Bøger af Linda Ruth Brooks

Lucy's mother died at home, listening to the afternoon birds. Lucy treasured her mother's silk embroidered notebook. It had wildflowers inside, pressed and dried, their petals as dainty as insect wings. Charlotte Bragg, denied invitation to her elder son's wedding, slid into the back pew of the cathedral.At the Soldatenkaffee Madeleine on the Rue St Honoré a slender woman sits on the edge of a vinyl chair.The corpulent man stumbled and wavered, taking pains to appear sober, soughing onto the slatted bench near the park.Georgia dragged her feet, watching her brother's long strides swirl dust on the bush track ahead. It was alright for him. He wanted to go.Kate couldn't remember when her role of carer had begun. It stretched back into a childhood that should still exist, but didn't. This long awaited collection of Brooks' short stories deals with all the themes close to her heart. They are shared with the grit and fearlessness that has appeared in her previous narratives. A welcome addition to Brooks' list of published works.

Brooks is at her finest in this cunning collection of short stories. Her trademark wit and sharp observation is crafted with depth and compassion, as she once again explores the gamut of human experience with fearless clarity and buoyant optimism. In this series, Linda gives full rein to her passion for the unique narratives of others. With poignancy and respect, she reveals the foibles and quirks of her characters, never losing the essence of the elegance and power of the human spirit. These stories are windows into the lives of others, where equality and dignity is intrinsically woven into each tale. We see our friends, family and acquaintances. We make new friends and ultimately gain insight into our own true selves. Linda gives us an intimate view into a nursing career, with both fiction and non fiction. It is a world of compassion, patience and intuitive regard for others, but encapsulates the humanity of this challenging and often underrated role in the community. This edition of short stories is a combination of 'Vignettes', 'This Life' and several new narratives.

Historic aviation, in particular World War 1 is an abiding interest for Murray who has compiled a selection of colour portraits and bios of some of the more famous airmen of the conflict. 'Images of Eagles' also includes a black and white photo of the subject or his particular aircraft to accompany each article. The book portrays airmen from the British Empire, France, America and Germany. Some less well known airmen are represented. They may not have achieved 'ace' status but their exploits were worthy of an inclusion in this volume.

If Bridget Galloway could choose a superpower, it would be invisibility. But life in Bridget's world, has no superheroes.It's midnight. Bridget is spending her sixteenth birthday at the local cemetery-the only place free from the brutal bullying of her alcoholic father. Alone and friendless she is known at school as Shadow Girl. Why did her mother leave? The mystery deepens when it is discovered that another woman wrote the cards and letters. Then a body is found in the bushland near the Galloway house. For the truth to be revealed, there are mishaps, mistakes, and a town of unconventional characters: a fashion designer in hiding, a dope-head brother, a curious city cop, a gossipy Mayor's wife, a lost old lady and two sassy teenage girls who introduce Bridget to real friendship. A companion book to Scarlett doesn't live here anymore. Shadow Girls reaches honestly into the issue of family abuse and intimate partner violence and the courage it takes to escape and find voice. There are two glossaries in the book that contain all the terminology and definitions necessary for violence, abuse and also the modern dating terms such as ghosting, gaslighting and stalking.

A review of a unique band of airmen, every man a volunteer, willing and eager to serve in an elite force. From every corner of the Empire they answered the call to arms, to challenge the aspirations of European dominance by a rampant Germany. Following the French capitulation of 1940 and the miracle of Dunkirk Great Britain stood alone to face the Nazi blitzkrieg. During those dramatic months of August and September a numerically inferior Fighter Command withstood a relentless Luftwaffe to effectively scuttle Hitler's 'Operation Sea Lion', the projected air and sea-borne invasion of Britain. Having survived the gravest threat in its history the time had come for Britain to take up the offensive with whatever means at its disposal. Fighter Command had established itself as the nation's saviour; it was now Bomber Command's turn to carry the offensive to the enemy's homeland, to his very home if need be. What began as a tentative, probing campaign developed into a whirlwind of concentrated destruction. With the advent of new and sophisticated aircraft and tactics, as demonstrated by the creation of the elite Pathfinder Force, Bomber Command attained a terrifying efficiency. Against this was an equally disturbing loss rate among aircrew. When the guns fell silent in May 1945 Bomber Command alone had suffered a grievous loss rate of 47,000 gallant airmen. Many lie in graves in foreign lands, some of them the decorated VC winners listed in this book. Let their memory be a lasting tribute to all those who failed to return.

