Free september 2011 Readings Monthly

Kate Veitch on Peggy Frew • Michael Ondaatje • Anna Funder image from cover of the naked boy and crocodile ( M acmillan) Indigenous Literacy Day, 7 September 2011 Buy a copy of The Naked Boy and the Crocodile and support Indigenous literacy. Find out more on p14

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

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All shops open 7 days, except State Library shop, which is open Mon- Sat. 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 Readings at the State Library of Victoria 328 Swanston St 8664 7540 email us at [email protected] Browse and buy online at www.readings.com.au and at ebooks.readings.com.au Free shipping at www.readings.com.au on all book, music, DVD and blu-ray orders, anywhere in Australia, for all of September.

Based on real people and A sweepingly evocative Enter a vanished world: From the combined events, All That I Am is a account of the end Jackson, Mississippi, talents of celebrated masterful and exhilarating of an era Midnight in 1962. Where black maids author Sonya Hartnett exploration of bravery and Peking is a gripping and raise white children, but and illustrator Lucia betrayal. The gripping, highly atmospheric true aren’t trusted not to steal Masciullo comes this tale compassionate fi rst novel crime story about the the silver... A timeless of friendship and bravery, by the acclaimed author of murder of an English and universal story about and the things we are Stasiland. schoolgirl during the the lines we abide by, and capable of doing for those last heady days of the the ones we don’t. Now a we treasure most. 1930s colonial Peking. major motion picture. penguin.com.au 2 Readings Monthly September 2011

Meet the bookseller From the Editor with … Jessica Au, Readings St Kilda father's day picks ThisIndigenous Month’sin the 50 Books You News Can’t Put Down guide will Ah, it’s that time of year Literacy Foundation receive either a free collection of brand-new again: Father’s Day. And Fundraisers Australian short stories 10 Short Stories You what better gift for Dad Must Read in 2011, or a free children’s book, The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) The Land of Dragonsby Emily Rodda. than a book, yes? aims to raise literacy levels and improve the (Though a DVD or CD, lives and opportunities of indigenous Austra- September vinyl sale: or even vinyl – for lians living in remote and isolated regions. hipster-dad – would also 20% off All proceeds from the sale of The Naked Boy Why do you work in books? go down quite well, of and the Crocodile edited by Andy Griffiths Readings has a brilliant range of vinyl LPs, course.) Is the dad in ($16.99, PB, Pan Macmillan) at Readings from new release pop and rock, to classics I reasoned it thus: 1. I love books. 2. your life one of those in September are donated to the cause. See albums and jazz – and there’s 20% off all Bookshops stock books. Therefore, I will who still talks about the good old days of The page 14 for a review of the book and more vinyl during September at Readings Carlton, love bookshops. So far, the theory’s held Wire? If so, you might want to give him a information on the ILF. St Kilda and Hawthorn (offer not available good. Wire fix with The Cut (Orion, PB, Normally online). $33, Our special price $27.95) the latest Indigenous Literacy What’s the best book you’ve read lately and from one of the series’ writers, crime novelist Art Auction National Poetry Week why? George Pelecanos. It’s about an ex-military You can also help support the ILF by attend- National Poetry Week 5 – 11 September Melanie Joosten’s Berlin Syndrome – tense, man who takes on a job looking for a dealer’s ing an Art Auction on 9 September 9 2011 raises the awareness, appreciation and sharp and beautifully written. Her take on stash – and things get complicated. from 6pm – 8.30pm. Funds will be raised participation of the Australian community Stockholm Syndrome is incredibly deft, through the sale of original and limited- with this engaging, but often overlooked, art especially when you consider the various If Dad is into cyber-adventure, and likes form. Be a supporter of your local poets and to laugh (what dad doesn’t – heard of the edition artwork from both indigenous and layers of privacy and fear in a once-divided non-indigenous artists (including children). visit Readings on Buy Australian Poetry Day city, combined with a now-divided love. I term ‘dad joke’?), he’ll love Max Barry’s on Tuesday 6 September. Find out more at latest, Machine Man (Scribe, PB, Normally Monies raised from the sale of the indig- couldn’t put it down. enous art will be used to purchase literacy www.australianpoetry.org. $29.95, Our special price $27.95). It’s about a What have you noticed people buying lately? scientist who sees a lost leg as an opportunity, resources for the communities from where World Movies Sale A lot of copies of Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals. and begins to build an altogether better body, it has come. The event will take place at the Rediscover classics or start your foreign film Apparently everyone in Melbourne is piece by machine piece. John Birmingham, Wheeler Centre and cost of entry is $25 library with the Umbrella Entertainment/ pan-frying duck, liquefying cherries and Wil Anderson and The Chaser’s Julian Mor- including drinks and canapés. Bookings are Readings World Movies sale. A fine selec- skilleting at warp speed whilst exclaiming row are all fans. Funny dads will also love the essential and can be made at www.trybook- tion of foreign language films are available at ‘that’s pucker’ at regular intervals. publishing satire How to be a Famous Novelist ing.com/11775. For further information on reduced prices – DVDs priced at $14.95 each (Black Inc., PB, $19.95) by Steve Hely, a the ILF and this event, visit www.indigenou- or three for $30. Titles include La Dolce Vita, sliteracyfoundation.org.au. What’s the strangest experience you’ve had in writer for The Office and 30 Rock. It’s had rave Cinema Paradiso, Jules et Jim, Nosferatu and a bookshop? reviews, including ‘Funny as hell’ from The Classical Box Set Sale many more (offer not available online). Australian and Anson Cameron in The Age Bookshops are probably one of the sanest said he’d only read two books in his life as For a fantastic classical music selection visit Readings St Kilda/Slow places on earth and while I wish I had funny as Hely’s: Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear Readings and browse the titles available in Down Sustainable some wild, capering story right out of an and Loathing in Las Vegas and John Kenny our Fabulous Classical Box Set Sale. Over 65 Food Promotion episode of Black Books, I don’t. The strang- Classical Box Sets to choose from at up to est thing that’s ever happened was when I Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces. Big call. Readings St Kilda and Slow Down eco- 50% off. See a full listing of available titles found out that a customer had the exact friendly cafe are joining forces to promote Malcolm Knox’s Great Australian Surfing and buy online at www.readings.com.au or same name as me, which let’s face it, is eating and living more sustainably this Novel, The Life (A&U, PB, Normally $33.99, visit our shops at Carlton, Hawthorn, Port only mildly bizarre. Our special price $27.95) is a great novel, Melbourne, St Kilda, Malvern and the State month. Step into Readings St Kilda to get plain and simple. Taking real-life surfing leg- Library of Victoria. Limited stock at these a 20% discount on six fantastic titles with What’s the best experience you’ve had in a end Michael Peterson as inspiration, it’s about prices. More information on p19. information about the origins of ethical and bookshop? sustainable food. With every title purchased fame, competition, family, friends, love and As simple and pedestrian as it sounds, I’ve betrayal. Brilliantly written and characterised, Get Reading! you will also receive a coupon for a com- plimentary glass of ‘Organic One’ Reserve got to say it’s pretty good when you see idiosyncratic and utterly engrossing. For Get Reading!, Australia’s largest annual cele- the books of people you know (whether literary dads and sporting dads alike. Literary bration of books and reading, is an Australian Shiraz or Chardonnay when having lunch or dinner at Slow Down eco-friendly cafe (56 writers or editors) being sold in front of dads will also love Julian Barnes’ Sense of an Government initiative developed by the Aus- you. Ending (Jonathan Cape, Normally $29.95, tralia Council for the Arts. This September, Acland Street, St Kilda). This is the one time Our special price $24.95), longlisted for the customers who buy any of the titles featured you should hurry: offer ends September 30. What’s your favourite book of all time and Booker and already on Readings’ bestseller why? lists within a week of hitting our shelves. A This question always stumps me: my brain bit reminiscent of Ian McEwan’s On Chesil baulks at the thought of having to choose Beach in its ability to tackle weighty themes just one. But today, I’m in a classical elegantly and concisely. mood so will go with Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘Don’t men like books written by women Never Let Me Go. The way he uses narra- too?’ I hear you say. Of course they do. Anna tive structure, with those drips of detail Funder’s marvellous literary thriller, All That and memory, completely floored me the I Am (Viking, PB, $29.95) is based on a true first time I read it. Even the title, which, story, set in London in the 1930s, among when you think about it, holds such German refugees trying to take down Hitler beautiful sadness – it’s a command for from afar, stalked by both the Gestapo and something that can never really be done. Scotland Yard. Engrossing, exciting and plain excellent. And Kate Grenville’s local historical Name a book that has changed the way you fictionSarah Thornhill (Text, HB, Normally think – in ways small or large. $39.99, Our special price $34.95), the sequel In a small way, maybe Jennifer Egan’s to The Secret River, will also appeal widely. A Visit From the Goon Squad, because Lastly, daughters would do well to give dad it made me realise that PowerPoint can Alice Pung’s Her Father’s Daughter (Black Inc., actually be deeply moving, and that there PB, $29.95), her profoundly moving tribute is such a thing as a modern novel that to her dad and his journey from Cambodia in can pull off experimental writing in an the years of Pol Pot and Year Zero to the safe ‘‘Just read me the f**k this book’’ altogether brilliant, non-irksome way. suburbs of Melbourne. Jessica Au is the author of a new novel, —Jo Case Cargo (Picador. PB. $19.95). Oslo Davis www.oslodavis.com

CINEMA NOVA RECOMMENDS Visit the new Cinema Nova Bar EWAN McGREGOR CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER In a similar vein to Rushmore and Boy, Richard Ayoade's When Oliver's father coming of age comedy finds a high school outsider trying Hal reveals a long- to understand first-love and family instability. kept secret, Oliver is inspired to pursue life NOAH TAYLOR SALLY HAWKINS and love with new vigour in Mike Mills' 380 LYGON ST CARLTON touching comedy. www.cinemanova.com.au Online bookings available “Touchingly personal and altogether extraordinary” “A delicate and potent new British comedy” Join our e-news for updates on the Met Opera, NOW SHOWING Rolling Stone National Theatre and other stage spectaculars. COMMENCES SEPTEMBER 8 New Yorker Readings Monthly September 2011 3

