Staff faves...May 2022
Published on 04 April 2022
From fiction to fact our staff gives their personal reviews of books and resources they have read that relate to history and heritage. Toni recommends some fabulous Australian Fiction and if you want to know more about early Colonial History in Australia, Jo has recommended three excellent history books by three outstanding female historians!
All books and resources reviewed are available in our collections.
Toni recommends;
Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms
by Anita Heiss
It’s a moving story about a Japanese prisoner of war in Cowra and life in an Aboriginal Mission. It’s a gripping and touching story about living without basic human rights. It really educates you on how life was in that era. Sad and uplifting all in one breath. I highly recommend this one.
Reserve this book
A fortunate life
by A. B. Facey
An all-time favourite of mine. It follows the life of a white Australian from the late 1800’s who struggles to survive, he goes to work at 9 years of age! It is very simply written but emotionally charged and encourages the reader to see life as fortunate from every struggle faced – and he faced a lot! I highly recommend this one too!
Reserve this book
"When I moved to Coffs Harbour from Queensland over five years ago, I felt I needed to get my head into New South Wales history. Because it was the first state to be colonised, New South Wales history is sometimes conflated with Australian history, as if they are one and the same thing. But of course they’re not, and It’s very revealing to dig down into the particularities of New South Wales."
In this light, the three books that I strongly recommend are:
The Colony: A history of early Sydney
by Grace Karskens
Reserve this book
Invasion to Embassy: Land in Aboriginal Politics in New South Wales , 1770-1972
by Heather Goodall
A powerful and extraordinarily well-researched account of the centrality of land to all Goori people.
Reserve this book
A history of New South Wales
by Beverley Kingston
Reserve this book