Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister: Three women at the heart of twentieth-century China

Reviewed by Heather O’Connor

Jung Chang
Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister: Three women at the heart of twentieth-century China
Penguin, $35.00

This fascinating book tells the story of the Soong sisters, each of whom helped to shape 20th century China, and each of whom deserves a biography of her own. Their story has always reminded me of the Mitford sisters in England in terms of how … Read more »

Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and Things That Sustain You When the World Goes Dark

Reviewed by Debbie Worgan

Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and Things That Sustain You When the World Goes Dark
Julia Baird
Harper Collins, $32.99

I haven’t even finished reading this book, but I already know it’s worthy of a review. Parts of it have resonated so well with my life that it’s almost as if it’s been written for me. The book is largely a collection of essays which reflect Julia’s search for light and meaning – a search that many people can identify with. Julia writes beautifully … Read more »

Threads of Life: A History of the World through the Eye of a Needle

Claire Hunter,
Threads of Life: A History of the World through the Eye of a Needle
$32.99

I chose this book because there are so many people in the Triangle area who love all forms of needlework, and also because I know absolutely nothing about any of this. What a revelation this fantastic piece of research was for someone as ignorant as me!

Each … Read more »

The Seventies: The personal, the political and the making of modern Australia

Reviewed by Heather O’Connor

Michelle Arrow
The Seventies: The personal, the political
and the making of modern Australia
$34.99

The oldest amongst us remember the seventies as the decade that shaped the remainder of the twentieth century, whether we were actively involved in social movements or not. For the activists, it’s the decade that brings to the fore all our nostalgia, for the drama, the … Read more »

The Anna Karenina Fix: Life Lessons from Russian Literature

Viv Groskop
The Anna Karenina Fix: Life Lessons from Russian Literature
$29.99

Here we are approaching the end of another year, and yet again I am promising to (re)read the great Russian Classics—about the tenth year in a row I planned to do so! Imagine my joy when I came across this terrific book; it saves you reading thousands of pages and sorting out who is who. Each chapter summarises one of the … Read more »

Yellow and Black

Konrad Marshall, Yellow and Black:
A Season with Richmond, $34.95

Normally, the monthly Triangle review involves a best-seller, hopefully with fairly wide appeal. But this one is unashamedly for the handful of AFL tragics, of whom I am proudly one. Detailed conversations, descriptions, explanations covering one season for the Tigers – the Premiership year of 2017. How could it warrant a book of 500 pages? Easily!
Sixty years of following Aussie Rules and I had no idea of … Read more »