176 pages filled with photos and text, with and a Lost Tasmanian Wilderness (UQP, HB, some photos never before seen. Friday 23 $59.95). Tuesday 6 September, 6.30pm, September, 6pm, Readings St Kilda. Free, Readings St Kilda. Free, but please book on but bookings essential: 9525 3852 9525 3852. Anne Longmire SeptemberAll our Readings book and music events are An UnwinnableEvents War: Australia to Afghanistan Anna Gare 24 Anne Longmire’s The Catalysts: Change and entry by gold coin donation, unless other- (MUP, PB, $36.99). Thursday 8 Septem- Meet Anna Gare, cook and Junior MasterChef Continuity 1910–2010 (PB, $19.95) is the wise stated. Please note that bookings do not ber, 6.30pm, Readings Hawthorn. Free, but judge, celebrating her new book, Homemade story of a women’s club. Tuesday 6 Septem- guarantee a seat, but rather indicate to us the please book on 9819 1917. (Fremantle Press, HB, $49.95). Saturday 24 ber, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton, Free, no number of people to expect. To see more events September, 10.30am, Readings Hawthorn. need to book. or for updates on new events please visit the Free, but please book on 9819 1917. events page at www.readings.com.au. 12 Mridula Koshy, Catherine Harris Stephanie Holder Paul Collins will launch Stephanie’s debut and Tony Birch 28 Sophie Cunningham YA book Sage (PB, $29.95). Join us for a 3 Fabian Capomolla Join us for a terrific night with Mridula Ko- in conversation with celebration of young minds. Wednesday 7 & Mat Pember shy (If It Is Sweet, Brass Monkey Books, PB, Jeff Sparrow September, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. Free, Fabian Capomolla and Mat Pember run a $24.95), Catherine Harris (Like Being a Wife, Over a glass of wine, Sophie and Jeff will no need to book. successful business installing edible gardens. Vintage, PB, $24.95) and Tony Birch (Father’s discuss Melbourne (the good, the bad and In celebration of The Little Veggie Patch Day, Hunter, PB, $24.95) discussing the art the ugly) in celebration of Sophie’s Melbourne Carolyn Morwood Co. (Plum, PB, Normally $45, Our special of the short story with The Big Issue’s associ- (New South, HB, $29.95). Wednesday 28 Death and the Spanish Lady (Pulp Fiction, price $39.95) they’ll be creating one of their ate editor Melissa Cranenburgh. Monday September, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. PB, $21.95) is a murder mystery set in Mel- very special gardens outside Readings Port 12 September, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. Free, but please book on 9347 6633. bourne during the Spanish Flu pandemic. Melbourne. Saturday 3 September, 11am, Free, but please book on 9347 6633. Friday 9 September, 6.30pm, Readings Readings Port Melbourne. Free, but please Carlton. Free, no need to book. Alison Thompson book on 9681 9255. Guy Mirabella 28 13 Alison Thompson’s The Third Wave (Scribe, Katie Evans Known as an author, cook and designer, Guy PB, $27.95) tells the story of how volunteer- Mirabella’s Hungry: Food From My Heart Little Things for Busy Hands: 16 Crafty 3 Maggie Stiefvater ing changed her life. A filmmaker, she also Projects for Kids to Make Without a Sewing Maggie is the New York Times bestselling (Plum, HB, Normally $49.99, Our special recorded it as a documentary. Shot in 2004 price $39.95) is the food he cooks at home Machine (Penguin, PB, $24.95) by Katie author of Shiver. Forever (Scholastic, HB, in Sri Lanka in the wake of the tsunami, it Evans is bright and colourful. Sunday 11 $24.99) is the third book in the Shiver and for the customers at his Shop Ate Cafe recounts how Thompson and her partner left and Store on Melbourne’s Mornington Pen- September, 2.30pm, Readings Hawthorn, trilogy. Saturday 3 September, 10.30am, New York with little more than a handful of Free, no need to book. Readings Hawthorn. Free, but please book ninsula. Tuesday 13 September, 6.30pm, dollars to try to help the victims. Join us for on 9819 1917. Readings Hawthorn. $20 per person. an evening viewing of the film followed by a Michelle Aung Thin Includes a glass of wine and tastes from the Q&A. Wednesday 28 September, 6.30pm The Monsoon Bride (Text, PB, $29.95) is cookbook. Bookings essential: 9819 1917. Emily Rodda – 8.30pm, Cinema Nova. Tickets at Cinema Michelle’s debut novel. Wednesday 14 Sep- 3 Nova. $11/$8. Bookings at the Nova. tember, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. Free, no Emily Rodda, author of the Deltora Quest need to book. novels, will be talking about The Golden 15 Stephen Banham Door (Omnibus, PB, $16.99), the first in Typography artist and researcher Stephen 29 Marieke Hardy Grace McQuilten Banham will talk about Characters: Cultural her new Three Doors trilogy, peopled by In celebration of Marieke Hardy’s kiss, tell Anthony White will launch Art in Consumer Stories Revealed Through Typography(Thames monsters and supernatural beings. Saturday (and laugh) book, You’ll Be Sorry When I’m Culture: Mis-Design (Ashgate, HB, $128.70). & Hudson, HB, $49.95), his stories about 3 September, 12pm, Readings Hawthorn. Dead (A&U, PB, $29.99), join us for a glass Thursday 15 September, 6.30pm, Readings the signs seen around Melbourne. Thursday Free, but please book on 9819 1917. of wine and intimate conversation. Thursday Carlton. Free, no need to book. 15 September, 6pm, Readings State Library 29 September, 6.30pm, Readings St Kilda. of Victoria. Free, but bookings essential: Free, but please book on 9525 3852. Peggy Frew 6 Andrew Robb 8664 7540. One lucky person will win a Clare Bowditch will launch House of Sticks In Black Dog Daze: Public Life, Private lightbox. Free tote bag with every book sold. (Scribe, PB, $29.95), the debut novel of Art Demons (MUP, PB, $34.99), Andrew Robb 29 Alice Pung of Fighting bassist Peggy Frew. Thursday 15 describes the challenges he faced in manag- Laura Jean Alice Pung’s Her Father’s Daughter (Black September, 6pm, Bella Union Bar, Trades 15 Inc., PB, $29.95) is both the story of grow- ing depression, political ambition and life Laura Jean’s new album, A Fool Who’ll, is dark, Hall. Free, no need to book. in the Liberal Party. Tuesday 6 September, ing up in Melbourne as a young woman claustrophobic and even menacing, but suf- and of how her family came to Australia Melinda Tankard Reist 6.30pm, Readings Hawthorn. Free, but fused with a fierce beauty that is pure Laura please book on 9819 1917. from Cambodia. Thursday 29 September, Clive Hamilton, Professor of Public Ethics at Jean. Thursday 15 September, 6pm, Read- 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. Free, but please ings St Kilda. Friday 23 September, 6pm, Charles Sturt University, will launch book on 9347 6633. Readings Carlton. Free, no need to book. Big Porn Inc (Spinifex, PB, $34.95). Thurs- 7 Indigenous Literacy day 15 September, 6 for 6.30pm start, Read- ings Hawthorn. Free, no need to book. Day: tara june winch 30 signing: Alexander In celebration of this day, any purchase of 15 Katie Evans McCall Smith Join us to meet Katie as she takes us through Francesca The Naked Boy and the Crocodile(Pan, PB, Mr McCall Smith will be in our shop sign- a cosy afternoon of craft activities from Little Rendle-Short $16.99) will directly benefit the Indigenous Unusual Uses Things for Busy Hands: 16 Crafty Projects ing copies of his latest book, Join us as Carrie Tiffany launches Bite Your Literacy Day Fund. Join us for Story Time for Olive Oil: A Von Igelfeld Novel for Kids to Make Without a Sewing Ma- (Little, Tongue (Spinifex, PB, $27.95). Tuesday 20 with author Tara June Winch. Wednesday 7 Brown, HB, $27.95). Fri 30 September, September, 4.30pm, Readings Hawthorn. chine (Penguin, PB, $24.95). Thursday 15 September, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. Free, 1pm, Readings Hawthorn. Free, but please Free, but please book on 9819 1917. September, 4.30pm – 5.30pm, Readings no need to book. Hawthorn. $25 per person. Includes a copy book on 9819 1917. of the book and a craft project. Suitable for Jessica Whyte 8 Fiona Harari 7 – 11 year olds. Places limited. with Alex Murray A Tragedy in Two Parts (Fiona Harari, Victory, Jessica Whyte and Alex Murray will launch PB, $34.99) tells the story of Marcus Einfeld their edited collection The Agamben and Teresa Brennan, people who spent their 18 ThinkInc.org.au BLaunchesrian Thacker Dictionary (Edinburgh University Press, lives establishing honourable reputations, but Readings will be selling books at Think Inc. Tell Them to Get Lost(Heinemann, PB, PB, $54.95) - the first dictionary dedicated lost it all in a web of lies. Thursday 8 Sep- this year. The line-up includes some of the $27.95) is the story of Brian Thacker’s trav- to the work of Giorgio Agamben. Thursday tember, 6pm for a 6.30pm start, Readings world’s most prominent scientists, rational- els with the Lonely Planet as his companion. 22 September, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. Carlton. Free, but please book on 9347 6633. ists and sceptics, including astrophysicist Thursday 1 September, 6.30pm, Readings Free, no need to book. Neil deGrasse Tyson and environmental St Kilda. Free, no need to book. scientist Tim Flannery. Sunday 18 Septem- Nicholas Gresson 8 Michael Gudinski ber, 9am, Melbourne Convention Centre. Carlton Community A Life in Poetry: Nicholas Lyon Gresson (ASP, Every Poster Tells a Story! 30 Years of The Bookings on www.thinkinc. Cookbook PB, $24.95), edited by Professor Eliza- Frontier Touring Company (Frontier Tour- To celebrate Carlton’s cultural diversity, beth Grierson, brings together 55 years of ing Company, HB, Normally $69.95, Our Nicholas Lyon Gresson’s poetry. Monday 26 18 Anna Pignataro Melbourne’s international student’s news special price $59.95) celebrates 30 years of the publication Meld Magazine embarked on a September, 6.30pm, Readings Carlton. Anna Pignataro will be reading her new Frontier Touring Company. Thursday 8 Sep- grassroots-driven project, Home Cooked. Fri- Free, no need to book. book in the beloved Princess and Fairy series, tember, 6.30pm, Readings St Kilda. Free, day 2 September, 6.30pm, Readings Carl- Princess and Fairy Fairytale Parade (Scholas- but please book on 9525 3852. Ten lucky ton. Free, no need to book. people to buy the book on the night win a tic, HB, $19.99). Sunday 18 September, free double pass to a Steely Dan concert. 10.30am, Readings Port Melbourne. Alan Loney Free, but please book on 9681 9255. Join us for the launch of Alan Loney’s Anne and in October Suitable for three to five year olds. of the Iron Door (Black Pepper, PB, $26.95). Graeme Base 8 Barry Cassidy 4 in conversation with Monday 5 September, 6.30pm, Readings Graeme Base takes us on a stunning journey Karen Middleton 23 Baron Wolman Carlton. Free, no need to book. through an ancient world in The Jewel Fish of Baron Wolman was the first photographer Karnak (Penguin, HB, $29.95). Tuesday 4 Karen Middleton is a political journalist Natasha Cica for Rolling Stone magazine. His book, Every October, 4.30pm, Readings Hawthorn. with over 20 years experience on national Picture Tells a Story: Baron Wolman, The Roll- George Megalogenis will launch Natasha Free, but bookings essential: 9819 1917. and international affairs. Her new book is Cica’s Pedder Dreaming: Olegas Truchanas ing Stone Years (Music Sales, HB, $49.95) is 4 Readings Monthly September 2011 New Australian Writing Feature

RightKate Veitch talks to Peggy here, Frew about her debut right novel House of Sticks now (Scribe, PB, $29.95)

jobs to support myself as a musician’, Frew guarantee of publication, but a bevy of Aus- enrolled in the Professional Writing and tralia’s best publishers were soon vying for Editing course at RMIT. It took her six House of Sticks. Frew’s decision to go with years to complete the two year diploma, the small, highly regarded independent largely because motherhood intervened. Scribe was based largely on the editorial And it’s her depiction of the way moth- support she felt she’d receive. erhood intervenes in life that is one of House of Sticks’ greatest and most original Although the children are not this novel’s strengths. Remarkably few novels even at- main characters, we see, reading it, that tempt to get inside the experience of preg- Frew shares Helen Garner’s gift for giving nancy, birth and breast-feeding; of being us their astonishingly distinct personalities, that sentimentalised and despised creature, their private games and their random pas- the at-home mum, and the consequences sions, in just a few lines, or a bare handful – social, sexual, emotional and financial – of words. As Frew’s clear eye observes the that flow from there. shoreline of domestic life, we realise that what should be safe and familiar is becom- It’s not that Bonnie didn’t want to become ing veiled by dark, unsettling mists. A thing a mother: she did, very much. But as the as trivial as a missing flower pot evokes a French essayist Anatole France wrote, ‘All creeping sense of dread. We begin to fear changes, even the most longed for, have that something terrible is going to happen their melancholy; for what we leave behind as a result of Doug’s intrusion into Bonnie’s us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one household; the sway that this ramshackle life before we can enter another.’ We un- man has over the five-year-old twins feels derstand this, culturally, rather literally, and particularly ominous, and reminded me of mostly as something in which men engage: Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw. In this think of all the award-winning movies and realm, innocence can turn to menace in a books that deal with death in terms of war, moment, love to resentment, and trust to prickling suspicion. Former Art of Fighting This is a young woman deep in the trans- bassist Peggy Frew won the formative crucible of early motherhood Frew says it’s a place she’s long been drawn Unpublished Manuscript – a crucible her creator knows very well. to. ‘I’ve always been interested in coming- Award Category of last Author Peggy Frew lives with her partner ‘[This] story of a of-age stories, the dividing lines between year’s Victorian Premier’s in Melbourne’s inner north, and when I the worlds of adults and of children. I’ve Literary Awards for visit her there I watch their three kids, all young mother in the done some writing that explores these House of Sticks. blonde-haired and fine-boned like their themes from the child’s perspective – about This came on the heels mother, spool out and eddy around her. suburbs also holds the often confusing awakening we all go of another pretty damn She hasn’t played bass guitar in her old through, when we start to glimpse the adult impressive award two band, Art of Fighting, for some years. Like some of the big world and its machinations, but don’t fully years earlier – The Age Short Story Award. Bonnie too, she filches what time she can understand it. I think those experiences can And now, House of Sticks (Scribe, PB, away from motherhood for her creative issues of our times have a profound effect on people, and on $29.95), a revealing and suspenseful novel of work: writing, lately, rather than music. the adults we end up being.’ family life, has made the journey from manu- House of Sticks, she explains, ‘draws on real up to the light and ‘But having children of my own added to script to novel. It’s earned accolades from fellow life, and on experiences I’ve had. But it is the equation; now I was in the position of musician Clare Bowditch and novelist Kate fiction. Bonnie isn’t me, even though I’ve skillfully, lovingly, wanting, impossibly, to protect my own Veitch (Listen, Truth), who interviewed Peggy used my own experiences to form her, and kids from any kind of disturbing or hurtful for Readings’ New Australian Writing series. the same applies to all the other characters.’ allusively, examines confusion. I was faced with the agonies of But Frew is admirably sanguine about the being responsible for – essentially – inno- likelihood that many readers will assume them.’ cents. How much to control? How much to the novel to be largely autobiographical. protect, without smothering? How to allow rom the first line of House of Indeed, she says, ‘I expect it’. them to develop resilience and indepen- Sticks, we know we’re inside a or of committing or solving murders. dence without putting them at risk?’ contemporary Australian family. ‘I think readers often make these assump- Yet the subtle, profound and far more tions – I know I do. They’ll see the similari- ‘Shit,’ says Bonnie, as she pulls common change – and no less dramatic These are questions pertinent not only to ties, and they don’t know what the differ- up outside her home, and her for being so widespread – that bearing and parents of small children but, in a wider ences are. So it’s going to happen, and in almost-five-year-old twins in the rearing children brings to our lives is barely sense, to all of us in Australia. Right here, some ways that actually makes me feel freer back seat don’t turn a hair. Nor is Bonnie examined in fiction or film, and is almost right now: how much do we fear the to use real life as a starting point: I might as herself – never considered prize-worthy material. other – the person whose ways are strange F well, if that’s what people are going to think despite being, as we will soon learn, a to us? And with what justification? What anyway. You just have to take the inspira- House of Sticks chronic apologiser – in the least cha- may be the novel which values do we hold most dear, as a society, tion as it comes and be grateful for it.’ grined: almost unthinkable in a British or breaks this mould. Frew got stuck into it af- and as individuals? Are we, like Bonnie, ter winning The Age Short Story Award in American novel about a family that’s white, Peggy Frew grew up in a family inspired by so afflicted with self-doubt that we cannot middle-class December 2008. She describes that award develop our own robust morality? both words and music. She remembers, as a as ‘enormously important, and validating’ and intact. We’re right here, right now. small child, sitting in the bathroom with an of her writing aspirations (and she also tells And I wonder: could the judges of our enormous book of poetry open on her lap, Bonnie lives in the inner suburbs of one of those droll, grotty, self-deprecating literary awards consider House of Sticks as reading aloud to her mother lying in the Melbourne, and has put her career as a stories – the trench humour of parent- seriously as a novel about a man returning bath. ‘I read a lot, and wrote stories. Then guitarist on hold to be a full-time mother. hood – about her two-day-old son vomiting damaged from war, or one in which the fe- later, well into my teens, I became self- She adores the twins, new baby Jess, and mightily all over himself, and her, and even male character’s main role is that of corpse? conscious about my own writing and more partner Mick, who makes furniture in the the phone on which Age literary editor Ja- It would be a bold step, to recognise how or less stopped. I had the awful realisation backyard workshop. So, what is Bonnie son Steger, who had rung to tell her of the the story of a young mother in the suburbs that writing is a skill requiring practice swearing about? Parked outside their house, win, was at that moment asking how soon also holds some of the big issues of our and refinement – and I was so mortified by she’s spotted the van belonging to a feckless he could send out a photographer). The times up to the light and skillfully, lovingly, the imperfection of my early efforts that old buddy of Mick’s, Doug: a bloke who first draft of the novel – most of it written allusively examines them. pushes every button in her anxiously self- I lost the nerve to push through. Also, I at night, while her kids were sleeping – was was young and distractible, and life offered doubting psyche. For Bonnie is someone finished just in time for submission to the Kate Veitch’s latest novel is Trust (Viking, other opportunities: music came along and riven with uncertainty about herself, and Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an PB, $24.95) filled that creative space.’ striving with every breath to be a better Unpublished Manuscript in 2010, which person than she feels she is. In her mid-twenties, ‘sick of doing crap it won. This award doesn’t come with any Readings Monthly September 2011 5

