Free s e p t e MB e r 2 0 0 9 Readings Monthly your independent book, music and DVD newsletter • events • new releases • reviews g e 9) tings (see pa illustration by James Gulliver Hancock from REadings and w r illustration

Readings and Writings : Forty Years of Books p 2

September book, CD & DVD new releases. More new releases inside.

fiction aust fiction aust poetry politics science DVD POp CD CLASSICAL box set sale $39.95 $32.95 $24.95 $59.95 $49.95 $35 $29.95 $29.95 $29.95 >> p5 >> p4 >> p7 >> p9 >> p10 >> p16 >> p17 >> p19

September Event Highlights at Readings. See more events inside. jeff lindsay paul kelly, richard tracy chevalier At readings julia gillard lowenstein At readings hawthorn & steve bracks & ollie olsen hawthorn At capitol theatre At readings carlton

All shops except SLV open 7 days. SLV closed Sundays. Carlton 309 Lygon St 9347 6633 Hawthorn 701 Glenferrie Rd 9819 1917 Malvern 185 Glenferrie Rd 9509 1952. Port Melbourne 253 Bay St 9681 9255 St Kilda 112 Acland St 9525 3852 State Library of Victoria 328 Swanston Street 8664 7540 email [email protected] Find information about our shops, check event details and browse or shop online at www.readings.com.au

PRESHIL Q & A Achievement through being yourself Open minds. Preshil invites you to a unique opportunity to engage with a panel of teachers and guest Open dialogue. alumni in a special night about Preshil’s philosophy and educational approach. Open eyes. Open doors. THURSDAY OCTOBER 15 AT 7.30 PM THE KEVIN BORLAND HALL 395 BARKERS ROAD, KEW Private tours welcome. For appointments call 9817 6135 or visit www.preshil.vic.edu.au 2 Readings Monthly September 2009

From the Editor NOT THE VOGEL AWARD This Month’s News OSLO DAVIS JOINS For Australian aspiring writers, 35 is a READINGS MONTHLY landmark age. It’s the final year in which Readings is delighted to welcome cartoon- you can enter the country’s most prestigious ist and illustrator Oslo Davis to our pages, literary prize for an unpublished manuscript, starting this month. Oslo is the much- The Vogel Australian Literary Award, which loved creator of the 'Overheard' series in comes with guaranteed publication by Allen The Sunday Age's M Magazine and has also & Unwin and $20,000. In a welcome move – been published in The New York Times and and thanks to sponsorship from the Copy- elsewhere. See the bottom of page 5 every right Agency Limited (CAL) – Scribe has month for Oslo's bookish cartoon series. now announced the CAL Scribe Fiction Prize (with publication and $12,000 as a prize), for Readings’ Leanne Hall Australian authors aged over 35. And it’s quite wins Text Prize! deliberately ‘not the Vogel’. ‘For a number We’re all tremendously proud and excited of years it has concerned us that the Vogel to announce that Leanne Hall, children’s Prize is only for writers under 35,’ says Scribe specialist bookseller at Readings Carlton, has Fiction Acquisitions Editor Aviva Tuffield. ‘It won the 2009 Text Prize for Young Adult seems that many novelists, especially women, readings and writings: and Children’s Writing for her young adult only find the time and have acquired the life whom had completed writing or publishing manuscript This is Shyness. Congratulations experience to write novels later in life.’ As forty years in books courses. Michael Williams, head of program- to Leanne from all of us. examples, she cites Elizabeth Jolley (first novel It’s not every aspiring editor who gets writers ming at Melbourne’s new Centre for Books at 53), Annie Proulx (won the PEN/Faulkner like Cate Kennedy and Alex Miller interested Writing and Ideas (and former editor at Text Publishing) was invited on board as co-editor, PORT MELBOURNE book award for her debut novel aged 58) in their project, but that’s what happened to BOOK CLUBS and Raymond Chandler, who published his Jason Cotter, editor and originator of Read- lending his considerable experience to the first short story aged 45. For entry forms and ings and Writings, an anthology celebrating project. ‘He was very keen and said he’d love Join us the second Tuesday of each month at information, visit http://www.scribepublica- Readings’ fortieth birthday. to do it regardless of our budget,’ recalls Cot- 6pm for a new book club at Port Melbourne, tions.com.au/prize. ter. Emma Schwarcz and Mary Small from Book Talk at Port. Focusing on a different ‘I was working in the warehouse with Mark Hardie Grant mentored Cotter through the theme each quarter, the club will kick off AGE BOOK OF THE YEAR [Rubbo], unpacking remainders, and we were editorial process. Various publishers helped by tackling the world of ‘Power and Corrup- The AgeBook of the Year talking about publishing,’ he recalls. ‘I asked out with suggestions on authors to approach. tion’ in Patrick Allington’s new novel, Figure- winners have been an- him if he’d ever like to get into publishing head (Black Inc., PB, $29.95). Enquiries to himself and he said he would, someday.’ Cot- The resulting anthology is as professional as [email protected]. nounced. We at Readings you’d expect from all that expertise – hand- are thrilled that Steven ter, who was studying writing and editing at RMIT, ‘dashed off’ a proposal early the next somely designed and a cracker of a read. It’s INDIGENOUS Amsterdam's debut fiction, not just a number of good stories; it’s cohesive Things We Didn't See Coming morning and sent it to Mark, Readings’ man- LITERACY DAY aging director, who gave the project a tentative and varied – a good collection. There’s a savvy (Sleepers, PB, $24.95), mix, offering the best of some of our most Buy a book at Readings on Wednesday our March New Australian green light, and suggested that it be published 2 Sept and a percentage of sales will be to mark the upcoming special occasion. beloved local writers and a range of welcome Writing Feature title, has won not only new voices, as any really good anthology does. donated to remote indigenous communities. Fiction Book of the Year, but the overall The result, after almost two years of hard See the ad on page 11 for details. prize for Book of the Year. Congratulations work, is an impressive collection of short fic- Cotter worked hard to get that variation, in to Steven – and to Sleepers Publishing for tion boasting a wonderfully quirky foreword both experience and style. ‘I had a lot of dark READINGS FABULOUS winning such a prestigious prize for their from Shane Maloney, a fascinating histori- stories at first, so I was halfway looking for CLASSICAL BOX SET SALE first full-length published fiction. cal overview of Readings by Mark Rubbo, some lighter, happier ones.’ The themes vary Up to 50% on selected titles including Bach Non-Fiction Book of the Year went to and stories from a range of established and wildly, from Christos Tsiolkas’s confronting Beethoven Brahms Verdi Puccini. Limited Guy Rundle's Down to the Crossroads: emerging writers. Christos Tsiolkas, Cate piece about a couple disastrously estranged stock at these prices, don't miss out! See page On the Trail of the 2008 US Presidential Kennedy, Alex Miller, Elliot Perlman and from their homosexual son and forced to 19 for details. Visit www.readings.com.au for Election (Penguin, PB, $24.95) and Poetry Peter Goldsworthy are just some of the ‘name’ confront his life too late, to Leanne Hall’s a full list of available titles. Book of the Year to Better Than God writers represented. ‘They’re top-shelf stories,’ contemporary twist on the Icarus myth. And (Peter Porter, Picador, PB, $29.95). says Cotter excitedly. ‘It’s a real testament to there were certain other themes Cotter was october: foodies' the regard that people hold for Readings that particularly pleased to include. ‘Maybe it’s month at Hawthorn! GENERATION KILL we were lucky enough to get them. It was just odd for a book with 24 stories, but we have two on football – of course, footy’s a pretty Enjoy a glass of Annie's Lane wine at five David Simon’s The Wirehas been lauded as great to work with those people.’ special foodie events at Readings Hawthorn. the greatest television show ever made. His big player in Victoria. And I thought because He’s equally enthusiastic about the emerging Matt Preston's event is free, but tickets are classic reportage books Homicide and The we’re a music shop too, it would be great writers in the collection, particularly a couple $15 for all other event, which include tastes Corner (with Wire co-creator Ed Burns), in to include some music writers. Thankfully, who’ve recently crossed the line to become from the chef's cookbook. Please book your which he intricately mapped the territory we received a story from Mark Seymour [of new members of the literary establishment place online at www.readings.com.au. Matt of Baltimore’s mean streets that was to form Hunters and Collectors fame].’ – Kalinda Ashton (The Danger Game) and Moran: Thursday 1 October, 6.30pm. Matt the backdrop of The Wire, have been reborn Steven Amsterdam (Things We Didn’t See The final ingredient in the mix is the inclu- Preston: Monday 12 October, 6.30pm. Rick as top sellers. In his latest project, the HBO Coming). Of Amsterdam’s story, he says ‘I sion of five Readings staff (past and present), Stein: Tuesday 13 October, 6.30pm. Luke series Generation Kill, he once again teams read a paragraph and already I thought, This is all of them more than deserving of their place Nguyen: Thursday 22 October, 6.30pm. with Ed Burns – and a new collaborator, great, we’ll take it!’ With Ashton’s, he remem- among Melbourne’s best writers. That staff Stephanie Alexander: Tuesday 27 October, Evan Wright, author of the book of the same bers having it folded in his pocket and taking representation is something that’s always been 6.30pm. Stephanie Alexander will also be at name (Generation Kill, Corgi, PB, $24.95). it out to read after a long hike out of mobile at the heart of the project, even before it be- the State Library Readings shop at 12.30pm Wright was embedded with a US Marines range. ‘I just couldn’t wait to get to a phone came a concrete idea. Before Cotter’s chance on Tuesday 27 October signing books. unit nicknamed ‘First Suicide Battalion’ for booth and say I love your story!’ conversation in the Readings warehouse that two months as a reporter for Rolling Stone and led to this published book, he and contribu- Stop Press ! the book is an account of what he saw and ex- Cotter’s enthusiasm for the stories he loves tor Robbie Egan (now manager of Readings Barry Humphries event perienced – an intimate look at contemporary and for the project as a whole is infectious. Carlton) had talked about ‘how great it would war is actually fought and experienced. It’s not surprising that he managed to talk Barry Humphries will be be’ if they could publish their work in one joining us on Monday 19 Mark Rubbo into sponsoring it. In fact, this publication, ‘together with past and present KILL YOUR DARLINGS labour of love has been keenly assisted by October to talk about Readings employees’. Here it is. With bells on. Handling Edna: The Kill Your Darlings is looking for submissions several Readings staff and various publishing Unauthorised Biography for its first issue. Visit their website industry people. Readings and Writings: Forty Years in Books (Orion, HB, $49.95). Tickets available www.killyourdarlingsjournal.com to Readings staff read submissions and shared is available from Readings at $24.95 (PB). online only: www.readings.com.au. Tickets find out more. opinions, particularly Michelle Calligaro, All proceeds from the sale of the book will be $50 include entrance and a copy of the —Jo Case Esther van Doornum and Robbie Egan, all of donated to The Readings Foundation. book which will be available on the night. Cinema Nova, the world’s stage on-screen… Screening Puccini TOSCA Book now, online or at LONDON’S concurrently with Verdi AIDA the cinema box office. William Shakespeare’s the New York Puccini TURANDOT season: a fresh Offenbach TALES OF HOFFMANN C I N E M A ALL’S WELL series of time Strauss DER ROSENKAVALIER THAT ENDS WELL honoured classics Bizet CARMEN , in superb Set against a background of sexism and snobbery, the, Bard s bittersweet productions, Verdi SIMON BOCCANEGRA story turns fairytale logic on its head in Marianne Elliot s new interpretation. presented in state Thomas HAMLET 380 LYGON ST CARLTON of-the-art digital Rossini ARMIDA TWO SCREENINGS ONLY! OCTOBER 24, 2009 image and sound. See the website for program details www.cinemanova.com.au TO MAY 20, 2010 Join our e-news for updates on the Met Opera, National Theatre NOVEMBER 20 TICKETS ON SALE NOW at the cinema or online and other stage spectaculars Saturday October 17, 1.00pm Sunday October 18, 1.00pm Tickets now on sale from the box office and online! Readings Monthly September 2009 3

EventsAll our Readings book and music eventsin are September free, unless otherwise stated. Bookings do not 11 17 24 guarantee a seat, but rather indicate to us the Paul Kelly Mia Freedman Antony Loewenstein number of people to expect. To see more events in conversation Share a glass of Annie’s Lane red with Sunday The author of My Israel Question (Revised or for updates on new events please visit the with Julia Gillard Age columnist and former women’s magazine Edition, MUP, PB, $24.95) will discuss the events page at www.readings.com.au. Chaired by Steve Bracks queen Mia Freedman, author of Mama Mia Middle East peace process. Thursday 24 Thursday 17 Septem- September, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. Paul Kelly, editor-at-large of (Harper, PB, $27.99). ber, 6.30pm, Readings Port Melbourne. Free, but please book on 9347 6633. The Australian, will discuss 3 Free, but please book on 9681 9255. Norb Vonnegut his latest book The March of Patriots (MUP, PHB, Hear Norb Vonnegut $49.95) with Julia Gillard, 29 talk about his life in finance Deputy Prime Minister and 17 Pip Lincolne and his first novel, Top Pro- former Victorian Premier, John Armstrong Join the creator of Meet Me at Mikes (Hardie ducer (Pier 9, PB, $32.95). Steve Bracks. Friday 11 in conversation Grant, HB, $45) for a night of making, Thursday 3 September, September, 6.30pm, Capitol Theatre, drinking and sharing. Refer to our website 6.30pm, Readings Port with Antoni Jach Swanson Street, Melbourne. All tickets $10. for details of what to bring. Tuesday 29 Melbourne. Join Professor John Arm- Free, but please Bookings only at www.readings.com.au. September, 6.30pm, Readings Hawthorn. book on 9681 9255. strong and RMIT’s Antoni Jach as they delve into the Free, but please book on 9819 1917. notion of civilisation as 14 outlined in John’s new book, 3 30 Steve Bedwell Joris Luyendijk In Search of Civilisation: in conversation with Remaking a Tarnished Idea Brenda Niall Steve Bedwell is a television Michael Gawenda (Penguin, PB, $35). Brenda will discuss her new book and radio personality, Thursday 17 September, 6.30pm, Michael and Joris discuss life as a foreign The Riddle of Father Hackett(National comedian and author of Readings Carlton. Free, but please book Wednesday 30 correspondent in the Middle East, and Joris's Library, PB, $39.95). Holden vs Ford (Rockport, on 9347 6633. September, 6.30pm, Readings Hawthorn. new book Fit to Print (Scribe, PB, $32.95). PB, $29.95). Thursday 3 Free, book on 9819 1917. September, 6.30pm, Monday 14 September, 6.30pm, State Readings Hawthorn. Free, Library of Victoria Theatrette. Free, but See kids' page (p14) for details of our please book on 8664 7540. 18 but book on 9819 1917. Beautiful Few September kids' events, and our music page (p18) for details of another music event. Novelist Gregory Day (Patron Saint of 7 14 Eels, Ron McCoy’s Sea of Diamonds) and Claire Halliday John Talbot lead singer Kieran Carroll chat about the The author of The 86 Biggest Lies on Wall process of creating their new album, Do You Want Sex With That? (Viking, PB, Friday Launches Street (Scribe, PB, $27.99) will discuss The Nights You Did Your Hair. All launches are free, no need to book. $29.95) recounts one woman’s journey, 18 September, 6pm, Readings Carlton. the cause of the global financial crisis in testing issues of sex against her own life. Free, no need to book. Susanna Lobez, author of Gangland Australia Monday 7 September, 6.30pm, Australia. Monday 14 September, 6.30pm, will talk about her new book, Dangerous to Readings Hawthorn. Free, but please Readings Hawthorn. Free, but please book Know (Victory, PB, $44.99). Tuesday 1 Sep- book on 9819 1917. on 9819 1917. 21 tember, 6.30pm. Readings Port Melbourne. Liz Byrski Free, no need to book. 8 14 Bad Behaviour (Macmillan, PB, $32.99) is Karen Hitchcock’s collection of short stories, Richard Lowenstein thriving or just a story of women and men coming to terms Little White Slips (Picador, PB, $29.95), will surviving in our cities with their past. Monday 21 September, be launched by Helen Garner. Tuesday 1 in conversation 6.30pm, Readings Hawthorn. Free, but September, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. with Ollie Olsen Join us for a discussion about how the future please book on 9819 1917. Melinda Tankard Reist, and other contribu- The director of the legendary planning of cities might solve quality of life tors will talk about their new book, Getting film Dogs in Space will issues. Speakers: Prof. Rob Adams AO (Di- Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls reminisce with Ollie, the rector Design and Urban Environment, City 22 (Spinifex, PB, $34.95). Wednesday 2 film's music producer. of Melbourne); Patricia Faulkner AO (Chair Tania James Tuesday 8 September, Australian Social Inclusion Board) and Jeb September, 6.30pm, Readings Hawthorn. Brugmann, urban strategist and author in conversation Free, but no need to book. 6.30pm, Reading Carlton. with kabita dhara Free, but please book on of Welcome to the Urban Revolution: How Blue Dog will launch their latest issue of 9347 6633. Cities are Changing the World (UQP, PB, Tania James's novel Atlas Blue Dog: Australian Poetry (Five Islands, $34.95). Chaired by ABC Radio National's of Unknowns (Scribe, PB, PB, $12.95), during National Poetry Week Peter Mares. A Melbourne Conversations $32.99) is the story of two 2009. Supported by the Australian Poetry 9 event, presented by the City of Melbourne sisters, separated by two Centre. Wednesday 2 September, 6pm, Anthony Buckley and Future Leaders, with support from us countries (the US and India). Readings Port Melbourne. and Local Governments for Sustainability Tuesday 22 September, The editor of classic films such as Wake in Oceania. Monday 14 September, 6.00 to 6.30pm, Yasuko Theatre, Tor Hundloe's new book Planet of the Think- Fright will talk about his new book Behind a 7.30pm, BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Asialink, University of ing Animal (Jo Jo, PB, $34.95) will be Velvet Light Trap (Hardie Grant, HB, $59.95) Square. Free, no need to book. Melbourne. Free, book on 9347 6633. launched by Senator Bob Brown, Wednes- and a screening of Caddie. Wednesday 9 day 2 September, 6.30pm, Readings Carl- September, 6.30pm, Cinema Nova. Normal ton. Free, but please book on 9347 6633. admission prices $16.50/$12 concession. 15 22 Book at cinemanova.com.au or box office. Jacqueline Kent Kathy Charles novel Hollywood Ending Tracy Chevalier (Text, PB, $32.95) will be launched by Tracy Chevalier’s poignant Girl with a Pearl in conversation Angela Meyer. Thursday 3 September, 9 Earring was a worldwide bestseller. In with Sally Warhaft 6.00pm for 6.30pm start, Readings Carlton. Dianne Biviano Remarkable Creatures (Harper, PB, $27.99), The Making of Julia Gillard by Jacqueline Chevalier again demonstrates her ability to Kent (Viking, PB, $32.95) is an opportunity Cate Kennedy's debut novel Join us for a night of ‘softies’ sewing with the weave fact and fiction in incident-packed for a discussion about women in politics. The World Beneath (Scribe, author of Handmade in Melbourne (Geoff historical tales. Book early! Tuesday 15 Tuesday 22 September, 6.30pm, Readings PB, $32.95) will be launched Slattery, PB, $29.95). Please refer to our September, 6.30pm, Readings Hawthorn. Carlton. Free, but please book on 9347 6633. by Shane Howard (Black Arm website for equipment needed. Wednesday Free, but please book on 9819 1917. Band and Goanna). Shane 9 September, 6.30pm, Readings Haw- will perform Let the Franklin thorn. Free, but please book on 9819 1917. 23 Flow. Tuesday 15 September, 16 Michaela McGuire 5.45pm for a 6pm start. Bella Union Bar, Level 1, Trades Hall, Cnr Victoria 10 Jeff Lindsay in conversation Sisters in Crime and with Alan Brough & Lygon Streets, Carlton South. Free, please Mic Looby RSVP by Tuesday 8 September on 03 9349 Readings are proud to Michaela explores her not-so-brilliant in conversation present the award-winning 5955 or [email protected]. with Max Barry career in Apply Within (MUP, PB, $29.95). author of the Dexter novels Wednesday 23 September, 6.30pm, Helen Brown-Gentry will launch her new Mic Looby’s debut novel, Paradise Updated talking about his life and Readings Carlton. Free, but please book book Cleo (A&U, PB, $26.95).Three weeks (Affirm Press, PB, $29.95) weaves a hilari- work. His latest book is on 9347 6633. after her nine-year-old son Sam was killed, a ous tale of compromised idealism, corpo- Dexter by Design (Orion, kitten was delivered to Helen. Being trauma- rate shenanigans and guidebook publishing. PB, $32.99). Wednesday tised by grief, she’d forgotten they’d agreed Thursday 10 September, 6.30pm, Read- 16 September, 7pm, Readings Hawthorn. to take it. Thursday 17 September, 6.30pm, ings Carlton. Free, book on 9347 6633. Free, but please book on 9819 1917. Readings Hawthorn. 4 Readings Monthly September 2009 New Australian Writing Feature Learning to Dance in Public Gail Jones interviews Cate Kennedy about her debut novel, The World Beneath

