by Susan Barnes | 26 Nov 2022 | Book Reviews
Mala’s Cat is an autobiography account of how Mala Kacenberg (nee Szorer) survived World War 2. Mala was born into a large observant Jewish family living in Tarnogrod, Poland. Her story begins three years before the war when wild hailstorms ruined crops in her area...
by Susan Barnes | 12 Nov 2022 | Book Reviews
Olaudah Equiano, also known as Gustavus Vassa, died in 1797, after living less than 60 years. Yet, his resilience and his desire to help his own people left a huge impact during his lifetime and continues to inspire others. The author, Emily Maurits, has done an...
by Susan Barnes | 20 Jan 2022 | Book Reviews
Screw it, let’s do it is part of the Quick Reads series and is a brief overview of Richard Branson’s life focussing more on life lessons. He wrote a fuller autobiography in 1998. Branson operates instinctively and makes decisions quickly. He’s prepared to take risks...
by Susan Barnes | 1 Jul 2021 | Book Reviews
Power and Glory Barty was compiled by Ron Reed with contributions from Linda Pearce and Chris McLeod. Ron Reed is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected sportswriters and felt Ashleigh Barty’s rise from relative obscurity to the number 1 player in the world...
by Susan Barnes | 20 May 2021 | Book Reviews
The Giant with One Idea is the biography of Thomas Clarkson. In 1785, Thomas was an ordained deacon preparing to become a vicar, when he won a Latin essay competition on the subject: “Is it right to make slaves of others against their will?” Thomas had decided to...
by Susan Barnes | 11 Mar 2021 | Book Reviews
Humility begins with a brief biography of Andrew Murray including photos. He was born in South Africa in 1828 where his Scottish parents were missionaries. He became a great preacher, evangelist and writer. He was influential in the revival that occurred in South...
by Susan Barnes | 23 Jul 2020 | Book Reviews
Don Stephens first dreamt of a ship that would be a floating hospital when he was nineteen. He envisioned a ship travelling to the poorest communities in Africa and performing lifesaving surgeries for free to those who couldn’t afford them. Fourteen years later, he...
by Susan Barnes | 4 Jun 2019 | My happenings
My Mum passed away two weeks ago and this is the tribute I shared at her memorial service. People of my Mum’s generation faced many hardships and it’s a reminder that we are fortunate to have so many opportunities available to us today. I think the word...
