All posts by Team Booko

Making the most of Black Friday

November 16, 2015Booko, Hacks, Uncategorized#Bookoalerts, #bookolists, #SaleTeam Booko

The name Black Friday was first used over 50 years ago by Philadelphia police offers to describe the crazy shopping day after Thanksgiving when the city was overrun with traffic flocking to Christmas sales. This year, Black Friday is predicted to generate sales of $50b in the US (matching last years sales). While it’s the biggest shopping day of the year in the UK, sales are expected to top £1b.

Black Friday is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 27 and a number of retailers have already started promoting their offers in preparation. If you want to do some research prior to the sale, visit this site. (It’s a US site but can give you a comprehensive overview of who is selling what).

While it can be a great time to purchase a new TV or laptop, it’s also a smart way to do some of your Christmas shopping early. If you are thinking about purchasing books or DVD’s for gifts, take advantage of the special offers available during the Black Friday sale. Here’s how to make the most of the sale:

Make a list of all the books and DVD’s you want to purchase using the Booko Lists functionality. Booko Lists is a great tool that can help you to plan and manage your purchases for a one off event (like Black Friday) or ongoing. We’ve written a handy blog on how to use Booko Lists or you can visit the page on our website.

If you’ve ever missed a sale on an item you really want, you’ll know that it’s not a great feeling! The Booko Alerts feature can help you avoid that happening to your book purchases. When the price drops on a nominated title, Booko will email you with the new best price. Booko Alerts work for DVDs and eBooks as well as printed books. It is easy to use, and will help you get more out of your money! We’ve written a blog on how to use Booko Alerts or you can visit our website.

Here’s to savvy shopping!

Best of the old and new: the 10 cookbooks every cook should own

November 9, 2015UncategorizedTeam Booko

Nopi: The Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi

Nopi: The Cookbook features over 120 of the most popular dishes from Ottolenghi’s wonderful restaurant NOPI. Written by Ottolenghi and his long time collaborator and Head Chef Ramael Scully, Ottolenghi’s collection of recipes has been modified to make them accessible to the average home cook. This recipe book will challenge and inspire you to create some of the famous restaurant dishes we have heard so much about. His ‘Persian Love Rice’ sounds amazing!

The NoMad Cookbook by Daniel Humm, Will Guidara, and Leo Robitschek

Daniel Humm and Will Guidara are owners of the innovative and beloved acclaimed restaurants Eleven Madison and The NoMad. Full of stunning photography, the book features ‘genre-defying’ recipes and also has a surprise cocktail recipe book at the back, making it an amazing collection of both sweet and savoury dishes as well as some funky cocktail recipes.

The Great Australian Cookbook by Kylie Kwong, Charmaine Solomon, George Calombaris and Maggie Beer.

Penned as the ‘Ultimate’ Australian cookbook, this is a comprehensive collection of dishes from over 100 of Australia’s best-loved cooks. Featuring 165 recipes from cooks, chefs, bakers and with beautiful original photography shot on location, this collection of quintessential Australian recipes is perfect for the home cook.

A Year of Good Eating by Nigel Slater

With a fresh, inspiring take on seasonal eating, ‘A Year of Good Eating’ is the third installment of Nigel Slater’s classic Kitchen Diaries series. It explores the balance of eating well right throughout the year. Nigel Slater is one of Britain’s best-loved Food writers and is the host of BBC’s series ‘One’s Eating Together’. These book features beautifully simple recipes, such as roasted summer vegetables with sausages, quick baked eggs or a salmon pie with herb butter, making eating well both inspired and easy.

Bondi Harvest by Guy Turland and Mark Alston

From the super popular TV series of the same name, Bondi Harvest features over 100 recipes in its now famous casual cooking style. With a focus on seasonal flavours, whole foods and simple but beautiful recipes, this cookbook doubles as a coffee table book with its sumptuous photography.

Everyday Super Food by Jamie Oliver

Partnering with a nutritionist for this book, Jamie Oliver has developed a range of recipes that are less than 400 calories (breakfast) or 600 (lunches and dinners) per portion. The recipes are low in salt and saturated fat. The theme of the book is having a ‘balanced plate’ combining the right amounts of protein, fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates, dairy and sugar/fat. This book complements the focus on nutrition and balanced eating that Jamie has, making it easy for people to plan and eat healthily.

Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

If you want to purchase 1 book as your ‘bible’ of Italian cooking, this should be it. Marcella Hazan is known as one of the best Italian cooking writers in the world. The beauty of this book is that it is aimed at every level of cook, from beginner to experienced. It has been featured in ‘The Best 50 cookbooks’ and is a true classic. Bellissimo!

Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child

I was introduced to this book by the film ‘Julie and Julia’ starring Meryl Streep. That’s how famous Julia Child is: she inspired a book. And a movie! First published in 1961, Child’s book features more than 100 instructive illustrations and is literally a guide through each step of a recipe to its final creation.

Spice Temple by Neil Perry

Spice Temple reveals the inspiration behind Neil’s restaurant, of the same name and offers over 130 recipes for dumplings, hot entrees, Merah Putih noodles, seafood, vegetables, desserts and more. Perfect for those with a love of modern Chinese cooking.

The Nordic Cookbook by Magnus Nilsson

Written by Magnus Nilsson, head chef of Sweden’s Fäviken Magasinet restaurant. This book jumps head first into exploring the food of Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands. There is a directory that helps you source ingredients to tackle the 700 recipes it features. This is a perfect gift for someone that has travelled or lived in these regions.

Early Chapter Halloween Readers

October 27, 2015Children, Uncategorized#Chapterbooks, #Children, #HalloweenTeam Booko

Halloween is a great theme to explore with children starting to read. There’s plenty of drama, scary costumes and twists in the tale. Explore the meaning behind Halloween and have some fun with this selection, aimed at the 6+ age group.

Ant and Honey Bee: A pair of friends at Halloween by Megan McDonald

From the Author of the very popular ‘Judy Moody’ series comes the ‘Ant and Honey Bee’ series. The ant and honey bee are great friends and explore seasonal events together, such as Halloween. This book covers topics such as ‘what makes a great pair’ and ‘what goes together’ as the duo collaborate on fun costume ideas.

Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise by Kate DiCamillo

Mercy Watson books feature colourful characters and beautiful illustrations. Persuaded by the word “treating” to dress up as a princess for Halloween, Mercy the pig’s trick-or-treat outing has some very unexpected results. This Halloween reader is full of humour, hijinks, tricks and treats.

Hubble Bubble: The Super-Spooky Fright Night by Tracey Corderoy

Three more fabulously funny stories in one book, about a glorious granny, a little girl, a nervy black cat and a great deal of mayhem. A varied layout and illustrations on every page helps children navigate the reading experience. Frighteningly funny!

The Peculiar Pumpkin Thief by Geronimo Stilton

When all the pumpkins in New Mouse City disappear days before Halloween, Geronimo and his detective friend Hercule Poirat investigate, as all the mice in the city receive invitations to a mysterious party. Geronimo Stilton books are incredibly popular and really bring the text to life for new readers through use of colour and varied fonts. We are huge fans of Geronimo Stilton at Booko.

The Cemetery Dance by Lucy George

Once a century on Halloween, the creatures of the night gather for the cemetery dance. Sounds spine chilling! With minimal copy and stunning illustrations that take up ¾ of the page, this phonics reader is a great option for a first chapter book. It also forms part of a structured reading program that takes children through pairs and groups of letters, which improves reading and spelling ability, and overall confidence which is so important at this level.

Coffee Table books your best friend will love

October 13, 2015Christmas, Uncategorized#Christmas, #coffeetable, #Design, #Interiordesign, #PhotographyTeam Booko

The beauty of coffee table books is that you can showcase your style no matter what your passion is: whether it be travel, shoes, fashion, interior design, antiques or art. They make a beautiful and personal gift and stunning accessory to your home.

Here are 5 Coffee table books that would be perfect gifts for your best friend, no matter their taste:

Icons of Vintage Fashion: Definitive Designer Classics at Auction 1900-2000 by Penelope Blanckaert

Examines fashion from the twentieth century through auction sale listings, providing the estimate and amount the item was sold at, with profiles on designers and styles.

The Shoe Book by Nancy MacDonnell

For centuries shoes have served as a form of expression that communicates to the world who we are or who we want to be. Following on the heels of the success of The T-Shirt Book, The Leather Book, The Bikini Book, and The Trench Book from Assouline’s Anthology Collection, The Shoe Book explores the history and technologies that have shaped the designs and styles that continue to evolve.

In the Spirit of Beverly Hills by Nancie Clare

Assouline began with an idea and a belief: the first, a notion that beauty, perfected, has meaning that is capable of transforming our lives; and the second, that a book–artfully crafted and highly considered in its visual content–can open our eyes and minds. With our first book, La Colombe d’Or, we sought to convey the experience of a small hotel in the south of France, a tiny, sublime world of art, history, luxury, and inspiration unto itself.