commodify what he sees; meanwhile Sandy of existence. The novel follows their trek takes the opportunity to head off to a goddess not in any simple unfolding; the plot moves workshop, rendered in hilarious and cringe- between all three characters, giving each worthy detail. Sophie is at first attracted to their due, complicating each with poignancy the possibly glamorous returned father, but and drama. becomes disillusioned, embeds herself in her cell phone, her iPod and various forms of There is a taut moment in The World Beneath, digital detachment, and it is in her life, most in which Sophie stumbles over a cliff. The movingly, that we see the emotional drive of prose then pauses. We enter a gap. We don't the narrative open out. Cate speaks circum- know at that point if Sophie falls to injury spectly of her character Sophie, suggesting or death or is mysteriously saved; we don't that the ethical arc of the story demonstrates know if the world releases her, or buoys her we must all ‘lose what we’re addicted to’. She up. This event announces itself with a pull in the gut, a kind of terror of consequence and a deep solicitude and affection for the welfare of the character. In the philosophical world ‘In the philosophical of the novel, we enter the complexity and the ordinary tragedy of a family off-the-rails. world of the novel, And there’s more, as Rich’s infomercials might say. The World Beneath uses the Greek legend- we enter the ary place names of central Tasmania to imply that we might also read this story as a kind of complexity and myth. Cate Kennedy mentions the Demeter- Persephone myth – Persephone is abducted the ordinary and taken to the underworld to the distress of her mother; this is Hades, a world of shades, tragedy of a family figures living a suspended shadowy life, not fully present, not wholly animated. So the off-the-rails.’ novel reads on many dimensions and with speaks of young people who break up rela- an ethical concern about what it might mean Cate Kennedy is well known as one of Aus- a sense that simple experience matters, that tionships by text-message and record fights on to live as if we are shades, half-aware, already tralia's leading literary figures ‒ and our local families are genuinely mysterious, that there is mobile phones: it is unmediated experience, half gone. master of the short story form. This month, an almost mythic dimension to every life too ‘shedding accoutrements’, as she puts it, that Towards the end of our conversation, Cate she makes her novelistic debut. Multi-award- often casually disregarded. ‘Learning to dance the author pursues as a kind of lost, forgot- winning Australian novelist Gail Jones spoke in public,’ is how Kennedy describes the Kennedy mentions the ‘work on yourself’ ten or repressed knowledge of ourselves. In novel writing promotes, the strange luxury to Cate about The World Beneath(Scribe, transition from writing stories to a novel, and the idealised scenario of back-to-nature and PB, $32.95) for Readings' New Australian she mentions her debt to her famously clever of thinking something through, of finding parent-child-bonding, things go wrong, of the words for and clarifying life’s puzzling Writing Feature series. The World Beneath editor at Scribe, Aviva Tuffield, in helping her course, and lives are recalibrated. The trek is now available at all Readings shops. find a way through to the novelistic mode. experiences. With The World Beneath she moves into terror, darkness and a wonderfully has also gifted this capacity to her readers. There is no failed poet here, and no junior satisfying resolution. short-story writer: Kennedy’s work from the To put it another way, she has assumed her beginning announced a confident style and a Cate Kennedy’s adult protagonists are oddly readers are intelligent enough to find – in the Somewhat mischievously, the sure and singular voice. trapped in 1983: the Franklin protest was beautiful writing and the gripping story – writer William Faulkner once the place at which they met and the high some extra dimension of thoughtfulness and suggested that most novelists One of the great pleasures in talking to Cate point of their lives, and both mythologise self-examination. It's a feisty tale wonderfully are really failed poets: they Kennedy is to discover how clear-sighted the past in a manner oppressive to their told; rigorous, clever, and yes, highly recom- try poetry, are miserably de- and canny she is about her own work. ‘I daughter. Asked if she has written a ‘green mended. feated, then stretch lazily into wanted to write a book about stasis,’ she says, novel’, Kennedy responds that she ‘is in- prose, haunted by the lost ‘about people spinning their wheels and then Gail Jones is the multi-award-winning author terested above all in the need we have for a of several novels, including Sixty Lights (win- poetic of ordinary things. In encountering a crisis that knocks them side- lonely place to retreat to, but that we want this version novelists are thinned out, beaten ways’. So The World Beneath is about change ner of The Age Book of The Year 2005) and our wilderness to include a kiosk’. Critical of her latest, Sorry (Vintage, PB, $23.95). flat, rendered dull and exilic, poor creatures and redemption, but not in any corny or the wilderness industry, which she considers dealing with story when they might have simple sense. It follows the thread of an expe- ‘ethically compromised’, Kennedy is also found a single image. Faulkner himself, of rience Kennedy encountered in 1983, when recommending a kind of anti-commercial course, was never such a case: his work rang she was in Tasmania during the Franklin Dam authenticity, something modest, undeluded Also by Cate Kennedy with the inner poet and retained its intensity protests. She was not a protester, she says, but and based on not wishing to contain or to and concentration. spoke to protesters, and learned gradually – as conquer nature. ‘You can’t project onto wil- Dark Roots we all did – of the historical significance of Scribe. PB. $22.95 I’m curiously reminded of Faulkner in read- derness,’ she says. ‘It’s just there, it’s just it- those events. self, and you’re just a little speck.’ The World This critically acclaimed ing Cate Kennedy’s brilliant first novel, The short story collection World Beneath. She began as a poet and a The World Beneath tells the story of an Beneath questions the motives of trekkers and implies that there are at times narcis- cemented Kennedy's travel writer (the marvellous Sing and Don’t unhappy family, unhappy in its own par- reputation as Australia's Cry: A Mexican Journal deserves more at- ticular way: Rich, a nomadic, self-obsessed sistic and egomaniacal impulses involved in wishing to enter wild spaces. Sandy, in leading short story writer tention), then published an extraordinary photographer; Sandy, his dippy, New-Agey, – and an all-round literary collection of short stories, Dark Roots, for fractious and estranged partner; and their a comic echo of her Franklin days, dithers about whether or not to cut back a tree in force to be reckoned which she was widely cherished and critically ‘emo goth’ daughter, Sophie, a 15-year-old with. One of the stories, applauded. Dark Roots announced the advent spiky with fury and fiercely intelligent. It is her yard and seems to suffer a condition of terminal ineptitude. Rich, on the other ‘Cold Snap’, was famously published in of a seriously gifted writer. Kennedy has an a credit to the skill of this novel that these The New Yorker. almost classical sense of structure and a wisely characters engage and move us, seem utterly hand, is a legend in his own mind, foolishly nuanced style, one which fluctuates between plausible, and are situated convincingly in confident and dangerously ignorant. He is a complex character, driven pompously Sing and Don't Cry: vernacular language and poetic lyricism and a narrative of transformation. Rich, whose a mexican journal seems Faulknerian, dare I say, in its density day-job is the manufacture of banal info- to believe that he will witness the (extinct) Transit Lounge. PB. $27.95 and deep concern for the fragile selves that lie mercials, has returned after years of absence Tasmanian tiger – ‘we love the idea,’ says A deeply moving, searingly beneath the insecure surface of the everyday. to try to reconcile with his daughter, and Kennedy, ‘of something that survives in spite intelligent memoir following suggests a trip to the Tasmanian wilderness as of us’ – and pathetically to encounter his Kennedy's time working as a In the rapturous reception to her book of an opportunity for father-daughter bonding own limits and foolishness. There is a won- volunteer in a materially stories, reviewers routinely commented on her that might introduce each to the other in the derful scene in which father and daughter impoverished but culturally work as ‘dark’, ‘intelligent’, ‘moody’, ‘elo- heightened space of an adventure. He kits examine the traces of the tiger in the Hobart rich Mexican village. quent’ and ‘funny’, but it also has a gravitas himself out in designer trekking gear, takes museum: this sets Rich up for his fantasy Evocative, thoughtful and often lacking these days in Australian letters, his expensive camera, hoping to capture and and Sophie for her intuition about the frailty thoroughly illuminating. Readings Monthly September 2009 5

