Bøker av Linda Ruth Brooks

Lucy's mother died at home, listening to the afternoon birds. Lucy treasured her mother's silk embroidered notebook. It had wildflowers inside, pressed and dried, their petals as dainty as insect wings. Charlotte Bragg, denied invitation to her elder son's wedding, slid into the back pew of the cathedral.At the Soldatenkaffee Madeleine on the Rue St Honoré a slender woman sits on the edge of a vinyl chair.The corpulent man stumbled and wavered, taking pains to appear sober, soughing onto the slatted bench near the park.Georgia dragged her feet, watching her brother's long strides swirl dust on the bush track ahead. It was alright for him. He wanted to go.Kate couldn't remember when her role of carer had begun. It stretched back into a childhood that should still exist, but didn't. This long awaited collection of Brooks' short stories deals with all the themes close to her heart. They are shared with the grit and fearlessness that has appeared in her previous narratives. A welcome addition to Brooks' list of published works.

If Bridget Galloway could choose a superpower, it would be invisibility. But life in Bridget's world, has no superheroes.It's midnight. Bridget is spending her sixteenth birthday at the local cemetery-the only place free from the brutal bullying of her alcoholic father. Alone and friendless she is known at school as Shadow Girl. Why did her mother leave? The mystery deepens when it is discovered that another woman wrote the cards and letters. Then a body is found in the bushland near the Galloway house. For the truth to be revealed, there are mishaps, mistakes, and a town of unconventional characters: a fashion designer in hiding, a dope-head brother, a curious city cop, a gossipy Mayor's wife, a lost old lady and two sassy teenage girls who introduce Bridget to real friendship. A companion book to Scarlett doesn't live here anymore. Shadow Girls reaches honestly into the issue of family abuse and intimate partner violence and the courage it takes to escape and find voice. There are two glossaries in the book that contain all the terminology and definitions necessary for violence, abuse and also the modern dating terms such as ghosting, gaslighting and stalking.

In this fast paced, often hilarious memoir, Linda shares her childhood memories of growing up in rural Australia in the Fifties and Sixties. This tightly woven collection contains the warm and insightful reminiscences of a curious child fascinated by the world and its people, having a joyous passion for life, and an irrepressible thirst for answers. With fearless, self deprecating humour, Linda pares back the layers of family life and takes us on a rare journey of self discovery.

Animals have unique personalities and experience fear, anxiety and stress. The Banyula Tales are about a group of Australian animals living in the Australian bush. There's Callan Chameleon who doesn't like to go far from home, Ben Bowerbird is very careful and collects blue objects to decorate his bower. Kyle Koala likes to sleep a lot. Katie Kookaburra is loud and bossy. Serena Sugar Glider is thoughtful and takes care of the others. Blue Roo has lots of energy and acts before he thinks. Freya Frill-Neck Lizard is anxious and worries about lots of things. Fleur Possum is shy and kind. Emily Echidna is confident and friendly. Wesley Wombat likes to join in but he can't keep up with the faster animals. The Bilby Twins live in the Dark Forest, which is where you'll find Cassowary and Lyre Bird. There are many other animals: Tyson Turtle, Tazza the Tasmanian devil, Tessa Thorny-Devil, Fraser Frog, Gang-Gang Galah and Peter Platypus. There's Grandpa Koala, Doc Possum and Hawk. Welcome to Banyula!

Living with someone on the autism spectrum is like watching a child trying to play hopscotch when they can't see the squares, and everyone else can.This new compilation of I'm not broken, I'm just different & Wings to fly takes us to the heart of living with a child with on the autism spectrum. This latest edition of the book has also been published as Don't read this book by my mother - she's crazy. However, for early fans of Brooks' books on Asperger's it will be welcome news to find both books available in the one volume in the previous familiar style and title. Brooks chronicles her life with her son from his birth, covering the early years, and the teen years through to adulthood-ending with his fearless flight into manhood. The last section, focuses on the struggles faced by adults on the spectrum and their families in an informative, scientific approach.In an unflinching account Brooks poignantly captures the struggle of living with a child who appears to see the world through broken glass. A roller coaster ride from the bizarre to the obscene, encompassing the poetic and the hilarious, heartache and joy. The narrative embraces the muddled stumbling between two worlds-worlds that seem so desperately different at first glance. About a boy obsessed with the unfathomable and a mother obsessed with understanding him. This book is a celebration.