The Big Book of the Hamptons by Assouline

Celebrates the mystique and romance of the iconic and extravagant neighborhood of the Hamptons, exploring the architecture and gardens of the area’s opulent mansions.

The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman

Scott Schuman just wanted to take photographs of people on the street who looked great. This book is an anthology of Scott’s favourite shots from around the world. It includes photographs of well-known fashion figures as well as those shots of the anonymous passerby whose imagination and taste delight the viewer.

The 5 most beautiful children’s picture books of all time

September 29, 2015Children, Uncategorized#ChildrensLiterature, #Fiction, #PicturebooksTeam Booko

Favourite picture books from childhood leave lasting memories. Then there are the special ones, the books that are more like works of art. These are the treasures that you keep long after you leave childhood. If you are looking for a gift that will leave lasting memories, here are our 5 top picks:

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

In this wordless graphic novel, a man leaves his homeland and sets off for a new country, where he must build a new life for himself and his family.

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg.

When the dog he is caring for runs away from Alan into the forbidden garden of a retired dog-hating magician, a spell seems to be cast over the contrary dog.

Outside Over There, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak

With Papa off to sea and Mama despondent, Ida must go outside over there to rescue her baby sister from goblins who steal her to be a goblin’s bride.

Snow-white and the Seven Dwarfs, written by Jacob and Willhelm Grimm, illustrated by Nancy E. Burkert

Retells the tale of the beautiful princess whose lips were red as blood, skin was white as snow, and hair was black as ebony.

East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales From the North, illustrated by Kay Nielsen.

Featuring 15 Scandinavian fairy tales — including the popular “Billy Goat’s Gruff”– this is one of the most stunning children’s books ever produced. The text is lavished with 25 intricately detailed colour and numerous black-and-white images that glow with Nielsen’s phantasmagorical style.

City Guide: Bali

September 23, 2015Travel, Uncategorized#Fiction, #Holidayreading, #TravelTeam Booko

Bali is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, friendly people and sense of adventure. Whether you’ve travelled to Bali, have it on your bucket list or are happy to explore it through books, here are our recommended Bali reads:

Go to Sleep, Gecko!: A Balinese Folktale by Margaret Read MacDonald

The author of The Girl Who Wore Too Much retells the folktale of the gecko who complains to the village chief that the fireflies keep him awake at night but then learns that in nature all things are connected.

Balilicious – The Bali Diaries by Becky Wicks

She lifted the burqa on Dubai in Burqalicious. Now Becky Wicks turns her attention to Australia’s number one tourist destination: Bali. It seems to be the new in thing to find yourself these days even if you are not particularly lost.

The Rough Guide to Bali & Lombok by Lesley Reader

With full – colour throughout, clear maps and stunning photography, The Rough Guide to Bali & Lombok will ensure you make the most of these alluring islands, with insider tips on everything from indulgent spa retreats and fantastic shops, to the best hotels, restaurants and bars to suit every budget.

A House in Bali by Colin McPhee

In the 1930s a young American composer heard some gramophone records of music of the land that forever changed his life. As a result, Colin McPhee lived for the day when he could travel and study the beautiful island of Bali, its people, culture, and music. His classic text written in the 1940s still remains the only literary narrative of the island by a classically trained musician, and this unique perspective allowed him to immerse himself in the people, and music of his beloved Bali. And in the end, he only left the island in 1938 as the threat of the second World War loomed over the Pacific. McPhee’s work is a landmark look at Bali’s distinctive gamelan tradition, and is now available again more than 50 years after it was written.

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

After a long and eventful life Allan Karlsson is moved to a nursing home to await the inevitable. But his health refuses to fail and as his 100th birthday looms, a huge party is planned. Allan wants no part of it and decides to climb out the window… Charming and funny; a European publishing phenomenon.

Bringing Children’s books to life

September 17, 2015Children, Movies, Uncategorized#ChildrensLiterature, #FilmAdaptation, Modern ClassicTeam Booko

When a story is lifted from the pages from a book to take life in another form (film, theatre production or a television show), I don’t know about you but I often hold my breath. Sometimes it can soar from the pages and sometimes….well, it can crash (let’s be honest).

With school holidays knocking on the door, we find two of our favourite childhood classics have been converted to film: Yet another Peter Pan adaptation is released in Pan and the all-time Australian favourite Blinky Bill. If you are thinking of taking the kids to see either of these movies this school holidays, it’s a great opportunity to read the books first so you can discuss differences between the two. We’re also super proud of Tim Minchin’s production of Matilda, showing to rave reviews!