In this engaging book, Rina Robinson fires the imagination with her unique poem and illustrations. A book any child will treasure and enjoy again and again. With its exotic animals and quirky tales this children's book will delight. It has rhyme and colour, and the marvellous bonus of opening the door to learning, not only about the alphabet, but about fascinating animals in different places around the world. The glossary at the end makes this lovely book an educational tool that parents and teachers are sure to value and use.

Chelsea Prentiss is in hot water again ... Chelsea has won a prize that she doesn't want, in a competition that she didn't enter. A week in Surfer's Paradise on the set of a soap opera that she detests. Then, to make matters worse, the man Chelsea has to spend the week with is an arrogant stuffed shirt who reminds her of her shallow charming father. Jack Devon always has a plan. That is how he manages to keep his well ordered life on an even keel. Life has shown him that his looks, status and easy charm give him the choice of any woman he wants. Life has not prepared Jack Devon for a woman like Chelsea Prentiss. Can he impress the one woman who seems immune to his charm? Linda turns romance on its head in this hilarious romp through the trials and twists of love in the exotic paradise of the Gold Coast of Australia. Humour, passion and enduring love come together to bring us Chelsea and Jack's unique story.

Every third Wednesday we meet. Every third Wednesday we attempt to hone our craft. Stretching beyond rhyme, metre and description to tanka, cento, haiku, and abecedarium while we sip frothy cappuccinos, or perhaps indulge in cake, we go on a journey. When the blending of our words seems like rubbish, we laugh. When they fall flat, we groan and move on. Every now and then, someone will read a poem and we all sit still, poised in silent surrender to the soaring of our spirits and we are grateful for the places that poetry takes us. "Most pleasing of all is the profusion of poetic styles and forms... Running through all this are familiar and consistent themes: the power of the wry observation, condensed into verse, to remind us of life's absurdities ... the inescapable nature of loss ... and landscapes transformed by poetic eyes ... Read these poems and enjoy the verbal worlds created for you by these five poets." David Musgrave, poet, writer, lecturer, publisher

Once in every lifetime, we should all see life through the eyes of a five year old child, hear their voice, sense the world through the unique perception of childhood. For to do this, is to perceive what they cannot know, protect them from what they cannot understand, so they don't have to hide. We are all guardians; every one. Georgia hides under the bracken fern. Her mother hits her to make her good. The nice man down the road gives her lollies that make her sleepy. Sometimes her brother, Jackson, hides her in his wardrobe. Her best friend, Mittens the cat, listens to all her secrets. On her first day at school her special pencils are stolen. Afraid she will be in very big trouble, she runs away to the bracken fern that grows tall by the whispering creek, where the bower bird struts with his prize of blue buttons and the magpie feeds her babies. It is her safe place. She doesn't know about real safe places and that these things shouldn't be happening to her. When Miss Nelson, her teacher, finds her hiding place, Georgia is even more afraid, until she learns that it's okay to tell. There are other safe places and people who will protect her. Things can get better.

Fraser is a shy frog. He has just moved with his mum and dad to a new pond. Meeting new people makes him nervous. When he is nervous he hiccups. When he hiccups all sorts of things happen. How will he make new friends?

In this fast paced, often hilarious memoir, Linda shares her childhood memories of growing up in rural Australia in the Fifties and Sixties. This tightly woven collection contains the warm and insightful reminiscences of a curious child fascinated by the world and its people, having a joyous passion for life, and an irrepressible thirst for answers. With fearless, self deprecating humour, Linda pares back the layers of family life and takes us on a rare journey of self discovery.