Mark’s say Book of the Month News and views from Readings’ The Cat’s Table managing director Mark Rubbo Michael Ondaatje Jonathan Cape. Normally $29.95 Anna Funder on her I’ve just been to Papua Our special price $24.95 New Guinea, staying There’s a wealth – some may say an overabun- first foray into fiction in villages in the Jo Case interviews Anna Funder about All That I Am (Viking, PB, $29.95) Kokoda area. I didn’t dance – of vivid imagery walk the trail, but I and lyrical prose in the did walk five or so critically acclaimed novels London – including a great deal of the kilometres up it to the village of Koveo. of Michael Ondaatje. detail, is true. Dora Fabian, Ernst Toller, Paul Ham’s Kokoda (Harper Collins, Indeed, his prose can be Ruth Blatt, Hans and Bertie all did the PB $35) was excellent preparation, so richly layered and things I have them doing. The death especially his account of the first poetically imagined that it can be of the women in the locked room in Japanese attack at Kokoda station and frustratingly inaccessible, as many readers Bloomsbury, the betrayal by Hans of his the Australian soldiers’ subsequent of his previous novel Divisidero (2007) friend Bertie, and the subsequent white- retreat through the rubber plantations. will attest. Fortunately, this criticism can’t wash of an inquest are all pretty literally I have to confess that I’ve not read be levelled at The Cat’s Table, in which true. I made Ruth and Dora cousins much military history and was sur- Ondaatje’s trademark elliptical narrative instead of friends because to explain a prised by the lyricism and tenderness style is replaced with a predominantly female friendship would have required of Ham’s account of the bloody cam- linear structure and a highly accessible a whole other, or whole different book, paign. I’d visited PNG many years ago first-person narrative. and I wanted to have some scenes from their family homes so we knew where and when a friend who’d spent some of Ondaatje presents this as fiction, but they’d come from. Ruth’s real husband his childhood in the Kokoda area said readers familiar with his 1982 memoir betrayed her to the Nazis, Hans Wese- he was going back, I begged to accom- Running in the Family will likely be The idea of choosing not to witness – and man’s real wife was a well-to-do Jewish pany him. sceptical. His protagonist is a Sri Lankan- the moral responsibilities that carries – is woman. I married them off to each other born man named Michael who recounts My friend Mark, with his mother and central to the book. There are characters to condense the narrative. I would never a journey that he took in the 1950s, stepfather, had been helping local who don’t see things they don’t want to do the kind of violence to history that travelling from Colombo to England on villages to set up home stays to try to know about those closest to them. And on mistakes the Nazis (or the Stasi) for the the ocean liner Oronsay. (Like his fic- generate some tourist income. It hadn’t a national level, Britain seems to wilfully heroes – in that sense it’s important to tional namesake, Ondaatje was 11 when been a huge success, partly because of choose not to know what is happening get your moral compass straight, even in he travelled to England from Colombo circumstances beyond the villagers’ under Hitler’s regime in Berlin, with what a murky world. At a plot level too, All in 1954 to join his mother, who had di- control – the unfounded bad reputa- we know will be catastrophic consequences. That I Am is necessarily fiction: no one vorced his alcoholic father and moved to tion of PNG (admittedly Port Moresby How important was this idea for you? knows what happened in that locked London.) One can’t help but feel that the is ‘challenging’) and a cyclone four room. And though on a good day I have storyline and characters here owe much I think we all can have staggering areas years ago, which made access difficult. the outrageous hubris to think I have to memories of this journey, particularly of blindness, most of which come from solved the real mystery as well as anyone Kokoda is bounded on one side by the when it comes to the sense of dislocation some kind of need – to live in a world can, that wasn’t my real purpose with the daunting Owen Stanley Ranges and – physical, cultural and emotional – that where our partner is what we want, where book. The purpose was to make these on the other by the valley that leads to resonates throughout. we are ourselves who we want to be. people live, and to allow the rest of us to Popondetta and eventually the northern Where our government is humane and In the novel, each passenger on the ship is feel a little what those high-stakes lives coast; it was this route that the Japanese wise. That these things are not necessarily allocated to a particular dinner table. were like. used. Around the fertile foothills lie the case is natural enough. But the desire Michael finds himself sharing Table 76 many small communities living largely to live a life governed by fictions and the with two boys, Cassius and Ramadhin, Ruth reflects, at the end of the book: ‘Imag- subsistence-based lives, augmented by consequent blindnesses they require is and a group of adults including a pianist, ining the life of another is an act of compas- a few cash crops such as rubber, cocoa, very interesting to me. My characters are a botanist and the mysterious pigeon- sion as holy as any.’ What significance does and coffee. Local employment oppor- hugely idealistic – they think the previous fancier Miss Lasqueti, who notes at the this observation have? Do you think stories tunities are limited mainly to arduous generation’s faith in God and country first meal that they have been assigned have a role to play in inviting people to work on the oil palm plantations. was ridiculous and disastrous, they think the least-privileged location in the dining imagine the lives of others and empathise they can see through the world, and with them? Our small plane was met by people room, as far as possible from the Captain’s they have wonderful ideals about what is from the villages we were to stay at. Table (hence the book’s title). Exploring possible. These beliefs are a kind of high- I think they are the most powerful means Onus had walked 100 km from where the ship with Cassius and Ramadhin, level intoxicant, but sometimes circum- we have. We will not find out about he was working to take us to his vil- learning the stories of its many mysteri- stances can just stretch you too thin, you consciousness through mathematicians lage, Savaia, about an hour’s walk into ous and eccentric passengers, becomes an might find you just don’t have the inner and philosophers, though they are hard at the foothills. Crouching on a small educational and emotional rite of passage resources to see what’s right in front of it and will no doubt illuminate it incred- plateau, cradled by the Owen Stanleys, that the adult Michael acknowledges as you, and then to deal with it. (I find this ibly. It’s always stories that we take into this community of about 30 homes being the single most influential experi- all the time – it’s a kind of psychological ourselves and that can then become part welcomed us through a colonnade ence of his life: ‘Sometimes we find our short-sheeting that pulls you up!) of our own experience. There seems to made of palms and flowers; later Onus true and inherent selves during youth. me still something magical and power- proudly took us on a tour of the village, It is a recognition of something that at These ideas run through the book – they ful about the act of reading, how it can patiently explaining the elaborate clan first is small within us, that we will grow seemed to me a powerful lever to exam- expand your inner universe. structure, just before the kids of the into somehow.’ On board the Oronsay, ine what it is to be human. Of course village erupted onto an open field for Michael experiences friendship, kindness, although Ruth has areas of blindness, Although we know how larger historical an impromptu soccer game. That night, exploitation, adventure and the first stir- Dora and Toller might be said to see too events will play out, most readers won’t the generator was started in our honour rings of sexuality. And the motley group much. In some ways maybe blindness is know the fate in store for individual char- and the people of Savaia took the op- of diners at Table 76 will influence him protective. As for the political situation, I acters. In a sense, All That I Am reads like portunity to watch ‘fighting’ DVDs. most – ‘It would always be strangers like was writing this as children seeking refuge a literary thriller, and looking back at it, it’s The next morning Richmond arrived them, at the various Cat’s Tables of my here were being locked up indefinitely in obvious you’ve cleverly seeded vital clues as to take us to his neighbouring vil- life, who would alter me.’ prison camps in our suburbs. Politically to how events will unfold. Were you mind- it seems to be possible not to ‘see’ ships ful of keeping the reader in suspense? lage, Foke. After a short walk crossing The themes of the book are those of refugee Jews, or of refugee Hazarias, as mountain streams we climbed a steep Ondaatje returns to again and again Yes, I hope it’s a thriller. What I really people as deserving of a decent life on the path and emerged onto a plateau and in his novels and poetry: the relation- didn’t want was to have the dead women planet as ourselves. were greeted by a man in traditional ship of the present to the past, the links in the opening, and then some kind of garb. Afterwards, Richmond organised between memory and history, and the You drew on the real lives of your central pas-de-deux between a detective figure demonstrations of local activities, a uneasy relationship between biography characters, particularly one of the two nar- and the reader, like in every prime- highlight of which was the ‘traditional’ and truth. And as always, the writing is rators, Ruth. But you also mixed fact with time forensic cop show on TV. In that way of making fire; a skill that (to simply magnificent – Michael, Cassius fiction: the character of Ruth’s husband was model the ‘victim’ (usually a young naked much hilarity) seemed largely lost. and Ramadhin explore the ship ‘bursting not her husband, and her cousin Dora was woman on a slab pulled out at a morgue) These people lead very simple, tough all over the place like freed mercury’ and a friend. To what extent did you invent and is utterly irrelevant. The ‘action’ is all lives and during my stay, I constantly Miss Lasqueti ‘had a laugh that hinted it how much did you keep true to real events? in the tension between the cop and the marvelled at our Western good fortune. had rolled around once or twice in mud’. And did you feel any obligation to keep killer, who try to outwit each other. But If you are up for an adventurous holi- Few contemporary writers can match his certain things accurate as historical truths? my ‘victim’ is also my hero, and I wanted day, look at www.kokodahomestay.com. mastery of metaphor. her to live. So technically, this was a hard The entire emotional story – the two thing to do. That’s why I have two narra- Back in our world, Random House In a 2008 discussion with Colum couples, the loves, every breath, every (the people who bought us Vintage tors tell what they know, which satisfied McCann, Ondaatje described himself as intimate scene – was invented. That is me aesthetically anyway – because no Classics for $12.95) have announced ‘just one of those people who imagines the crux of the book. But the background that they are reducing current one knows the whole truth of just about others’ lives’. Here, he does this to mag- historical action that my characters are anything. Vintage titles from $27.95 and $24.95 nificent effect. Highly recommended. living through, and reacting to – the First to $19.95 each. Good on them! An extended version of this interview is Virginia Maxwell is project manager of World War, the German Revolution of 1919, the rise of Hitler and their exile in at www.readings.com.au. Readings’ annual Summer Reading Guide. 6 Readings Monthly September 2011 Creative writing courses from New Fiction willed young Dolly dotes on her older Faber Academy brother Will, who goes to sea after the seals. Australian Fiction Will is always accompanied by his friend at ALLEN & UNWIN All That I Am and neighbour, Jack Langland, who (as Anna Funder commonly known but never spoken of) is WRITING & PLACE Penguin. PB. $29.95 the product of a liaison between his father GETTING PUBLISHED AS Anna Funder’s award-win- and an Aboriginal woman. Grenville’s evo- A WRITER FOR CHILDREN 18-21 November 2011 ning Stasiland remains one cation of the lives and tensions in this small 5 November 2011 This three-day course led by of the most profoundly community are masterful. Dolly develops Sophie Cunningham with guest moving books I have read. a deep affection for Jack and looks forward This one-day course with Rosalind Chris Womersley explores a sense It revealed an intensely to his homecoming more than she does her Price and guest Ann James of place in writing—of landscapes offers new writers for children an shocking, sinister episode brother’s. As the years slip by, Dolly and both external and internal—and understanding of what to expect in German history – but Jack’s relationship deepens and they become how place is intrinsically linked to from the publishing process and more importantly, it dem- secretly betrothed. As the seal population voice, story and character. how to give themselves the best onstrated the very real impact politics and is decimated, Will and Jack have to go to chance of publication. corruption have on ordinary lives. more dangerous waters (in New Zealand) to hunt; one summer Jack returns alone. In her latest book, ‘a novel’, Funder’s WRITING A NOVEL WRITING FOR CHILDREN majestic journalistic capabilities delve into Overall, Sarah Thornhill is a deeply satisfy- Starts April 2012 Starts February 2012 an intoxicating period in Berlin, just before ing historical novel that does not shy away and immediately after Hitler’s election to Course director Sophie Writing for Children is a three-month from issues that continue to be relevant Cunningham leads aspiring writers course with Sally Rippin and guests power. She invokes that permissive, sophis- today. It’s also a great love story with the on a six-month journey through the Andy Griffi ths & Martine Murray for ticated era of Berlin between the wars with enigmatic and strong-willed Dolly at the novel process, from inspiration to people who wish to write for children the same frenetic pace of Christopher Ish- centre – it will deservedly be one of the starting, editing and fi nishing. from age six to young adult. erwood. This is where Ernst Toller, expres- most discussed books this season. sionist playwright, World War I veteran and Mark Rubbo is managing director of Readings political prisoner, meets two young women, FACTS TO FICTION Dora and Ruth, and their lives irrevocably The Monsoon Bride 17 March 2012 intertwine. Young intellectuals and artists Michelle Aung Thin Full information and listings at discuss politics and philosophy through a A one-day workshop with Lisa Lang www.allenandunwin.com/faberacademy Text. PB. $29.95 for people who want to draw on real haze of smoke; they meet in clubs where The Monsoon Bride is they converse with one another between stories—a slice of history, a family Book your course now Michelle Aung Thin’s first tale, a newspaper article—in order booths by telephone and finally they meet novel – and what a novel it to create a work of fi ction. 02 8425 0171 or [email protected] in exile, in bedsits, impoverished and pow- is. We first meet Winsome erless, to mobilise against the Nazi party. and her new husband Mention you’re a Faber Academy Student and get 10% off all course-related books at Dora is a powerful character, both on the Desmond on the train Readings (discount not valid online). For shop locations visit www.readings.com.au page and in her impact on the lives of oth- rushing towards Rangoon in ers. She wears her hair defiantly bobbed, is 1930. ‘Rangoon, Rangoon, often in trousers and believes in giving love soon, soon,’ Winsome is quietly chanting. freely, but suffers greatly from her ideology Along with the rest of the train passengers, – the world wasn’t ready for her, but she is we are pulled headlong into her story and the glue that binds this novel. into the stultifying and sensual heat, Many years later, Toller is completely humidity and bustling city of Rangoon paralysed by his realisation of the depth itself. of his love for Dora. He is dictating his In Rangoon at this time, the privilege of memoirs in a hotel room in New York to the English and burgeoning uprising of the a kind young woman, Clara. Unwilling to Burmese sandwiches people of mixed race leave his hotel room and unable to pay his and mixed opportunity (like Winsome and hotel bill, he remembers his life to her in Desmond) into nuanced lives of formality fragments before it becomes too painful to and propriety. Young Winsome – whose bear. Both his life and Dora’s are connected closeted rural convent-school upbring- to Ruth and it is through her eyes, both as ing leaves her with little knowledge of a young woman and as an elderly retired wider society, men or her own body – is no school teacher, that most of the novel is match for the seduction of Rangoon, with told. Funder writes beautifully, with a tell- its ‘gelatinous’ air and monsoon moods. ing sensitivity towards her characters that Desmond, ambitious but hindered by the makes her novel an exceptional meditation Rangoon allegiance to race and money, sees on politics, loss and memory. the way to get ahead is to acquiesce, learn Justine Douglas is from Readings Port Melbourne and try to impress his superiors, remain- ing dignified all the while. Dr Jonathon Sarah Thornhill Grace, an Englishman, is also a newcomer Kate Grenville to Rangoon. Aware only of what he wants Text. HB. Normally $39.95 and chooses to see, socially and politically, Our special price $34.95 he finds the English clubs and their society The Secret Riverwas a grating, restricting and dull. He has been landmark in contemporary warned about ‘the Monsoon Bride’ phe- Australian fiction. In a nomenon, relationships born out of the powerful and engaging madness of humidity, but doesn’t believe he novel, Grenville confronted will succumb. the issue of European occupation of Aboriginal The Monsoon Bride is, though, much more land. Sarah Thornhillcontin - than a love story. It is a visceral story of ues that narrative and, like that earlier passion and desire and the politics and con- book, is loosely based on an incident in sequences of love, as much as it’s a story of Grenville’s family history. a rapidly changing city and country. Aung Thin brings the heat and sweat and rain There were rumours in her family of a girl and sex to the page with such precision and who’d had a dark-skinned child out of wed- passion that Rangoon engulfed and washed lock. Grenville has taken this rumour and over me. The Monsoon Bride is a really won- reworked it into her narrative. Sarah Thorn- derful and rewarding read. hill (Dolly) is William Thornhill’s youngest Pip Newling, freelance writer and author of child by his first wife, who died shortly Knockabout Girl, is from Readings Hawthorn. after Dolly’s birth. Dolly has a troubled relationship with her strict and ambitious stepmother, Ma. William has done well for himself as a freed convict, with 300 acres of waterfront land on the Hawkesbury and the grandest house on the river. As an emancip- ist, in spite of his success, he remains low on the colony’s social hierarchy. Strong- Readings Monthly September 2011 7 Two Steps Forward for richly ridiculous diction, witty provoca- Irma Gold tion and graphic sexual prose that celebrates Affirm Press. PB. $24.95 International desire, frailty and the comedy of life will not A BOOK FOR The subjects of Irma Gold’s be disappointed.’ GQ magazine said: ‘Had debut collection of stories are Fiction Dr. Seuss been a slightly insane pornogra- EVERY DAD in uncomfortable situations The Language pher, he might have written a book like this’. – there is no doubt about of Flowers that – and whether they are Vanessa Diffenbaugh New Selected Stories BREAKING THE taking proverbial steps Picador. PB. Normally $32.99. Alice Munro forward is a matter for the Our special price $27.95 Chatto & Windus. HB. $39.95 SHEEP’S BACK reader’s perception. The The first thing that must be Jonathan Franzen once wrote CHARLES MASSY strength of these stories is that they invite said about The Language of that Alice Munro ‘has a strong The shocking true story the reader into a range of environments – a Flowers is that it is, above all, claim to being the best fiction of the collapse of nursing home where an elderly man values an enjoyable, well-crafted writer now working in North Australia’s $10 billion the companionship of another resident; a and imaginative story that America’. He compared her to wool industry. worker whose altruism descends into will move and engross many ‘a gymnast in a plain black The must-read political hopelessness in an immigration detention readers. It is the first novel by leotard, alone on a bare floor, bestseller of the year. outperforming all the centre; the attempts to make everyday life Vanessa Diffenbaugh, an AUGUST RRP $39.95 special by an elderly homeless couple activist who works with foster youth, and I novelists with their flashy costumes and whips battling their addictions. have no doubt that it will be a great success. and elephants and tigers’. This volume brings together Munro’s best work from the past 15 Gold’s storytelling ability is most evident The narrator of the novel is Victoria Jones, a years. Selected from her last five collections, in her longer pieces, which explore family young woman who, as an orphan, was never the short stories presented here are beautifully relationships. In ‘Kicking Dirt’, adult sisters permanently adopted, and has spent most of observed and remarkably crafted, and written LETTAH’S GIFT who are disconnected both emotionally and her life in children’s homes. The memories of with great empathy and emotion. Fans with GRAHAM LANG geographically try to bridge their differences. her many stints in the care of foster parents, gaps in their collection will love this – but if Venture into the dark Both have separate perceptions of what hap- who would eventually send her away each you’ve always meant to try Munro, or if your heart of modern-day pened years ago when their younger sister time, have left Victoria scarred and troubled. interest is piqued by Franzen’s accolades, Africa in this gripping drowned in a local dam, and these beliefs To the point that, even though she’s now 18 you’ll love this even more. novel of discovery and and accusations lead to silences and recrimi- and no longer in the custody of the state, redemption. nations. Gold also portrays adolescence well it seems she may never find happiness or a Open City in ‘Sounds of Friendship’. Abby’s mother is sense of purpose in life. Victoria, however, Teju Cole SEPTEMBER RRP $29.95 adept at choosing the ‘wrong’ men, and in has a remarkable understanding of what Faber. PB. $29.99 this instance they are living with Mick in a flowers symbolise, and how they were used Teju Cole’s first novel, Every run-down caravan park. Abby escapes fre- to communicate by lovers in Victorian Day is For the Thief, was quently to avoid seeing her mother emotion- England. By virtue of this fluency in the published by a small ally and physically abused, and strikes up language of flowers, she begins to rebuild her Nigerian company. While THE SONS OF a friendship with Sid, whose aunt runs the life. But Victoria cannot move on from her locally lauded (one critic sim- CLOVIS park. The way Gold builds the relationship heartbreaking childhood until she returns ply said ‘This is how to write DAVID BROOKS is expert – focussing both on Abby’s need to the foster home where she learned the lan- about Africa’), it understand- for an ally in her constantly changing world, A new look at the guage of flowers and confronts exactly why ably flew under the radar in and her first romantic experience. this language means so much to her. truth behind the the Western world. His second, Open City, is Ern Malley hoax Probably the best story in the collection is One of the cornerstones of Diffenbaugh’s receiving worldwide praise. In The New – with the narrative ‘The Third Child’, about the impact of a novel is that, as the story progresses, a vast Yorker, James Wood called it ‘beautiful, tension of a thriller. miscarriage, not only on Susan who experi- knowledge of the Victorian-era meanings subtle, and, finally, original’. The Guardian ences it, but on her children. Both react to of flowers as a part of ritual courtship rises called it ‘a tiny gem of a book ... that can be SEPTEMBER RRP $39.95 the loss of a potential sibling in a spontane- to the surface, which is almost as intriguing read again and again, with each reading ous yet different manner appropriate to their as the plot itself. Importantly, however, the bringing the reward of further insights’. age and gender. These details make this story novel wears its references lightly. The stron- Cole’s narrator, a half-Nigerian, half-German ring with truth, and it was the one I thought gest aspect of the novel is the composure psychiatrist, aimlessly wanders the streets of THE PROMISE OF about most after finishing the collection. and subtlety of Victoria’s narrative voice, New York. The walks give him a release from ICELAND Annie Condon is a short-story writer and a and Diffenbaugh’s palpable understanding his work, but they also enable him to think KÁRI GÍSLASON convenor of a Readings Australian Book Club of child psychology. The Language of Flowers about his past and his present. The range of An absorbing memoir is a thoughtful and quietly ambitious book, people he meets, several of them immigrants about Kári’s Empire Day and one that will not disappoint its readers. or emigrants, give him insights into his life decision to break Diane Armstrong William Heyward is from Readings St Kilda so far, but also exacerbate his feelings of the 27-year secret of HarperCollins. PB. Normally $33 isolation. A wonderful new literary voice. his Icelandic Our special price $27.95 the Sense of an Ending father’s identity. Award-winning novelist Julian Barnes Gods Without Men AUGUST RRP $24.95 Diane Armstrong returns Jonathan Cape. HB. Normally $29.95 Hari Kunzru with this compelling story set Our special price $24.95 Hamish Hamilton. PB. $29.95 in Bondi Junction in the late Julian Barnes’ latest novel It is 2008. In a mysterious 1940s. Australia is changing – currently longlisted for the Californian desert a four- and Bondi Junction is no Man Booker – is deceptively year-old autistic boy goes LUDO different, with European refu- slender, but packed with missing and his parents find BOYD ANDERSON gees moving in and starting themselves at the centre of a insight and intelligence. 1960s Sydney – to build new lives. Some of the locals resent media witch-hunt. Ageing Middle-aged Tony Webster is a classic crime noir the newcomers, but as their lives intersect, rockstar Nicky Capaldi, content with his mediocre novel with a spark of relationships are formed which bring joy to hiding out at the same motel life, but when a lawyer’s letter genuine originality, some, and tragedy to others. Part love story as the family, finds himself drawn into the delivers a puzzling bequest, he is forced to shocking intrigue and and part mystery, Empire Day explores a fray. Not far away from them, a teenage reflect on his life and relationships – and his pure entertainment. fascinating time in Australia’s history and own behaviour. Central to it all is the suicide Iraqi refugee is role-playing in a military asks: can we ever forget the past? of old schoolfriend Adrian Finn, who had simulation. In 1778, a Spanish hidalgo AUGUST RRP $32.95 married Tony’s former flame Veronica. ‘In reports on the progress of missionaries The Slap: TV Tie-in some ways a more intellectual version of Ian attempting to win over the natives as he Christos Tsiolkas McEwan’s On Chesil Beach, touching on the rides across California. One of the mission- A&U. PB. Normally $25 same themes of youthful sex, inhibition, aries, Fray Garces, reports a journey in which he seems to be magically transported Our special price $19.95 class, regret and false recollection.’ TWO GREEKS The Slap will surely be – The Guardian across a stretch of the desert. In between JOHN remembered as one of the these times, a Mormon miner searches for defining novels of early House of Holes silver in the desert rocks; a traumatised, CHARALAMBOUS twenty-first century Austra- Nicholson Baker guilt-ridden war veteran attempts to record A bittersweet story lian literature. Christos S&S. PB. Normally $29.95 the language and customs of the local about migrant life Tsiolkas has been a literary Our special price $24.95 Native American tribe; and a hippie cult and family tension favourite for years. But with Subtitled ‘A Book of arrives in town and is violently raided. As in 1970s suburbia. The Slap, the story of what Raunch’, literary novelist these lives intersect, twists, turns and happens after one man slaps another’s child Nicholson Baker’s latest is a outcomes make for an oddly compulsive JULY RRP $24.95 at a backyard barbecue, Tsiolkas captured the series of graphic, erotic and completely engaging read. imagination of the nation, and made a vignettes that revolve around Kabita Dhara is a freelance writer and splash in the UK and the US. If you know the House of Holes, a sexual publisher at Brass Monkey Books anyone who hasn’t read this brilliant book, retreat of sorts where the www.uqp.com.au get it for them before the water-cooler motto is Pleasure First. follow us on facebook conversations start again with the screening Reviewing the book for The New York Times, of the ABC-TV miniseries. Sam Lipsyte wrote: ‘Readers with a fondness follow us @UQPbooks 8 Readings Monthly September 2011 If It Is Sweet Glory. This enabled her private thoughts and More than anything, Brooks is excited by the past 15 years, but there is no discerning Mridula Koshy insights to be made public. Her mother was his topic, and in dissecting it he covers a pattern or theme to their selection. However Brass Monkey Books. PB. $24.95 sure that many school texts were the work of lot of ground, moving through psychology, there is a sense that each somehow leads into If It Is Sweet by Mridula the devil, and worked tirelessly to have the of- literature, philosophy and culture seamlessly, the next with a small tonal flourish. fending texts banned from schools. The only using an engaging narrative voice to carry the Koshy is the 2011 release From Port Arthur to landscape photography, way for her daughter to survive childhood interested reader along for the ride. from the young imprint Brass war and Eastern Europe, bread recipes, Kos- was to keep silent. The story is interspersed Ed Moreno is from Readings Carlton Monkey Books, which focuses ovar refugees, the farce of Mark Latham, the with images and letters that reflect Glory’s on new and distinctive 2004 campaign trail, the awe of Bob Brown, (Francesca’s) life. writing from the Indian and the Gunns pulp mill, Flanagan keeps sub-continent, publishing Rendle-Short’s use of lyrical language is not his cool with storyteller tact, awash with work that has not previously always successful, but is indeed beautiful. Her Journals anecdotes, reminding us that art and novels been available outside of India. It is a published work includes fiction, poetry, and Meanjin Volume 70, No 3 remain central to humanity. It’s unsurprising collection of short stories and reveals the writing for theatre. In this, her second novel, Sally Heath (ed.) then that on the subject of writing Flanagan social jostling within, and complications of, her love of responsive language is clear. This MUP. PB. $24.99 shines best. modern-day Indian society. Throughout her is a sad story in many ways, though Rendle- The newly redesigned Meanjin features An unpublished afterword to his novel stories Koshy draws out the confusion, Short assigns no blame. It illustrates that at Tom Keneally on our national identity, Guy Wanting, a confessional distaste with film, an tragedy and social nuance in the lives of her times actions do speak louder than words. Rundle on pornography, and Mel Campbell introduction to Nelson Algren’s A Walk on the (primarily female) characters. It lays bare the pain of forgiveness and ac- and Julianne Lamond on ‘women’s writing’. Wild Side, and some brilliant commentary on In ‘The Good Mother’, we are thrown head- ceptance. It validates the endless tie between Other contributors include Lorelei Vashti, Borges, Grossman and Faulkner is salivating. long into the everyday tragedy of a grieving mothers and their daughters, and of course, Richard Flanagan, Jeff Sparrow, Maria In fact it’s in Faulkner’s titular jibe to Clark mother who finds solace in a pilgrimage, as vice-versa. Bite Your Tongue is really a poetic Tumarkin and the authors in the New South Gable that the collection makes sense. For inadequate as she feels the pilgrimage to be. ode to a time gone by and to a relationship series of books on Australian cities. as Flanagan later pronounces: ‘You discover In ‘The Large Girl’ we are in the throes of a that taught acknowledgment. I’ve passed my some of the truth of a man in the insults he lesbian affair that is never going to be made copy on to my mum, because as Rendle-Short chooses to hurl.’ It’s clear that under the guise public, no matter how hard one of the play- says, ‘Reading changes everything.’ of subtlety and manners, a deep fury ripples ers pushes. ‘Stray Blades of Grass’ details a Chris Gordon is events coordinator of Readings Essays beneath much of his writing, largely aimed misconstrued friendship that is bound, and And What Do You Do, at the politics of difference. Would he write ruined, by class. Yes, there is much loss and these pieces again? You bet. Mr Gable? Luke May is from Readings St Kilda disappointment in these stories but the overall Richard Flanagan collection is not bereft of joy. Koshy pulls the Literary History reader through without wallowing in despair The Sons of Clovis Picador. PB. $24.95 Whatever It Is and in the last story, ‘Passage’, she weaves a David Brooks Graham Greene stood by one I Don’t Like It sense of calm and of truth out of a husband principle in deciding which Howard Jacobson UQP. PB. $39.95 essays to reprint for a watching his wife come to terms with the The Sons of Clovis starts off at Bloomsbury. PB. $29.99 death of her sister. collection: to include nothing a good clip – David Brooks he would have written The Booker-prize-winning Occasionally, despite Koshy’s strong and addresses the reader cheekily differently today. Surely this is author of The Finkler clear writing, I felt I missed elements of the straight off and promises a a hard pill to swallow for Question presents a collec- larger emotional landscape because I am not whole lot of rollicking those novelists keen to repack- tion of his acclaimed intimate with the nuance of Indian culture. adventure – and keeps it up age their journalistic exertions and criticism journalism. From the Koshy’s style glances across the details that throughout. Enamoured of into one slick volume. But perhaps the key to unusual disposal of his may have provided me with a more specific his subject (the real story these 25 short pieces is that they are precisely father-in-law’s ashes to the insight into her characters’ lives and, I think, behind the Ern Malley Hoax) he delivers on that – a collection of hard-worn scraps, melancholy sensuality of this lessened the overall emotional impact of his promise, taking readers on an extensive gathered like woodchips to be thrown back at Leonard Cohen and desolation of Wagner’s the collection for me. However, If It Is Sweet journey to Europe and America, through the us, without preface or excuse. Half of them tragedies, this is irresistible writing that is at does deliver stories that plumb the depths of history of literary hoaxes – here in Australia have appeared in The Ageand elsewhere over once hilarious and heartbreaking, but above human emotions and is a rewarding read. and abroad – via the French Symbolists, Eliot, all, achingly human. Pip Newling, freelance writer and author of Pound and Frank O’Hara and back through Knockabout Girl, is from Readings Hawthorn war-time Melbourne and Sydney, opening doors to new avenues of scholarship on the topic along the way. Bite Your Tongue ‘A startingly original work of art… Francesca Rendle-Short Brooks addresses the fact that the poems have A book I could not put down’ Spinifex.PB. $27.95 never been read closely due to their status Ann Patchett I’m always interested in as hoax. In The Sons of Clovis he remedies reading generational books that, tracing their literary genealogy through about mothers and daughters. Baudelaire and Mallarmé among others, and The story of Achilles What stories from my making a strong argument in favour of the daughter’s childhood will last poems’ contribution to the French Symbolist and Patroclus retold the distance into adulthood? movement in Australian poetry, at the same A devastating tale of war, By all accounts nothing I do questioning the hoaxers’ motives. Is it possible is going to have the long-term that the poems were not just a lark created of gods and kings, effects that Francesca Rendle-Short’s mother haphazardly in a single afternoon to demon- has had on her life. Having said that, without strate their disdain for experimental poetry (as and of the human heart her upbringing, readers would have missed the hoaxers stated), but an important turning out on this unusual and dynamic author. point in their own literary processes, and the ‘A ravishingly vivid and convincing version of end result of a rather involved poetic process Set in Queensland in the 1970s, Bite Your one of the most legendary of love stories’ involving allusion, the use of framing devices Tongue centres on what it was like to grow up Emma Donoghue and extensive rewriting? Why does a writer with a moral crusader as a mother. Rendle- choose to use a pseudonym or a ‘mask’, or to Short wanted to write about er childhood, concoct a hoax? and did so by creating a fictional narrator,