Here are some other great book to movie adaptations: http://www.tipsonlifeandlove.com/parenting/kids/12-great-films-based-on-beloved-childrens-books

The Adventures of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

We all know the story: a mischievous boy that never grows up and leads a band of ‘lost boys’ who have adventures battling pirates and occasionally meeting ordinary children when they venture outside of Neverland. This publication from Boomer Books is specially designed and typeset for comfortable reading.

Pan, directed by Joe Wright

Set as the prequel to the Peter Pan story we all know, this is the story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny – to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan. (IMDB)

The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill by Dorothy Wall

Similar to Peter Pan, Blinky Bill is also a mischevious boy (just in the form of a koala). He is a national icon and one of Australia’s most well loved and best known characters. His friends are well known Australian animals such as his kangaroo friend Splodge, his platypus friend Flap, Marcia the marsupial mouse, and his mentor Mr Wombat or Wombo, as Blinky prefers to call him. In general throughout the stories he does things that are realistic for koalas as well as things that child readers would like to do. The author speaks directly to the reader through the stories. Great for younger readers.

Blinky Bill: The Movie

Blinky Bill is a koala with a big imagination. An adventurer at heart, he dreams of leaving the little town of Green Patch and following in his explorer father’s footsteps. Mr Bill went missing in the Outback some time ago and Blinky is the only one who believes his father is still alive.

When Blinky discovers a mysterious marker that hints at his Dad’s whereabouts, he embarks on a journey that takes him beyond the boundary of Green Patch and into the wild and dangerous Outback. He quickly makes friends with Nutsy, a zoo koala, and Jacko, a nervous frill-necked lizard.

Pursued relentlessly by a vengeful feral cat who has a personal score to settle with Blinky, the trio must learn to work together if they ever want to survive the rugged Australian landscape and find Blinky’s father! Source: blinkybill.com.au

Make sure you download the app so the kids can add Blinky Bill characters to their photos and movies!

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda Wormwood’s father is a mean crooked crook. And her mother’s just plain stupid. They think Matilda is a nuisance who should watch more TV and read fewer books! But her lovely teacher Miss Honey thinks Matilda is a genius. Matilda has a few extraordinary tricks up her sleeve, so her horrible parents and even more horrible headmistress had better watch out.

Matilda the Musical, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Winner of 50 major international awards, including 12 for Best Musical, Matilda continues to delight audiences both in London and on Broadway before arriving at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from July 2015.

Segment Choice: Sport

September 10, 2015Non-fiction, Sport#Fiction, #Nonfiction, #SportsTeam Booko

Many of the world’s great writers have been drawn to writing about sport. They make for great reads: high drama, human tension, effort, payoff, win or lose. Here are our top 5 recommended reads for classic sports action:

Beyond a Boundary by CLR James

In C. L. R. James’s classic Beyond a Boundary, the sport is cricket and the scene is the colonial West Indies. Always eloquent and provocative, James–the “black Plato,” (as coined by the London Times)–shows us how, in the rituals of performance and conflict on the field, we are watching not just prowess but politics and psychology at play. Part memoir of a boyhood in a black colony (by one of the founding fathers of African nationalism), part passionate celebration of an unusual and unexpected game, Beyond a Boundary raises, in a warm and witty voice, serious questions about race, class, politics, and the facts of colonial oppression. Originally published in England in 1963 and in the United States twenty years later (Pantheon, 1983), this second American edition brings back into print this prophetic statement on race and sport in society.

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby

A famous account of growing up to be a fanatical football supporter. Told through a series of match reports, FEVER PITCH has enjoyed enormous critical and commercial success since it was first published in 1992. It has helped to create a new kind of sports writing, and established Hornby as one of the finest writers of his generation.

Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team & A Dream by H G Bissinger

Return once again to the enduring account of the Permian Panthers of Odessa — the most successful high school football team in Texas history.

King of the World by David Remnick

Explores the transformation of a young boxer into an internationally renowned athlete, mythic hero, American icon, and central figure in the twentieth century’s social, cultural, and racial conflicts

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Follows Peekay, a white British boy in South Africa during World War II, between the ages of five and eleven, as he survives an abusive boarding school and goes on to succeed in life and in the boxing ring.

