FREE JULY 2009 Readings Monthly your independent book, music and dVd newsletter • eVents • new releases • reViews ) SEE PAGE 9 ) SEE PAGE P U M ( NG ILLI K IMAGE FROM JEFF SP[ARROW'S NEW BOOK Jeff Sparrow on Killing p 9 July book, CD & DVD new releases. More July new releases inside. FICTION FICTION FICTION NON-FICTION NON-FICTION DVD POP CD CLASSICAL $32.95 $27.95 $32.95 $29.99 $32.99 $35 $34.95 $29.95 $21.95 $34.95 >> p4 >> p5 >> p6 >> p9 >> p10 >> p16 >> p17 >> p19 July Event Highlights at Readings. See more Readings events inside. ANDY GRIFFITHS HELEN GARNER BRIAN CASTRO ANNE SUMMERS AT WESTGARTH AT READINGS AT READINGS AT READINGS THEATRE, HAWTHORN CARLTON HAWTHORN NORTHCOTE All shops open 7 days. 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 7560 email [email protected] Find information about our shops, check event details and browse or shop online at www.readings.com.au 2 Readings Monthly July 2009 From the Editor ‘MagiCAL’ review ThisNEW-LOOK Month’sMARILYNNE News ROBINSON LORD MAyor’s CreaTIVE FOR HOUSE OF EXILE READINGS MONTHLY WINS ORANGE WRITING AWARDS Evelyn Juers must be Readings Monthly has had a makeover! Our The Orange Prize for the best novel written The City of Melbourne and Melbourne delighted with the rave new tabloid format, printed by The Age, gives by a woman was awarded to Marilynne Rob- Library Service are proud to announce the review her book The House us the space for more news, reviews and fea- inson’s Home (Virago, PB, $25), in a unani- inaugural Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing of Exile (Giramondo, PB, tures – and what's more, we're now printed mous decision by the judges. Following on Awards, marking the City of Melbourne’s $32.99) recently received on recycled paper. If you didn't receive your from the Pulitzer prize-winning Gilead, Home status as the second UNESCO City of Lit- in the Times Literary Supple- Readings Monthly in the mail, you must have takes up the story of wayward son Jack who, erature. Project partners include CAE, DA ment, which called it ‘scintil- forgotten to resubscribe. But it's never too after decades away, edgily, uneasily, but finally, Information Services and Readings. Closing lating and rather magical late! Please email [email protected]. returns home. Fi Glover, chair of judges, said: date for entries is Monday, 31 August, giving ... an extraordinary book, and a really rare au or call one of our shops to update your ‘The profound nature of the writing stood entrants three months to submit work and accomplishment’. It’s an ambitious biogra- details. In the meantime, why not accidental- out, as has the ability of the writer to draw have the chance to win a prize in one of four phy of Heinrich and Nelly Mann and their ly-on-purpose take this copy home from your the reader into a world of hope expectation, award categories, or the $5000 grand prize. diverse cast of fellow European artistic and local cafe or your friend's coffee table ... misunderstanding, love and kindness.’ Visit http://www.melbournelibraryservice. intellectual exiles in America, while World com.au/whatson8.htm for more info. War II raged at home – ambitious not just 2009 MILES FRANKLIN IMPAC WINNER in the originality and scope of her subject, GOES TO TIM WINTON An American debut novelist who’s ‘never MY FRIENDS, MY LOVES but in her evocative, intensely creative, The winner of this year's really had a real job’ has won the 2009 COMPETITION novelistic approach. Helen Garner and Miles Franklin Award - Tim IMPAC, the world’s richest literary prize, Hopscotch Films has organised an exclusive David Malouf were among the book’s vocal Winton for Breath (Hamish worth £100,000. Man Goes Down by Michael screening for Readings subscribers to the film fans when it was published here late last Hamilton, PB, $24.95) is Thomas (Grove Atlantic, PB, $24.95) spans My Friends, My Loves. For your chance to win year. TLS reviewer Michael Hofmann both a big surprise and no four days in the life of a black man from Bos- one of 100 double passes to the screening at wrote: ‘I would wish it many thousands surprise at all. A surprise ton, married to a white woman, broke and Cinema Nova on Tuesday 14 July at 6.45pm, of readers … she plays a grandiose and because Christos Tsiolkas's estranged from his family, with just four days go to http://hopscotchfilms.com.au/RSVP/ suspenseful game of literary pooh-sticks word-of-mouth bestseller The to find the money to keep them afloat. The readings. When Mathias moves from Paris to under the arches of the