A stunningly beautiful and moving new Here for the first time in one novel, from the author of The English volume is J.M.Coetzee’s majestic Patient, about a boy’s life-changing journey trilogy of fictionalised memoir: from Ceylon to England in the 1950s. Boyhood, Youth and Summertime. Hung Like An Empire Day Argentine Duck By Diane By DR John Long aRmstRong

World renowned From award-winning palaeontologist author Diane Dr John Long armstrong, comes a takes a scientific dramatic and enriching but engaging look at novel. the people of how any why animals first became Wattle street know that life will never ‘intimate’ and where sex fits into the be the same again. the ‘reffos’ have whole evolution theory – homosexual moved in, and their strange ways are penguins, necrophiliac snakes, threatening the comfortable postwar

Keep in touch with great book news www.randomhouse.com.au fellating fruitbats and all! world of the Bondi locals. Readings Monthly September 2011 9

New release Young Adult YA fiction titles. fiction Books for younger readers are on p16. The Apothecary knows that there is something very danger- Maile Meloy ous about her, even if everyone else doesn’t. Text. PB. $19.95 But who will believe her, when everyone Maile Meloy has two probably thinks she’s crazy anyway? That is, short-story collections and everyone except her best friend, Ami, whom two adult novels under her her mother disapproves of for some strange belt. She’s been shortlisted reason. But all is not what it seems in this for the Orange Prize and her page-turning thriller and there are twists and fans include Ann Patchett, turns that you just cannot predict. Pitched Philip Roth and Richard as a cross between Liar and Single White Ford. This, her first novel for Female, Shift is a wonderfully absorbing and younger readers, has all the wit and sophisti- impressive first outing into YA writing for cation of her books for adults. A fantasy the children’s author also known as Meredith adventure firmly rooted in the real world, it’s Badger. She takes you along for a rollercoast- set in 1950s Cold War London, and will er of a ride and tosses you off at the end, still hugely appeal to readers aged 12 and up. a little unsure of what just happened. Best of all: even though there is a hint of the super- Janie Scott is a tomboyish Californian natural in the tale, there’s nary a vampire or 14-year-old who idolises Katherine Hep- werewolf in sight. burn, wears trousers, and loves junior Angela Crocombe is from Readings St Kilda lifesaving, and eating oranges and avocadoes fresh from the tree. But when her parents, Blood Song Hollywood screenwriters, are pursued for Rhiannon Hart being Communists, they’re forced to move Random. PB. $18.95 to grey, cold, London: land of bad food, I’m always excited to see new worse heating and cramped lodgings. There, fantasy offerings from homesick Janie meets chess champ Ben- Australian young adult jamin, who yearns to be a spy, though his authors – they have a style apothecary father wants him to follow in his of storytelling which is so footsteps. When Benjamin learns his father compelling and completely is no ordinary pharmacist, but makes magic unlike anything else out medicines and is involved in a mission to there. Blood Song by debut thwart nuclear warfare, he and Janie are author Rhiannon Hart definitely fits this drawn into a fantastical plot and a series of description, and the first book of the thrilling adventures. ‘Lharmell’ series is an engrossing read for All the ingredients of a successful early teen lovers of both fantasy and paranormal. adventure are here: (very chaste) romance, Bitter winters are destroying Amentia, and friendship, and a quest to assert control over the future of its people relies on eldest prin- their world largely in the absence of – or de- cess Lilith marrying a rich northern prince. spite – the adults in their life. There’s a book Her younger sister Zeraphina, however, has of spells to be protected, a bomb to beware, no such desires for herself – and while the and an unexpectedly dastardly villain to rest of the castle catches wedding fever, she evade. It’s great fun – and smart to boot! would rather hone her archery skills. Zer- Jo Case is editor of Readings Monthly aphina has always felt a little different: after all, it’s not normal for a princess to crave The Invisible Hero blood, is it? When Zeraphina first meets Elizabeth Fensham Rodden, advisor to the northern prince, she UQP. PB. $19.95 is less than impressed by his arrogance. But A Year Ten class are set an when Rodden seems to know more about essay topic on the subject of her unusual hunger than anyone else, Zer- Heroes. ‘One man’s hero is aphina is intrigued. Her initial dislike turns another man’s villain’ is the to more than just curiosity as she pursues theme. Set jointly by their both Rodden and the origins of her blood History teacher Mr Quayle hunger. As Zeraphina digs deeper for the and their English teacher truth, she risks putting herself and those Mrs Canmore, who are not she loves in terrible danger. natural allies, it also involves journal-writing Hart’s vibrant characters are an absolute and making a speech. We, the readers, are delight to read, especially feisty Zeraphina privvy to the journals as each student teases who is certainly not a shy, retiring heroine. out the topic and how to approach it. To I raced through this wonderful book, and Macca, Mr Quayle’s golden boy, it’s a breeze. the end came all too soon. Fans of Kristin Macchiavelli – that’ll impress the teachers, Cashore and Tamora Pierce will absolutely what a dude, he knew how to win. To devour Blood Song, and, like myself, will be his landmark anthology of others, all sorts of heroes present themselves, eagerly awaiting the sequel! and to Phil, the Special Needs student and Australian poetry, edited Holly Harper is from Readings Carlton T class loner, with his blue-tinted glasses, by two of Australia’s foremost writing anything at all, even though he feels so strongly about it, doesn’t come easy. As Fear poets, Geoffrey Lehmann and the term progresses, the journals reveal the Charlie Higson Robert Gray, is the first of its classroom dynamics, and a variety of dramas Penguin. PB. $19.95 going on at home; the idea of heroes and The sickness struck everyone kind for Australia and promises courage plays out on a different level. This is over the age of 14. Mothers to become a classic. Containing an utterly fascinating novel, written with and fathers, older brothers, passion, with a plot that makes it unput- sisters and best friends. No over 1000 poems from 170 downable and an inspiring theme. A young one escaped its touch. And Australian poets, as well as adult novel that will also be enjoyed by now children across London short critical biographies, upper primary kids and adults. are being hunted by Kathy Kozlowski is from Readings Carlton ferocious grown-ups … this careful re-evaluation of They’re hungry. They're bloodthirsty. And Australian poetry makes this a Shift they aren’t giving up. DogNut and the rest of his crew want to find their lost friends, superb book that can be read Em Bailey on a deadly mission from the Tower of Egmont. PB. $22.95 London to Buckingham Palace and beyond, and enjoyed over a lifetime. Olive is not crazy – although there was as the sickos lie in wait. But who are their that incident last year and that spell in the friends and who are the enemy in this psych ward, but now she’s taking her meds changed world? and staying away from the toxic ‘in’ crowd. But when new girl Miranda turns up, Olive www.newsouthbooks.com.au 10 Readings Monthly September 2011

