Impulsive, budding artist, Pearl, jumps on a bus headed for the driest place she knows, Australia’s Nullarbor Plain, to escape a terrifying undersea curse, only to find it waiting for her in a fish tank when she arrives. In her Aunty’s derelict roadhouse, she amuses and outrages the local misfits by seeing their hidden traumas in watery visions – which she paints. Eddie, a hot, young windmill repairer, shows interest, but soon must vie for this amazing artist’s attention with Italian cave diver, Massimo. Tempting as they may be, Pearl can’t go there, not while this family-seeing curse is ruining her life . . . unless it’s a gift? Just in case it is, Pearl risks her life to solve the mystery that has plagued all the women in her line, starting with her long-dead Great-Grandma Pearl.

Leung is no rock star but he lives the life of one while following Pearl Jam on tour around the world, beginning in 2005 with a modest road trip in a beat-up van to see every Pearl Jam show across Canada. His ensuing journey continues across America, all over Europe, and around Australia during Pearl Jam's entire 2006 world tour.

Destructive bushfires are increasing in frequency and intensity around the world. For people living in fire prone areas there are no reliable guides about which plants have low flammability and which are frighteningly flammable. Safer Gardens is that guide, with over 500 plants assessed, based on fire research from around the world. Readers can look up a plant in the Plant Flammability Table to get an idea of its flammability then turn to the A–Z for more detailed information. The book contains advice about ways to create a more firesafe garden, including the need to carefully manage the use of mulch and hedges. This is citizen science, written by a gardener for other gardeners. Complex and potentially confusing science is made comprehensible and usable, to help you make your garden and hence your house safer.

Man has been intrigued by the origin of pearls, sensitive to their beauty, and convinced of their medicinal value for at least 5 cent. A mixture of folklore and observation preceded the earliest scientific inquiries. Fishing and trade commenced in S. Asia, between India and Sri Lanka and around the Persian Gulf. In W. and Central Europe, Inner Asia and China, and N. Amer. Freshwater pearls were probably known and treasured before those of marine origin. A refined nomenclature points to a long familiarity with etymologically related words for 'pearl'. Pearls were prominent among the luxury products of world trade and were high among the objectives of expeditions to the eastern and western Tropics. Illustrations.