Oceania Books

I only have one 'coffee table' book, and this is it.

This inspiring and moving book, beautifully captures in words and over 120 full-colour photographs the essence of the isolated continent that is Australia. The author, Darren Jew, was inspired by his father's travels in Antarctica to pursue a career in nature photography, and has photographed much of the world's wildlife and landscapes. However, it is his native Australia, where he grew up and lives, and where he spent 8 years as photographer for the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service which is his greatest inspiration.

In this book he takes the reader on a journey from the abundant life of the great barrier reef and tropical rainforests, to the stark beauty of the red centre. Along the way he shares with us his understanding of and love for the unique plants and animals that make this isolated continent their home.

Why do I love this book? I have travelled in Australia many times, and it is a truly magnificent and fascinating place to which I will return again and again. The author has captured this magic with breathtaking images and lyrical yet factual prose. It's clear he knows and understands the land, its plants and animals. The breadth of material is outstanding. You can dive down to the depths of the great barrier reef and swim amongst the beautiful corals and cruising barracuda; sit on a sandy athol watching the sun go down or catch crabs scuttling to their holes; climb the misty ranges of the blue mountains or gaze in awe at the majesty that is Ayers Rock.

Darren's range as a photographer is as wide as his knowledge of the land. His portaits of wildlife are superb - some burstling with action such as courting terns and diving whales, others graphic still lifes -the brilliance of the the colourful cup moth on a palm leaf, the beady eye of the watchful yellow python. They're all here: kookaburras and koalas, possums and platypus, cassowarys and crocodiles. There are over around 60 colour plates of all the well known Australian fauna and a few you won't have even thought of.

And the landscape photographs match the wildlife ones in both quantity and quality. Darren really does 'write with light' and captures the spirit of a place perfectly. You can almost feel the water dripping from the tree ferns in the rainforests, imagine the scent of silver barked eucalypts against the deepest blue sky and feel the parched red desert and sacred rocks.

Just as he captures the spirit of the creatures and landscapes, he too captures the moment. One of my favourite pictures is a glassy wave breaking onto the reef, every drop of water frozen at that moment in time - now where's my surf board?

Whilst many of Darren's pictures are spectacular panoramas, he is also adept at capturing the more intimate scenes: a close up of delicate forest fungi dripping with dew; a tiny turtle hatchling making its dangerous trip back to the ocean.

The words which accompany the images are both inspiring and illuminating - simply but engagingly written, with a vast store of first hand knowledge to draw upon. You can tell that the author loves his home and wants to protect and nuture it.

Whenever anyone asks me what Australia is like, I show them this book. Then they book their Qantas ticket. Really, it's that good.

This is a sensational collection of breathtaking photographs of natural wonders and major cities of Australia. This is the best collection of photographs of Australia I've ever seen and I live here. There is a small amount of information on each place but not sufficient that you could plan your entire journey or use it as a travelling guide companion. Buy this for the photographs. This would make an excellent present for either Australians to give friends, host families, relatives and so on in other countries or for people outside of Australia to buy just to have sensational photographs to look at. All the major cities and natural wonders are in here. This would also make an excellent book to use for school projects and the like. If you are interested in Australia you have to own this book.

Originally published in 1989, this newly revised and updated edition of "The Australian Bed & Breakfast Book 2008" marks the twentieth anniversary of what has come to be commonly regarded as the premier travel guide to B&B resources throughout Australia for vacationers and business travelers alike. Regionally organized, "The Australian Bed & Breakfast Book 2008" offers updated prices, general travel guidelines, and invaluable tips to finding just the right location for the traveler's needs. Enhanced with colorful photographs of each showcased B&B, each recommended site comes with a complete and detailed description written by the hosts and even includes occasional guest comments. The B&Bs themselves range from homestays and farmstays, to guesthouses and boutique hotels. Practical, informative, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "The Australian Bed & Breakfast Book 2008" is the perfect trip planning guide for anyone desiring the best B&B experience as they travel or vacation in Australia. Also very highly recommended for personal and community library Travel Guide reference collections from the Pelican Publishing Company is "The New Zealand Bed & Breakfast Guide 2008" (9781589805248, $19.95).

From Front Jacket:

"Here, in a fully revised second edition, is a compact and authoritative dictionary for Australian users. 'The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary' presents those words that are current and relevant in the Australian context. It does so with an authority that no other Australian dictionary can rival.

This authority has two bases, the Australian and the international. The dictionary was fully edited at the Australian National Dictionary Centre in Canberra. Through Oxford University Press, the editors had access to the most comprehensive database of the English language as it used world-wide -- the same database that informs the 21-volume 'Oxford English Dictionary.' Through the Centre, the editors had access to the largest citation database of Australian English, the source of Oxford's 'Australian National Dictionary.' The second edition of 'The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary' is another product of this union, and its publication heralds a new era in Australian lexicography."

Contents:

* The present state of Australian English
* Australian languages cited in etymologies

Appendices include
* Countries of the World
* The Chemical Elements
* Books of the Bible
* Illustrative Lists

an excellent book that integrates the art, culture and ethos of the indigenous cultures of australia with the relevant dreamtime stories, illustrations and photographs.

Good books on monitors are hard to come by and this is one of them. Up-to-date info and beautiful photo's (the one on the cover is almost worth the price of the book IMO) make it a must for anyone interested in these incredible dragon-like lizards.

From the magnificient and beautiful Perentie to the cute Short-Tailed Pygmy Monitor all the varanids occuring in Australia are described and illustrated. It is also a good reference for those who wish to keep them as pets.

Little scholarship exists on Australia. Even smaller are the books on Australian Politics. Here is a short history of the Liberal party of Australia, created in the 1940s by Mr. Menzies as a conservative party in opposition to Labour this is the party of the current PM Mr. Howard. This fascinating look explains Australia and its issues including its foreign policy, its role in Vietnam and he struggle for morality among other things. From Menzies, the anti-communist, to Holt who disappeared this is an amazing account. A very interesting story and a necessary read where so little exists on modern Australian politics.

Seth J. Frantzman

I found this a fascinating look at colonial life, with much excellent firsthand information. A valuable and interesting work!

I had the priviledge of reading this book while being taught by the author. Prof. Terrill was my Australian Society and Politics Professor in 2003 at the University of Texas @ Austin. He was a very dry lecturer yet I could never turn away. The depth of his knowledge was never-ending. The subject was made great by him. The book is even more exciting than the stories and events he told in class. I hope to see and hear more from him in the future. Now I'm planning to go to Autralia in the future. All I can say after reading this book and taking Terrill's class is Australia Rocks!

This book is not only visually stunning but is great for those who are looking for, among other things, the top hotels, restuarants, and spas in Bali. Unlike other guide books, this one presents only the most important aspects of the island and its amenities so that you can decide whether to go, when to go, and where to go. If you are looking for a guide to the most luxurious Bali experience, this book seems to be the best!