Book of the Month summertime Father's Day Picks J.M. Coetzee Witty Dad of Readings and Writings) says: ‘If my dad was $39.95) is a must. Richardson’s passionate Random. HB. $39.95 My Name is Charles Saatchi way cool and liked his short stories witty, and comprehensive homage to all things ‘Nowhere do you get a and I Am an Artoholic (Charles wise and superbly crafted, I’d buy him Wells meat is a perfect gift for both the novice feeling of a writer deforming Saatchi, Phaidon, PB, $14.95) Tower’s Everything Ravaged, Everything and confident cook. Vefa’s Kitchen (Vefa his medium in order to say is a cheap and cheerful light Burned (Granta, PB, $32.99).’ And William Alexiadou, Phaidon, HB, $69.95) is THE what has never been said read for the dad who is up for Hueston-Heyward recommends Post Office bible of Greek food from the publishers of before, which is to me the a giggle! The world's most Girl by Stefan Zweig (New York Review of the hugely successful Silver Spoon.’ mark of great writing.’ These influential art collector of the Books, PB, $27.95). ‘This is a lost European are the words of Sophie, a last 30 years answers some masterpiece and has just been made available Televisually colleague of John Coetzee, 200 questions from journalists and visitors to in English for the first time. If Dad tells you discerning Dad quoted in the novel Summertime by the his gallery with brutal frankness and wit. he has read all the classics ...’ For Father's Day we have writer J.M.Coetzee. Does Coetzee's assess- These include questions that I'm sure we've one of the best selections of ment of his own writing, through the voice all wanted to ask at some stage such as: Rock Dad the modern golden age of of one his own characters, truly reflect the So much contemporary art looks the same to me. Emily Harms says that Nick Cave's The Death TV on DVD at truly writer’s view; is it our view? Summertime is Am I missing something? This is a little gem. of Bunny Munro (Text, PB, Normally $32.95, fantastic prices: The Wire weird – an unknown biographer is writing Emily Harms is marketing manager of Readings Our special price $27.95) ‘is definitely the series 1 to 4 ($29.95 each); a book about the late writer John Coetzee go!’ Robbie Egan suggests the CD Call Signs Deadwood series 1 to 3 focusing on the years 1972-75, when his first Arty book-loving dad (Black Cab, $24.95) ‘for the rockin' dad’. ($29.95 each); Band of novel Dusklands was produced. Books do Furnish a Room (Leslie Geddes- Brothers ($39.95); Sopranos series 1 to 7 Summertime, apart from some pages from Brown, Merrell, HB, $69.95) features a Dads in the Know ($39.95 each) and Mad Men ($39.95). Coetzee's own notebooks (are they really?) stunning range of photographs. Self-confessed Mark Rubbo recommends Up But for something a bit different for the purports to be the record of interviews with bibliophile Leslie Geddes-Brown offers From the Mission: Selected discerning Dad who’s seen it all (or almost), five people who knew John during those inspiring yet practical tips on how books can Writings (Noel Pearson, Black I'd highly recommend The Lost Room years. There is Julia, with whom he had an transform any room or nook into a magical Inc., PB, $34.95), saying (Normally $39.95, $24.95 for a limited ‘erotic entanglement’, although sex with place. Both Emily Harms and Readings ‘Pearson's take on indigenous period only). A mystery wrapped in an him was mundane; Margot, his cousin and Carlton’s art & design buyer Margaret issues is refreshing and enigma, The Lost Room is a six-episode Sci- childhood friend with whom he used to Snowdon heartily recommend this one. inspiring. It is encouraging to Fi Channel series that combines elements of write poetry; Adriana, a Brazilian dancer Margaret also recommends Photographers Field hear this consistent and Twin Peaks and Alice in Wonderland within who spent several years in South Africa and Guide (Michael Freeman, Ilex, PB, $29.95). sensible voice.’ Emily Harms plumps for Paul the framework of a cop show. Curious? was pursued by Coetzee; Martin, a colleague Kelly's The March of Patriots(MUP, HB, Curiouser. When detective Joe Miller at the University of Cape Town; and finally Sporty Dad Normally $59.95, Our special price $49.95) (Six Feet Under's Peter Krause) discovers Sophie, a French academic, with whom he Margaret Snowdon recommends Fifty and Quarterly Essay 35 Noel Pearson on a key that opens any lock of any door he taught a course in African literature and also More Places to Play Golf Before You Die Education (Black Inc., PB, $16.95). begins a journey that takes him through had a brief affair. (Chris Santella, STC, HB, $45) and Passion the looking glass in pursuit of his missing The picture of this man, Coetzee, that Play: Love, Hope and Suffering at the Footy Crime Dad daughter. The catch is that the key always emerges from these pages is of a person who (Matthew Klugman, Hunter, PB, $29.95). Mark Rubbo’s crime pick is Swan Peak opens a door to the same room of a 1960s is awkward, remote and a bit of a loner. (James Lee Burke, Orion, PB, $23). Dave Nevada motel room. Literary Dad Robicheaux, his wife Molly and friend Mike Paterson is our DVD buyer at Port When he does try to connect, his attempts Clete Purcel have come to Montana to Melbourne, and a perfect example of the are seen as bizarre and almost inappropriate. Emily Harms recommends Coetzee the writer plays with us: when Julia The Macquarie PEN Anthology escape the desolation of Hurricane Katrina. televisually discerning Dad. Their respite is rudely interrupted by the reads the proof copy of Dusklands and com- of Australian Literature (A&U, ments to the John in the book, ‘I didn’t know HB, Normally $69.95, Our wealthy Wellstone family and a mysterious History Dad serial killer. Readings Hawthorn’s Penny Scott Noble, manager of Readings St Kilda, your father was a historian’, to the reply ‘Oh special price $59.95), which that’s all made up’; when the biographer says covers every genre of writing Windlow ‘highly recommends’ The Broken recommends Beyond the Facade: Flinders Window (Jeffery Deaver, Headline, PB, Street More than Just a Railway Station that Coetzee’s notebooks can’t be trusted, including plays, petitions, not because he was a liar but because he was letters, speeches, songs and $32.99). ‘It's such a riveting, gripping read, (Jenny Davies, HB, $74.95).‘Not just for and particularly so when looking at what an the trainspotter Dad, this is a beautifully a fictioneer. So the reader can never be sure history – the range and size of this anthology what (if anything) is true. is extraordinary. Readings managing director instrumental tool the internet has become illustrated and written history not only of Mark Rubbo says of Breath (Penguin, PB, at obtaining knowledge.’ the station but Melbourne as well. Highly Adriana, the Brazilian, describes a man she $24.95): ‘Tim Winton's magnificent elegiac recommended.’ could see as no good, with badly cut hair, novel about surfing deservedly won this year's Foodie Dad poor clothes and an uneasy manner. This Miles Franklin. A treat for any reader.’ He Readings Carlton manager Robbie Egan Blokey Dad Coetzee is tutoring her daughter in English also recommends Andrea Goldsmith’s chooses James Halliday’s Australian Wine Bruno Moro, manager of Readings Malvern, and he describes his methods as reconfiguring Reunion (4th Estate, PB, $33), the story of Companion 2010 (Hardie Grant, PB, picks Cooking with Baz (Sean Dooley, A&U, and encouraging the fire burning within the four university friends and how their lives $34.95) for ‘the connoisseur Dad’. Mark PB, $27.99). A highly accessible father and student so that the student and the teacher have been shaped over the years. Readings Rubbo concurs: ‘Halliday's guide contains son story – for anyone with a quintessential rise to a higher realm. ‘It comes out of Plato,’ Carlton’s manager Robbie Egan – a literary not only tasting notes for over 500 wines ‘Aussie Bloke’ in their family. Coetzee remarks. This is not the way she dad himself – chose Dave Eggers’ Zeitoun but an expert analysis of the Australian wants a teacher to relate to her adolescent (Hamish Hamilton, PB, $32.95), the true wine industry and its future’. Danielle Classic daughter. His cousin Carol describes a fam- story of a Muslim-American small Mirabella from Readings Hawthorn (whose Non-Fiction Dad ily gathering in the dry and desolate Karoo businessman’s post-Katrina ordeal in New Dad is a professional foodie) says: ‘Local For the Dad who has an where the Coetzees farmed. John is losing his Orleans, as his pick for this category. Jason Melbourne chef Adrian Richardson’s interest in social history you Afrikaans and the things that used to bind Cotter from Readings Carlton (also co-editor cookbook Meat (Hardie Grant, HB, can't go past the beautiful them together. There is shame, too – John new editions that Penguin has left the country, they say, to avoid the draft released of some of the best and only came back because he couldn’t get non-fiction ever written (all residency in the United States. His colleague PB, $26.95 each). With Martin shared the view that although white individualised jackets using South Africans had an abstract right to be in photographs from the Magnum collection of South Africa, their presence is underpinned photo-journalism, they look great sitting next by colonial conquest and apartheid. Sophie to each other on the shelf. John Hersey's says that he ascribed to Africans the role of Hiroshima is a heartrending account of the guardians of the truer and deeper being of survival of Hiroshima by six people; one of mankind. the most challenging and exquisitely written Who is this man – and what is the reader works on the human condition and the evil to make of this mosaic portrait of John Co- we can do. The Fight by Norman Mailer still etzee, a portrait that is largely unflattering? holds as perhaps the best writing of a sporting This Coetzee is a man who was gifted but event ever to be published. Andrew Chaikin's not great; inept, personally and physically; A Man on The Moon is the spectacular story of cold and insensitive. all 17 Apollo flights until the successful Apollo 17, rendered in superb prose and incredible I can’t say that I understood Summertime, detail. Also available are Hellfire by Nick but it lingers pervasively in my mind. I Tosches (on Jerry-Lee Lewis); Hell’s Angels by would love to hear the real Coetzee talk Hunter S. Thompson and Truman Capote’s In about this book but I doubt that I ever shall Cold Blood. Get Dad one, or the whole set. ... perhaps we can talk amongst ourselves. Brilliant writing about some of the seminal Mark Rubbo is Managing Director of Readings events and people in our recent history. Oslo Davis www.oslodavis.com Pip Newling is from Readings Port Melbourne 6 Readings Monthly September 2009

Distinct, Compelling, New Fiction tortured and executed. Jan is forced to flee in the dead of night leaving behind a pregnant Unforgettable Australian Fiction lover and broken hearts he’ll never see again. readings & writings: From that moment on he becomes yet Love and loss amid the frozen Forty years in books another Odysseus in search of his beloved Jason Cotter Ithaca. It is this yearning that keeps him sane continent. & Michael Williams (eds) and searching. And he does finally get there, like Odysseus, to see that someone else is Readings. PB. $24.95 living in his house and that his Penelope, A poetic weaving of Mawson’s ill-fated 1914 I’ll start off by declaring my Marion, has married another. An absolutely Antarctic expedition with the unravelling of a degree of bias ... I had no beautiful novel deeply pervaded by both love contemporary marriage. involvement with this book, and pain. A testament to a very human writer. beyond passing on a few Dimitri Gonis is a freelance reviewer email addresses – though obviously as a Readings staffer Little White Slips I was disposed to like it. I was surprised at how much I Karen Hitchcock Self-discovery set to an Elvis enjoyed my journey through its pages, Picador. PB. $29.99 soundtrack. though. Cate Kennedy, Christos Tsiolkas, I was madly curious to read Alex Miller, Steven Amsterdam and Kalinda this debut short story Ashton are among the many established collection. It comes with a A classic road journey delivering a moving, witty authors who’ve contributed stories, mixing it rave from Helen Garner. (The meditation on the ideas of pilgrimage, family and with emerging writers like Josephine Rowe last short fiction collection home. and Louise Swinn – and a handful of she endorsed was Nam Le’s Readings staff members who double as The Boat.) It’s the first in a clandestine scribblers. One of the real much-heralded two-book deal pleasures for anyone interested in the from Picador. And finally, I was keen to see Melbourne literary scene is Mark Rubbo’s more on the strength of the short fiction I’d Poignant parable of human introductory essay, ‘Readings’ Beginnings’, read in the Sleepers Almanacs – particularly recalling the development of Readings ‘Blood’ (featured here), about a middle-class resilience. alongside a changing Melbourne – Carlton, doctor whose father is dying of leukemia, and in particular. It’s clear that the established her relationship with her father and brother, A master storyteller’s fi nal legacy exploring love writers here have contributed with great amateur hunters. It’s written in clear, concise, and loyalty within the unthinkable atrocities affection – these are not just bottom-drawer (ironically) bloodless prose, deep with unspoken feeling. Hitchcock herself is a of war. discarded stories tossed our way, they are top-shelf reads that remind you of why these doctor, and this is reflected in many of the writers are so damn good. My favourites stories here. I especially loved the opening, include Robbie Egan’s ‘Snake’, Christos considerably longer, story, ‘Drinking When Tsiolkas’s ‘The Pornographic Scientist’, Chris We Are Not Thirsty’, about a middle-aged Womersley’s ‘The Age of Terror’ and Paul doctor preparing for her specialist physician Mitchell’s ‘The Guard’, all of which stayed exams, which cannibalises her family life and with me long after reading them. This is a relationships to a shocking extent. The fitting celebration of Readings' fortieth claustrophobia, intensity and very ordinary birthday and – more importantly – an madness of this story is absolutely compelling. absorbing read. Karen Hitchcock’s writing reminds me of Jo Case is editor of Readings Monthly fellow doctor Jacinta Halloran (Dissection) and, yes, of Helen Garner. One to watch. The Hollow Tree Jo Case is editor of Readings Monthly from the author New Jacob G. Rosenberg 88 Lines about A&U. HB. $26.99 of the phenomenalÊ In The Hollow Tree, Jacob 44 Women Rosenberg masterfully brings Steven Lang ÊÊÊTheÊGodÊDelusion,Ê us the trauma of a persecuted Viking. PB. $32.95 soul. The interminable Steven Lang’s debut novel, An Dawkins takes the fight emptiness that comes with Accidental Terrorist, met with to the creationists and losing everything and anyone rave reviews – and this you’ve ever loved. The devoid follow-up comes with an shows the evidenceÊ and hopeless psychological endorsement from one of landscape of a displaced person. Jan Milder Australia’s most respected ÊÊforÊevolution has everything – a loving family, wealth, and a critics, James Bradley, who woman he dearly loves. Those who pull the calls it ‘that rare thing; a strings however have other things in mind. deeply compassionate book with the propul- Jan and his kind, the sojourners, are no longer sive energy of a thriller’. Lawrence Martin was welcome. A prelude to what is about to befall once the keyboard player in a successful rock them is the attempted beating of his father. band, sharing the songwriting with charis- Soon friends and family will be arrested, matic frontman Roly, who he’d met at a

UniversallyÊlauded. A national bestseller. Now in a beautifulÊ newÊedition.

Keep in touch with great book news by visiting www.randomhouse.com.au Readings Monthly September 2009 7 British boarding school. Two decades on, is studying literature and living with his Transition writer nearing middle life and a younger living in the Scottish highlands, Lawrence is unsupportive partner, ‘Lootie’. Into their lives Iain Banks woman bored by the ordinariness of her confronted anew with those turbulent years, comes a flamboyant, ageing, internationally Little Brown. PB. $32.99 married existence. There’s nothing overly and with the accident that changed every- acclaimed children’s writer. As the children's The latest novel from the sentimental about their attachment to one thing. An insightful, intimate novel about writer makes his presence felt in the younger author of The Wasp Factory another: they merely exist for the thrill of shame, love and the emotional lives of men. couple's lives, Charlie struggles to come to takes us to a frightening their frequent tawdry encounters, which take terms with his own past and identity. parallel reality. The post-9/11, place anytime, anywhere. Roberts depicts Paradise Updated GFC world is desperate for their sexual escapades through the point of Mic Looby Red Queen safety and security – in need view of each character, making the reader Affirm. PB. $29.95 H.M. Brown of a firm hand and a guiding aware of the desperate situation both cling to. Robert Rind is a legendary Viking. PB. $29.95 light. But does it need the Their all-consuming want for one another is guidebook writer, working for A taut psychological thriller Concern: an all-powerful organisation with a not so much a quest for happiness, but a slow trendy guidebook publisher by an exciting new Australian malevolent presiding genius, pervasive realisation that neither is able to fulfil the SmallWorld (whose offices are author. Shannon and Rohan influence and numberless invisible operatives other one. Both characters’ insatiable located in a ‘tastefully Scott have retreated to their in possession of extraordinary powers? Like appetites for sex are underscored by their converted industrial suburb’ family’s bush cabin to escape a Orwell in 1984, Banks starkly portrays the powerful urge to escape and experience the with a cafeteria, rooftop virus-ravaged world. One dangers of trading freedom for security. momentary chemical happiness one can feel garden and gym). Mithra is night, a stranger slips under during sex. Happiness is less a novel about his editor at SmallWorld who unexpectedly their late-night watch and The Portrait intimacy and more an examination of finds herself hunting him down in Maganda past their loaded guns and the brothers submission and domination and how both Jan Willem Otten play an important role in physical attraction to tell him he’s fired and that she’s replacing reluctantly take her into their fold. Before Scribe. PB. $27.95 long, all three find themselves locked into a and emotional dependence. him. Maganda, of course, is a backpacker’s The Portrait is the latest novel very different battle for survival. Emily Laidlaw is a freelance reviewer dream, the hottest island to visit in the Pacific by the esteemed Dutch Ocean, and Rind has written the must-have writer Willem Jan Otten. Censoring: guidebook for it (the Bible). Can you see First published in Holland in where this is going? Mic Looby’s debut novel 2005, it is one of only a An Iranian Love Story is a satirical romp through a landscape most International Fiction handful of the author’s works Shahriar Mandanipour travellers know well. The creation of legends Noah’s Compass translated into English. An Little Brown. PB. $29.99 and ultimate backpacker destinations, the Anne Tyler artist is given a commission ‘Death to Freedom, Death to branding of information, the corporatisation Chatto & Windus. HB. Normally $34.95 to make a portrait of a dead boy. The boy’s Captivity’. In this darkly of independent travel ... and the endless Our special price $29.95 father is a rich industrialist named Specht. satirical tale, a beautiful corruption of once idyllic destinations as When Liam is forced to leave Immediately, the artist finds himself young Iranian woman carries tourists clutching the Bible pick their way his teaching job, he decides to compromised, as he has only ever painted a placard bearing these through its pages. This is a darkly funny tale economise. He moves to a living subjects – he is also not permitted to contradictory words to a that will have you laughing (often uncomfort- smaller, cheaper flat and on show his finished work to anyone. The artist student protest, putting fear ably through recognition) even as you try to his first night, he makes his accepts these conditions because he has and distrust into the minds of discern between fact and fiction. bed up nice and tight and falls financial obligations, but he soon finds agitators on all sides. What does she mean? Kabita Dhara is from Readings Carlton into an exhausted sleep. But himself out of his depth when his reputation Whose side is she on? The farce at the core of Liam wakes up somewhere and his integrity are compromised, as things the novel is the unfortunate nature of a Hollywood Ending different, with absolutely no memory of how turn out to be not as they seem. The story is country that is so deeply at war with itself, it Kathy Charles he got there ... John Updike, Nick Hornby, told from the point of view of the expensive doesn’t recognise her challenge to them all. Text. PB. $32.95 Eudora Welty and Jonathan Franzen have canvas the portrait is to be painted on. The Censoring is narrated by a contemporary Hilda and Benji are 17-year- been numbered among Tyler’s fans and it’s author uses his talents as a gifted poet to give writer who attempts to reignite the passion old teenagers clad in black easy to see why. She is preoccupied with how the narrative a seamless flow and David and beauty of Iranian literature and culture – with attitudes to match – people ‘get along in the world’ and she Colmer’s translation confirms this. Brilliant. by writing a Booker-prize-winning Iranian and obsessed with exploring renders her characters with such empathy, Michael Awosoga-Samuel is from love story. But getting it past the censors will the dark world of celebrity insight and acerbic and sneaky humour that Readings Carlton be almost impossible: the nature of romance deaths in LA. Grisly tales of they are often more vividly real to me than requires much more intimacy between his dead cats, drug overdoses, car some people I actually know. This is certainly if the dead young lovers than is currently acceptable. In accidents, decapitations and true of Liam. I defy anyone to read the first rise not this multi-layered, postmodern tale, each page stabbings lead these two misfits around chapter of Noah’s Compass and then put the Philip Kerr is full of crossed-out lines and notes to his Hollywood and provide a fitting backdrop to book down; and Liam’s subsequent attempts audience in which he decries the politicisation Quercus. PB. Normally $32.95 highlight the awkwardness of growing up as to regain his memory – and the consequenc- of art. He mourns a society where the Our special price $27.95 outsiders in a bright and tawdry town. Keen es of his efforts – will resonate with the reader difference between freedom and captivity is so Philip Kerr’s Berlin Noir to photograph a dingy bathroom where a long after the book is finished. Not only is tenuous, and a rich cultural history that trilogy, published in the early failed silent movie star stabbed himself to Anne Tyler a brilliant writer, but Noah’s produced such classic texts as The Tales of A nineties, introduced Bernie death, Hilda meets Hank, the apartment’s Compass is one of her best books in years. Thousand and One Nightshas been lost. Gunther, a former detective owner and cranky old man who hides his own Olivia Mayer is a freelance reviewer Michelle Calligaro is from Readings Carlton in the Berlin criminal police tragic secret. As their odd friendship develops (KRIPO). He and the Nazis over a shared love of old movies, Benji’s HOMER AND LANGLEY didn't see eye to eye: 'Don’t Remarkable Creatures behaviour becomes more erratic, with his grip E.L. Doctorow get me wrong. I just love Tracy Chevalier on reality and fantasy becoming more Little Brown. PB. Normally $29.95 Nazis … ninety-nine percent of Nazis are Harper. PB. $27.99 disturbing ... This is a sophisticated novel, Our special price $25.95 giving the other point one percent a bad repu- From the author of Girl With filled with plenty of dry teenage observations This is a story of two brothers: tation.' The initial trilogy ended just after the a Pearl Earring. Mary Anning, and loads of blackly humorous pop culture. Homer, blind from child- war; If the Dead Rise Not begins in 1934, born to a poor family, was Prickly, distrustful Hilda first reveals her heart hood, is our compassionate, when Germany was lobbying for the 1936 fascinated with fossils from a only to LA itself, but soon discovers that mild-mannered narrator. Olympics. Bernie has left KRIPO and is young age – and became personal histories are worth investigating and Langley, an eccentric working as house detective at the exclusive more fascinated when she have loads more to offer and learn from. intellectual, returns from the Adlon Hotel. A suspicious death and a realised that her beach finds Kath Lockett is a freelance reviewer trenches of World War I glamorous Jewish American journalist suck could be sold to avid damaged to his core. It is also collectors among the gentry. She’s often The Umbrella Club Bernie into a web of intrigue that ends 20 the story of the twentieth century, the fading years later in Batista’s corrupt and sleazy derided by scientists and ripped off by buyers, David Brooks out of late nineteenth-century optimism and Cuba. Worn down by the disaster wrought until the wealthy Elizabeth Pilpot befriends UQP. PB. $32.95 the upheaval that marks the rise of the current upon his country by Hitler and his band of her. When Mary finds the first complete David Brooks was shortlisted era. Embedded in their New York, Park thugs, Gunther has come close to compro- plesiosaur, her friendship and her hobby take for the 2008 Miles Franklin Avenue brownstone, and at the end of their mising everything he once believed in. In on strange twists, as the importance of her Award for The Fern Tattoo. family line, the two brothers have all the Cuba, he is forced to choose between the find raises religious questions. His latest novel is a darkly upper middle-class virtues – educated, corruption and criminality of Batista and the compelling adventure into the cultured, self-centred, yet highly principled. rigid ideology of Castro’s movement. All The Man in the Shed depths of the human soul and As the years progress, they find themselves in Kerr’s books are wonderful and dangerous Lloyd Jones to the frontiers of colonial a disastrous, self-imposed exile, experiencing – read one and you’ll have to read them all. Text. PB. $32.95 exploration. During World the outside world as a powerful antagonist, Mark Rubbo is Managing Director of Readings The Booker shortlisted War I, a friendship is forged on the battle- determined to thrust its history upon them. author of Mister Pip presents fields of France between two young English- This is my first time reading Doctorow and Happiness a haunting collection of men. There, inspired by barrage balloons, now I know what all the fuss is about. This is Denis Roberts stories about family and they develop a mutual fascination that will a magnificent achievement. Homer’s narra- Serpents Tail. PB. $23.99 longing. Lloyd Jones's change the course of their lives. tion is at turns funny and melancholy, as he Billed as an updated reimag- extraordinary tales take narrates his life story, with all its fleeting ining of The Story of ,O Denis conventional family situa- The Children’s Writer moments and passing relationships. But it is Robert’s novel Happiness has tions and tilt them sideways, Gary Crew the depiction of brotherly love, of Homer’s recently been translated into delivering a memorable, beautiful blend of Harper. PB. $27.99 bemused, quiet suffering at the hands of the English after enjoying steady the suburban and the surreal. Award-winning children’s writer Gary Crew well-meaning but increasingly deranged success in Europe. The story takes an insider’s look at the creative process Langley, that is the true strength of this novel. centres on the sexual relation- and the delusions of those who practice It made this a book I could not put down. ship between a frustrated it in his first adult novel. Charlie Bloome Bruno Moro is from Readings Malvern 8 Readings Monthly September 2009

