Australia Books

I have just read the new revised edition of Lavender Sweet Lavender (released for the millenium).It has been much enlarged with new large sections on lavender growing,farms and products in Provence and in the USA, as well as a masterly and comprehensive overview of the genus,its species and hundreds of varieties. The photography is wonderful (all new and from around the world) and the writing is just so evocative.I agree with a previous reviewer.It remains the most authorative text on the subject,but it is also a book to dream over and to read many times.

Covers all aspects of lavender culture,taxonomy,uses,extraction,farming ,world-wide.Plenty of illustrations.Really in depth,very readable,all you ever wanted to know about lavender.Great for any lover of herbs with lots of recipes and lavender products in addition.

Peter Alexander has written a biography that does come close to doing justice to perhaps the greatest living poet in English. It is not only a well crafted account of the details of Murray's hard early life; it is, more tellingly, a compelling yarn about the pain, struggle and triumph of a troubled, stubborn and divine genius.

It can also serve as a useful primer. And not just to some of Murray's more diffcult poems, but to poetry itself. You are put closer to the poet's seemingly impossible aspirations for his words, and thereby participate more keenly in the truth of his poetic gifts in revealing the spirituality of the ordinary.

It is hoped too that this biography is as premature as its title suggests, as I, for one, want to hear a lot more of Murray's poetry in years to come.

Les Murray is the leading poet in the English-speaking world today. This account of his often strange life and work is scholarly, well researched and lifts the lid on some of the dirty tricks of Murray's rivals and enemies in the Australian literary scene (there were unsuccessful attempts to ban it). Sheds light on many aspects of poetry, culture in general, and the human condition.

this guide is very informative and well-written. it hits allthe major touristy places and a lot of out of the way sites too. ifyou've never been to new zealand, and are on a budget, this is the guide for you. good options for hostels and restaurants. lots of cheap walking tours and affordable things to do. thumbs up!

As a student traveler I found that this book helped out more than any of the other travel books. It gives good recommendations, lists cheap places to stay, and has more descriptions of the small towns than any other travel book. My next journey is to the UK and I have already bought a Let's Go book for it.

Having traveled a great deal using a vast array of guides, this is one of the best guides I've ever encountered. Reviews are frank, accurate, and honest. The writers are friendly and assume you know little to nothing about the area itself. It features all the standard maps as well as many options for lodging, food, and entertainment in virtually all tourist destinations- even those off the beaten track. It is worth noting that if you are interested in staying in five-star hotels, this is not the book to consult. It is geared mainly for young travellers sticking to a budget, willing to stay in hostels and looking for cheap deals on food, drink and entertainment.

The editors provide lots of practical information, such as hours of operation and directions to places such as train stations, airports, bus terminals, places to buy traveler's checks, and where you can access the Internet. Their numbers, addresses, and prices are up-to-date, something of which other guides such as Lonely Planet would do well to take note.

Descriptions of hostels provide contact information as well as candid observations about the clientele, room quality, and quirks, such as resident dogs and friendly staff members. I found it particularly helpful since there were so many hostels in major cities - the descriptions give you more to go on than just the price and location.

I spent six months travelling around Australia, and the binding on my book was broken within several weeks. I always consulted it before hitting the road and found so much useful information. I later loaned it out to a friend who found it equally helpful. I always carry at least two guidebooks to a destination, but can honestly say the Let's Go guide was sufficient on its own to carry me through my travels. Australia is a wonderful country with much to see and do. I highly recommend this guide for getting around, particularly if you are travelling on a budget.

For student travelers, Let's Go is the only guide book you need. Perhaps for older travelers--or those wanting to aviod the youth hostel party travel adventure--Lonely Planet would be a better chioce, but Let's Go is a great book. I spent a semester at the University of Sydney, and Let's Go was indespenable. Since it is revised yearly by college students it contains up to date information that comes from a piont of view that I could easly identify with. It is important to reilize that no writing is without bias. That having been said, knowing that I shared much in common with the aothors of the book made it easy to trust Let's go as a guide book.

The best travel guide to budget travellers among look alike guides.

Vastly superior to it's competitor, this book still has a few inaccuracies but nothing compared to the mistake ridden Lonely Planet Australia. This new edition by Let's Go isn't too different to its predecessors but it is slightly smaller in size. Every centimetre and gram of weight does count when you're lugging the thing around the vast continent of Australia.

