Book Review: The Professional Chef : 9th Edition By The Culinary Institute of America
The Professional Chef by the Culinary Institute of America is almost winning the race as the replacement for the many cook books weighing down my bookshelves. |  |
 | Book Review: Endangered Phrases By Stephen D Price
Endangered Phrases is a catchy title for a book about intriguing idioms dangerously close to extinction. I did enjoy reading through the idioms, those that I knew and those that I didn't know. After all, Price does provide interesting definitions and explanations. |
Book Review: Paris To The Past: Traveling Through French History By Train By Ina Caro
This book by Ina Caro is not a work of fiction. It stems from the author's realisation that from Paris by train there is an opportunity to progressively visit the cathedrals and fortresses of the Middle Ages, the cities and castles of the Renaissance and key locations from the 17th, 18th & 19th centuries. |  |
 | Book Review: Melbourne's Bars and Pubs 2012
Melbourne's Bars and Pubs 2012 is not only a guide to hidden laneways and secret pubs but also to a host of popular night spots scattered throughout the beautiful city of Melbourne. A city known for her late night spots and continual surprises - a concoction of Rooftop Bars and dimly lit basement drinking holes. |
Book Review: Bali: The Food Of My Island Home By Janet de Neefe
Bali: The Food of My Island Home is a delectable manifestation of food, art, writing and place. Its Australian author, Janet de Neefe, has lived in Bali for over two decades and knows very well how to introduce the food of Bali to newcomers. |  |
 | Book Review: A Magic Gecko - By Horst Henry Geerken
A Magic Gecko by Horst Henry Geerken, tells us that a gecko's frequent calls are carefully counted by Indonesians. When the tokek calls, if it's an odd number it's a sign of luck, and the more times it calls, the more luck it denotes. |
Book Review: Flavours of Melbourne By Jonette George and Daniele Wilton
Flavours of Melbourne celebrates the food and bar scene that is well known to Melbourne 'insiders' like Jonette George and Daniele Wilton. George wrote
the copy, Wilton designed the book and Brad Hill took the photographs. |  |
 | Book Review: Spirit House - By Mark Dapin
Spirit House by Mark Dapin is about demons, demons that haunt and torment an elderly war veteran's thoughts and memories from the horror of Changi prison and the Burma Railway. |
Book Review: Cemeteries By Keith Eggener
Cemeteries, the latest book in the series of Visual Sourcebooks in Architecture, Design and Engineering published by Norton/Library of Congress has been reviewed by Marjie Courtis. |  |
 | Book Review: Sarah's Last Wish - By Eve Hillary
Sarah's Last Wish, chronicled by Eve Hillary, is a heart breaking true story of a young girl stigmatised by a medical mis-diagnosis which is later found to be a rare, aggessive terminal
illness. |
Book Review: Beverage Basics: Understanding & Appreciating Wine, Beer and Spirits - By Robert Small
This is a book to have with you at home as you taste and compare different wines, checking and double checking against descriptors and check lists to see what you can identify and what you can learn to identify. It's also a book for professionals. |  |
 | Book Review: The Sweets of Araby - Leila Salloum Elias and Muba Salloum
It's like rubbing Aladdin's Lamp, one of the most famous tales
of the Arabian nights, 25 tales from the 9th century
are interspersed with equally ancient recipes for sweets and desserts
referred to in the tales. |
Exclusive Interview: Shaun Micallef - Preincarnate
Web Wombat caught up with Shaun Micaellf, without doubt, one of the
most unique comedic voices in Australia. His sense of the surrealism is
unparrellelled, inspired by the classics in the form of The Goons and
Monty Python. |  |
 | Book Review:
Produce to Platter: Mornington Peninsula - David Kennedy
With the possible exception of the coverage of the wineries, there is far more
focus on the platter than there is on the produce of this region than there is
in its namesake on the Bellarine Peninsula.
