Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Summer

  • The Year Without a Summer

    The Year Without a Summer

    Environmental issues, immigrations, teenage angst and courage have all come together in this inspiring and timely work from Arlene Mark, The Year Without A Summer, which while written for the teen market is an excellent read for a wide range of ages.

    Jaime Fulton is ecstatic. Snow in the middle of summer due to a volcanic eruption on the other side of the world. As a very keen snowboarder it is almost a dream come true; no summer!

    Claire Montalvo has recently survived a hurricane in her home country of Puerto Ricco and is learning to settle to a new life. In Science class their teacher uses the volcanic eruption of Mt Tambora in 1815, which killed in excess of 50,000 people and bought a year without a summer to the world, as an investigate project, which sees both Claire and Jamie at complete opposite perspectives.

    Claire is a top level student whereas Jamie is struggling to maintain his grades. The disruption to class caused by these two arguing the merits is bought to a head when the teacher advises them to either debate the issue or loose the grades.

    Both teens are struggling with issues in the family which is adding extra stress; Claire’s father has returned to Puerto Ricco to search of missing relatives, while Jamie’s brother has returned home after serving in Afghanistan injured and mentally scared, which just adds another level to what is beginning to move on past the conflicting ideas and become a friendship.

    Both Claire and Jamie begin to understand that what has happened in the past and more recently, has a wider effect on the environment and realise that the way forward is to recruit their school mates, use the resources available and begin to empower their community by taking a stand on Climate Change.

    The Year Without A Summer is a well-crafted, well balanced story, combining with real skill the many issues facing the young people of today, the delicate balance of teen friendship and how, by sharing what is going on in their own lives, somehow the burden is lighter.

    A very timely book aimed at the market that can, and will, and should, be able to make serious changes to the world in which they live on an environmental basis.

  • Twelvemonth

    Twelvemonth

    Song cycles are something that is not all that common in the world of today’s music and yet, by its very nature, so much of the music created in a neoclassical, spiritual/new age style is exactly that; a song cycle. Composer and pianist Pam Asberry has created a fresh, enjoyable tribute to Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel who composed a beautiful song cycle Daas Jahr in 184, along with many other pieces, during a time when music was not considered as a suitable or respectable career for a woman.

    Twelvemonth begins in January a time of Snow with a dainty collection of notes delicately falling as the snowflakes do, gentle, soft, delicate and perfectly formed. The year moves along with Romance arriving in February with a gentle considered tempo that is deliciously soft, warm and cuddly, all the elements that make up a good old fashioned romance.

    As the year unfolds the melodies formed are jaunty, reflective and exciting. Before long a Processional is held, perhaps in response to the early romance in February. Carefully spaced the notes form an image of the Bride slowly walking down the aisle to begin her life with the man of her heart. Rich and lovely, Processional is full of dreams of happy tomorrows filled with love.

    Fireworks, skies lit up with magical, fleeting colour, sparklers waving, leaving a mystical trail of vapour only to disappear in the blink of an eye, is captured in the vibrant piece Sparklers, a celebration of Independence Day held in July in the United States.

    As the lively days of summer draw to a close how easy it is to Lament the passing of the seasons, which has been captured in the up-tempo melody laced together with a strong, deep thread portraying the slow but persistent change arriving in the chill of the days, as summer is on the wane.

    Ghosts arrive in October, their Shades all around, particularly as the sun sets ushering in the darkness. The quirky little piece Shadows pays tribute to the month of ghosts, mystique and Celtic festivals.

    Christmas is a time of hope, family and joy which is celebrated in the hymn like Hope set to be a favourite come Christmas time in December this year. Hope is also the perfect ending to a beautiful song cycle which commenced with the delicate and dainty Snow, to gently segue through the emotions to conclude with the wonderfully meaningful, immensely touching piece Hope.

  • The Long, Long Afternoon

    The Long, Long Afternoon

    Set in an affluent white neighbourhood of the post war America 1950’s during the endless days of a hot California summer, housewife Joyce Haney vanishes. The children are found in tears, a bloodstain on the floor of the kitchen.

    How this was possible in this perfect neighbourhood of white picket fences, perfectly presented wife’s and mothers with their carefully manufactured beliefs, the manicured green lawns of middle class suburbia that created the great American Dream, one with feet of clay.

