Melbourne Memories

It seems like so long ago now but it was only a couple of weeks ago that my partner and I spent a beautiful long weekend in wintry Melbourne.

There were of course books purchased;

February by Lisa Moore (long listed for the 2010 Man Booker Prize), A Moleskine book journal which I just couldn't resist even though I haven't ever really kept a hand written log of my reading - I would like to begin and No and Me by Delphine De Vigan which has recently been named as a book in the upcoming Richard and Judy Bookclub - not something I knew when I purchased the book.

There was also art viewed. We managed to get to the Tim Burton exhibition at the ACMI at Federation Square which was definitely more something that my partner enjoyed but I could certainly appreciate the talent and imagination that comes from Burton. We also went to the European Masters exhibition at the NGV of which my two favourite paintings were Henri Rousseau's The Avenue in the Park of Saint-Cloud c. 1908 and Monet's Houses on the bank of the River Zean 1871.

There was much food and tea and coffee consumed! The Tea Room at the NGV was visited...

and dinner was eaten at the Jamie Oliver Fifteen restaurant in the city...

and after all that there was still room for cupcakes!

Melbourne Ideas

My partner and I are spending a long weekend in Melbourne next weekend and we can't wait! I would love to hear from any of you about ideas for great bookshops we could visit while we are there? Or any other great Melbourne highlights we shouldn't miss. We both love Melbourne but it has been a while since we have visited now so we want to make sure we don't miss anything exciting!

Melbourne and New Books

I have been away from home and the blogging world, in Melbourne for 5 days for a conference (and shopping of course!).

Melbourne is one of my very favourite places in the world and has some of the most amazing bookshops so I really feel I was quite contained in only coming home with two new purchases.

I found The Piazzas of Florence by Lisa McGarry and just knew it would be coming home with me. I have a bit of an Italy obsession even though I have not been there (yet).

I found my other new purchase on a trip to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) to see there latest exhibition - Art Deco. My purchase wasn't related to that exhibition though, I found a new book about my favourite artist, Frida Kahlo. Frida Kahlo The Still Lifes by Salomon Grimberg looks like a stunning book and I just couldn't resist!