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Book
Review: Produce to Platter: Geelong and Surrounding Regions
The conceptual idea of a book devoted to the ingredients and
culinary outputs of a particular geographic region, comes from Jonette
George and Daniele Wilton, a mother and daughter team whose love of
regional produce is clear from the outset. |  |
 | Book Review:
Feng Shui For Dummies® (2nd Edition) - David Kennedy
It is hard to resist a book that promises you simple ways to improve
so many areas of your life - Wealth, Fame, Marriage, Children, Helpful
People, Career, Knowledge, Family and Health. |
Book
Review: Understanding Color : An Introduction for Designers (Fourth Edition)
This book by Linda Holtzschue is a valuable book with application
far beyond its primary target market of design professionals. The
language of color is used clearly and cleverly that its
concepts become accessible to anyone with an interest in color. |  |
 | Book Review:
Bluey & Dingos Outback Adventure - Thomas Burton
Bluey & Dingo's Outback Adventure By Thomas Burton (and
Illustrated by Rob Peters) is a good children's book and well suits the
age group (and
maybe a bit older) for whom it is written. A very good first book to
begin your child's library. |
Book
Review: Introduction to Graphic Design
Methodologies and Processes
While the book targets graphic designers, it has some universally relevant
themes for target marketers, digital producers, and creative types in all
modalities. |  |
 | Book Review:
What Body Part Is
That? - Andy Griffiths
What Body Part Is That? by Andy Griffiths & Illustrated by Terry Denton is
the latest in the children's series of books by this illustrious pair. In
essence, the book looks at 68 body parts via notated drawings and some nonsense
narrative (some of it repetitive). |
Book
Review: Hand Me Down
World
Hand Me Down World by Lloyd Jones is a masterful tale that
brings home with force and reality the life of someone living on the edge of
society and who is driven by a single force. |  |
 | Book Review:
Down Under - Bill Bryson
Down Under by Bill Bryson is a fact-filled, laugh-out-loud
book of one man's travels around mainland Australia as he visits capital cities
and outback town and landmarks. |
Book
Review: The
Bourne Sanction
The Bourne Sanction by Eric Van Lustbader is not a novel that taxes you
cerebrally but
it will get the adrenalin pumping as it jumps from scene to scene of high
powered energy. |  |
 | Book Review:
Demon Gates - Robert Day
Demon Gates is Robert Day's first novel and is the first book in
what will become the The Nexus Wars Saga trilogy. This fantasy has all the
elements and is a very good introductory vehicle into the genre. |
Book
Review: Towers of
Midnight
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson is
the thirteenth and penultimate volume in the classic fantasy series, The Wheel
of Time. The plot lines draw together as we find ourselves on the cusp of The
Last Battle. |  |
 | Exclusive Interview:
Tom Gleisner - Audrey Gordon's Tuscan Summer
From Frontline
to The Late Show,
Thank
God You're Here to The
Castle Tom Gleisner is a man that clearly knows the difference
between the funny and unfunny. |
Book
Review: Jasper
Jones
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey is a story of a young boy living in
a WA rural town that is cloaked in dark secrets. Dark themes but sprinkled with
wry humour and making for an excellent read. |  |
 | Exclusive
Interview: Anthony
Prince | Book Review : Bank Robbery For
Beginners
It was described as possibly the most inept bank robbery of all time and it
made headlines around the world. Web Wombat reviews the book, and talks with the
man, that contributed to one of the most bizarre robberies in
history. |
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Book
Review: The
Silver Spoon
An
absolute phenomenon for 2006. The Italian quintessential cooking book
has been translated in to English for the first time and is selling
like hot cakes! A great gift or for any home chef another classic for
your kitchen bookshelf.
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 | Book
Review: Concrete: A
Seven Thousand Year History
Reese Palley examines the 7,000 year history of concrete although,
controversially, according to our reviewer, should it really only be
3,000 years? |
Book
Review: The Passage
With its biblical, horror, conspiracy theory mix The Passage by
Justin Cronin is based on a good premise and in parts makes enthralling reading,
but unfortunately it ends with more of a whimper than a bang.
|  |
 | Book
Review: The Very Bad
Book
Andy Griffiths, with Terry Denton on Illustrations, brings us the second book
in the Bad series. This is something a little different and is chock
full of cartoons, rhymes, jokes, riddles and assorted drawings. In his
inimitable style be prepared for some political incorrectness. |
Exclusive Interview: Andy Griffiths - The Very Bad Book
Web Wombat caught up with the literary legend while on a four week tour
across the country ahead of the release of The Very Bad Book - a new
collection of very bad poems, stories, songs, cartoons, comic strips,
jokes, riddles and whatever other nonsense they figured they could get
away with.