New Crime Fiction Dead Write with Kate O'Mara out and troubled, are recounted in the Demons. The Lost Symbol, set over a 12-hour a trio of elderly women have been discov- excellent ‘Like a Virgin’, the novella serving as time period, continues to deliver surprise ered. Tempe's convinced there must be a link Book of the Month the focus for Robinson’s second collection of and suspense as Langdon is once again called between their violent deaths. But it's The Water’s Edge stories. The remainder of the book consists of into action. difficult to focus on the case while tensions Karin Fossum various fictions written for magazines and run high at the lab and it becomes increas- Harvill. PB. $32.95 anthologies, all showing the deft plotting Fever of the Bone ingly apparent that someone is attempting to The body of a young boy is we’ve come to love and expect. KO Val McDermid sabotage her professional reputation – and discovered by an unhappy Little, Brown. PB. Normally $32.99 they're willing to take any measures neces- couple on a weekend walk. Ice Cold Our Special Price $27.95 sary to knock out the competition. As Sejer and Skarre investi- Andrea Maria Schenkel Tony Hill has met his most gate the events leading up to Quercus. PB. $24.95 twisted adversary – a killer the murder, a small town In Third Reich-controlled with a shopping list of goes into shock, and another Munich, a man is executed victims, a killer unmoved by In BriefLast month marked the boy vanishes, the couple’s for a series of brutal rapes youth and innocence, a killer fortieth anniversary of the relationship hits crisis point as both react in and murders. His story is driven by the most perverted Tate/La Bianca murders, mak- very different ways. There are many things I told in letters, police reports of desires. The murder and ing the time right for a new like about Karin Fossum, but the things I and eyewitness testimonies, mutilation of teenager biography of this most like most are her willingness to tamper with woven with the sad tale of a Jennifer Maidment is horrific enough on its analysed of murderers. Simon the formula, and to be observing and naïve young woman who own. But it's not long before Tony realises it's Wells’ Charles Manson: non-judgemental no matter how heinous the arrives in Munich seeking adventure only to just the start of a brutal and ruthless cam- Coming Down Fast (Hodder subject. Her mysteries are quite different descend into prostitution and, ultimately, a paign that's targeting an apparently uncon- & Stoughton, PB, $35.00) is an admirable from most other writer’s work and always lonely demise as a murder victim. This is nected group of young people. Struggling attempt to present the man and myth from a beautifully written and translated, with each only Schenkel’s second book, but her with the newly-awakened ghosts of his own fresh perspective. James Morton, one of the book a departure in style from the last. If originality and sparse, poignant writing has past and desperate for distraction in his work, kings of the true crime compendium, hits this you read this and like it, and you’ve not read already led to high praise, several awards, Tony battles to find the answers that will give month with Dangerous to Know (Victory, PB, her before, may I humbly suggest the and strong sales across Europe. KO him personal and professional satisfaction in $44.99), an A-Z of Australian and New poignant Calling Out for You, translated into his most testing investigation yet. Zealand criminal activity written with English in 2005. KO Susanna Lobes. Along with the new Kathy 206 Bones Reichs, Kathryn Fox’s Blood Born (Macmillan, The Price of Love Crime Specials Kathy Reichs PB, $29.99) will keep even the most demand- Peter Robinson The Lost Symbol Arrow. PB. Normally $32.95 Dan Brown ing forensics fan happy for the next few Hodder & Stoughton. PB. $32.99 Our Special Price $27.95 weeks. Laura Wilson releases another quality Bantam. HB. $49.95 Robinson has been writing his When Temperance Brennan wartime thriller – An Empty Death – this Our special price $39.95 hugely popular Inspector is called to Chicago to month (Orion, PB, $32.99) and Michael Banks novels for more than The biggest fiction star this answer questions on an old White follows up The Medici Secretwith The two decades. When we first century is back, in another case involving the death of a Borgia Ring (Bantam, PB, $34.95). Tobias met him in 1987 he had thrilling adventure. Professor lonely but wealthy woman, Jones takes us into the murky underbelly of recently transferred to of Symbology Robert the last thing she expects is to Italy in The Salati Case (Faber, PB, $29.99) Eastvale with his young Langdon made Dan Brown a have her professional and David Levien, highly regarded by his The Da Vinci Code family. The sordid events lead- star in assessment questioned. peers, unleashes his new revenge thriller Angels and ing up to his departure from London, burnt and its prequel, Meanwhile, back in Montreal, the bodies of Where the Dead Lay (Bantam, PB, $34.95).

Poetry The Bee Hut Dorothy Porter Black Inc. PB. $24.95 New Books Non-fiction – is mesmerising. It is personal and well Greenberg’s exquisite, starkly honest writing; Dorothy Porter often advised beyond personal, self-aware without self-pity his warmth and compassion. This is also a braggart speed-readers of her Biography and honest without hatred. The publishers fascinating New York story, delving into high-octane verse novels to The Real Possibility are marketing this book as an adult title, Greenberg’s childhood, his family (including re-read them slowly and allow of Joy though I think (because it is so well written a mentally unstable brother) and the link things to ‘trickle through’. In and so well told) that young readers will also between creativity and madness. If you’re at this final collection, The Bee Josephine Emery Pier 9. PB. $34.95 find it compelling. So, get a copy for your all interested in this subject – or simply in Hut, her poems carry us just teenage nephew, niece or grandchild. They fine storytelling – this is a must-read. as effortlessly through past A searing account of the author’s physical, spiritual will be horrified and they may even shed a and recent history, travels, plague years, few tears. I can guarantee that they won’t Apply Within smelling tigers, (always) poetry, song lyrics and and emotional journey from man to woman. Emery forget it – and that is the main thing! Michaela McGuire resistance. Porter’s technical mastery of old Simon Auld is a friend of Readings recounts struggles with MUP. PB. $27.99 forms made new is on full display: a finely This very funny memoir musical tuning of sounds and colours is family and eventual recon- ciliation with her dying Hurry Down Sunshine about the many and varied applied with the precision of Arkley’s blow- Michael Greenberg pitfalls of working a series of torch to produce startlingly compressed poetry. mother. It is also the story of his loves and his marriage as a man, of Vintage. PB. $27.95 crap jobs will tickle the Whether coiling on itself (as in ‘Pleasure’), It’s unsurprising that Michael fancy of anyone who’s ever harrowing the soul (‘The Ninth Hour’), or fatherhood, and his passage through the barriers of gender and sex. And the shock of Greenberg’s memoir about been there ... and, let’s be firing up ice (‘The Foreign Forest’), this is, as his daughter’s sudden honest, those who haven’t. always, a voice speaking into six dimensions, discovering her need – as a woman – to be with a man. The Real Possibility of Joy madness, aged 15, and his Her past jobs include which custom cannot stale. Any reading of the family’s subsequent trauma working in the highrollers’ room of a last two poems is very tough, though they are captures the joy of living one’s hard-won, personal truth. and strain in trying to cope casino, overseeing lap dances in a strip club, well placed. Do not delay to visit the Hut, with it, has been critically helping to organise a senior partner’s stamp particularly if you only know Porter’s famous well received. (He writes a collection at a prestigious law firm and novels. Start with this rich, generous book of the Thirty-Six Siegmund Siegreich regular column for the Times Literary working for a federal MP in the lead-up to sulfurous psalms, and then seek out her earlier Supplement, which suggests that he’s a fine the 2007 election – another novelty job for collections for a longer look at the killer comet Vintage. PB. $34.95 ‘Not another Holocaust writer.) But the rave reviews for this book her brief but colourful résumé. that was Dorothy Featherstone Porter. are nothing short of astonishing. Oliver Genevieve Tucker authors the literary memoir,’ I groaned under my breath when I received my Sacks says ‘in its detail, depth, richness, and Semi Invisible Man blog Reeling and Writhing (www. austlit. sheer intelligence, Hurry Down Sunshine typepad.com). review copy. And there is Julian Evans really nothing new in Sigi will be recognised as a classic of its kind.’ Picador. PB. $24.99 Siegrich’s story of the horrors Janet Malcolm calls it ‘a brilliant, taut, Graeme Greene described Beautiful Waste entirely original study of a suffering child David McComb of war-time Poland – the Normal Lewis, his lesser- and a family and marriage under siege,’ known contemporary, as FACP. PB. $24.95 deprivations of daily life, the concluding: ‘I know of no other book ‘one of the best writers not The Triffids' David McComb wrote poetry humiliations (and worse) suffered at the about madness whose claim to scientific just of any particular decade, from an early age, much of it collected here hands of the Nazi occupiers, the overnight knowledge is so modest and whose artistic but of our century’. During for the first time. Introduced by John Kin- disappearances of family and friends – never achievement is so great.’ The New Yorker, his long lifetime, travel sella, these poems will delight fans of popular to be seen again. But (big, big ‘but’), this New York Times and others all rave about writer Lewis’s self-effacing music and contemporary poetry alike. particular telling – this particular viewpoint Readings Monthly September 2009 9 manner and reticence about publicity kept the hot topic of education. What might the him from the fame that many critics and Rudd government’s ‘education revolution’ contemporaries felt he deserved. Many of really mean? What is a ‘good education’ and his books remain cult classics today: A how can we ensure that every child gets one? Dragon Apparent, an account of pre-Viet- He discusses his ideas of what makes a good nam War south-east Asia; Voices of the Old teacher with reference to his own education, Sea, about pre-tourist Spain; and Naples 44, and findings from research and practice. How a memoir of wartime Naples. This marvel- and why do people learn? Does education for lously warm and erudite biography by a the many mean a lowering of overall stan- THE WORLD FIT TO PRINT friend and former editor is sure to lead dards? He also focuses on the issues surround- BENEATH Joris Luyendijk readers back to Lewis’s neglected but richly ing indigenous education, including strategies Cate Kennedy The most honest The brilliant, account of the rewarding body of work. to halt the loss of indigenous languages. This Middle East and promises to be an essential read. much-anticipated debut novel from the media you’ll My Mother, Australia’s premier ever read. My Writing and Me Sea of Dangers: storyteller. Iola Matthews Captain Cook Michelle Anderson Publishing. PB. $24.95 and His Rivals After a busy career, former Geoffrey Blainey Age journalist Iola Mathews Viking. PB. $32.95 found herself in her mid- Acclaimed historian Geoffrey fifties feeling ‘washed up’. Blainey tells the story of two MEN OF MONT CRUNCH TIME She wanted to write about rival ships, both searching for ST QUENTIN Tony Kevin her life as a young woman in a missing continent. The St Peter Stanley The case for an Paris, but was busy caring Jean-Baptiste, a French An unforgettable, urgent, green- for her elderly mother – merchant ship commanded elegiac tribute to Keynesian approach then her daughter became pregnant and the survivors of to our economic by Jean de Surville, and and environmental needed her help. How do you nurture your a famous battle Captain James Cook’s in the Great War. crises. own needs and creativity without neglect- Endeavour battled scurvy, storms and isolation ing your responsibility to the people you – and experienced the euphoria of encounter- love? This honest, revealing memoir ing new lands and people – before diverging explores issues facing many women in their on separate paths. Cook set off to explore the fifties and the search for an authentic life. Barrier Reef and Torres Strait, while the Frenchman (who had been near Sydney THE PORTRAIT THE SONG IS YOU Harbour months before Cook) went in search Willem Jan Otten Arthur Phillips of a Jewish colony in the South Pacific. A breathtaking novel The latest, pitch- ThAustraliane March of StudiesPatriots of riddles, narrated perfect novel by one Men of Mont by a painting, from of the best writers Paul Kelly St Quentin one of Holland’s in America. MUP. HB. Normally $59.99 Peter Stanley greatest authors. Our special price $49.95 Scribe. PB. $35 The End of Paul Kelly’s Military historian Peter Certainty (the follow-up to Stanley brings to life the The Hawke his acclaimed story of one Australian Ascendancy ) was widely platoon from World War I, viewed as THE definitive providing a remarkable record of the politics of the insight into the lives of www.scribepublications.com.au 1980s. A classic study of ordinary soldiers, both power, personality and during and after war. It national destiny, it chronicled the swift focuses on the events of one battle in Mont economic and cultural change of the St Quentin, France, where three men died Hawke-Keating years. The third in a trilogy and five were wounded (from a platoon of a of sorts, The March of Patriots is the inside LEAP INTO SPRING WITH UQP dozen) on 1 September 1918. The survivors story of how Paul Keating and John were shadowed by the events of that day for Howard changed Australia, looking at the the rest of their lives. Stanley draws pair as conviction politicians, tribal extensively on the papers of one family, THE YOUNG WIDOW’S THE BIRTH WARS warriors and national interest patriots. who obsessively collected accounts of the BOOK OF MARY-ROSE Based on more than 100 interviews with HOME IMPROVEMENT MacCOLL battle after their son’s death. the two key players, politicians, advisers VIRGINIA LLOYD and public servants, the theme of this book An incisive look at is that Keating and Howard – as rivals and The Riddle of 2009 Books Alive Australian maternity selection care. Essential reading unrecognised collaborators – are best seen Father Hackett Brenda Niall for every woman who together, and that their legacy is impressive, ‘Deeply moving and is or who may one day contradictory and incomplete. A major National Library of Australia. PB. $39.95 unflinchingly honest.’ be a mother. work that will have a lasting impact on how Brenda Niall is among our Sydney Morning Herald we see the political era that ended with the finest biographers. Here, she $24.95 / Memoir / 978 0 7022 3737 9 / Sept $34.95 / Non-fiction / 978 0 7022 3722 5 / Sept Howard government. tells the story of Jesuit William Hackett, transferred EVERY SECRET LEARNING HOW Australians: to Australia by his order in THING TO BREATHE Origins to Eureka 1922, at the height of MARIE MUNKARA LINDA NEIL Ireland’s civil war. Assigned to Thomas Keneally Winner of the David a minor teaching post, this ‘A beautiful tribute to A&U. HB. $59.95 Unaipon Award the loving complexity seemingly unremarkable newcomer caused no Thomas Keneally is best of family.’ Gail Jones stir. Yet Father Hackett had been close to the known for dramatising When faith and culture centre of the provisional Irish Republic’s collide in this collection history – his best-known A true story of love, struggle for independence from Britain; part of stories, nothing is family and music. novels (Schindler’s Ark, The of a network who carried intelligence, sacred. Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith) ministered to republican troops, and helped $24.95 / Fiction / 978 0 7022 3719 5 / Sept $26.95 / Memoir / 978 0 7022 3734 8 / Sept bring history alive by to publicise British injustices and atrocities in focusing on personal stories Ireland. APPLES WITH MATTY FOREVER with a resonance beyond HUMAN SKIN ELIZABETH FENSHAM their own lives. In this unique series, NATHAN Keneally brings his flair and erudition, SHEPHERDSON From the author of Miss along with his intensely personal approach, McAllister’s Ghost comes to Australian history. In this first volume, Reference An innovative new an enchanting tale about the people and personalities who formed The Queen’s English collection from a true friendship. previous winner of the our national story are always on centre Christopher J. Moore UNSW Press. PB. $29.95 Thomas Shapcott Poetry Includes free tattoo! stage. A fascinating, highly readable book. Prize. From cricket to chips, the jumble sale to the white van Quarterly Essay 35: $24.95 / Poetry / 978 0 7022 3741 6 / Sept $14.95 / Younger Reader / 978 0 7022 3702 7 / Sept Noel Pearson man, Moore casts a quizzical eye over English passions and on education considers the influence on the UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND PRESS Noel Pearson language of English writers Black Inc. PB. $16.95 from Chaucer to Wodehouse, One of Australia’s most provocative and exposing the intriguing stories www.uqp.com.au original thinkers turns his attention to behind the language. 10 Readings Monthly September 2009 Dark Side of the Moon: Standout releases from Wernher von Braun SPoliticstrange Days Indeed and the Space Race Francis Wheen Wayne Biddle Australia’s small publishers HarperCollins. PB. $32.99 WW Norton. PB. $42.95 Brilliant, erudite and An illuminating story of the dawn of the My Private Pectus space age, reaching back to the reaction- Griffith REVIEW 25: eccentric, Strange Days Shane Thamm $19.95 ary modernism of the Third Reich. ‘Rocket After the Crisis Indeed tells the story of a Julianne Schultz, Ed $24.95 decade almost too strange to scientist’ Wernher Von Braun went from be true: the 1970s. Francis developer of the deadly V-2 ballistic missile e financial crisis is creating a new for Hitler to an American celebrity as the world order. After the Crisis provides Wheen vividly evokes the a timely analysis of the impact on characters, events and supposed genius behind the golden years real economies, communities and atmosphere of the era. He of the US space program in the 1950s and ecosystems. shows how the paranoia exemplified by 1960s. His story raises haunting questions Richard Nixon in the US and Harold about the culture of the Cold War and the imperatives of material progress. A story about footy, cars, and a young Wilson in Britain became the defining man who discovers that revealing his characteristic of western politics and culture greatest secret is the only way to hold during a decade in which the leader of the on to the people he loves. British Liberal Party stood trial for con- spiracy to murder and the West German History chancellor discovered that his personal Battle of Britain Ford Street Publishing assistant was an East German agent. Patrick Bishop Murdoch. HB. $49.95 Between Stations Fit to Print This stylish, lavishly illus- Kim Cheng Boey $27.95 Joris Luyendijik trated narrative history chronicles a defining episode extempore Scribe. PB. $32.95 in British history: the epic Miriam Zolin, Ed $30.00 Young war correspondent struggle of the Royal Air Joris Luyendijik writes about Writing, Art, Music, Improvi- Force with the Luftwaffe in the gap between what he sation. Interviews, essays, fic- the summer of 1940. Bishop saw on the ground and tion, poetry and photographs. illustrates his story with Issue 2 out now, and Issue 3 what was reported in the documentary materials, photographs, aircraft (Nov) features Vince Jones, media during his time in the diagrams and maps; and draws on eyewitness Katie Noonan, Phil Slater, Middle East. Fluent accounts and diary extracts to being the Manfred Eicher and more... in Arabic, he spoke to stone battle’s heroes and victims brilliantly to life. throwers, terrorists, taxi drivers and profes- sors. His stories cast light on a number of crises, from the Iraq War to the Israel- Europe’s Tragedy: Palestine conflict. In Fit to Print – a best- A History of the An account of Boey’s year of wandering, from his de- seller in his native Holland – he deploys Thirty Years War parture from Singapore, to his new home in Australia. Peter H. Wilson SPUNC Traverses the life of the migrant writer: birthplace; his powerful examples, leavened with humour, The Small Press Underground adopted country; memory; the present and past. to demonstrate the ways in which the me- Allen Lane. HB. $65 Networking Community Giramondo dia gives us a filtered, altered, and manipu- The Thirty Years War (1618-48) was a hor- SPUNC represents over 70 lated image of reality in the Middle East. rific series of conflicts that tore the heart out small publishers around Australia. of Europe, killed approximately a quarter Check them out online today. spunc.com.au Crunch Time of all Germans, and lay waste to Central Tony Kevin Europe to such a degree that many towns Scribe. PB. $32.95 and regions never recovered. All the major Tony Kevin compares European powers were involved in this war Obama’s inspired adoption of – both a religious and political one – apart ‘green Keynesianism’ in the from England, which may explain why its US with Kevin Rudd’s surface significance is often overlooked in English- announcement that ‘we are all language publications. This major new Keynesians now’. Australia’s work is a fascinating attempt to explain and political elites refuse to make contextualise the war, allowing the reader rational policy connections to understand the mixed motives in play. between the economy and the natural ‘A wonderfully comprehensive and detailed environment, instead desperately pursuing account ... unfailingly instructive and stimu- revived economic prosperity. Kevin argues lating.’ – Telegraph that this approach is no longer defensible or practical – we need to apply the genuine insights of John Maynard Keynes to help feed and employ us while we reinvent Australia as Environment a renewable energy-based economy. The CSIRO Home Energy Saving Handbook John Wright et. al Macmillan. PB. $29.99 Science Saving energy has never been The Greatest Show on more important – for both Earth: The Evidence environmental and financial for Evolution reasons. This handy book is Richard Dawkins full of tips for what we as Bantam. PB. Normally $35 individuals can do to cut our Our special price $29.95 energy use without cutting Richard Dawkins has long back our lifestyles, including been at the forefront of the ways to save on shopping and transport, tips still-raging debate between for building and renovating and simple Creationists and Darwinians. energy-saving tricks around the house. Along with Christopher Hitchens, he is one of the If You Love this Planet world’s most famously Helen Caldicott outspoken atheists. Here, 150 WW Norton. PB. $27.95 years after Charles Darwin’s controversial Renowned anti-nuclear activist Helen masterpiece On the Origin of Species, this Caldicott turns from the arms race to the race renowned evolutionary biologist presents an to save the planet, laying out the grim details uncompromising look at the incontrovertible of ozone depletion, excess energy consump- evidence for Darwin’s theory of evolution, tion, pollution, and global warming. The examining the facts from the point of view of causes: public apathy, corporate greed, and domestication. With answers to common the cynical manipulation of political leaders. questions and detailed descriptions of what In easy-to-understand language, she describes our ancestors would have looked like at the scientific and medical consequences of the various landmark dates, Dawkins leaves us greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, deforesta- with no room for doubt. This is a thrilling tion, species extinction, toxic chemical pollu- tribute to science, the wonders of nature and tion, nuclear waste, food contamination, and his ultimate hero, Charles Darwin. the ever-present threat of nuclear war. Readings Monthly September 2009 11 reading opens doors