5 of the best sporting autobiographies

September 7, 2015Non-fiction, Sport#Autobiography, #Nonfiction, #SportsTeam Booko

The sporting autobiography is often about the motivation, the sacrifice and the drive that it takes to succeed at such high levels of professional sport. We have included 5 of our favourites, including some controversial characters:

Keane: The Autobiography by Roy Keane

Roy Keane, captain of Manchester United and the Irish national team, was born in Cork in 1971. He signed for Manchester United from Nottingham Forest in 1993. In 2000 he was awarded the PFA Player of the Year 2000. His footballing intelligence and fierce determination helped Ireland to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. But his passion has sometimes given rise to the wrong kind of headlines. His commitment to winning has led to violent confrontation on the pitch and controversy off it.

Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi

A candid memoir by the tennis champion includes coverage of his Grand Slam wins, establishment of a charitable foundation for underprivileged children and marriage to Stefanie Graf.

Aussie Grit: My Formula One Journey by Mark Webber

In the exhilarating, high-stakes world of Formula One, only the fastest make it to the top. And no one knows this better than Australian Formula One legend Mark Webber. His career in F1 stretched for an incredible eleven years, seeing him garner thirteen poll positions, earn forty-two podiums and win nine races including the crown jewel of F1, the Monaco Grand prix, twice. But there’s more than F1 to the story of the boy from Queanbeyan. In this candid book, Webber divulges the personal struggles that formed his Aussie grit character and reveals for the first time what really went down at Red Bull and the truth behind his rivalry with teammate Sebastian Vettel. From his near career-ending injury in 2008, his breakthrough ‘not bad for a number two driver’ win in 2009 to the ‘Multi 21’ controversy of 2011 and his new beginning with Porsche and the challenge of Le Mans 2014, Mark Webber pulls no punches in this captivating, personal story.

Surf for your Life by Mick Fanning

Two-time world champion surfer Mick Fanning may only be twenty-eight, but he’s already experienced more than most of us ever will. How does it feel to lose a brother? Win a world title? Rip your hamstring muscle clean off the bone? Weave through a zippering Superbank barrel for twenty to thirty seconds or paddle over the ledge at places like Pipeline and Teahupo’o?

KP: The Autobiography by Kevin Pieterson

The fascinating life story of professional cricketer Kevin Pietersen, MBE, from his childhood in South Africa to his recent experiences as one of the leading lights in the world of international cricket. Kevin was dropped from the England squad in February of this year, seemingly calling time on an international career that began nearly ten years earlier.

Tilda Swinton’s Holiday Reading List

September 2, 2015Uncategorized#Celebrityreads, #Fiction, #Holidayreading, #PoetryTeam Booko

Tilda Swinton’s holiday reading list is as eclectic as the film roles she chooses. Here are her recommended reads:

Auntie Mame By Patrick Dennis

“Mame: Who did you ever dream of being adopted by?”

A Time Of Gifts By Patrick Leigh Fermor

“For anybody who has ever fantasised about walking across Europe with a backpack. Written by a great writer and a proper hero amongst men.”

Love In A Cold Climate By Nancy Mitford

“Lady Montdore is one of the greatest creations in English literature; Uncle Matthew, another; Cedric, yet another. It’s the dottiness and passions of the English aristocracy pretty much nailed in one.”

Light Years By James Salter

“An urbane American marriage seen from above — a kind of exquisite horror story of the deathly chic of people having all their bases covered and somehow missing the point all the same. Very, very beautiful. Very, very sad.”

Great Expectations By Charles Dickens

“Faces you will never forget, and a lesson to treasure all your life: Be prepared to be surprised, [and] cherish life as it finds you. And love Joe Gargery with all your heart.”

Owning Your Own Shadow By Robert A. Johnson
“A tiny, precious book on the balancing wisdom of the psyche. Hooray for that dark stuff!”

The Child, The Family, And The Outside World By D.W. Winnicott

“The book to have by you when becoming a parent. And ever after.”

The Best of Wodehouse By P.G. Wodehouse
“Sentences to eat with a spoon, and funny like nothing else on Earth.”

The Collected Poems Of Frank O’Hara By Frank O’Hara

“Joy and life, and more life and more joy, and street corners, and Coca-Cola, and love.”

Modern Nature By Derek Jarman

“Joy and life, and more life and more joy, and making a garden out of stones, and making films, and love.”

The Many Days: Selected Poems Of Norman MacCaig By Norman MacCaig

“Scotland’s preeminent poet of both the mountain and the capital’s pavement. Doubleness is a Scottish art: Passion and Calvinism; the west and the east; the highlands and the lowlands. MacCaig embraces this split with true affection and verve.”

As found on Refinery29.com

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