Cirrus@Austlit

'THE VIETNAM WAR ROCKED AUSTRALIA TO ITS CORE...

'The Third Chopstick transports us back to those days. In starkly beautiful prose Biff Ward, herself a protester, seeks to understand the war from multiple angles. She balances the heartfelt motivations of the protest movement with candid accounts from veterans about what was happening for them in Vietnam and afterwards. In riveting interviews, she explores combat, the ravages of PTSD, and the acceptance that can come with ageing and peer support.

'She also takes us to the peaceful Vietnam of the post-war years, capturing poignant images of the aftermath of what they, of course, call the American War. Her lyrical evocation of the people she meets and war sites she visits render the war in a new light. 

'The Third Chopstick is the profoundly moving story of one woman's passion to bear tender witness to those involved in that tumultuous time. A must-read for all the Vietnam generation, their descendants and friends.' (Publication summary)

'From Behind the Machine is a bitter and beautiful love story told across intrepid travels to unknown places with unknown people. The aroma of Addis Ababa, the heat of Bangkok and the cold crispness of the Himalayas creep off the page as the novel and its characters swirl around the protagonist like a well-made macchiato. It is timeless, painful, compassionate, and, above all, it is a reminder of how we should all be living and loving - with honesty, bravery, curiosity ... and a good, strong coffee.' (Publication summary)

'The Book of Gates is open . . . A collection of short stories made of frights and nightmares. The dead have tales to tell. The dead will not be mocked. The Book of Gates welcomes you.' (Publication summary)

'A young woman uses a time machine to taker her back to 1861; the start of the American Civil War. There she falls in love with a Confederate guerrilla leader. Their adventures take her from ectasy to heartbreak. Everything changes when, through fate, she falls for a Union colonel.' (Publication summary)

'"Hither and Thither" is a collection of unusual travel stories from Noelle's past, starting as a small child enjoying pre-war holidays in Scotland and later, journeys shared with her husband, Peter, or sister-in-law, Judy Tindale. (Her previous book, "Up Over to Down Under" covers the five months between her first trip to Australia in 1947, meeting Peter, and their marriage in 1948.) Following the sale of their sheep property in 1972, they flew to the UK, a first for Peter. Noelle renewed old friendships, and they also visited Russia. Later, they retraced Peter's wartime journey to his much loved Indonesia. Now, as a solo traveller, Noelle continues her love of exploring the world, meeting new people and making international friends as she goes. Please follow her, read and enjoy.' (Publication summary)