Please help us support Indigenous Literacy Day

Buy a book or make a donation online and help raise urgently needed funds for remote Indigenous communities on Indigenous Literacy Day Wednesday 2 September 2009

"This project is a real opportunity for all Australians to get involved in a simple, effective and meaningful community activity. I encourage you, your school,

your bookclub or your organisation to be involved." — Therese Rein, Patron

When you buy a book on Indigenous Literacy Day, 5% of your purchase will be donated to the Indigenous Literacy Project by participating booksellers and publishers, including Readings of course! The Indigenous Literacy Project is a partnership between The Australian Book Industry and The Fred Hollows Foundation and aims to raise funds to buy books and literacy resources for remote Indigenous communities. For all participating bookstores go to www.indigenousliteracyproject.org.au. 12 Readings Monthly September 2009 The Age Good Food Protocols of the Guide 2010 Elders of Sodom JFoodulie and & JWineulia: Janne Appelgren Tariq Ali My Year of Cooking Penguin. PB. $29.95 Verso. HB. $39.95 Dangerously Foodies and occasional diners looking for Written over the last four the latest and best of Melbourne dining need decades, these provocative Julie Powell look no further than the 2010 edition of essays and diary entries explore Penguin. PB. $24.95 Victoria’s most trusted dining companion. the links between literature, Julie Powell was a frustrated history and politics. Training a New York secretary. As a critical, imaginative and distracting hobby, she occasionally a satirical eye on decided to cook all 524 the works of varied writers recipes in Julia Child’s Craft Happy Gloves (including Cervantes, Tolstoy, Proust, Joyce, legendary cookbook, Roth, Powell, Solzhenitsyn and Rushdie), Ali Mastering the Art of French Miyako Kanamori Penguin. PB. $19.95 discusses common themes as well as polarities, Cooking, and blogged about first impressions and re-readings, always the experience. As ‘the project’ grew to take This quirky new craft book from the creator of Sock and seeking to contextualise the text in the political over – and enrich – her life, she became an and historical milieu of its creation. internet celebrity, scored a publishing Glove shows how to make a contract, published a bestseller ... and now menagerie of cheerful animals her experience is a film starring Meryl using gloves: a chunky Streep as Julia, with Amy Adams as Julie. chipmunk, a happy frog, a Not bad. Read the utterly charming book gentle lion. Includes simple, Philosophy that started it all, a kind of Bridget Jones for step-by-step instructions and The Idea of Justice foodies. full-colour illustrations. Amartya Sen Penguin HB. $59.95 Cleaving A major philosophical work by one of the Julie Powell world’s leading intellectuals, a recipient of Fig Tree. PB. $32.95 GCulturaletting Rea Studiesl the Nobel Prize for Economics. Amartya Sen The follow-up to the constructs a new theory of justice, not from feel-good foodie memoir Melinda Tankard Reist (ed) abstract ideals or notions of what perfect Julie and Julia features our Spinifiex. PB. $34.95 institutions and rules might be, but from heroine on another foodie The ‘raunch culture’ identified by Ariel what the results of a system are practically, adventure: this time, she’s Levy in Female Chauvinist Pigs, is having an in the world. Sen argues that a system of apprenticed herself to a New increasingly damaging effect on the self-worth justice should require the agreement not just 4(%ô')2,ô7(/ô+)#+%$ô York butcher, getting down of younger and younger girls. This book – of the community which is making laws, but and dirty with raw meat. boasting a foreword by much-loved former of outsiders who might be affected, or who 4(%ô(/2.%43ô.%34 That’s not the only way she’s getting down Play School presenter Noni Hazelhurst – is a might have valuable perspectives to offer. and dirty ... surprisingly, after describing much-needed wake-up call. Topics covered husband Eric as her ‘rock’ in her first book, include the culture of exhibitionism, the role The Critique of STIEG LARSSON she’s now in the middle of an ‘irresistible’ of corporations, outdoor advertising, the effects of pornography on boys’ behaviour Dialectical Reason: affair with an old acquaintance. This book is Special Edition as frank, funny and intimate as its predeces- towards girls and girls themselves, and the Bill sor; and this second instalment of one Henson affair. There’s an impressive roll-call Jean-Paul Sartre woman’s journey to find herself proves that of contributors, including Maggie Hamilton, 2 volumes. Verso. Slipcased. $99.95 fame and fortune don’t solve everything. author of What’s Happening to Our Girls, A theory of history, an Clive Hamilton, and Emma Rush, co-author analysis of class struggle and of the Australia Institute’s groundbreaking a philosophy of action, this 2006 report on the sexualisation of children work is an intellectual in Australia. The diversity of contributors masterpiece of the twentieth offers a valuable range of professional and century, republished in two personal insights into an urgent issue, and the volumes and introduced by New in September book will be of great interest to concerned Fredric Jameson. parents and interested readers alike. IF YOU LOVE Jo Case is editor of Readings Monthly THIS PLANET Helen Caldicott Delete: Natural History ‘Helen Caldicott The Virtue of Australia’s has the rare ability Forgetting in Remarkable Trees to combine science the Digital Age with passion, Richard Allen logic with love, Viktor Mayer-Schönberger Miegunyah. HB. $59.99 and urgency with Princeton University Press. PB. $46.95 Australia’s tree treasures humour.’ Delete looks at the surprising phenomenon of include a single Tasmanian — Naomi Klein perfect remembering in the digital age, and Huon Pine that has been

Exploring dangerous global trends such reveals why we must reintroduce our capacity growing for at least 10,000 as ozone depletion, global warming, to forget. Viktor Mayer-Schönberger traces years; Mountain Ash toxic pollution, food contamination and the important role that forgetting has played eucalypts as tall as a 30-foot deforestation, Helen Caldicott presents throughout human history, from the ability skyscraper; and the 1994 a picture of our world and the forces that threaten its existence. to make sound decisions unencumbered by discovery of a small stand of the past to the possibility of second chances. Wollemi Pines that have withstood at least 17 Norton s PB s $27.95 He explores the dangers raised by everlasting ice ages. This sumptuously illustrated digital memory, explains why information full-colour book celebrates 50 of Australia’s COLLIDER privacy rights and other fixes can’t help us, oldest, largest and most unusual trees – and Paul Halpern and proposes an ingeniously simple solution calls for us to protect and preserve them. – expiration dates on information – that may. Will the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) create a Speechless: miniature black hole World History Sport that could swallow Without Words Passion Play up the Earth? Could Polyp it help explain the Matthew Klugman New Internationalist. PB. $32.95 Hunter Publishing. PB. $29.95 missing matter This very simple, yet intrigu- and energy in the There’s something about universe? Collider goes beyond explaining ing, concept brings to life the Australian Rules football that the mysteries of quantum mechanics and intensely real but often produces great pain, joy and Einstein’s theories to sort through a century ignored political and environ- an insatiable hunger for of actual experiments, revealing how we mental truths of our era. more. Passion Play journeys know what we know, as well as what we Speechless tracks everything into the world of footy hope to find out. from the very beginning of mania and the love and Wiley s HB s $47.95 evolution to the industrial suffering at its heart. revolution, from the Cold War to the oil Drawing on the experiences of a diverse set wars.. Published in association with Friends of of fans – who’ve told their stories in inter- the Earth International, this is a celebration of views, books, articles, and on footy websites www.wiley.com human resistance and ingenuity in the face of and blogs – it follows the annual quest for war, greed, and environmental pillage. the premiership in all its horror and glory. Readings Monthly September 2009 13

known as ‘Marvellous Melbourne’, was being punctuated by a wave of development and the Take the Music modern architectural movement. The Taking Woodstock: versatility of his work shows us many aspects A TALE Journey A True Story of a Riot, of Melbourne – its magnificent architectural a Concert and a Life heritage, its intimate and vibrant laneways, its OF TWO