|  |
 | Book Review: The Rembrandt
Affair
Everyone loves a good espionage. A thriller with twists and turns
and with a story line that has you turning each page eagerly
anticipating what's to come.. | |
|
Book Review:
Shakespeare The Illustrated Edition
For someone interested in finding out about Shakespeare to understand his
life and times then Shakespeare The
Illustrated Edition By Bill Bryson is a great starting point.
|
 |
 | Book Review: Type Rules! : The Designer's Guide to Professional
Typography
Type Rules! : The Designer's Guide to Professional Typography by
Ilene Strizver is a comprehensive source of information about the
technicalities and art of typography. So for an authoritative,
interesting and practical guide this book provides a great starting
point. | |
|
Book Review:
Gamers' Quest
Gamers' Quest by George Ivanoff is a fantasy with a plot and
story line modeled on a computer game. Written for the young reader this book
was was a winner in the 2010 Chronos Awards.
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 |
 | Book Review: Madigan Mine
Madigan Mine by Kirstyn McDermott is a light thriller which touches
on supernatural and occult themes. An interesting story concept that
draws to a conclusion too quickly and doesn't leave the reader
wondering too deeply. | |
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Book Review:
Somewhere Down A Crazy River
Somewhere Down A Crazy River by Robyn Catchlove is an autobiography
of a life fishing the idyllic waters of Northern Queensland but with a
dark undercurrent of abuse and frustration with the loss of innocence.
|
 |
 | Exclusive Interview: Sophie Lee
- Edie Amelia and the Monkey Shoe
Mystery
Sophie Lee is the mother of three small children, a well-known
actor, a novelist, a columnist for the Sunday Telegraph and she has
recently completed a post-graduate course in Creative Writing at UTS.
She is now embarking on yet another adventure - her first book for
children. | |
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Book Review:
Getting Even With Fran
Getting Even With Fran By Christine Stinson is a book to read with a
glass of wine and in front of an open fire on a cold winters night when
you have nothing else to do and you just want to relax and not be over
taxed.
|
 |
 | Book Review : Paths of Glory - Jeffrey
Archer
A beautifully constructed story that presents a credible and
realistic alternative to, what may have been, the first conquest of Mt
Everest by the man who was credited with having said, when asked the
question, "Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?", replied simply,
"Because it's there." | |
|
Book Review: Why
Italians Love To Talk About Food
Italian food, in it's variety of forms and styles, has historically
had a influence on eating habits through-out the world. Why Italians
Love to Talk About Food by Elena Kostioukovitch is not a book to be
read from cover to cover but one to just jump into at any point and
enjoy.
|
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 | Book Review
: The Ides of
March - Valerio Massimo Manfredi
The Ides of March by Valerio Massimo Manfredi makes for an enjoyable
and suspenseful read and, as a valuable adjunct, a short history lesson
on 8 days in the life and times of Julius Caesar up to his assassination
on The Ides of March. | |
|
Book Review: Decoding the Lost
Symbol
All in all, Decoding the Lost Symbol is an entertaining and
informative read and will make a good companion edition to Dan Brown's
The Lost Symbol says our Literary reviewer
|
 |
 | Book
Review: 1001
Books You Must Read Before You Die
The
ultimate book reader's companion with a summary and jacket cover of
some of the all time classic fiction masterpieces.
| |
|
Exclusive Interview: Tony
Martin - A Nest Of
Occasionals
Web Wombat's Sean Lynch caught up
with cult comedy hero, Tony Martin (from Radio's Get This! and TV's The Late
Show)
as he embarks on the release of his second book - a unique collection
of tales called A Nest
Of Occasionals.
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Book
Review: The Boat
(22nd July 2008)
A collection of short stories by Nam Le of
diverse settings but
linked by the common theme of despair and darkness of the human spirit
and by societies failings.
| |
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Book
Review: Second
Chance
(17th July 2008)
A group of friends deal with the death of
one of the group differently but in ways that the reader would be able
to relate. Has a climactic twist that will appeal to certain readers.
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Book
Review: The
Painter of Shanghai
(17th
July 2008)
A
mixture of fact and fiction to present a
story of one woman's rise to success as an artist in a world in which
women have their place and painting is not one of them.
| |
|
Book
Review: Petite
Anglaise
(29th May 2008)
A true story of an episode in the life of
Catherine Sanderson who
commences a blog out of interest that ends up taking her down a path
she didn't foresee into a life she would not have expected.
|
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Book
Review: The
Cuckoo's Eggs
(3rd April 2008)
A beautifully written story of child abuse
and neglect. The story of a
helpless young child who survives against what
seems to be insurmountable odds.
| |
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Book
Review: People
of the Book
(11th February 2008)
By
the Pulitzer prize winning author Geraldine Brooks, this
historically based fiction weaves a story around the Sarajevo
Haggadah, a Jewish book of rites and a collection of biblical stories.