Callan the Chameleon lived in a tall lilly pilly tree with pink tipped leaves. The leaves of the lilly pilly tree grow very thick. Callan felt safe in the rustling tree that was home.Uniquely Australian, this story revolves around Callan and his bush animal friends, Emily the Echidna, Kyle the Koala, Katie the Kookaburra, Wesley the Wombat, Freya the Frilled Necked Lizard and other Australian animals. The book is illustrated with stunning pencil and watercolour artwork.

A white blanket of snow lay deep on the ground. Blistering cold winds brought sheet after sheet of swirling snowflakes. The 7.45 from Astonville was late. The clanking steam train only came twice a day.The town had once set their clocks by its arrival, but that was before the war. The women who lived in the valley just out of town noticed its lateness first. They put their children to bed by the sound of the whistle and the trail of steam behind the ancient grinding engine.However, they had other things to concern them. Ever since war broke out the routine of their daily lives had become unpredictable in so many ways.Now the war was over, but not the waiting.';Come away from the window, Beth,' begged her mother in a tired voice. ';You are fogging up the whole front window.'Beth sighed and stepped back a little, eyeing the circles of cloud her breath made on the glass. Grown-ups were so tiresome, she thought. Sometimes they didn't understand anything at all. Her mother had told her a hundred times that looking out that window wouldn't make her father come home any quicker. Truth be told, none of them knew whether Peter Renshaw had even survived the war, much less when he was coming home.Beth was too young to know that it wasn't her tireless vigil that irritated Miriam, her mother, but it was the visible hope that shone on her daughter's face that pained Miriam. A hope that mirrored her own. A hope buried deep inside a woman weary with waiting and exhausted from caring for three children. A woman with the toil-worn hands of a man.

Where's your mother?Not well today. Said carefully and neutrally, as if pretending things were normal would make them so. Transform life into a manageable thing. As if ten year olds everywhere were the ladies of the house, the caretakers of the family.I see.Mrs Blakehurst, their babysitter from up the road was on the stoop. She had brought the youngest two. Kate knew it was important to use her grown up voice, through a narrow slit in the door.Thank you, Mrs Blakehurst. Here is your pay.Father didn't change the rhythm, so that helped make it normal. Though deep inside a much younger Kate screamed that it was not. But Emily, Daniel and Sara's voices were louder. Some inner sense stopped Kate from calling them 'the children' as was her mother's custom. She was even particular that she called them in order of their age, oldest to youngest, as if by this precision she could push back the chaos that hovered like a patient bird of prey.Brooks explores the internal dilemma of a child compelled to become parent to a mentally unstable mother, as well as the guardian of her three younger siblings. With fearless candour, Linda peels back the layers of a child with adult responsibilities. What becomes of Kate when the years fall by and she reaches adulthood? Can the child within be denied voice?

Living with someone on the autism spectrum is like watching a child trying to play hopscotch when they can't see the squares, and everyone else can. Linda's book takes us to the heart of living with a child with on the autism spectrum, inviting us to see life through the eyes of others. Brooks chronicles her life with her son from his birth, covering the early years, and the teen years through to adulthood-ending with his fearless flight into manhood. The last section focuses on the struggles faced by adults on the spectrum and their families with an informative, scientific approach. In an unflinching account Brooks poignantly captures the struggle of living with a child who appears to see the world through broken glass. A roller coaster ride from the bizarre to the obscene, encompassing the poetic and the hilarious, heartache and joy. The narrative embraces the muddled stumbling between two worlds-worlds that seem so desperately different at first glance. This is a story bout a boy obsessed with the unfathomable and a mother obsessed with understanding him. This book is about celebration. This book is also published as I'm not broken, I'm just different & Wings to fly. I am very pleased to be involved with Linda's book. I think we both have a very important message and I certainly endorse Linda's positive approach. I know it will change the lives of many families. Professor Tony AttwoodAs a counsellor I have discovered a number of special pearls, a couple of which are found in Linda and Bronson's journey. This is a timely book with a special message. I believe Linda and I met for a purpose. I have read the manuscript and feel this is her gift to other parents. Dr Steele FitchettThis is a long awaited book. Linda and Bronson have a great relationship; it's entertaining to watch them bounce off each other. I once remarked to Linda, describing her parenthood-'You enjoy him and that is one of the finest assets of a mother that you offer, regardless of how he reacts.' Dr Jay

Izzy has just turned five years old. It will soon be time to start school. She had a really wonderful birthday party with her friends. Now, Mum and Dad have brought home a baby brother. Izzy likes her new brother, but she is bored playing on her own. She decides to take her cat, Pudding, for a walk in the new pram, but she has forgotten the rule about being safe.When she gets lost in the city streets, it is Pudding who helps her find her way home. Mum and Dad are really worried. Izzy is very tired. It has been quite an adventure for a little girl.