‘A rich, intriguing, candid mix – MurRay is one Elliot Tiber grand arcades counterposed against the hitchHiker I would definitely pick up.’ Cate KenNedy Square One. PB. $29.99 sudden spaces of the wrecker, the brash WARRIORS This thoroughly entertaining intrusion of the glass and concrete skyscrap- ers, the poignancy of poverty in the run-down ‘This is how political history memoir was the basis for Ang should be written but Lee’s film about the world’s inner suburbs. We see the people, on grand occasions such as the 1954 royal visit, or just seldom is.’ most famous music festival. —Les Carlyon In the 1960s, Elliot Tiber caught in their own world of travelling, divided his time between shopping, resting, walking or working. Today helping his parents run their Mark Strizic is renowned as a photographer. resort motel in the Catskill In the 1950s he was a young science student mountains and hanging out in gay mecca from Europe playing with the possibilities of My Life Greenwich Village, where he socialised with the camera. His enthusiasm for photography in the Sea the likes of Andy Warhol, Tennesee Williams was encouraged by Melbourne artist Leonard of Cars and Truman Capote. When Tiber heard that French and academic David Saunders. As he A LETTER FROM ARNHEM LAND rock promoter Michael Lang needed a venue gained work as a professional, his commercial to hold the Woodstock festival, he helped to success was accompanied by the instincts and ‘It’s a pleasure to come across a eye of an artist. His solid technicality was book so original, interesting and secure it, and thus became part of an event thoughtful.’ Adelaide Advertiser that would make history. An affecting story, accompanied by the whimsy and wit that made him the ‘poet of the fleeting movement’. ‘He hears sees and smells a richness as much about life as a gay man in 1960s the car has destroyed.’ Slow Magazine America as the Woodstock festival. Margaret Snowdon is Art & Design Buyer at Readings Carlton Vagabond Holes: David McComb and My Wonderful World of Fashion The March of Patriots is the inside the Triffids story of how Paul Keating and Chris Coughran & Niall Lucy Nina Chakrabarti John Howard changed Australia. FACP. PB. $35 Laurence King. PB. $35 It sees Keating and Howard An original, varied and An interactive colouring as conviction politicians, tribal star-studded tribute to book for fashionistas of all warriors and national interest My Wonderful World of patriots. seminal Australian post-punk ages, Fashion is packed with band The Triffids and its Told by master storyteller Paul lyricist David McComb, who beautiful and sophisticated illustrations specially created Kelly, the pre-eminent political died in 1999. Contributors writer of our time, The March of include Nick Cave, DBC by the leading fashion Patriots is the political book of Pierre, Robert Forster, Robert illustrator Nina Chakrabarti. the year. The book encourages creativity, with McComb, Mick Harvey and John Kinsella. AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 8 This book is a tantalising blend of memoir, illustrations to colour in and designs to WITH WITH SPINE BOOKS WITH SPINE BOOKS WITH SPINE BOOKS WITH SPINE BOOKS WITH SPINE BOOKS WITH SPINE BOOKS WITH SPINE BOOKS WITH SPINE BOOKS BOOKS finish off, as well as simple ideas for making A ‘travel’ classic from Cate Kennedy. poetry, fiction and visual art, illustrated with dozens of colour photographs. and doing (how to make a sari, turn a BOOKS WITH SPINE ‘An encounter with not only the napkin into a headscarf, dye a t-shirt, etc.). www.mup.com.au soul of Mexico, but also your own soul.’ Good Reading Covering clothing, shoes, bags, jewellery and MUSICA: other accessories, the illustrations span both ONE THOUSAND YEARS vintage fashions, drawing on beautiful and OF CLASSICAL MUSIC New from Palgrave Macmillan interesting objects from past ages, and Millenium. HB. $80 contemporary designs from the illustrator’s The Other A lavishly illustrated, comprehensive refer- own imagination. MS ence to western classical music. Features Ryszard Kapuscinski In this distillation of Kapuscinski’s reflections hundreds of colour photographs, artworks, My Name is Charles accumulated from musical manuscripts and maps, along with Saatchi and I am a lifetime of travel, authoritative and engaging text by eminent an Artaholic he takes a fresh look musical scholars from around the world. at the Western idea Charles Saatchi of the Other: the non-European or non- Phaidon. PB. $14.95 American. He observes What is the most honest how today we continue thing you can say about to treat the non- yourself? How do you rate European as an alien Audio BooksNew titles in audiobooks and a threat, an object political advertising today? of study that has not include The Death of Do you think you have yet become a partner in Bunny Munro (Text, messed up anyone’s life by sharing responsibility for $39.95), read by its author, flogging off all of their work? the fate of the world. rock icon Nick Cave; $24.95 Pb, ISBN 978 1 84467 416 9 Art collector, gallery owner Publish October 2009, 128 pages Cormac McCarthy’s classic and founder of a global advertising agency, Verso reinterpretation of the Western, Blood Saatchi is famously publicity-shy, a reluctant Virtual Water Meridian (Naxos, abridged, $54.95); Rose interviewee who never attends his own gallery Professor Tony Allan. Tremain’s story of corrupted innocence in the openings, let alone anyone else’s. This book In this stimulating and decadent court of King Charles, Restoration brings together his unflinching responses to enjoyable book, Tony (Naxos, abridged, $54.95) and model-turned- questions he has been set over the last few Allan exposes the real crime-writer Tara Moss’s Siren (Bolinda, impact of our modern years by leading journalists and critics as well lifestyle and shows unabridged, $39.95), the latest adventure as members of the public. Whether the how we as individuals, of model-turned-PI Mak Vanderwall. questions are related to art, advertising, and governments globally, can make a money or his personal life, Saatchi answers vital contribution to them all with disarming and sometimes brutal managing our water use frankness, creating an enlightening and in a more sustainable entertaining first-hand account of the most and planet friendly way. Art & Design $39.95 Pb, ISBN 978 1 845119 84 3 Mark Strizic: influential art collector of our time. MS Publish October 2009, 256 pages I.B. Tauris Publishers Melbourne, Marvellous Faber & Faber: Eighty to Modern Years of Cover Design Barry Jones, Emma Watson Joseph Connolly Faber. PB. $49.99 & John Ross Book collector, antiquarian Thames & Hudson. HB. $95 dealer and acclaimed novelist This magnificent collection of Joseph Connollly has Panorama Sale photographs arose from the compiled a loving tribute to creativity of a young photog- the art of cover design, from rapher and his adoption of his iconic publishing house Faber new home town, Melbourne. & Faber’s beginnings in the Expand your horizons. His pictures were taken at a 1920s, to the modern day. In store September. time when the Victorian elegance of the city once 14 Readings Monthly September 2009 middle readers Non Fiction Robot Riot Gladiators Andy Griffiths Toby Forward & Steve Noon Pan Macmillan. PB. $14.95 Walker. HB. $34.95 Kids’ Books Robot Riot is the best book Gladiators opens a big pop-up picture books Sam’s Bush Journey yet. Lots of kids LOVE colosseum which invites you Olivia Forms a Band Sally Morgan reading about robots and to explore a day in the life of a Ian Falconer Little Hare. HB. $24.99 almost anyone, whether they Roman citizen or slave. Learn S&S. PB. $16.99 Sam likes iPods, computers be adult, kid, or not even about the games that for 300 There are going to be fireworks and DVDs. He hates the human, will treasure this one. years provided some of the tonight, and Olivia can hardly outdoors, until he goes to stay Henry accidently discovers most popular entertainment wait to hear the band. But with his Nanna who LOVES that the new girl, Roberta in Rome. Ponder the when she finds out that there going for long walks in the Flywheel, is a ROBOT! Henry just needs to beginning of reality entertainment. MM isn't going to be a band, she bush and teaches him about convince his friends. But is it really going to can't understand why not ... its shelter, food and water be so easy? The short answer is no. When I Creature ABC so Olivia sets to putting a through storytelling. This say I love this book, I mean I REALLY Andrew Zuckerman lovely, vibrant picture book provides a band together herself. REALLY love this book. And when I say I Hachette. HB. $24.99 jumping-off point for valuable discussion. REALLY REALLY love this book ... Everyone From alligator to zebra and Special Offer:While stocks last, we have a spe- in the room: Felix! Me: Sorry, just making my cial offer – buy any two ofOlivia , Olivia Saves everything in between, Classics point. And no, Andy Griffiths did NOT tell Andrew Zuckerman's the Circus, or Olivia Forms a Band and get me to say it. Five stars and 900% of a good a free Olivia plush. Alice in Wonderland extraordinary animal images Lewis Carroll book. And it only goes to 100! Too fantastic. illustrate the alphabet in & Robert Ingpen (illus.) Felix Wilkins is in Year Four stunning detail. Isabella’s Garden at Kingsville Primary. Walker. HB. $39.95 Glenda Millard Novelty & Rebecca Cool (illus.) A beautiful new version of Emily The Strange: Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, Oceanology Walker. HB. $27.95 by one of the world’s most The Lost Days This is the book that cajoles Rob Reger & Jessica Gruner Five Mile Press. HB. $34.95 renowned illustrators. The Another fabulously distracting, intricate and the cadence, that caresses the Harper. HB. $19.99 perfect way to introduce a imaginative book in the series that brought you colour and accents that Waking up in a town called child to one of the greatest Egyptology and Wizardology. What if a 16-year- alliteration to inspire the Blackrock with amnesia is of stories ever. old assistant named Ferdinand de Lessups had iridescent Isabella’s Garden. course strange, but what can travelled with Captain Nemo – and what if The seasons are sung in you expect from a person he had gone on to travel on the submarine perfect poetry and illustrated who is known as Emily the Younger Readers Nautilus, with a certain Jules Verne? with intrepid, intense Strange? With nothing but a vibrancy that shimmers like gemstones The complete horse notebook in hand, slingshot in sunlight. The allurement of the accumula- crazy! Adventures in pocket and obvious love Activity tive, rhythmic verse harmonises perfectly of Bonnie and Sam of the colour black, Emily goes about The Encyclopedia with the rich images resulting in one of Alison Lester finding out who she actually is, what she is of Immaturity: the outstanding Australian picture books & Roland Harvey (illus.) doing in this weird town and why on earth Australian Edition of 2009. Ages 2+ A&U. PB. $19.99 no-one seems to be looking for a missing Klutz. HB. $29.99 Alexa Dretzke is from Readings Hawthorn Friendship, horses and adventure in an Aus- girl with said description. With the typical The ultimate how-not-to- tralian country town combine in this col- style that was seen in the comics, this novel grow-up guide, The Encyclope- Ivy Loves to Give lection of four full-colour Bonnie and Sam is full of weird and wonderful inventions dia of Immaturity contains Freya Blackwood stories for young readers. Created by two of and strange people that always feature in more than 300 entries, Little Hare. HB. $24.99 Australia's bestselling storytellers. Emily’s world. Lots of fun. Ages 10+. including 'How to Do a Ivy loves to give presents. Katherine Dretzke is from Readings Hawthorn Wheelie' and 'How to Hang a They might not always be Open Fire: Spoon from Your Nose' – all exactly right, like giving a Battle Boy Book One Young Adult painstakingly explicated and cup of tea to the chicken, or Red Devil Down: Swerve illuminated with full-color photographs, a dummy to an extremely Battle Boy Book Two Phillip Gwynne illustrations, diagrams, and footnotes. unimpressed cat, but that Charlie Carter Penguin. PB. $19.95 doesn't stop her. A winner of the 2007 Sequels Pan Macmillan. PB. One of the country's finest Australian Children's Book of the Year young cellists, 16 year-old Readers hanging out for Award for Amy & Louis, Freya Blackwood's Book 1 $4.99. Book 2 $9.99 A brand new series for all Hugh Twycross has a very the next instalment of their beautiful watercolour illustrations are the bright future. A future that favourite series will be perfect companion to the book's gentle those Zac Power lovers, the Battle Boy books follow the has been mapped out by his delighted to get their hands message about the joys of giving. parents, his teachers, by on these titles: Tashi and Holly Harper is from Readings Malvern adventures of Napoleon Smythe as he travels through everybody, it seems, except the Golem (Anne & Barbara Hugh Twycross. Hugh has a Fienberg, A&U, PB, $11.99); Mannie and time to observe famous battles. Plucked from a secret, though: he loves cars and he loves car Brigands: Cherub Book 11 the Long Brave Day boring Saturday morning in racing. When his newly discovered grandfa- (Robert Muchamore, Hodder, HB, $34.95, Martine Murray the library, Napoleon is invited to join a ther, Poppy, asks him to go on a road trip to Our Price $29.95); Where's Wally: The Incred- & Sally Rippin (illus.) secret project that keeps an eye on the big Uluru in his 1970 Holden HT Monaro, ible Paper Chase (Martin Handford, Walker, A&U. HB. $22.99 battles of history. With wisecracking robots Hugh decides, for once in his life, to do the $24.95); Chinese Cinderella: The Mystery of The author of the Henrietta books delivers and cool gadgets, why not join Napoleon on unexpected. the Song Dynasty Painting (Adeline Yen Mah, a sparkling story about a little girl’s magical his adventures through time and space?! And coming in October: Catching Fire A&U, PB, $15.99); Audrey's Big Secret adventure, her favourite elephant and doll Marie Matteson is from Readings (Suzanne Collins, Scholastic, PB, $18.99), (Christine Harris, Little Hare, PB $14.99). Strawberry Luca in tow. Port Melbourne the sequel to The Hunger Games. We can't wait. Order your copy now!

Kids Events at Port Melbourne Create Your Own Book Kirsty Murray Free Workshops for Kids Talking about her teen futuristic thriller, Vulture's Gate—an adventure Saturday 12 September, Gasworks Story Festival, Gasworks set in outback Australia and Sydney, decades from now. Saturday 12 Arts Park, Albert Park. 11.15am–12pm: Ann James, illustrator September, 10.00am. Free, but please book on 9681 9255. of Chester and Gil. Recommended age 4-6 years. 12:15pm–1pm: Andrew McDonald, author of The Greatest Blogger in the World. Goldie Alexander For ages 8-12 years. No bookings required for either event. Talking about her new book for kids, Hedgeburners: An A – Z Mystery, Saturday 19 September, Theatre Works, 14 Acland St, St Kilda. featuring young private eyes Anna and Zac. Perfect for young detectives. 11am: Chrissie Perry, author for the popular Go Girl series. Sunday 13 September, 10:30am. Free, but please book 96819255. Recommended age 6-10 years. To book please call Readings’ St Kilda shop on 9525 3852. Mud Cakes Slumber Party ! Sunday 20 September, Readings Port Melbourne, 253 Bay St. The Mud Cakes are back with a new CD, Songs for Little Sleepyheads, and they’re inviting you in your Pajamas for a slumber party! Prizes for the best 10.30am: Andy Griffiths, bestselling author of Just Macbeth! PJs! Sunday 27 September, 2.00pm. Free, but please book on 9681 9255. Recommended age 6–12 years. To book please call Readings Port Melbourne shop on 9681 9255. All these events are at our Port Melbourne shop, 253 Bay St, call 9681 9255. For more information, visit www.readings.com.au. Readings Monthly September 2009 15

ReadingsBargains on the web : New bargain Bargai books are regularly addedn to ourTable website. Please click on the Bargains tab at www.readings.com.au.