New Crime Dead Write with Fiona Hardy meet Clas Greve, a man with a piece of been the target of an accusatory but vague Trick of the Light artwork lauded by all and desperately letter about his circumstances – and her Louise Penny Crime Book of the Month wanted by our dear thief – whose plans to inquiries lead to dirt on almost everyone Little, Brown. PB. $29.99 Cut procure it lead him to become the hunted. else at the school. Chief Inspector Gamache stars in his seventh George Pelecanos There is also a pretty cool special deal, with Louise Penny novel, along with his 2IC Orion. PB. Normally $33 the author’s backlist titles at 3 for the price a Death in Summer Jean-Guy Beavoir and friend Clara Morrow, Our special price $27.95 of 2 – and they’re worth it. Benjamin Black whose artwork is now achieving recognition. From a writer of The Wire Mantle. PB. $24.99 But after the party she holds in celebration – one of the most popular Flash and Bones Booker Prize-winning of an exhibition, a body is found in the television series of the past Kathy Reich author John Banville adds to garden – Clara’s college friend-turned-enemy few years – comes a similarly Heinemann. PB. Normally $32.95 his crime series under the Lillian Dyson. Was Lillian the same person gritty and almost frighten- Our special price $27.95 name Benjamin Black with she was in college, or has she changed? Who ingly vivid novel. Spero Lucas This is Kathy Reichs’ fourteenth Temper- another beautifully written killed her? And why does Louise Penny is ex-military and happy to be ance Brennan book, and it’s set in the work about pathologist continue to write so fantastically? alive, and is now making a North Carolina city of Charlotte, where Quirke. It’s a hot summer in living, well … finding things for people. motorsport fans are flocking for Race 1956 and newspaper Fear Not When he takes on the search from a convicted Week. Then there’s the discovery of a body proprietor Richard Jewell – aka Diamond Anne Holt dealer to find some particularly mellow in a barrel of asphalt – and the realisation Dick – is found with a bullet through the Atlantic Books. PB. $24.99 packages that had been stolen from the that it could be related to a long-ago disap- head. His newspaper declares it a ‘cerebral For lovers of all things dark and Scandi- distribution point, Lucas doesn’t expect the pearance that no one seemed particularly haemorrhage’ but Quirke and DI Hackett navian, head to Norway Holt’s fourth Vik job to take long. But of course excellent willing to solve. suspect murder, and with a beautifully and Stubo book. This one sees the criminal crime books need things to go awry, distant French widow and a tangled news psychologist/detective team – and couple otherwise they’d be romance novels, and the Retribution empire to get through, it could take a – try to solve the deaths of a drug addict, a situation becomes much more bloody and Val McDermid while. female bishop, and an asylum seeker. With dangerous, with two unexpected deaths and Little, Brown. PB. Normally $33 Vik’s autistic daughter the subject of a stalker the realisation that Lucas isn’t the only Our special price $27.95 Hidden Child as well, it takes a while for the deaths to person doing the hunting. Pelecanos keeps Retribution continues Val McDermid’s police Camilla Lackberg seem linked – but when they are, it changes the pace fast and the dialogue faster, and The profiler Tony Hill series, where Hill faces a HarperCollins. PB. Normally $30 everything. Cut is an unsentimental look at crime in long-awaited and feared threat: Jacko Vance, Our special price $24.95 DC, while still keeping the protagonists the serial killer Hill and DCI Carol Jordan In a Swedish boating village, Ashes human – and people you hope will stick put behind bars. Now Vance is out, with Patrik Hedstrom and Erica Sergios Gakas around for a sequel. only one plan: retribution. Falck are adapting to their Maclehose Press. PB. $29.99 new life. With Patrik on A Greek noir tale of addiction and vio- Headhunters The Charming Quirks paternity leave, Erica wants lence. The aftermath of a devastating fire Jo Nesbo of Others to write, but when she finds leaves only one horribly burned survivor: Harvill. PB. Normally $32.95 Alexander McCall Smith her mother’s diaries, a Nazi former actress Sonia Verika. When two of Our special price $27.95 Little, Brown. 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The GOOD SOLDIeRS The ThIRD WAVe David Finkel Alison Thompson A new-format edition A must-read and of what Leigh Sales a call to action, describes as ‘one of Australian volunteer the best books I have Alison Thompson ever read … riveting, A chronicle ooff Marieke Hardy’s broken hearts, fervidfervid provides invaluable unputdownable insight into what journalism at its very pursuits,it passionate i t friendships, f i d hi deranged d d letter-writing, l tt iti happens on the ground finest’. the allure of the bottle and the singular charms of musicians. after a disaster, and how to help. OUT NOW RRP $29.99 www.scribepublications.com.au Also available as eBooks Readings Monthly September 2011 11

Great new titles New Non-Fiction from Hachette journey across the Pacific in a small boat. Salmond’s account also reveals Bligh’s little- Biography & known importance as an ethnographer. Memoir Bligh: Master Mariner Her Father’s Rob Mundle Daughter Hodder. PB. Normally $35 Alice Pung Our special price $29.95 Black Inc. PB. $29.95 This biography traces Bligh’s journey from Two memoirs before the age ship’s boy to vice-admiral, all before the age of of 30 might seem like an 40 – showing along the way that there is more ambitious undertaking, but to Bligh than his infamous bad temper. tHat useD to be us like her first book Unpol- Thomas L. Friedman & ished Gem, Alice Pung’s Pulling No Punches ISBN 9781742582962 $24.95 Michael Mandelbaum Barry Hall latest is as much her family’s America today is facing four major biography as her own. The Murdoch. PB. Normally $34.95 challenges: globalisation, the first half chronicles Pung’s Our special price $29.95 information revolution, chronic financial formative adult years and her relationship Throughout his 16 seasons in deficits, and energy consumption. with her father, as her need for solitude and the game, AFL star Barry Hall Pulitzer prize-winning Thomas L. independence confront head-on his hopes has polarised punters. His Friedman and leading US policy thinker for her ‘to live a life where she will not be obvious skill on the ground has Michael Mandelbaum look at how harmed by anything more than the occa- made him one of the biggest America’s history, political system and sional paper-cut’. Chapters alternate between crowd-pullers of the modern shifting values have impacted these challenges, and how they can be met. the point-of-view of father and daughter, era, but his notorious behav- iour on the field has earned the with the entire book told in third person. It’s ISBN 9781742582955 $24.95 an unusual approach, but Pung carries it off superstar forward much criticism. Here, Hall with warmth, wit and compassion. tells the story of his rise to AFL stardom and Presented in both Noongar and offers an honest account of the real man English language, these art books Her growing realisation as a young adult behind the dramatic headlines. that her parents ‘were not like other parents’ will inspire and delight all ages. sets the tone for the second half of the You'll be sorry when From creation stories told to the American book, which focuses on her family’s ordeals linguist Gerhardt Laves at Albany, Western in Cambodia under the rule of Pol Pot. This I'm Dead Australia and returned to the Noongar book should come with a warning label: Marieke Hardy people by his family after his death, the don’t get too comfortable in the first half, A&U. PB. $29.99 stories were workshopped with Kim Scott me of tHe neveR neveR with its funny family anecdotes and stories Marieke Hardy attracts strong through a series of community meetings Fiona O’Loughlin of hard-won domestic freedoms – because reactions – fans and haters – involving elders, artists and linguists. Fiona O’Loughlin’s funny the second half is a punch in the guts. Pung and if you’re in either camp, this book of essays is unlikely to (and sometimes sad) stories about describes in uncompromising detail the her upbringing as part of a large horrors her family experienced, horrors change your mind. But if you’re Irish-Catholic family on a wheat farm that her father has ever since shut away as unfamiliar with Ms Hardy, or in South Australia, her hilariously ‘dismemories’. only know her as ‘the one with chaotic and disorganised family life the racy outfits’ from ABC TV’s ever since, living in Alice Springs and Emotionally, it’s the most lopsided book I’ve First Tuesday Book Club, it’s well worth sampling making it as a stand-up comedian. ever read, and at first I was inclined to fault her prose and finding out where you fall. New from it for its structure. But Pung’s message is clear: despite her father’s attempts to disre- Me, I’m partial to Marieke’s blend of sassy member everything that happened, his his- wordplay, lefty politics and frank, funny confes- tory is brutal and inescapable. As the story sionals. I was entertained by her recollections unfolds his apparent eccentricities come to of acting on The Henderson Kids and writing make perfect sense. As Pung writes, ‘the real for Neighbours; memories of stalking Joey Dee miracle ... was not that he had lived. The from Young Talent Time (a crush that ended real miracle was that he could love.’ after she scored an invite to afternoon tea), and Marion Rankine is from Readings Carlton the inside story of her public infatuation with political clown Bob Ellis, including an awkward tHe cut Cleopatra: A Life weekend at his house (grotesquely fascinating Stacy Schiff and very funny). George Pelecanos Ex-serviceman Spero Lucas has turned Virgin. PB. Normally $24.95 A common thread in many of these essays is Special Investigator. He’s good at it and Our special price $19.95 Hardy’s expectations being turned on their he has carved out a niche: recovering Schiff’s portrayal of Cleopa- head, and it’s this element that is most engag- stolen property, no questions asked. tra has been widely lauded His cut is forty percent. But is any cut ing. A fantasy of sex with prostitutes is not just American explorer Hiram Bingham made Machu for her perceptive ability to disappointing, but mortifying. Her idols prove Picchu famous, and his dispatches from the worth your family, your lover, or your separate fact from fiction flawed. In an essay I found deeply touching, jungle cast him as a true Indiana Jones like life? The stunning new crime novel and rescue Cleopatra from she writes about being an initially reluctant character. Cradle of Gold takes the reader into from the writer of The Wire. the myths that have been half-time stepmother, then her relationship the heart of Peru’s past to relive the dramatic built around her. In doing story of the final years of the Incan empire. buckling under the grief of the child’s loss after $29.95 Pb, ISBN 9780230112049 so she reveals a complex the mother moved interstate. These moments Palgrave Macmillan and compelling character, a woman who of reflection, the moments where Hardy makes lived for less than 40 years, but whose life herself truly vulnerable, break through the irrevocably changed the ancient world. ‘An consciously self-deprecating, relentlessly witty inspired combination of carefully parsed persona and really shine. You’ll Be Sorry When texts, new research and pulse-quickening I’m Dead is a thoroughly entertaining read – descriptive writing … formidable and and even better, it’s intermittently surprising, Robin & Lucienne Day: spellbinding achievement.’ – The Guardian touching, and genuinely revelatory. PioneeRs of Jo Case is editor of Readings Monthly Bligh: William Bligh contemPoRaRy DesiGn in the South Seas Singing for All Lesley Jackson Anne Salmond He’s Worth Robin and Lucienne Day were legendary Penguin. HB. $49.95 Raimond Gaita, Alex Miller figures with an international reputation Anthropologist Anne & Alex Skovron (eds) for their remarkable interior creations. Salmond charts the This landmark book provides a Picador. PB. $24.99 comprehensive survey of their careers triumphs and disasters of Jacob Rosenberg wrote and From thoughts about conflict resolution in the alongside gorgeous illustrations and William Bligh’s life and published three collections of Middle East to observations about loud music photos of their designs. career and, for the first poetry, a book of short stories, in rowdy neighborhoods, from questions on the time, portrays the Pacific function of spam filters to ideas on how to edit a novel, and two prize-winning our own lives, The Chairs Are Where the People Islanders as key players. memoirs in the space of 15 Go is an invigorating, entertaining handbook for New revelations from years, before he died in 2008 the times we live in. letters between Bligh and his wife offer aged 86. His prolific creativity $19.95 Pb, ISBN 9780865479456 fresh insights into the mutiny aboard the is celebrated in this volume, in Farrar Straus and Giroux Bounty, as well as Bligh’s 3000-mile 12 Readings Monthly September 2011