A fair number of hostel listings are in here but not all of them. There are lots of free publications in a lot of hostels with most hostels listed so if buying the book for this reason alone maybe save your money. There is still a lot of weight unnecessarily taken up with stuff such as hotels and restaurants which backpackers obviously never use. Let's Go should produce two versions, one for travellers interested in that kind of stuff and one for backpackers. This book would then be half the size and weight.

This book is good for general information on Australia especially if you've never been here before or don't know much. You don't really need one of these types of books to travel Australia or anywhere else but if you must get one definitely get this over Lonely Planet.

This novel is one of the most emotive I have read. It tells the story of a girl and her struggles to conform to the norms of her dysfunctional family and abusive father. She is an outcast not only within her own family but within the colonial, patriarchal society she lives in. Eventually, she rejects the conformism of her upper-class upbringing and becomes an outspoken street person A fictionalised account of the life and times of the late Bea Miles, well known Sydney eccentric

Lilian's Story is a book I have had to read for my university english course, and it is one of the most amazing books I have ever read. Lilian is a true survivor when all the odds are against her. I would recommend this to anyone.

Hayden Wood is the Jamie Oliver of cocktails. He writes in a very friendly and approacable manner with hints of humour and stories from his experience. This book explains the basics in detail so that anyone can make cocktails at home. He emphasizes the use of equipment that can be obtained easily if you don't already have it at home; and the drinks are focused mainly on using fresh ingredients that are cheap and readily available, rather than a whole shelf of ready-made liquers.

For the experienced bartender, this book is full of new and refreshing ideas with stunningly sexy pictures of the cocktails. I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

THE LIQUID KITCHEN: PARTY DRINKS joins a growing number of books covering mixed drinks; but what sets this part is its author, who has won Best Drinks Book in the World 2004 and other awards - and the innovative new drinks he's designed just for parties. Color photos and reflections on competitions, mixed drink winners and more accompany easy recipes any party cook will find appealing and different. From a Honey Nectarine Martini to a 'Solar' variation on a Bronx cocktail, THE LIQUID KITCHEN's recipes won't be in any other cocktail guide.

As an American journalist who has worked in Australia and the author of travel, language, and history books about Australia, I find this gem to be a wonderful resource. It has been updated several times, with my most recent copy dated 1995, purchased in Australia. Margaret Nicholson has filled a niche with a well-designed, easy-to-use concise guide to everything Australian. It is helpful for reasearchers, travelers, and ex-pats trying to keep up with info from home. Much easier to read than an almanac. Bright and cheery enough for school kids to find helpful as well. I hope Ms. Nicholson is planning another update prior to 2000.

As an American journalist who has worked in Australia and the author of travel, language, and history books about Australia, I find this gem to be a wonderful resource. It has been updated several times, with my most recent copy dated 1995, purchased in Australia. Margaret Nicholson has filled a niche with a well-designed, easy-to-use concise guide to everything Australian. It is helpful for reasearchers, travelers, and ex-pats trying to keep up with info from home. Much easier to read than an almanac. Bright and cheery enough for school kids to find helpful as well.

I read this book when I was very young, and at 23 years old suddenly remembered its illustrations yesterday while admiring the sunset -- the vividly beautiful color palette immediately took me back to this book. The story is creative and beautiful, and I find its idea quite inspiring and warming. I can remember sitting with my mother as she read me the book and insisting she allow me more time to gaze at the pictures. A wonderful investment.

I heard this story once-in 1975 as a first grader-and have been retelling it ever since. Something about the magic paint, the mysterious tree and the little painter's absolute commitment to his heart's work make this entirely captivating to everyone who hears it-young or old.

Lonely Planet seems to me to be the most thorough of the guide-book publishers. The Guide to Queensland, the state that covers the northeastern part of Australia, is no exception. I think the town plans are particularly good.

Obviously purchase this book if you intend to visit Queensland only. I travelled for a month covering, Brisbane, Surfer's Paradise, Cairns, Cow Bay, Daintree, Cooktown, Undara, & Mission Beach. The information on hostels, transportation, things to do and see, and maps were right on. I used this book extensively and highly recommend it.