     A slow burn to begin with, the plot picks up pace as the three protagonists form into very complex people, each hiding something: Joyce stifled by the cast iron routine, falsehoods and expectations of a life in the suburbs, Ruby the black maid, overlooked, marginalised and wanting more out of life than being the hired help, Detective Mick Blanke, recently arrived from Baltimore under a cloud.

    It is inconceivable that in this perfect neighbourhood, murder could have been committed and the more Mick Blanke investigates the crime, he begins to believe that perhaps murder was carried out. Ruby is of course the first suspect, but as she knows more about what goes on behind the lace curtains of Sunnylake, Blanke realises perhaps he and Ruby would be better working together.

    Told by Joyce, Ruby and Blanke, secrets are uncovered, lies exposed and the true underbelly of American society lay bare, during a time when women were supposed to fit in with societies dictates, black folk were treated with complete disregard and slightly dodgy Detectives, a matter of course!

    More than a simple murder mystery, the debut novel The Long Long Afternoon from  Inga Vesper has style, panache and a damn good storyline established firmly in an era of massive change, stifling correctness and damning values, against the relentless, enervating days of a Californian summer.

    What really did happen to Joyce Haney?

  • Pierre’s Not There

    Pierre’s Not There

    Laura is on summer holidays, going with her Mum for the day as she cleans house and then to the beach to spend some time playing after work. As their journey begins, it is fast becoming a typically hot summers day and Lara hopes maybe Mum will buy an ice-cream on the way home. On the ferry she befriends a dog with lovely golden brown eyes, talking to it and patting its fur but when Lara turns to say goodbye, there is no sign of the dog under the seat.

    So begins a wonderful journey filled to the brim with fantasy anchored in modern day as Lara explores the Mulberry Brick house with the white windows, while her Mum does the cleaning. From the garden she sees a little boy beckoning to her from an upstairs window; she decides to explore the house, opening a door at the top of the stairs, and there is Pierre.

    Pierre tells her an amazing story of his family being eaten by wolves and shows her his beautiful antique puppet theatre, equipped with puppets. The children decide to play out the story Pierre has told Lara, which is when reality begins to blend with something else as Lara, who has always loved dogs, takes the part of the Dog, or is it wolf, and a wild adventure begins to try and help Pierre find his Grandmother.

    Pierre’s Not There from Ursula Dubosarsky is a perfect blend of storyline dissolving into to the medium of theatre, which is one and the same, with the characters in the puppet play continuing on the story of Pierre and his quest to find his beloved Grandmother.

    There are several levels to this storyline which will make interesting discussion in a classroom or with a young reader. The concept of a story transforming into play is one to enjoy and explore as well, as the roles are clearly defined and ready for stage, lights, action and a whole load of fun acting out the storyline.

    Coupled with this exciting and immensely enjoyable story are the fabulous illustrations from award winning  Christopher Nielson who captures the sentiment and fun of the story, let alone the drama when things begin to get really tough for the two children’s as their adventure becomes more than they ever expected.

    Pierre’s Not There captures the imagination, allows the concept of theatre to be presented and skilfully blends reality with fantasy; the perfect recipe for hours of fun and enjoyment over the coming summer months.

  • One Hundred Summers

    One Hundred Summers

    Autobiographies can some times be rather dry and predictable, but One Hundred Summer; a family story by Vanessa Branson is a cracker. She has correctly determined that you are a product of your ancestors. Their fortunes, family traits, attitudes, and genetics have a huge part to play in who you are, and how you handle your life today. Therefore, it is quite fascinating to begin this story with the author’s family tree, and a little information about each character. Being removed from the family the reader begins to see patterns of behaviour emerge, and attitudes become entrenched.

    Having a famous brother adds to the interest, however this is her story, told in a vivid and compelling style. The author was brought up in a loving household. Her Mother was energetic and always looking for interesting and exciting ways to keep busy. There were very few restrictions placed on the children. They were always trusted to do the right thing and although physical love wasn’t demonstrated much the children certainly knew they were cared for.

    The house was always busy with friends of the family calling in to discuss topical issues, and everyone was allowed a voice. As the children grew, their friends would also come to the home and hotly debate a huge range of issues. All the family were exposed to new ideas, new ways of thinking and creative ways to be strong and solve problems. Richard had started Virgin Records, and Vanessa had survived boarding school. Interestingly and hugely inspirational is the fact that both of them suffered from a learning disorder.

