AustLit

'Three Australian nine-year olds from different immigrant backgrounds form a Secret Society they call The Threefold Cord, to do good such as helping an old lady. When they rescue a tortured cat, they stumble on a crime gang that traffics costly cats and smuggles rare red diamonds, led by the enigmatic and quite monstrously fearsome Dr Vandersluys, the tall, pale stranger who always wears sunglasses and dresses in black.

'Through their unity, courage and resourcefulness (and helped by an Aboriginal elder), the three succeed in saving themselves, overcoming evil and helping others. The story is thrilling and funny and full of unexpected twists and turns and mysterious characters.' (Publication summary)

'Until this book arrived on my desk I had not heard of AM Fernando. Few know of him, either in Australia or elsewhere. While the ‘A’ and the ‘M’ might indeed stand for ‘Anthony Martin’, the name ‘Fernando’ is moot: it appears likely the man took this name to signal his affection for Italy, where he was treated as a man, a human being. There exists no known contemporaneous likeness — neither photographic nor artistic — of the man.' (Introduction)

'Carrots and Jaffas tells the story of two red-headed identical twins whose oneness is ruptured when one of them is kidnapped. Their startling intimacy is both a strength and a fault line in their being, and once separated, their individuality emerges. In the course of this exhilarating domestic tale set in Melbourne and the Flinders Ranges, the reader encounters the twins' parents – emotional, scripture-quoting Luisa and calm Bernard – as well as two remarkable storytellers, Doc, an eccentric outback doctor and Greta, an Aboriginal elder. Trauma is followed by recovery through the unexpected agency of story and ‘country’ (in the Australian Aboriginal meaning of that term).' (Publisher's blurb)

'My Father’s Compass is a poignant, moving and at times hilarious memoir celebrating the long life of a man with many roles: country doctor, gardener, seaman, carpenter, welder, French polisher, shipwright, cook, religious Jew and mohel (performer of ritual circumcisions).

'As a doctor, he earned the admiration and respect of the farming community of Leeton, the love of his patients and the esteem of his colleagues. As a man, he inspired all who knew him. Fiercely independent, passionate and always stubborn, he selflessly cared for his ailing wife into his nineties.

'Through the pages of this beautifully written book, Howard Goldenberg records and honours the deep faith, strength and vitality of his father, as well as giving the reader a glimpse into the soul of a tightly bonded family with roots going back to eastern Europe and Turkish Palestine.

'From the naughty escapades of little boys to a tragic drowning, from the joys of sailing to the heartache of helping aging parents, Goldenberg’s love, respect and intense loyalty shine through on every page.

'This book will evoke tears and laughter, grief and joy as it paints an unforgettable portrait of the man who continues to guide and inspire his descendants.' (Publication summary)