Animals have unique personalities and experience fear, anxiety and stress. The Banyula Tales are about a group of Australian animals living in the Australian bush. There's Callan Chameleon who doesn't like to go far from home, Ben Bowerbird is very careful and collects blue objects to decorate his bower. Kyle Koala likes to sleep a lot. Katie Kookaburra is loud and bossy. Serena Sugar Glider is thoughtful and takes care of the others. Blue Roo has lots of energy and acts before he thinks. Freya Frill-Neck Lizard is anxious and worries about lots of things. Fleur Possum is shy and kind. Emily Echidna is confident and friendly. Wesley Wombat likes to join in but he can't keep up with the faster animals. The Bilby Twins live in the Dark Forest, which is where you'll find Cassowary and Lyre Bird. There are many other animals: Tyson Turtle, Tazza the Tasmanian devil, Tessa Thorny-Devil, Fraser Frog, Gang-Gang Galah and Peter Platypus. There's Grandpa Koala, Doc Possum and Hawk. Welcome to Banyula!

Living with someone on the autism spectrum is like watching a child trying to play hopscotch when they can't see the squares, and everyone else can.This new compilation of I'm not broken, I'm just different & Wings to fly takes us to the heart of living with a child with on the autism spectrum. This latest edition of the book has also been published as Don't read this book by my mother - she's crazy. However, for early fans of Brooks' books on Asperger's it will be welcome news to find both books available in the one volume in the previous familiar style and title. Brooks chronicles her life with her son from his birth, covering the early years, and the teen years through to adulthood-ending with his fearless flight into manhood. The last section, focuses on the struggles faced by adults on the spectrum and their families in an informative, scientific approach.In an unflinching account Brooks poignantly captures the struggle of living with a child who appears to see the world through broken glass. A roller coaster ride from the bizarre to the obscene, encompassing the poetic and the hilarious, heartache and joy. The narrative embraces the muddled stumbling between two worlds-worlds that seem so desperately different at first glance. About a boy obsessed with the unfathomable and a mother obsessed with understanding him. This book is a celebration.

Callan the Chameleon lived in a tall lilly pilly tree with pink tipped leaves. The leaves of the lilly pilly tree grow very thick. Callan felt safe in the rustling tree that was home.Uniquely Australian, this story revolves around Callan and his bush animal friends, Emily the Echidna, Kyle the Koala, Katie the Kookaburra, Wesley the Wombat, Freya the Frilled Necked Lizard and other Australian animals. The book is illustrated with stunning pencil and watercolour artwork.

A white blanket of snow lay deep on the ground. Blistering cold winds brought sheet after sheet of swirling snowflakes. The 7.45 from Astonville was late. The clanking steam train only came twice a day.The town had once set their clocks by its arrival, but that was before the war. The women who lived in the valley just out of town noticed its lateness first. They put their children to bed by the sound of the whistle and the trail of steam behind the ancient grinding engine.However, they had other things to concern them. Ever since war broke out the routine of their daily lives had become unpredictable in so many ways.Now the war was over, but not the waiting.';Come away from the window, Beth,' begged her mother in a tired voice. ';You are fogging up the whole front window.'Beth sighed and stepped back a little, eyeing the circles of cloud her breath made on the glass. Grown-ups were so tiresome, she thought. Sometimes they didn't understand anything at all. Her mother had told her a hundred times that looking out that window wouldn't make her father come home any quicker. Truth be told, none of them knew whether Peter Renshaw had even survived the war, much less when he was coming home.Beth was too young to know that it wasn't her tireless vigil that irritated Miriam, her mother, but it was the visible hope that shone on her daughter's face that pained Miriam. A hope that mirrored her own. A hope buried deep inside a woman weary with waiting and exhausted from caring for three children. A woman with the toil-worn hands of a man.