    As an adult, Vanessa became well known in the art world and travelled extensively. She found love and had children and then survived a marriage breakup. Every page is a treat to read in this honest and loving recount of her family, warts and all.

  • Only Mostly Devastated

    Only Mostly Devastated

    Only Mostly Devastated from Sophie Gonzales is an absolutely fun read which so very well portrays the agonies of growing up, coming out and fitting in. A modern take of the much-loved Grease, Only Mostly Devastated is a definite must read for teens and their parents.

    The story line is one familiar to all; summer love, the best kind, especially when you are a teen testing the waters of love and discovering the depths of love, angst and passion that somehow seems to fit perfectly within the framework of long, hot, endless days of summer.

    Ollie and Will have a summer ‘fling’ while he and his family are at the Lake in North Carolina, helping out Aunt Linda as she has Cancer and could use a little help with her young children over the summer break. Which is all beyond wonderful, until Ollie has to return home and Will refuses to answer any of Ollie’s texts. Rejection, devastation hit hard.

    But worse is to follow as his parents have decided to move permanently to North Carolina because Aunt Linda seems to be getting worse. Ollie’s life as he used to know it is crumbling with the sheer enormity of changing schools, making new friends and having to drop being the bassist in his band.

    Written with a quirky, funny and very wry look at growing up, Only Mostly Devastated deals with so many issues in a manner that is both serious and yet light-hearted, especially when Ollie discovers Will, the very love of his life, is not the laid back gay guy of summer love at all, but a larger than life, basketball playing, class clown at his new high school!

    Add a group of girls also trying to find their place in the world of emotions, challenges and friendship, a family in crisis, as well as learning to fit in and you have an immensely enjoyable, very refreshing take on the very real issues faced in the world of growing up.

    Only Mostly Devastated is a terrific read which will, like the iconic Grease, become a favourite, with a gentle message built in, and is a story line which will return full of fond memories, time and time again.

  • The Memory Pool: Australian stories of summer, sun and swimming

    The Memory Pool: Australian stories of summer, sun and swimming

    Maybe it’s in your DNA, or a learned behaviour, or a Star Sign, but there is definitely a group of people who just love the water and being in it. For those people, The Memory Pool is a dynamic collection of short stories that is so Australian, and so exciting to read, one cannot put it down. The stories evoke all the senses so much that you cannot help but reflect on your own encounters as a kid in a pool when you were growing up.

    Reading the stories of many personal experiences with swimming pools, the reader sees similarities in the storytellers’ recollections. The wonderful sense of the water enveloping the body, and the solitary peace while under the water is remembered. All of the stories are told as the recollections of a child. I’m sure if you asked for similar thoughts of a picnic or show day, the sensory and contented experiences would not be so clearly remembered.

    One story tells of swimming in a pool in Darwin during a rain storm and how the rain looked from under the water. Another tells of the challenges the children set themselves each visit to the pool. The stories never mention bullying, but tell about healthy competition and creativity in coming up with new games.

    The first jump into the cool waters, and how that felt on your skin was a common feeling. The swimming lessons held in the pool had some less than caring teachers. One teacher had a broom handle and if you came to the edge of the pool for a rest, he would push you off. Freedom to play and be solitary or one of a crowd seemed to be most important to all the children.

    Therese Spruhan has divided the sections very cleverly. She has stories from Suburban Pools, Bay Pools, Sea Pools, and Building Pools. These stories cover all states in Australia, and that strong love for the water and the personal peace it brings is common to all. The familiarity for the body in being almost weightless in water is not forgotten. Also, the fitness and skills that were almost accidentally built up as the kids played, were put to good account as many of them took part in competition swimming.

    The heat, the pool turnstile, the blue of the water, the shock of the cold on your hot body, the peace and serenity under the water…Ahhhh! Yes, these are indeed sensation to remember forever.

  • Summer Time

    Summer Time

    Best selling authors Antonia Pesenti & Hilary Bell are back with a nostalgic return to the summer holidays of their youth in Summer Time, a trip down memory lane with rhyming text, gloriously vibrant, summer colour illustration and a huge amount of fun to be enjoyed once again.

    Summer time in Australia is something very special for everyone; families gather at the beach, go camping or holidaying at some very interesting locations, staying in places far different to their homes, children are allowed more freedom to explore and ice-cream is the order of the day, whenever possible.

    It is a time of magic, a time when memories are made to last a life time and time to simply be yourself, wearing your daggy old bathers and having fun; and that’s for grown-up as well. Everyone relaxes, enjoying the long, lazy heat filled days of summer.