which 12 Australian writers and intellectuals story was workshopped through a series of – all of them friends of Rosenberg – respond community meetings involving elders – to his writing, offering illuminating insights some of whom told stories to Laves in 1931 into his work. – artists and linguists. Artists Geoffrey Woods and Anthony Roberts have created Alice Pung: stunning illustrations for Noongar Mambara Bakitj, and Jeffrey Farmer, Helen Nelly and Roma Winmar have done the same for Her Father’s Daughter QuarterlyAustralian Ess Studiesay 43: Mamang. Presented in both Noongar and Bad News: Murdoch’s English language, this art book will inspire Phoebe Bond interviews Unpolished Gem author Alice Pung about her second and delight all ages. memoir, Her Father's Daughter (Black Inc., PB, $29.95) Australian and the Shaping of the Nation Robert Manne baby teeth unfailingly every night with Black Inc. PB. $19.95 a little Colgate toothbrush for five years At a time when the Murdoch WhyHistory the West when you know the same hands have empire has come under buried starved bodies and ploughed worldwide scrutiny in the Rules – For Now paddies in the Killing Fields. wake of the UK phone- Ian Morris Growing up with such parents, you hacking scandal, this timely Profile. PB. $24.99 learn patience and you learn about the and engrossing Quarterly Why has the West been the burden of being too loved. I learned Essay scrutinises the Mur- dominant power for the past that love is not a certain repertoire of doch media’s lead local 200 years? Eminent classicist, feelings. It is a verb, a series of actions to political voice: The Australian. Robert historian and archaeologist be followed through to the end, like my Manne looks at how the paper – under Ian Morris draws on 15,000 parents did. They walked through the influential editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell – years of history to explain the Killing Fields together, built a new life, shapes debate, with devastating case studies West’s rise to power and asks had four children. For them, life is un- of its campaigns against the Rudd govern- how much longer this power imaginable with anyone else. So what if ment and the Greens, its skewed climate will last. Will the growth of China and India everything my father and mother do is change coverage and its ruthless pursuit spell the end of the West as superpower? tinged with fear? This is what it means, of enemies and critics. Meticulously researched, this is a captivating I think, to be human with the full set history of the world and an insightful look Her Father’s Daughter travels between into what the future holds. China, Melbourne and Cambodia, with of experiences meted out to you in life, The Forgotten chapters alternately written from the and to do the best with what you have. Islands: A Personal Adventure Through perspectives of father and daughter. Part III of Her Father’s Daughter is an Can you talk a bit about how you evocative and harrowing account of how the Islands of Bass decided to structure the book? your father survived Pol Pot’s murderous Strait NScienceow You See It: How When I went to China on my Asialink regime. What were some of the challenges Michael Veitch the Brain Science of residency, people told me I would have in writing this part of the book? Viking. PB. $32.95 Attention Will Trans- a sense of homecoming. China was My father is an exception, but most There are over 50 cold, dark beautiful but I felt alienated there. I was islands in the Bass Strait. form the Way we Live, of my relatives don’t talk about their Work and Learn meant to have all this cultural capital Killing Fields experiences. So I have They are hardly visited but that I could spend on ‘special feelings’ been extremely lucky to have such a are rich in stories of light- Cathy N. Davidson towards ‘going back’, but it wasn’t even dad. In interviewing him for this book, house keepers, sealers, Viking. PB. $39.95 going back for me – I was born in Aus- I had to be careful not to push some Aboriginal ‘resettlements’ In 2003, Professor Cathy Davidson and tralia. I also got paranoid that people things. He was never evasive and he and people who have Duke University gave the freshman class free back home were waiting for the next set was supportive all the way. But I didn’t vanished. As a child, Michael iPods. In almost all disciplines, the students of Unpolished Gem stories. I wrote about want to bug him too much. This wasn’t Veitch was told one such story, about a invented academic uses for them. The result 20,000 words, but nothing seemed to Tuesdays with Morrie over coffee, but a young man and a lighthouse on one of those confounded critics, who said it was a waste be working. 60-year-old man with a business to run islands. Reminded of this as an adult, he of money. Davidson demonstrated that Until one evening, after I had spoken and a store to open on Sundays who undertakes a journey around the islands and by turning assumptions about learning on to my father on the telephone, I wrote didn’t believe in post-traumatic stress. explores the myths and legends they hold as their head, new and innovative ideas could a very short piece about a man who was All his stresses seemed to be immediate well as the breathtaking landscapes of the emerge. Here, Davidson argues that, in this getting ready to go to bed. A quiet scene and imminent dangers – except our lives islands. digital age, most of us are still in schools and of domesticity, except that this par- in our cloistered cul-de-sac neighbour- workplaces built for the last century. ticular man always slept with the light hood weren’t the most perilous states Pedder Dreaming: switched on, and always made sure he of existence. Olegas Truchanas Brain Bugs: How the Brain’s Flaws Shape hid all the knives in the house, and all In researching this book, I befriended and a Lost Tasmanian the knives had no sharp tips because he and read many accounts by psychia- Wilderness our Lives had cut and filed them off. And I knew, trists, historians and sociologists about Natasha Cica Dean Buonomano then and there, that I had the ending the children of Nazi Holocaust survi- UQP. HB. $59.95 W.W. Norton. HB. $32.95 to my book. vors, as not many studies have yet been Olegas Truchanas was a Despite its complexity, the Instead of starting with the gruesome collected about children of parents who Lithuanian émigré with a human brain is not perfect. Cambodia killing fields chapters, I have survived more recent genocides. passion for Lake Pedder in For example, our memories situated the first half of the book in the What intrigued me was that some Cam- south-west Tasmania. A can be unreliable, we can’t safe suburbs of Melbourne. This is our bodian people dealt with trauma in the wilderness photographer, multiply large sums in our home. My father was a refugee. He is sense that they deliberately cultivated he was also an adventurer, heads, advertising can no longer. A refugee is someone who is ‘goldfish memories’, where if you don’t artist and activist who spent years campaign- manipulate us and we can in the middle of fleeing, traversing from talk about something, it disappears and ing to save the freshwater lake from being believe in the supernatural or one place to get to another. My father is then you can start from scratch in a new dammed, but lost the battle in 1972. Pedder superstitions. Looking at the brain’s work- home. My sense of belonging is through country. Dreaming brings together Truchanas’s ings and the evolutionary process, Buono- photographs from the 50s, 60s and 70s, mano explains why these ‘bugs’ exist and my connections with other people, However, Western psychology, with along with artwork from the Sunday Group, examines their consequences. He also shows people I love. What I am foremost Kubler-Ross and her model of grief, a small group of landscape artists. A us how our brains function and malfunction interested in is character, above ‘culture’ and the recent diagnosis of post-trau- stunning tribute to the beauty of Lake in the modern world, and gives us tools to and plot. Why do people do the things matic stress as a mental disorder, means Pedder. hone our cognitive strengths. they do? And how do people love? that to heal you have to deal with the You build a strong sense of your desire to past. I wanted to write about this past Noongar Mambara find your own path and how that both that made my father who he was, but did not define who he is. Bakitj clashes and fits with your father’s expecta- Mamang tions of where you should be heading and Gardening What’s the best advice your father ever Kim Scott Yates Garden Guide how you should be getting there. What gave you? were the intentions and tensions in writ- UWA Press. PB. $24.95 each 2011 ing about this father–daughter dynamic? ‘Write how you truly feel, and don’t Both these titles were HarperCollins. PB. Normally $40 worry what others think. You have to created as part of an Our special price $34.95 This entire book is an unspoken conver- be brave as a writer.’ He actually told indigenous language On the 125th anniversary of sation between a father and a daughter, me this as I was writing this book about recovery project led by Kim Yates in Australia, this special unspoken because there are no explosive him. That’s a pretty extraordinary gift Scott and the Wirlomin edition offers a pictorial tantrums, no threats to move out of of unconditional love. Noongar Language and history of Yates in Australia home, no direct rejections. Somehow, Stories Project. It was inspired by a creation and a new chapter about each party knows where the parameters The extended version of this interview story told to the American linguist Gerhardt changes in garden design lie, and how far to test them. You can’t is on www.readings.com.au Laves at Albany, Western Australia, around over the last century. Fully just holler at a dad who brushed your 1931 and returned to the Noongar people illustrated, with information by his family after his death in the 80s. The on more than 1000 plant species, tips from Readings Monthly September 2011 13

Australia’s leading gardeners, ideas for devout community he has created around designing your garden and problem-solving his cafe, ShopAte on the Mornington charts to help identify and deal with pests Penninsula, and his epicurean travels. I Foodby Justine Douglas, & ReadingsWine Port Melbourne Artby Margaret & Snowdon, Design Readings Carlton and diseases, this is an indispensable guide inevitably find myself turning to Guy’s for Australian gardeners. recipes when I am cooking for a crowd. His food always invokes a generosity and sense Comfort and Spice: Characters: Little Veggie Patch Co of occasion without pretension – and they Recipes for Modern Cultural Stories Fabian Capomolla work. There are some wonderful recipes for Living Revealed Through & Mat Pember breakfast, ranging from homemade baked Niamh Shields Typography Plum. PB. Normally $45 beans to pumpkin and ricotta hotcakes, Hardie Grant. PB. $34.99 Stephen Banham Our special price $39.95 which are served with lime yoghurt – fur- This is another brilliant T&H. HB. $49.95 The Little Veggie Patch Co ther incentive to cook brunch at home this edition in the New Voices in This unique book offers a is a successful Melbourne- Sunday instead of braving a windy 40- Food series. Niamh Shields is new way of looking at the based business that minute wait on the pavement for a table at an Irish food writer with a familiar and tells us the specialises in the design, your local café. The chapter on ‘Small fresh and witty take on every- amazing stories behind some installation and mainte- Plates’ offers a selection of tasty, nibbly day cooking. The ‘spice’ in of Melbourne’s most iconic nance of chemical-free dishes to have with drinks or before a long the title refers to the seven signs – signs that have helped vegetable gardens. The company’s founders, lunch, like a pumpkin and garlic tart or spices Niamh uses in her to shape the city’s history. Fabian Capomolla and Mat Pember, have chickpea, feta and zucchini fritters. Hungry kitchen. She wrestles economical cuts of Included are the Shell sign assembled this easy-to-use guide that covers is beautifully designed, with some sumptu- meat into dinner party-worthy dishes like that inspired illegal gambling and had to be the various aspects to be considered – soil, ous gatefold spreads. Guy’s aesthetic acuity lamb breast with persillade crust and removed, the hidden typographic messages climate, watering, composting, worm extends beyond the page to the recipes: a slow-cooked pork cheeks in cider. There are in Melbourne’s laneways, the traces of the farms, saving and sowing seeds, and raised white salad of fennel, citrus and almond; a plenty of worthy suggestions for ‘Tuesday 1956 Olympic Games hidden in our streets garden beds and crates – and is fully red salad of beetroot, peach and radicchio, night’ dinners but this volume shines with and the dark side of the Qantas logo. illustrated with step-by-step activities. and finally an orange salad of jap pumpkin, its ‘Eight Great Big Dinners … and what to There is a complete A–Z of edible plants carrot and goat’s cheese. Beyond the do with the leftovers’ – who can refuse that Books: A Living History with detailed planting information, chapters on risotto and pasta, you will find kind of economy of gesture? Martyn Lyons ongoing maintenance advice, tips on best hearty dishes like pork and fennel sausages T.&H. HB. $39.95 companions and when to harvest, and a with creamy potato bakes and delicate ones A Southerly Course This lavishly illustrated range of projects to get the kids involved. such as a roast chicken and spiced cauli- Marth Hall Foose volume explores one of the flower salad. Hungry is a call to arms to Random. HB. $49.95 most versatile, useful and gather some nice people together and cook Perhaps it has just been an enduring technologies ever them some delicious food. overly long winter, but I find invented: the book. It charts Justine Douglas is from Readings myself daydreaming about the evolution and influence Port Melbourne HFoodungry & Wine barbecues and mint juleps of books around the world, Guy Mirabella while screen doors bang and from the cuneiform tablets The Age Good Food fans whir overhead. My of ancient Sumer through the development Plum Press. PB. Normally $49.99 obsession with southern food Our special price $39.95 Guide 2012 of moveable type and the emergence of the runs parallel to my obsession modern information revolution. A feast for All of Guy’s cookbooks have Janine Apelgren with southern literature and A Southerly traditional book-lovers, and an inspiration an enviable quality that Penguin. PB. $29.95 Course happily marries the two, with a for those excited by new electronic tech- transports one into his Melbourne is known for its food, wine and marvellous extract about Eudora Welty’s nologies. charming extended family. buzzing bar and restaurant scene. (Let’s face it, we’re an indoors kind of city.) It can be kitchen which includes a catalogue of her His genial introductions to cookbooks. The names of Southern dishes each recipe invoke his tough to keep up with the best new eater- Stencil Graffiti ies, let alone keep an eye on well-established are entertaining enough – ‘rum tum tiddy Capital: Melbourne childhood memories growing anyone?’ – but I suspect my good whole favourites. That’s why so many Melbournian J. Smallman & C. Nyman up in rural Victoria, the food self wants to experiment, with recipes households include a copy of The Age Good Mark Batty. PB. $29.95 that call for ketchup and butter crackers in Food Guide – and why so many of us will Now in paperback – same the ingredient list. Either way, I will be “SOUTH EAST ASIA’S MOST INNOVATIVE LITERARY FESTIVAL” Business Times Asia welcome the updated edition. Features 500 size, lower cost! During the making Good Donny’s dandelion cracklings reviews by experienced reviewers, as well first few years of this century, and plum cheesecake bars this weekend as a as the best coffee, bars and gourmet cafes, Melbourne was the global respite from the cold weather. alongside extensive coverage of eating out in epicenter of stencil graffiti, every corner of Victoria. 5 - 9 OCTOBER 2011 with artists like MEEK, The Vintage Tea Party SIXTEN, VEXTA, and Eating and Drinking Book MEGGS cutting amazing More than 100 writers from all corners of the globe will appear in a dynamic celebration of the literary arts. From Ubud’s el- Melbourne Angel Adoree stencils and getting them up all over the city. egant hotels to its charming cafes, restaurants and temples, the Hodder. PB. $35 Festival will cultivate the glory of the written word, over five Hardie Grant. PB. $29.95 While many stencil-centric books have magical, unforgettable days. This handy little food guide Who didn’t lust after a followed, this book remains the only one is a newcomer to the scene. proper high tea after that documents a once-prolific scene that It’s produced by the publish- watching the recent remake will stand the test of time. ers behind Michelle Curtis of Brighton Rock? I might be and Alan Campion’s popular alone here, but it is time to Rising Currents Foodie’s Guide to Melbourne, reinstate that great British Barry Bergdoll et al so you know its foodie tradition of afternoon tea – MOMA. PB. $49.95 pedigree will be impeccable. although now, you can have Five interdisciplinary teams of With sections on fine dining restaurants, it whenever you want. I would rather Welsh architects, engineers and cheap and cheerful eateries, and the hottest rarebit and a baked potato over hors landscape designers were asked bars in Melbourne, this is a fresh and d’oeuvres and sickly cocktails any day. Filled to propose solutions to the accessible guide to the best places to eat and with tea-time favourites like pork and lemon effects of climate change on drink in Melbourne on any budget. quail scotch eggs and orange eccles cakes this New York’s waterfront. The is definitely more Vivienne Westwood meets results were exhibited at Amy Winehouse than Royal Albert, so make MoMA in 2010 in the sure you put on a vintage frock before you exhibition Rising Currents: Projects for New Cultural Studies put on the kettle. York’s Waterfront and emphasise ‘soft’ infrastruc- Art and Homosexuality ture interventions that would make New York Christopher Reed What’s for Pudding? City and its surrounding areas more ecologi- OUP. HB. $64.95 Alexa Johnston cally sound and more resilient in responding to Art and Homosexuality Penguin. PB. $39.95 rising sea levels and storm surges. examines our conceptions of Alexa is something of a the artist and the homosexual heroine of mine: curator, Expanded Cinema: Art, and looks at how the two writer and home baker. Performance, Film identities have taken shape While most of us collect David Curtis et al. and overlapped. Drawing on recipes haphazardly, NANDURIN KARANG AWAK | CULTIVATE THE LAND WITHIN Tate. PB. $49.95 handwritten and clipped examples of art from the full From its origins in early from magazines and newspapers, Alexa range of the Western abstract film and the Bauhaus collects them with an academic ardour. One tradition, the book takes into account a wide era to post-war happenings doesn’t need to delve too far back into our array of art forms. Rather than being a and live events in Europe and culinary history to recall a time where simple chronology of gay and lesbian artists, the US, the first multimedia this is a sophisticated study of how two ‘pudding’ was mandatory. This is a brilliant MEDIA SPONSOR experiments of the 1960s, and resource. conspicuous identities have fundamentally the fusion of multiscreen art informed one another. With over 175 with sonic art and music from illustrations, this is an extensive treatment of the 1970s onward, this thought-provoking art and homosexuality that tells the story of book goes on to explore the influence of video BOOKINGS AND INQUIRIES their symbiotic evolution. Ph +62 361 780 8932 | E [email protected] | www.ubudwritersfestival.com art on new media technologies. 14 Readings Monthly July 2011

