Category Archives: Non Fiction

How now brown frau – a review

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Title: How now brown frau

Author: Merridy Eastman

Sarah P’s pick

Merridy Eastman is an Australian actor and author. In this book she tells the story of moving toBavaria, 42 and pregnant and unable to speak German, to live with her new husband. She writes some very funny stories about her problems in settling in to a new country and how it contrasts with life inAustraliaand with her exuberant family.

Some of her challenges include learning a new language, meeting her in-laws and giving birth in a foreign country. She also learns to deal with the unspoken rules regarding behaviour in public. For example she is astonished that her husband feels he must be fully dressed to open the door to a delivery man early in the morning; or she is puzzled by the silence on public transport. But not everything is conservative- Eastman discovers that her husband and the others on his volleyball team (including a lady)- all shower together after the game- under the one showerhead. There are some funny stories of misunderstandings caused by language difficulties and run ins with cranky old ladies.

There are many positives in the story, such as the new friends she makes, the sense of history in the area and the fun of Oktoberfest.

Parramatta City library holds Eastman’s previous two books and I hope she continues the story in a future publication.

2011 Ned Kelly Awards Shortlists

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The shortlists for this year’s Ned Kelly Awards for Australian Crime Writing have been announced. The shortlisted titles are:

Best Crime Fiction
Prime Cut by Alan Carter

Line of Sight by David Whish-Wilson

The Old School by PM Newton

Best Fiction
The Half-Child by Angela Savage

The Diggers Rest Hotel byGeoffrey McGreachin

          
Bereft by Chris Womersley

True Crime
Abandoned: The Sad Death of Dianne Brimble by Geesche Jacobson
Wasted by Ross Honeywill
Honeymoon Dive by Lindsay Simpson & Jennifer Cooke

S D Harvey Short Story Award
‘Southern Hemisphere Blues’ by Robert Goodman
‘Hemisphere Travel Guides: Las Vegas for Vegans’ by A S Patric.

Discussion notes for ‘The brain that changes itself ‘

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The 2nd evening Tue reading group has discussed the book ‘The brain that changes itself‘ by Norman Doidge. It’s still a popular book after three years of its publication. The notes from the group said

it’s a layman’s scientific book. The subject matter was interesting.
The case studies covered were quite inspirational when dealing with autism, cerebral palsy and the girl born with half-a-brain.

Some members of the group didn’t finish the book and thought the subject matter would be better addressed in a medical journal, but others found it was a very interesting reading.

The ‘moral’ of the book is ‘never say never’ to learning something new.

It is not a typical ‘book club book’ but would have an appeal to a wide audience who are interested in science and the brain.