    Sausages are cooked on the barbeque until they are slightly charred, you feel like your melting when it gets to hot to swim, pink zinc is put on to try and stop the sunburnt noses. Back in the days before air-conditioning, fans whirred furiously trying to cool the hot air; Hair got soaked with sweat, waiting to go to the beach to cool off.

    Mozzies feasted fast and furiously in the early evening, leaving behind red itchy spots and tomorrow, it was all there to be done again. Bushfires devastate the bushlands and all too soon it was time to try on new school shoes and watch the evening skies full of stars, as Emu returned to fly for all eternity in the Milky Way.

    With summer almost here once again Summer Time brings back those halcyon days when once we were young and for the young of today, memories of their own to be made with adventures still to be discovered.

    Are these nostalgic days of summer simply an Australian myth? Most definitely not as these were the summer days of my youth and are now the summer days of my grandchildren, so no, the memories are alive and well, each and every summer at the beaches and at the swimming pools of Australia, being created once again for a new generation to enjoy.

    You can almost smell the sunscreen, the sausages cooking on the barbeque and the heat melting the bitumen on the roads, as you take your children on a voyage of once, when you were young, and summer days never seemed to end.

     

  • Half Moon Bay

    Half Moon Bay

    Dreamy and refreshing this peaceful collection Half Moon Bay from the  piano of Rick Sparks is an absolute delight, inspired by his love of the ocean and the love and enjoyment of the peace, relaxation and beauty there to be found and enjoyed.

    A lover of the Beach Boys music of the ‘60s and their brilliance at being able to capture the very essence of the beat, the vibe and the spiritual nature of the ocean, Sparks has used the legacy Brian Wilson created and his love of the ocean as inspiration.

    The track Half Moon Bay composed by Brian Wilson is a slightly softer version of the original but has that unmistakable finger picking style of acoustic guitar added to the piano melody to tweak the memory. This tribute is shown throughout the album with the Lonely Sea a slow, moody rendition introduced with the sound of surf breaking and Summers Gone, an iconic Beach Boys tracks, offered with a gentle reverence to create an ethereal and introspective piece. Penned as Wilson looks back over the halcyon days of his life, accepting that summer and indeed gone and the days of peace and acceptance are a beautiful reward, Summers Gone was the last song on their final album recorded in 2012.

    First Light is introduced as synthesiser song, solemn and peaceful, it has been written in tribute to the morning rays of the sun slowly climbing over the horizon to grace the ocean with it glorious colour just for that one, perfect moment in time.

    The refreshing and often longed for fresh summer sea breeze on a day of intense heat, has been captured in Whisper in the Wind, an evocative piece with a lovely addition of flute and vocals. Sunset Dreams is as it is titled, a tribute to the slow and often spectacular drawing on of the day by the ocean regardless of the time of year.

    Following on from his last release Nightfall In London this album has the same trademark magic created by Rick Sparks as he pays tribute the ocean and the peace and tranquillity that can be discovered there.

    Once again an inspired and talented album.

  • The Last Long Drop

    The Last Long Drop

    As a holiday read, this novel will be a hit. The front cover gives a feel of an almost cartoon like content, but nothing could be further from the truth. The story begins slowly, but gains momentum and complexity as it goes along. The reader rides on the wave with Jonno, not only in the ocean, but as his life takes many twists and turns.

    At the age of 55 John Harcourt was made redundant from his position as a journalist for a newspaper. He had seen the inevitable end as newspapers globally were suffering from the digital era. As a lifelong surfer, and living locally on Sydney’s northern beaches the journalist caught up with his mates and hit the waves. Everyone knew this wouldn’t be enough for him, but it was a temporary pacifier.

    John’s family consists of his wife Tess, a son in England with a band, hopeful to break into the music scene, and a daughter Kirsten. Tess is in publishing while Kirsten has just been photographed topless with a famous but elderly author. In the midst of this family turmoil, Jonno is asked to write a book, for a rather dubious character whose wealth has been amassed by variety of means.

    It is the reality and the layers in this story that make it so compelling. The family issues are dealt with as best parents can; John’s surfer mates keep his feet on the ground, while his integrity as a journalist helps retain his esteem. There are thought provoking moments as well as common issues to enjoy. Put all this together and throw in a gangland murder and you have a super read.