years; she offers a Slap, overall winner of this year's Common- New York Times called the book ‘an impressive London’s South Kensington to join his best detailed and evocative faits divers of exile wealth Prize, had become the clear favourite success’ and praised Thomas’s ‘exceptional eye friend, the divorced Antoine, they decide to (which after all, as Joseph Brodsky claimed, to win. And not a surprise because Winton for detail’. In Dublin to receive the award, establish a new household for their kids by is a tragicomedy). It is amazing how those started the race as prize favourite, because Thomas said: ‘I'm stunned. I had a hard moving in together. With a nod to the warm years, and those people, and those dramas Breath has already been awarded last year's time believing I'd made the shortlist – or the humour of screenwriter Richard Curtis (Not- all live in her pages.’ Age Book of the Year Award, and, well, longlist, for that matter – so I'm still waiting ting Hill, Love Actually), My Friends, My Loves because it's a very fine piece of writing indeed for the punch line.’ is tender, light-hearted entertainment. NICK LOVES SONYA by one of Australia's leading novelists. Fans of Nick Hornby – Reviewing Breath for Readings, Mark Rubbo THAMES & HUDSON VIctORIAN COmmUNITY whose name is almost a wrote: 'Winton's descriptions of the sea and TURNS 60 HISTORY AWARDS 2009 byword for intelligent, funny the act of surfing are magical and represent In July 2009, Thames & Hudson will cel- The Victorian Community History Awards, popular novels (High Fidelity, some of his finest writing ... Breath is a power- ebrate 60 years of proud independent pub- sponsored by Information Victoria, help to Fever Pitch) – no longer have ful disturbing novel, beautifully written; it lishing. Coincidently, it is their 40-year an- keep our true stories alive. This year’s overall to wait for his next book. must be one of Winton's best works yet.' In niversary in Australia! To celebrate, Thames winner is The Chinawoman (Ken Oldis, PB, The pop culture scribe blogs The Age,James Bradley concluded: 'In a way, has chosen 20 of its most influential titles $34.95), published by Arcadia in association intermittently at nickhornby. of course, Breath is a curious novel for a writer from across the years and will publish them with the State Library of Victoria. Though campaignserver.co.uk. In a recent-ish post such as Winton to be writing, not least as special limited edition collector’s items. this book reads like fiction, the copious, about the joys of getting to sample books because at its heart it is the sort of coming-of- These are limited to 1000 sets worldwide. verifiable endnotes attest to its authenticity as and music ahead of the general public, he age story one might normally expect to find And for July only, the top 40 bestsellers from Melbourne history. The novel investigates the gave quite a rap to Sonya Hartnett’s Butterfly in the work of a much younger and less-expe- the iconic World of Art Series will be reduced 1856 murder of the prostitute Sophie Lewis, (Hamish Hamilton, PB, $29.95). ‘You rienced writer. Yet its seeming simplicity is to just $12.95! For almost 50 years, these known as ‘the Chinawoman’ because of her should buy it, because it’s beautiful. Butterfly deceptive, for beneath its pared-back surfaces high quality red-and-black books have been association with Chinese men. is a dreamy, lyrical, sad novel about the lies all the steel of a major novelist operating the essential reference for visual arts and cul- relationship between a lonely girl and her at full throttle in a territory he has spent 25 tural history. One lucky Readings customer STATE LIBRARY OF equally lonely next-door neighbour in the years making his own.' will win a set of World of Art titles and an VICTORIA FOUNDATION Australian suburbs. It’s exquisitely written – exclusive sixtieth anniversary prize pack. Just you end up re-reading sentence after The State Library of Victoria Foundation ALICE MUNRO WINS MAN answer the question: ‘Who founded Thames raises funds and attracts support to help sentence – and unforgettable.’ I absolutely & Hudson?’ and email your answer to clare. concur. Incidentally, Hornby's next book, BOOKER INTERNATIONAL the State Library to deliver services and Canadian short story writer [email protected] by 31 July. programs to the community and to pre- Juliet, Naked (PB, $32.95) will be released Hint: visit www.thameshudson.com.au. late this year. Alice Munro has won the serve Victoria’s cultural heritage.