, young, old, indigenous, an immigrant from another time and place, as each of the pieces is written about the very fragility of the human spirit.

    Deeply reflective of culture, Born Into This is poignant, hopeful, raw, honest, beautiful and an absolute gem.

  • Fierce, Fearless and Free: Girls in myths and legends from around the world

    Fierce, Fearless and Free: Girls in myths and legends from around the world

    Lari Don has written down old and new myths from countries around the world, in Fierce, Fearless and Free all of which show how girls and women have outsmarted, oppressors, either by wit, cunning or sheer force. Each of the stories are delightful and show how little these women and girls needed a handsome prince. This is Lari’s fifth anthology returning to the theme of ‘Girls, Goddesses and Giants’.

    Myths and stories from Armenia, Scotland, Lithuania, Italy, and China have been chosen and written down along with several others. Many of the stories pass on a message such as “If you want something done you need to do it yourself.” Also, the stories reinforce the fact that it may take several tries to remedy a situation, but perseverance and persistence pay off.

    The girls in these stories use skills they have learnt, to overcome obstacles and they learn from the situation they have experienced. For example, in Kandek and the Wolf, the girl never passes an apple to a stranger again, but if they ask for it, she throws it to them.

    Interesting and presenting many cultural differences the short stories are fun to read and are enhanced by the illustrations. The appeal of this book is that it will entertain people of any age. It was delightful to read about Medea, Jason’s partner in claiming the Golden Fleece, as well as Bridget and the Witches. This is a great book for sharing and reading out loud.

     

  • Elephants with Headlights

    Elephants with Headlights

    Set in India and Australia, this wonderful family saga, Elephants with Headlights is both beautifully written, and evocative, in its story. The descriptive language carries the reader along, immersed in the lives of the characters, their hopes and dreams, loves and desires.

    The Indian family consists of a loving grandmother, a very determined and strong- minded mother, an astute businessman father, and two young adult children. The Indian customs and traditions are thought to be all important for the weddings which must take place for Neel, the son, and Savitri, the daughter.

    It is here that the problems arise. Neel has met an Australian girl whom he wishes to marry. Tota, his mother, is bitterly disappointed in his choice and feels, if she can get rid of Mae, his fiancé, she will find him an Indian girl to wed.

    Savitri has a serious problem in that she was born under a very inauspicious sign, something that will blight any intended relationships. There is great pressure on the parents to help their children wed and settle.

    An ancient Guru comes to town and Siddharth, the father, is taken by his daughter to meet this man. Her father is very dismissive, only thinking about his next business meeting, but the Guru, who senses his disbelief, casts a spell on the man, which complicates both his business life and his family life. There is a great feeling of love and struggle for power in this family, but everyone is desperate to follow their own path.

    Each of the characters is beautifully composed; the ancient grandmother is inactive, but very much a force in the lives of her grandchildren. The desperate need for the family heritage to continue is a huge issue for the older generation. The gentle humour and equally gentle pathos surrounding the ancient grandmother is unforgettable.

    Elephants with Headlights will be a story that will stay with the you for a long time. Despite all the anxiety generated, there is a core of tranquillity which seems to transmit to the reader and bring a sense of peace and comfort.

  • An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids

    An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids

    In a time of much cultural discussion, it is charming to find a series of books that deal with who and what make up the very interesting mix of cultures, now an integral component so many countries of the modern world.

    An Aussie Year takes five children from five different cultures who live in Australia celebrating their cultures and differences, all the while looking at how these differences have now become an accepted component of life in Australia.

    Ned’s family go back five generations to the early days of white settlement in Australia, Zoe’s family originally came from Greece, Lily’s parents are from China and Vietnam, Kirra’s family are first people, having family roots back thousands of years and Matilda was born in Ireland, arriving in Australia with her parents when she was still a baby: they all call themselves Australian.

    Broken up into months of the year, each month is filled with the many celebrations and traditions of the different cultural backgrounds that are now absolutely a part of modern Australia.

    Cartoon style illustration and cleverly constructed sentences from Tania McCartney and Tina Stirling weave across the seasons and the months of celebration, with a lovely understory saying no mater what your cultural background, somehow everyone really is the same: Australian.

    Hours of fun discovering much about other aspects of life and people in Australia can be discovered within the pages, as the five children take readers on a fantastic adventure into their cultures and how they, as a family, celebrate seasonal events.

    There is also the very real opportunity to go on an adventure of your own, as you discover much more about Ned, Zoe, Lily, Kira and Matilda’s cultures and how all they fit so well into everyday life here in Australia.

     

     

  • Some Places More Than Others

    Some Places More Than Others

    As with all good stories, this book can be enjoyed by all ages. It is a fantastic book to share and discuss either with a child or a classroom of children. It is set in America, in Oregon and New York, and instinctively rather than overtly, looks at the heroes of the local black people who settled around Harlem. Because the story is narrated by a young girl, we see the new places through her eyes, and her questions echo our own.

    Amara is the much- loved daughter of Leslie, who is expecting her second child. This pregnancy has progressed where others have failed, so everyone is rather anxious for her health. Charles, Amara’s father, works for Nike and has to travel often. He is going to New York for meetings and his daughter wants to go with him. Her grandfather lives there and the girl wants to meet her extended family. Both her mother and father are adamant that she shouldn’t go, but, as it is her birthday and she presents some powerful arguments, they relent. Before she leaves, her mother tells her that her father hasn’t spoken to his father for a long time.

    Some of the strands that make this story so rich are the musings that Amara has about people. Her cousins take her to see some of the statues in New York. She sees statues of men and women of great courage and conviction who have made the way easier for the people who followed. These were those who fought for equal pay and working conditions for all. Along with the stark contrast between New York and Oregon, she finds that the highlights of both places vary enormously. The mountains, waterfalls and open spaces of Oregon, couldn’t be more different from the crowded, colourful streets of New York.

    Amara is aware that she has a homework assignment to fulfil, and decides to set it around her extended family about whom she knows little. It seems that she is very like her much loved grandmother and has prompted conversations between family members. Gradually, she discovers that the animosity between her grandfather and father, is to do with family expectations, and her questions and observations seem to reduce this enmity. Time has passed and people have moved on and forgiveness is seen as the best move forward for all to have a rich and happy life.

    This is an easy flowing story with characters who are individuals with strengths and weaknesses. A pleasure to read.