The Tyrannicide Brief The Mind of The Classical World: Petty's Parallel Geoffrey Roberston the Market An Epic History Worlds HB. Was $59.95. Now $19.95 Michael Shermer Robin Lane Fox Bruce Petty John Cooke (1608-1660) HB. Was $49.95. Now $16.95 HB. Was $69.95. Now $24.95 HB. Was $39.95. Now $15.95 served as lead prosecutor for Bestselling author and Eminent classicist Robin This rich compilation of the trial of English monarch psychologist Shermer Lane Fox brilliantly chroni- Bruce Petty’s anarchic and Charles I during the English explains how evolution cles the vast sweep of history, brilliantly incisive art – much Civil War, only to be executed shaped the modern economy from Homer to the reign of of it previously unpublished himself a decade later, on the and investigates what brain Augustus, from the Pelopon- – shows the range of Petty’s orders of Charles II. scans reveal about bargain- nesian War through the artistic style as well as his ing, snap purchases, and creation of Athenian intellectual and moral establishing trust in business. democracy; from the concerns. Scuse Me While I Kiss turbulent empire of Alexander the Great to The Sky: Jimi Hendrix, the Snowball: the creation of the Roman Empire and the The Great Voodoo Child Warren Buffett and emergence of Christianity. Transformation HB. Was $49.95. Now $16.95 the Business of Life Karen Armstrong Making sense of Hendrix’s The Yellow House: Alice Schroeder PB. Was $32.95. Now $15.95 life, career, and art with HB. Was $49.95. Now $19.95 Van Gogh, Gauguin, In lucid and reasoned prose, moment-to-moment Here is THE book on and Nine Turbulent Karen Armstrong details the intensity, one comes away legendary Omaha investor Weeks in Arles the developmental process of convinced that we caught Warren Buffett, using religion. During the Axial Age no more than a glimpse of Martin Gayford unprecedented access to (900 to 200 B.C.E), the Hendrix while he was here HB. Was $49.95. Now $15.95 explore Buffett's work, world’s major religions made to see in the flesh. An extraordinary chronicle of opinions, struggles, tri- the two months in 1888 and fixed their beliefs. The Best American umphs, follies, and wisdom. when Paul Gauguin shared a house in France with Vincent Short Stories of What Jesus Meant the Century The Chronicles of Van Gogh. Includes 60 black Narnia: Pop-Up Book and white reproductions of Garry Wills John Updike (ed.) the artists' paintings and HB. Was $39.95. Now $15.95 HB. Was $56. Now $24.95 Robert Sabuda drawings from the period. In what are billed as ‘culture This book includes master- HB. Was $40. Now $14.95 wars’, people on the political works by Ernest Hemingway, C.S. Lewis’s classic Narnia King, Kaiser, Tsar: right and the political left William Faulkner, F. Scott series springs to life thanks to cite Jesus as endorsing their Fitzgerald, Flannery award-winning paper Three Royal Cousins Who Led the World views. Garry Wills argues O’Connor, John Cheever, engineer Robert Sabuda. that Jesus subscribed to no Eudora Welty, Philip Roth, Each of the seven books has to War political program. Raymond Carver, Cynthia its own pop-up spread, Catrine Clay Ozick, and others. rendered in spectacular detail HB. Was $49.95. Now $19.95 with stunning special effects. The extraordinary family The Little Prince & At the Same Time story of George V, Wilhelm Mommy: Pop-Up Book The Airman’s Odyssey Susan Sontag II, and Nicholas II: they were Antoine De Saint-Expury Maurice Sendak tied to one another by HB. Was $49.95. Now $16.95 HB. Was $32.95. Now $14.95 HB. Was $29.95. Now $14.95 history, and history would At the Same Time gathers 16 This omnibus edition pairs The first-ever pop-up book ultimately tear them apart. essays and speeches written Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s from the legendary Maurice in the last years of Sontag’s most famous and beloved Sendak. A little boy is looking life – on the freedom of work, The Little Prince, with for his mommy and encoun- literature, about courage and a trilogy of his writings on ters a variety of familiar When A Crocodile resistance – and fearlessly flying that includes Flight to monsters. Is the boy scared? addresses the dilemmas of Eats the Sun: Arras. post-9/11 America. Of course not! Does he find A Memoir of Africa her at the end? Of course! Peter Godwin The View From HB. Was $49.95. Now $17.95 Before The Frost Castle Rock Peeling the Onion A brilliant memoir about a Gunther Grass Henning Mankell Alice Munro son’s return to Africa to HB. Was $49.95. Now $16.95 HB. Was $52.95. Now $15.95 HB. Was $49.95. Now $16.95 uncover the secrets of Linda Wallander has just Nobel Prize–winning author This is a particularly lovely his family and his home. graduated from the police Gunter Grass remembers his edition of a work by Bearing witness to Zimba- academy, and is waiting to early life, from his boyhood the 2009 winner of the Man- bwe’s dramatic spiral start work at the Ystad police in a cramped two-room Booker International Prize. downwards, Godwin station. She's living with her apartment in Danzig through Here, Alice Munro pieces discovers why his father father, Inspector Kurt the late 1950s, when The Tin her family’s history into wanted so desperately to keep the family Wallander, and they are Drum was published. gloriously imagined fiction. in Zimbabwe, amidst the chaos. driving each other crazy.

th Estate

The Children’s Writer - Red Square Blues: 9780732285869 A Beginner’s Guide to the Decline and Fall of Charlie Bloome wants to the Soviet Union be a writer. Twenty-three 9780732285661 years old, he is studying literature and living with In 1990, Kim Traill set

his gamine partner Loot- off for the former Soviet Union with Through software, science and spirituality, James Bach, son of The ie. Into their lives comes the flamboyant a lust for wild adventure and a swag of Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah author, Richard Bach, has taken Sebastian Chanteleer, an ageing but in- youthful idealism about the great Com- a vibrant and fresh approach to personal development. ternationally acclaimed children’s writer. munist experiment. Red Square Blues is In the tradition of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, this Upon meeting, Lootie and Chanteleer an eye-opening portrait of an eternally groundbreaking book nurtures individual curiosities and proves establish an immediate bond and the surprising country, leavened with the that unorthodox education can yield extraordinary results. children’s writer makes his presence felt kind of bone-dry humour only life in a HZXgZihd[V7jXXVcZZg"HX]daVg in the younger couple’s lives. repressive police state can produce. ?VbZh7VX] =VgYWVX`()#.. 16 Readings Monthly September 2009 New DVDs DVD OF THE MONTH Defiance Dogs in Space $39.95 $29.95 Freedom begins with an act Finally available for the first of defiance! Jewish brothers time on DVD in Australia! in Nazi-occupied Eastern Set against the backdrop of Europe escape into the Melbourne’s late 70s punk Belarussian forests, where rock scene, Dogs in Space they join Russian resistance chronicles life in a chaotic, fighters and endeavour to squalid share-house. Writer/ build a village in order to director Richard Lowenstein protect themselves and about 1,000 Jewish balances a series of chaotic vignettes with the non-combatants. central story of the romance between housemates Sam (Michael Hutchence), lead Time Bandits singer of the band, Dogs in Space, and Anna 2 disc edition .$24.95 (Saskia Post) as it spirals out of control. Plunging headfirst into history, director Terry Gilliam fearlessly brings the logic of The Boy In The children’s fairy tales to bear as Striped Pyjamas he navigates through myth $39.95 and legend in a bizarre, The Set during World War II, ingenious retelling of Wizard Of Oz based on the bestselling novel . The result is by John Boyne, this remark- an extraordinarily visual extravaganza that able and inspiring story overflows with Gilliam’s ecstatic vision. about the power of the human spirit will capture Red Riding Trilogy your heart and engage your Released 9 September. $39.95 mind. The Red Riding Trilogy is a breathtaking, neo-noir epic STARRING The Secret Life Of Bees based on horrific, factual AMANDA TAPPING (Stargate SG-1) Released 16 September. $29.95 events and adapted for the To escape her lonely life and screen from David Peace’s FROM THE CREATORS OF STARGATE SG-1 series of groundbreaking AND STARGATE ATLANTIS troubled relationship with The Red Riding Trilogy her father, 14-year-old, novels. AVAILABLE ON DVD SEPTEMBER 9TH motherless Lily flees with her follows controversial stories caregiver and only friend, to revolving around the manhunt for the brutal Yorkshire Ripper. NOMINATED a South Carolina town that 2009 EMMY OUTSTANDING holds the secret to her VISUAL EFFECTS www.beyondhomeentertainment.com.au mother’s past. Taken in by Tulpan the intelligent and independent Boatwright Released 9 September. $34.95 sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerising Acclaimed documentarian world of beekeeping. Sergey Dvortsevoy’s debut FIRST TIME narrative feature, Tulpan is a The Baader Meinhof work of extraordinary ON DVD filmmaking bravado, an Complex exhilaratingly alive and Released 9 September. $39.95 Bluray $49.95 sweet-natured fairy tale set in A look at Germany’s terrorist the barren landscape of a group, The Red Army Kazakh steppe, an environment where only Faction, which organised shepherds live. He refuses to be anything but bombings, robberies, authentic, to the point where he captures

2 DISC kidnappings and assassina- SPECIAL some of the most miraculous footage the EDITION tions in the late 1960s and screen has ever seen. 70s. Based on Stefan Aust’s bestselling nonfiction book. Burnt By The Sun $29.95 Righteous Kill In 1936, Sergei Petrovich NEW WIDESCREEN TRANSFER $29.95. Bluray $36.95 Kotov, his wife Marussia and PACKED WITH SPECIAL FEATURES Robert De Niro and Al daughter Nadia, take refuge This two disc set offers commentary tracks and a wealth of special features including the new Pacino star as a pair of in the countryside. But the feature-length documentary: We’re Livin’ on Dogfood, focusing on Melbourne’s post punk underground. veteran New York City Set against the backdrop of Melbourne’s late ‘70s punk rock scene, Dogs in Space chronicles life in a arrival of a mysterious man chaotic, squalid share-house. Starring Michael Hutchence and Saskia Post. detectives on the trail of a shatters their hopes for a vigilante serial killer in this peaceful existence. Nikita AVAILABLE NOW FROM ALL GOOD DVD RETAILERS FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.UMBRELLAENT.COM.AU adrenaline-fuelled psycho- Mikhalkov’s powerful portrait logical thriller. The detectives of viciousness during the Stalin era won the are looking for a serial killer, 1994 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. one who targets criminals that have fallen through the cracks of the judicial system. Entourage: E6G69>H: His mission is to do what the cops can’t do Complete Fifth Season on their own – take the culprits off the $39.95 streets for good. For Vince, Eric, Drama, and JE96I:9 Turtle, life in Hollywood’s fast by Mic Looby PARADISE UPDATED 

  Led Zeppelin lane can be an intoxicating Physical Graffiti: ride. In season five, can the 
/+%.11$; Under Review A hilarious and hair-raising tale about guys put the Medellin fiasco corporate shenanigans, compromised $14.95 behind them and orchestrate idealism and the perilous life of a Physical Graffitiis widely a career comeback for Vince? guidebook author. A masterful debut revered as Led Zeppelin’s novel by Mic Looby, and not at all last great album. This feature based on his many years working for Revanche doco boasts classic perfor- Lonely Planet. Honest. $24.95 mances of songs like At once a gripping thriller GGE'.#.* Kashmir and Houses of the and a tragic drama of nearly MIC LOOBY ction.’ Holy, as well as rare footage, Greek proportions, Revanche ‘Hilarious and engaging. I refuse to photos, and interviews. believe any partMax Barryof this is fi is the stunning international www.affirmpress.com.au breakthrough film from Austrian filmmaker Götz Spielmann. Readings Monthly September 2009 17 Skins: Complete Ken Russell Third Series at the BBC WINE AND FOOD Kate Lamont Released 9 September. $34.95 $69.95 with photography by Frances Andrijich A new class of drug-fuelled, Visionary award-winning Drawing upon her experience as both a winemaker and chef, Kate Lamont pairs her unique recipes party-seeking, sexually director Ken Russell was the with just the right drop to create the perfect dining inquisitive teenagers! With first documentary filmmaker experience at home. just two returning characters, to use re-enactments, 9781921401336 Cooking $55.00 Hb Skins series three introduces a establishing him as a host of new and exciting ground-breaking pioneer. “IT’S STILL IN MY HEART, THIS IS MY COUNTRY” Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, John Host unknown talent. The early works in this with Chris Owen collection set new standards This history was presented as evidence for the in documentary filmmaking. Single Noongar Native Title Claim over the south- Visions Of Light: The Art west of Western Australia and metropolitan Perth. Of Cinematography Mike Leigh at the BBC 9781921401428 History $39.95 Pb Released 12 September. $29.95 $99.95 An exceptional documentary Mike Leigh’s films enjoy VALMIKI’S DAUGHTER Shani Mootoo about the craft of cinematog- worldwide popularity with A Trinidian girl’s struggle to discover the truth critics and audiences alike. about herself threatens to unmask her father raphy, with secrets and insight and shake the foundations of her family and into the look of great films Experience seven of his early her delicately calibrated society. such as Citizen Kane, The films, as well as two TV 9781921401367 Fiction $29.95 Pb Godfather, film noir, and studio plays and five engaging much more. short films. Everything has been painstakingly restored, and there is a host of insightful extras. Wainwright Walks Coast To Coast Bruce Springsteen Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls Under Review 1979-1982 $29.95 edited by Melinda Tankard Reist Following in the footsteps of $14.95 Alfred Wainwright, with his This DVD documents a Bratz dolls, bralettes, explicit advertising and the rise of five-year period where The Coast to Coast book as her ‘raunch culture’ – girls today are growing up in the shadow guide, Julia Bradbury sets out Boss made three albums: of a pornographic vision of sexuality. from the cliffs at St. Bees in Darkness on the Edge of Town, Cumbria, crossing moorland, The River, and Nebraska. Getting Real brings together some of the most vocal critics mountains and national parks Rock journalists and other of the pornification of culture, with essays by authors to reach Robin Hood’s Bay. musicians discuss this such as Maggie Hamilton, Steve Biddulph, Julie Gale, Clive important period on film. Hamilton and a preface by Noni Hazlehurst. Grand Designs: Series One Lively, diverse and engaging, Getting Real holds broad appeal New World Cinema for anyone troubled by what’s happening today and for $39.95 everyone wanting a better world for the next generation. An unparalleled insight into Titles from Universal how elaborate and compli- $19.95 each Available September 2009 cated design concepts work in practice – and the sometimes very emotional journey taken by homeowners. www.spinifexpress.com.au

Fairweather Man $24.95 Great titles to choose from, including An intimate portrait of the Disengagement and Alice et Martin 20% Off All Full-price Books life and work of Australia’s starring Juliette Binoche, Tom Thumb, at the new Readings shop in the foyer of the State Library * greatest abstract painter, Ian Ecstasy starring Javier Bardem, Clean Slate Present this ad and you’ll receive 20% off all full-price books at our new Fairweather. When Ian died starring Isabelle Huppert, The Little Gang- compact shop. Come on down, we’re open Mon - Sat, 10am - 6pm. alone in Queensland in ster, Paris Exotic Beauties and Luis Bunuel’s 328 Swanston Street. Ph. 8664 7540. www.readings.com.au. 1974, Australia not only lost masterpiece of erotica, Belle De Jour starring a great artist, but one of our Catherine Deneuve. * Valid till 30.09.09. One coupon per customer. Not valid with any other offer. greatest eccentrics. Bookshop at the State Library

“…if there were something like a sacred treasure of the cinema, then for me that would have to be the OZU work of Yasujiro Ozu” Wim Wenders Six stunning masterpieces from Japan’s finest film director Influential Cinema from Around the Globe