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Book
Review: Searching
for Schindler - a memoir
(5th February 2008)
Gain a human insight into a story
that grows from word of mouth
to manuscript to eventually a published book and then see how
it
evolves into an Oscar winning movie. All through the eyes of the
original author, Tom Keneally
| |
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Book
Review: Gods
Behaving Badly
(5th February 2008)
When the ancient Greek gods find themselves
having to adapt to
devine life in modern day London some interesting things happen, not
least of which is the ethical and moral dilemmas with which they have
to contend. It takes a very human hero and heroine to save
their
collective bacon.
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Book
Review: Knight
Seeker
(26th November 2007)
A new
Super Hero is on the block. The
world must be awash with evil for us to need so many but maybe it's
because we have so many is what makes the world a much safer place. Is
the Knight Seeker the one to take on the mantel of the protector
of the world's values? (or is that the American values?)
| |
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Book
Review: Who Killed Channel
9?
(12th September 2007)
Who
Killed Channel 9? The death of Kerry Packer's mighty TV dream machine
by Gerald Stone examines the end of the dominance of Channel 9 in
Australian television. After such television successes as The Block,
how is it that Channel 9 became an organisation of mass redundancies
and management blunders. This is a book about television like no other
with an inside look at what happened at Channel 9 after the death of
Kerry Packer.
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Book
Review: Me and
Mr Darcy
(20th August 2007)
Emily
Albright is a busy single woman who has experienced a string of
disastrous relationships. She's had it with modern men and has been
fantasizing over Jane Austen's Mr Darcy since she read Pride and
Prejudice when she was 12. Imagine her surprise when she joins a tour
of Jane Austen country and actually meets Mr Darcy for herself.
| |
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Book
Review: The
Last
Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
(17th August 2007)
The
author of Three Wishes, Liane Moriarty has produced yet another
delightful and funny novel about relationships, family secrets and
love. With a uniquely Australian feel The Last Anniversary begins with
Sophie Honeywell, almost forty and searching for love, however the
novel is so much more than a love story.
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Book
Review: Dead
Lucky Life after death on Mount Everest
(17th August 2007)
Lincoln
Hall set off to conquer Mount Everest in April 2006 and began his push
for the summit five weeks later. On his descent he was struck by
cerebral oedema, high altitude sickness and was pronounced dead by the
2 sherpas accompanying him. The news of Lincoln Hall's death was
transmitted around the world to his family in Australia.
| |
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Book
Review: Nineteen
Minutes
(17th August 2007)
In
nineteen minutes you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a
third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get
a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five.
And nineteen minutes is all it takes for Peter Houghton to drastically
change the lives of the students and families of Sterling High School.