DIRECTORSSUITE.COM.AU 18 Readings Monthly September 2009 Beatles Reissues New Release CDs 09.09.09 spacemen, Jonsi and Alex’s forays into the behind her, confirms her position as a soul music world have been restricted to art in- singer with no betters and few peers. With Album of the Month stallations and the like, so this represents their immaculate phrasing and a gutsy, husky BLOOD FROM STARS first album proper and a dreamy, otherworldly vocal timbre, she delivers a set of originals On 09/09/09, the biggest band in rock Joe Henry affair it is indeed. The music contained within with one foot in Motown and another in history sees their original catalogue digitally $29.95 is caressing and meditative without ever being Wigan Casino. A knockout. RM remastered for the first time with improved Joe Henry has been a boring and the duo’s use of lilting strings and packaging, including extra rare photographs, particular favourite of mine minimalist vocals are at times sublime. Fans of expanded and new essays and all enhanced since the release of the Sigur Ros will not be disappointed. with a video mini-documentary on the mak- alt-country classic Short Declan Murphy is from Readings Carlton Folk & World ing of each album in the Beatles own words. Man’s Room (recorded with DESERT BLUES 2 (2CD Set) members of The Jayhawks) Humbug Various Artists These classic albums were first released on in 1992. He soon moved away from the Arctic Monkeys CD in 1987, when they were transferred ‘flat’ Normally $59.95. from the album tapes. Since then, technol- country-ish edges to an edgier, more Normally $27.95. Our special price $22.95 Our very special price $19.95 rhythm-oriented direction somewhere ogy has moved on and it is fair to say that the Album number three from This fantastic double CD collection of the Beatles are the last of the really classic, great between Tom Waits and Daniel Lanois. He Sheffield’s finest sees Alex finest African Ballads from Algeria, Mo- makes albums music people like, songs that artists to receive the remastering treatment. Taylor and co. up their rocco, Egypt, Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Sudan, This process, by a dedicated engineering team don’t get played on radio (3RRR the noble game with an ever bolder Ethiopia & Western Sahara. This is a terrific exception), but which deserve a far wider at the world-famous Abbey Road studios, has and considerably brasher way to start or supplement your World resulted in the finished CDs sounding better audience. He has also become a much sound. Teaming Josh music collection. We have extremely limited sought-after producer – working with Allen than ever, with packaging to match. It should Homme of Queens of the Stone Age with quantities and once they’re gone we won’t be also be noted that the first four albums – Toussaint, Ramblin Jack Elliott, Loudon their usual producer James Ford has added able to get them again at this price – so get Wainwright, Betty Lavette and Mary Please Please Me, Beatles For Sale –are released beef and vigour to a band that could never in early. in stereo on CD for the first time. Gauthier over the past five years or so. It be accused of lacking either. First single seems anything Joe Henry puts his name to Crying Lighting is an absolute corker of a A Stranger Here All single albums are housed in triple-panel is worth a listen – like Daniel Lanois tune that sets the pace for a record which Ramblin Jack Elliott card packages using conservation-grade himself in the 90s. This new album begins shows a band brimming with ambition and $29.95 FSC paper (Forest Stewardship Council, visit almost disconcertedly with a solo piano ideas and hey, ain’t that a good thing. Sit www.fscus.org for more info) and now come prelude before launching into a bluesy and At the grand age of 77, back and watch this one rocket up the charts Ramblin Jack Elliott has with a set of historical notes on each album raw The Man I Keep. It’s no surprise he has and permeate your airwaves. Strong like to accompany recording notes on the actual taken on a little of a blues vibe given he has given us one of the best folk Sheffield steel. DM albums of the year. Elliot process of making the records at the time, so just worked with Toussaint and Elliott, who there is something for the casual buyer and re-worked some classic blues songs on their ran with Woody Guthrie Everything is True and arguably provided a true fan alike. The Beatles (White Album) albums. A definite contender for my album Paul Dempsey comes in a four-panel case and includes the of the year list. role model for the young up-and-coming Our special price $22.95 original poster from the vinyl release, resized Dave Clarke is from Reading Carlton Normally $29.95. Bob Dylan. Produced by Joe Henry, this (With limited edition bonus disc) collection of Depression-era blues songs for CD. Lastly, the two Past Masters albums This solo outing from Something For Kate positively swings thanks to its great cast of have been combined into one pack as a double CD. frontman Paul Dempsey is like a chameleon – musicians and warm production. Funky The Sun Came Out at first glance, a camouflage of folk-rock tunes mandolins and bluesy piano and accordion 7 Worlds Collide The bonus content on all original albums (ie. accompanies his unmistakable voice, but with make the perfect accompaniment to Elliot’s not including Past Masters) is a mini-docu- Released 4 September. 1CD or 2CD set repeated listening, this record evolves into authentic readings of tunes by Gary Davis, mentary which tells the story of the album This special album is the revealing storytelling. The primarily acoustic Blind Lemon Jefferson, Furry Lewis and using original footage from the Beatles’ own brainchild of Neil Finn tones – Dempsey plays every instrument on Mississippi John Hurt. This album strongly archive, as well as other rare footage and the following the release of the the record – are reflective of his solo direction recalls some of Ry Cooder’s best early 70s voice-over is entirely spoken by the Beatles 7 Worlds 2001 live album and the first single, Out the Airlock, introduces excursions into American folk history. themselves and George Martin. The video Collide . Over Christmas his intentions nicely. This album unveils an Paul Barr is from Readings Carlton comes as a Quicktime file for playing on your and New Year 2008/2009, opportunity for listeners to view Paul Dempsey computer. Neil brought a group of friends and fellow in a much more candid way than has ever been On Common Ground artists together in his New Zealand studio to possible with Something For Kate. Cillian Vallely & This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for record a brand new album of all new and Ali Meehan is from Readings Port Melbourne Kevin Crawford people of every generation to discover or rediscover the finest band of all time. From original material, in aid of international $31.95 charity Oxfam. The collective also performed people who remember buying their singles Two of the wind players three sold-out shows at the Powerstation and albums when they first came out and from Lunasa, Kevin venue in Auckland, New Zealand. The album started to change the world, to kids of today Jazz Crawford (flutes and low includes special performances and songwrit- who will play the game and then spend hours Disfarmer whistle) and Cillian Vallely ing contributions from Neil, Sharon, Elroy singing these classic songs wherever they go – Bill Frisell (pipes and low whistle) have & Liam Finn, Bic Runga, KT Tunstall, there surely will be nothing else this autumn $31.95 taken time off from their Johnny Marr, Jeff Tweedy, Glenn Kotche, that can appeal to so many people of so many The most atmospheric and busy touring schedule to record this invigorat- Pat Sansone and John Stirratt of Wilco, Ed generations. unpredictable guitarist in ing collection of traditional collection of O'Brien & Phil Selway of Radiohead, Lisa jazz periodically recharges traditional and newly composed tunes. Please note that these special packages with Germano, Don McGlashan, Glenn Richards his batteries by returning to Features beautiful guitar accompaniment bonus enhanced video content will be from Augie March and others. his original love, rural from current Lunasa rhythm player Paul Lou Fulco is from Readings Carlton available for a limited period only. hillbilly and blues. Disfarm- Meehan and guitar supremo Donal Clacy. AMERICAN SUNSHINE er is Frisell’s new band, multimedia installa- There are so many good tunes here, but the Beatles sets & albums tion and now album, inspired by the 1940s duets are really special. One of the Celtic Box Set in Mono Colin Hay work of Arkansas photographer Michael releases of the year. PB $29.95 (all of the albums below) – please note this Disfarmer. Featuring his regular trio plus lap is a very limited release – there will be one Colin Hay will of course steel and violin, Frisell evokes feelings of an pressing only of this $410 forever be associated with America long gone. By turns driving and Men At Work – and of ghostly, Disfarmer will stun admirers of Box Set in Stereo course, the ‘Land Down Frisell, Ry Cooder or Daniel Lanois. EveryMusic month wee-news also have an email newslet- (all of the albums below) – we’re told this Under’ song. He has been Richard Mohr is a friend of Readings ter which includes the latest and forthcom- will be an ongoing product line - $365 making very good solo ing releases, instore events and a chance to albums for over 20 years now and American win a free CD. Simply go our website www. The Individual Albums Sunshine is another example of his songwrit- readings.com.au/music and sign yourself up. Please Please Me. $29.95 ing talents. He still has that distinctive Soul With the Beatles. $29.95 Scottish-Australian-American voice and Hard Day’s Night. $29.95 Made of Stone Beatles for Sale. $29.95 his live shows are a real treat. Kylie Auldist Sid Grane is from Readings Books & Music Help. $29.95 $29.95 Music EventColin Hay returns to Rubber Soul. $29.95 Long one of Melbourne’s Australia in September to Revolver. $29.95 Riceboy Sleeps best-kept secrets and Jonsi & Alex launch his anticipated new Sergeant Pepper’s. $29.95 first-call backing vocalist album American Sunshine. Magical Mystery Band. $29.95 $24.95 for Renee Geyer and Don’t miss this opportunity White Album. 2CD $39.95 Riceboy Sleeps is the art/music project front- Jimmy Barnes, Kylie finally to enjoy one of our greatest Yellow Submarine. $29.95 ed by Sigur Ros main man Jonsi and partner released her first album last musicians, formerly of Men at Work, live in Abbey Road. $29.95 Alex Somers. Having spent the last decade year. Number two, again with Melbourne’s our shop. Wednesday 16 September, 6pm, Let It Be. $29.95 tied up with his duties with his Icelandic world-beating funksters The Bamboos Readings Carlton. Free, no need to book. Past Masters Vol 1 & 2. 2CD $39.95 Readings Monthly September 2009 19

Up toClassical 50% Off Selected Titles. CDsExtraordinary Performances. Fabulous Extraordinary Recordings. Box Limited Set stock. Don't Sale Miss Out! MILESTONES: Bach: The Well Violin Masterworks Menuhin Great Violin 30 Years Of Chandos Tempered Clavier Various. Decca. 35CD set. Concertos Various artists. 30CD set. Richter. RCA. 4CD set. 4781149. Was $119.95. Menuhin. EMI. 10CD set. ANNI0030. Was $119.95. GD60949. Was $56.95. Now $89.95. Kremer, 2641982. Was $49.95. Now Now $84.95. Limited Now $22.95. Revered Accardo, Bell, Ricci, $39.95. This extraordinary edition, with Kenny, 1970's recording. Grumiaux, and more; artist (European debut at Mackerras, Terfel, ‘The authority of his performing violin sonatas, 10, iconic Elgar at 16), Kirkby & more. playing is consistently concertos and encores. Limited edition. performs Vivaldi, The perfect start to a collection. Bruch, Dvorak, and more. commanding’ —***Penguin Guide Brahms: Du Pre: Complete Wagner Great Operas Complete Edition Record Of Singing Emi Recordings Bayreuth Festival Orch, Various. DG. 46CD set. Best of Vol.1-4 Du Pre. 17CD set. Bohm. Decca. 33CD set. 4778183. Was $179.95. Various. EMI. 10CD set. 5041672. Was $49.95. 4780279. Was $94.95. Now $134.95. 2289562. Was $52.95. Now $39.95. The ultimate Now $71.95. Limited From Mutter to Now $43.95. The magic collection: collaborations edition: 10 complete Rostropovich, Norman and evolution of recorded with Barenboim, Barbirolli, operas. Includes Bohm's to Barenboim including singing, from 1899 to the Kovacevich. Ring Cycle and Levine's Parsifal. Fischer Dieskau's lieder. Limited edition. end of the 78 era. Berlin Recital Mozart SymphoNies Bach Sonatas And PART 20th CLASSICS Argerich (piano), Kremer Complete Concertos For Violin Various. EMI. 2CD set. (violin). Mackerras. Telarc. 10CD set. Tognetti, ACO. ABC. 2376112. Was $19.95. EMI. 2CD set. 6933992. CD80729. Was $87.95. 5CD set. 4766168. Now $15.95. Choral, Was $31.95. Now $25.95. Now $64.95. ‘One of the Was $46.95 Now $35.95. orchestral and vocal works. The dream couple perform best of its kind.’ —All Music The entire Bach collection ‘Excellent [includes] Schumann & Bartok. Guide. ‘An outstanding by Tognetti: award-winning contraversial early pieces.’ ‘Indispensable!’ —Gramophone series.’ —***Penguin Guide. sonatas, partitas, concertos. —BBC Music Magazine Verdi: Great Operas Beethoven Childrens Classics Puccini: Madama From La Scala Piano Sonatas Storybox Butterfly Various. DG 20CD set. Various. Naxos. 7CD set. Vol. 5 Op 31 & 53 Gheorghiu, Kaufmann. 4778121. Was $79.95. Schiff. ECM. 2CD set. 8507007. Was $59.95. EMI. 2CD set. 2641872. Now $59.95. Recorded ECM194546. Now $49.95. Includes Was $39.95. Now $32.95. Peter and the from 1961-81. Performanc- Was $52.95. Now $29.95. Edna Everage's ‘Immaculately recorded, Wolf es of eight great operas. ‘A revelatory touch.’ and Benjamin Brit- ravishingly played, Young Person's Guide Limited edition, with —Independent ten's . beautifully detailed.’ 70 page booklet. ‘Highly entertaining.’ —***Penguin Guide —*****Independent

Piano Masterworks Casals: Complete Harmonia Mundi 50th Puccini The Operas Various Decca 50CD set. Emi Recordings Anniversary Boxset Various. EMI. 17CD set. 4780474. Was $149.95. Various. HM. 30CD set. 2154602. W.as $52.95. Now $112.95. Almost 60 Casals. EMI. 9CD set. 6949322. Was $52.95. HMX290825079. Was Now $43.95. Complete hours of keyboard pleasure: $149.95. Now $79.95 operas, with legendary EMI sonatas, concertos and Now $43.95. From his tingling Bach suites to 50 masterpieces, with stars. All stereo recordings. solos from the finest Christie, Scholl, Manze, the Beautiful! pianists. Limited edition. orchestral, chamber and encore pieces. Jerusalem Quartet & more.

And more! Over 65 titles available. See the full list of titles at www.readings.com.au.

~ ~ You can also browse and buy at our secure website www.readings.com.au Order Form Post to : PO Box 1066, Carlton, 3053 Send facsimiles to : (03) 9347 1641

Please supply the following items : Please send to :

_____ X ______$ ______Name : ______

_____ X ______$ ______Address : ______

_____ X ______$ ______Postcode : ______Phone : ______X ______$ ______Order No. : ______ Payment enclosed or please charge my  VISA  MC _____ X ______$ ______: ______Card No. $ ______Postage (see rates below) : Expiry Date : __ __ / __ __ Signature : ______

$ ______Total : Please send your free  Monthly Book, DVD & CD Newletter  Psychology Newletter  Kids’ News

POSTAGE RATES: Australia: BOOKS: Melb. Metro: 1-6 books $6.50; Other VIC: 1–6 books $7.50; Anywhere else in Aust: 1-6 books: $7.95 ~ Order 7 or more books and we will pay the surface freight to anywhere in Australia. ~ CDs, DVDs: flat rate: $4.80. Order 6 or more and we’ll pay the surface freight to anywhere in Australia. ~ WEBSITE: Spend $50 or more online and get free freight within Australia. Freight for orders less than $50 is $6.50 within Australia. NEW ZEALAND: Freight for 1-3 items: $7.95; 4 or more items: $10. NOTE: Prices correct at time of printing but subject to change. ~ READINGS ABN : 45 005 153 533. ~ www.readings.com.au. BestsellersAUSTRALIAN FICTION non-fi cfromtion August 1. The Death of Bunny Munro. 1. The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Nick Cave. Text. PB. Special price $27.95 Australian Literature. Nicholas Jose. 2. Breath. Tim Winton. A&U. HB. Normally $69.95. Penguin. PB. $24.95 Our special price $59.95 3. The Slap. Christos Tsiolkas. 2. Dragon Fighter: One Woman's Epic CHILDREN’S BOOKS A&U. PB. $32.95 Struggle For Peace With China. Rebiya 1. Outside In. Chrissie Keighery. 4. The Danger Game. Kalinda Ashton. Kadeer. WW Norton. HB. $47.95 Hardie Grant. PB. $16.95 Sleepers. PB. $24.95 3. Tricky People: Changing Horrible 2. Just Macbeth. Andy Griffiths. 5. This is How. M.J. Hyland. Relationships Before They Ruin Your Life. Macmillan. PB. $14.99 Text. PB. $32.95. Andrew Fuller. Finch. PB. $24.95 3. Eclipse. Stephenie Meyer. 6. The Women in Black. 4. Balibo: Film Tie-in. Jill Joliffe. Atom. PB. $29.99 Madeleine St John. Text. PB. $29.95 Scribe. PB. $29.95 4. New Moon. Stephenie Meyer. 7. Ransom. David Malouf. 5. James Halliday Australian Wine Atom. PB. $29.99 POPULAR CDS Knopf. HB. $29.95 Companion 2010. James Halliday. 5. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. 1. As Day Follows Night. 8. Bloke. Bruce Pascoe. Hardie Grant. PB. $34.95 Fox & Oxenbury. Viking. HB. $24.95 Sarah Blasko. $29.95 Viking. PB. $32.95 6. Handmade in Melbourne. 6. Coraline (Film Tie-In). 2. Gurrumul. G.G. Yunupingu. $29.95 9. Document Z. Andrew Croome. Nancy Ianni & Julia Gaw. Neil Gaiman. Penguin. PB. $15.95 3. Baby Its Cold Outside. Various. $29.95 A&U. PB. $23.99 Geoff Slattery Publishing. PB. $29.95 7. Grace. Morris Gleitzman. 4. Essential Michael Jackson. $19.95 10. The People's Train. 7. Unparalleled Sorrow. Barry Dickins. Penguin. PB. $19.95 5. Far. Regina Spektor. $27.95 Thomas Keneally. Vintage. PB. $32.95 Hardie Grant. PB. $29.95 8. Mr Chicken Goes to Paris. 6. Leonard Cohen Live in London. CD & Peter Sutton. MUP. PB. $34.99 Leigh Hobbs. A&U. HB. $24.95 DVD. $26.95 each or $40 for both FICTION 8. Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping 9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 7. Wilco: The Album. Wilco. $27.95 2009. Ethical Consumer Group. PB. $5 Jeff Kinney. Penguin. PB. $14.95 8. Jersey Boys. Original Cast. $24.95 1. The House In Via Manno. 9. Element: How Finding Your Passion 10. Ask and the Answer: Chaos Walking. 9. Hidden Hands. Jen Cloher. $24.95 Agus Milena. Penguin. PB. $24.95 Changes Everything. Ken Robinson. Patrick Ness. Walker. HB. $29.95 10. 50th Anniversary Play Bach. Jacques 2. Brooklyn. Colm Toibin. Penguin. PB. $32.95 Picador. PB. $32.99 Loussier. $29.95 10. Hide and Seek Melbourne: 3. Dancing Backwards. Salley Vickers. DVDs Explore Australia. Explore Australia. HarperCollins. PB. $22.95 1. Flight of the Conchords CLASSICAL CDS PB. $14.95 4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Season 2. $39.95 1. Celtic Viol. Jordi Savall. $34.95 Pie Society. Mary Ann Shaffer. 2.Waltz With Bashir. 2. Vivaldi: Opera and Oratorio Arias. Penguin. PB. $23.99 Our special price $19.95 Magdalena Kozena. $21.95 5. Children's Book. A.S. Byatt. 3. The Wire Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4. 3. Floodplain. Kronos Quartet. $31.95 Random House. PB. $34.95 $29.95 each 4. Chopin: Piano Works. 6. We Are All Made Of Glue. 4. Glass: A Portrait of Phillip Glass. Maria Joao Pires. $29.95 Marina Lewycka. Penguin. Our special price $19.95 5. Schumann: Music For Cello. PB. $32.95 5. The Wave. $19.95 Stephen Isserlis. $33.95 7. Elegance Of The Hedgehog. 6. You the Living. 6. Essential: Yo Yo Ma. $19.95 Muriel Barbery. Gallic Books. Our special price $19.95 PB. $24.95 7. Opera’s Greatest Choruses. 8. Nocturnes. Kazuo Ishiguro. 7. Man on Wire. Opera Queensland. $21.95 Penguin. PB. $30 Our special price $19.95 8. Emma Matthews in 9. Housekeeper and the Professor. 8. Watchmen. $34.95 Monte Carlo. $21.95 Yoko Ogawa. Random. PB. $32.95 9. My Winnipeg. 9. Life In Song. Bruce Martin. $21.95 10. Home. Marilynne Robinson. Our special price $19.95 10. Schubert: Collection Edition. Virago. PB. $24.99 10. Let the Right One In. $29.95 50 CD Set. $69.95