|
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Book
Review: The
Architecture of Happiness
(1st May 2006)
What
makes a house beautiful? Is it serious to spend your time thinking
about home decoration? Alain de Botton tackles a relationship central
to our lives: Our buildings - and the objects we fill them with -
affect us more profoundly than we might think. | |
Book
Review: The
Secret River
(28th
April 2006)
A
prize winning novel by Kate Grenville based on the fortunes of a
convict transported to Sydney at the turn of the 1800's and tries to
build a new life for himself and his family on the Hawkesbury
River. |
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Book
Review: How
to Buy and Sell on eBay.com.au - The Official Pocket Guide
(27th
April 2006)
The
perfect guide for anyone contemplating buying and selling on
Australia's number one online marketplace written by an Australian
author who has worked in the eBay marketing department. | |
Book
Review: The
Weather Makers
(26th
April 2006)
One
of the must reads for all humans to get up to speed on how we are doing
with our magnificent planet. The book covers what's happened, what's
happening and where we are heading. How have we affected the
environment we live in and what are the consequences? |
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Book
Review: March
(24th
April 2006)
Congratulations
to Geraldine Brooks for her book March and becoming the 2006 Pulitzer
Prize Winner. This book is is a novel set against the backdrop of the
American Civil War. Geraldine is originally from Sydney, Australia and
is mostly based in the USA these days. | |
Book
Review: Spotless
(21st
April 2006)
This absolute bestseller on cleaning
anything and everything by Shannon Lush and Jennifer Fleming is a must
read for anyone with unwanted stains. Alternatively, it is a
fascinating read and somewhat inspiring given the answers to every day
domestic disasters. |
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Book
Review: Mountain
Divorce
(20th
April 2006)
A new way of learning to read and speak
English developed by a speech pathologist, C.M. Tognetti, she has
modified a book written by Robert Barr around 1900. A great short story
and useful tool for anyone trying to master the English language. | |
Book
Review: Pop
Stars & Idols
(19th
April 2006)
"Are you the next BIG thing?" Lisa Aston
gives promising entertainers the road map to becoming a pop star,
rock star or professional entertainer. With over 25 years in the music
industry. Here is a manual to your dreams in to reality. |
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Book
Review: Don't
Kiss
Them Goodbye
(18th
April 2006)
The remarkable life story of psychic and
criminal profiler Allison DuBois, who inspired the Sky TV show, MEDIUM. | |
Book
Review: How
to Kill your Husband (and other handy household hints)
(13th
April 2006)
Jazz
Jardine is a stay-at-home and domestic goddess. When she is arrested
for her husband's murder her friends embark on a mission to prove her
innocence and uncover an unexpected world of sex, betrayal and mystery. |
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Book
Review:
The
Melbourne Dreaming: A
Guide to the Aboriginal Places of Melbourne
(12th
April 2006)
A
Guide to the Aboriginal Places of Melbourne with lots of interesting
self-guided tours and cross referencing to the local Melways street
directory. Explore Australia's heritage and cultural origins. | |
Book
Review: Patent
Writing
(11th April 2006)
Neville
Klaric and David Joseph have put the "how to" on preparing a patent in
a great kit. Obviously not for everyone but these Aussies have
certainly cut out the hard yakka for any aspiring inventors and
entrepreneurs. |
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Book
Review:
Salvation
Creek
(10th
April 2006)
Susan Duncan was an editor of
Australia's top selling magazines who lost her husband and brother
within 3 days of each other. This is her well written story of her
battle with survival and finding a new life. | |
Book
Review:
Gittins'
Guide to
Economics
For
those of us who wanted to know how the economy works then we have an up
to date guide to the machinations of the Australian economy and how we
fit in to the global market. Ideal for economic students or the
Australian public. |
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Book Review:
Dr
Joshi's Holistic
Detox
One
of the world's most celebrated detox experts, well at least many
celebrities have undergone his detox program. Renowned for rejuvenating
and cleansing people from all walks and health related issues. If you
want to fee fantastic then its time to purify yourself. | |
Book
Review: Treat
People Like Dogs!
A
book dedicated to anyone wanting to be a passionate leader. Using the
1000 mile Alaskan dog race as a metaphor this book challenges the
reader with 6 tasks to become an inspiring leader.
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Book Review:
How
You Could
Build a $10 Million Property Portfolio in Just 10 Years
Well
who wouldn't want to know how to do that! Peter Spann lays out the
formula to go from nothing to something and set you and your family up
for life. | |
Book
Review: Kakuro
for Dummies
The
newest number puzzle craze that has swept Japan and the rest of the
world. Definitely for anyone who is a Sudoku addict and looking for a
challenging change. |
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Book Review:
The
Prince of
Australia...and other Rebels, Rogues and Ratbags
Turning
the spotlight on some of Australia's colourful characters and legends
of the past. A great gift for any lover of Australian history or
reminder of how we actually came to be the fascinating eclectic society
of today. | |
Book
Review: The
Tenth Circle
Just
released from bestselling author Jodi Picoult has already shot to the
bestsellers in its first week. A story about the unbreakable bond
between parent and child and the dangerous repercussions of trying to
play the hero. |
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Book
Review: The
Da
Vinci Code
What
would any book review website be without mentioning this all time
bestseller. Its success has not escaped controversy but most of all
captured the imagination of readers all over the world. | |
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The
Web Wombat Book Channel is kindly sponsored, researched and reviewed by
Booktopia Bookshop. Any authors or publishers wishing to have their
books reviewed should contact Booktopia; Australia's fastest growing
online bookstore.
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