BKids’oard Book Bookscurious things he thinks will be useful and off he and his good friend Sir Bobblysock Scared or Not Mr Croc trot. Well, the beach may be fun but there Jo Lodge are dangers as well and it turns out that Hachette. BB. $19.99 Claude can be very inventive in an emer- Buy The Naked Boy Plus Mr Croc toy giveaway with purchase gency. He jauntily becomes involved in Mr Croc has decided to bothersome situations and saves the day invite all his friends over for with a variety of quaint tactics aided by the and the Crocodile a sleepover. The only contents of his suitcase and of course, Sir problem is that once the sun Bobblysock. There’s one thing I’ve forgotten goes down, things start to to tell you and that is Claude is a dog and at Readings in look a little scary. But by his good friend – well – he is a sock, which lifting the flaps, young readers can help Mr makes for lots of fun. These are great little Croc discover that there’s nothing to be afraid junior novels and the hilarious illustrations September and of after all – that the things that once looked are a treat that adults as well as kids will scary are actually just Mr Croc’s friends, here to enjoy. Do you know what your dog gets wish him good night! This is a wonderful book up to while you are at school? For ages support Indigenous for those who are having trouble with the dark, seven and up. and even better, with every copy of Mr Croc Alexa Dretzke is from Readings Hawthorn comes a free soft Mr Croc toy (while stocks Literacy Day last). Nobody could possibly be afraid of the the 13-Storey dark with a cuddly Mr Croc by your side! Treehouse Holly Harper is from Readings Carlton Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton All proceeds from the sale of the The Naked Boy Picture Books Macmillan. PB. $9.99 Andy and Terry may live in a and the Crocodile will be donated to the Indigenous Bicycle totally cool treehouse with Literacy Foundation. Help us raise money to spread Colin Thompson the kind of features that kids Harper. HB. $27.99 would go nuts over, but they the joy of reading to remote Indigenous communities Do you remember your first do have a few problems. and buy a copy of the book today. bicycle ride? Chances are, you Such as a missing neighbour’s do: for most of us that initial cat they have helped to feeling of two-wheeled disappear, a book they should locomotion is a thrilling have finished which hasn’t been started, not Andy Griffiths for Indigenous Literacy moment. This beautiful to mention a demonic mermaid that picture book, created as a threatens their friendship. Finally they start Kids author and Indigenous fundraiser for Save The writing and drawing – but you’re not going Literacy Foundation ambassador Children, reminds us of not only how to believe this! A whole lot of monkeys wonderful it is to feel the wind through your invade, a giant banana nearly kills Terry then Andy Griffiths travelled to remote hair as you coast down a hill on your bicycle, saves them from the monkeys, then lures a Indigenous communities, where but how important bikes can be to get you giant gorilla, everything goes horribly wrong from here to almost anywhere. For many kids but … no hang on a minute, I can’t give the kids struggle to learn to read and in developing countries, a bike is the differ- crazy, amazing ending away. You’ll have to write English, and encouraged them to write down ence between being able to attend school or read this very fine literary (and graphically go without an education. Illustrators includ- superior) masterpiece yourself. You won’t be stories and illustrate them - The Naked Boy and ing Quentin Blake, Tony Ross, Freya disappointed; you’ll be dazzled by Andy’s the Crocodile is the result! Blackwood, Shaun Tan and even Banksy have and Terry’s brilliance. And of course, you’ll interpreted the theme, coupled with inspiring want more: maybe a 26-Storey Treehouse!!! quotes about bicycles from young and old. Ridiculous fun for ages eight and up. AD Andy says : “These lively stories tell of ‘riding Proceeds from the book will help children in motorbikes … hunting for emu eggs and wild pigs’ difficult circumstances experience the magic Three Doors 1: as well as ‘terrifying turkeys, angry spirits, farcical foot- of childhood, like riding a bicycle. Three Golden Doors Angela Crocombe is from Readings St Kilda ball matches’. And there’s one about a very hungry Emily Rodda Omnibus. PB. $16.99 crocodile with a preference for eating naked people!” Junior & Middle Fiction Rye has lived his whole life behind Weld’s Visiting the communities, Andy has been constantly Star League: great walls, which do little to keep its people safe from flying monster attacks. When a reminded of how much reading and writing are taken Robot Reboot H.J. Harper call is made for heroes to venture beyond the for granted in the cities - and of just how much he Random. PB. $9.95 walls and put a stop to the attacks, Rye’s two brothers put their hands up for the danger- doesn’t know: “Sharing stories is a two-way street.” The Star League are back with four more exciting adventures! ous task. But when they fail to return, Rye This crime-fighting team is must journey into a world of blood-thirsty still desperately trying to monsters and savage barbarians to bring About The Indigenous Literacy Foundation capture the evil Professor them back. Nobody writes a quest book Pestilence and stop him from quite like Emily Rodda, as fans of her Del- The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) raises funds taking over the world. There’s tora Quest and Rowan of Rin series will at- test. This first book in her new Three Doors to buy books and provide access to literacy resources to just one problem: they still don’t know his true identity. In order to trilogy is an exciting blend of fantasy and help improve the lives and opportunities of Indigenous complete their mission, the Star League must adventure, perfect for readers aged eight and up. Yet again, Rodda has created a world of children living in remote regions of Australia. Over the put an end to Aunt Petunia’s Le Nice Pets organisation, defeat giant robots known as mystery and magic that readers will want to past 2 ½ years The Indigenous Literacy Foundation megadroids, come up against Professor lose themselves in; one that will have them has sent over 70,000 books to over 200 communities. Pestilence’s devoted servants, the Pestilites, eagerly awaiting a sequel. HH and do battle with a rival group known as the Shadow Six. This thrilling series has the Father’s Day books perfect mix of both action and humour on The first Sunday in September is Father’s Day. The Naked Boy and the Crocodile every page. It will captivate young readers as What better way to spend it than reading a Edited by Andy Griffiths they discover how a movie star, werewolf, book with dad? Every dad is different, and Some Dads Pan Macmillan. PB. $16.99. zombie, ninja, animancer and robot attempt no book knows that better than to use their individual talents to work (Scholastic, HB, $16.99). While some dads together and fight crime. are well-behaved, some are not – but all are Daniela Perinac is from Readings Malvern celebrated in this wonderful rhyming picture book by Aussie author Nick Bland. Giles Claude on Holiday Andreae, author of Giraffes Can’t Dance, also Alex T. Smith shows us why dads are the best in the heart- warming I Love My Daddy (Hachette, HB, Hachette. PB. $14.99 $24.99). And for dads who like to crank up We first met the small and plump, beret- the barbie, pick up the hilarious My Aussie wearing Claude in the delightful Claude in Dad by Yvonne Morrison, illustrator Gus the City. Now, he decides a holiday would be Gordon (Scholastic, HB, $15.99). HH fun. He packs his suitcase with odd and Readings Monthly July 2011 15

COURT Readings100s more bargains available online, Bargai new shipment just in ! nJust click Table on the bargains tab at www.readings.com.au.

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Now $14.95 Of all the Impressionists, he story might surprisingly In this indispensable completely true to the contain or be about’. collection, The New Yorker principle of absolute fidelity. dishes up a feast of delicious How To Talk About food writing: food and drink Trespass: A History memoirs, short stories and Books You Haven’t poems, seasoned with a Of Uncommissioned Read generous dash of cartoons. Urban Art Pierre Bayard Carlo McCormick, Marc HB. Was $27.95. Now TBC Schiller, Sara Schiller, Ethel Sen Tools for Living In this provocative, witty HB. Was $55.95. Now $24.95 An Unwinnable War lays bare the book, literature professor and Peter & Charlotte Fiell Made in collaboration with tensions between political and military psychoanalyst Pierre Bayard HB. Was $69.95. 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This month’s of Ireland’s dramatic past, featured first-time release in looking at the evolution of World Movies Longitude the high definition Blu-ray the country in a global Special Offer $19.95 format is Brian De Palma context and challenging $14.95 each or 3 for $30 The multi-award winning, and Oliver Stone’s adrenalin some of the potent myths Rediscover classics or start two-part Channel 4 dramati- shot of a grand guignol that have become an accepted facet of the your essential foreign film sation of Dava Sobel’s gangster epic starring an country’s history. It follows the evolution of library with the Umbrella bestselling book about the outrageously over the top Al Pacino in one the modern nation through waves of Entertainment/Readings race to win the 1714 Longi- of his most popular roles. Remade from the migration and emigration, and highlights World Movies sale. A tude Prize for determining classic 1932 Howard Hawks film, this the key moments of Irish history: from the stunning selection of foreign trans-oceanic navigation gloriously lurid 1983 version raises the adoption of Christianity through to the language films by directors brings grand drama to a volume, increases the blood flow and body Protestant plantation and Great Famine, such as Fellini, Clouzot and prosaic subject. In stories told 200 years apart count, and shoots through a cocaine cloud and from Partition to the Good Friday Truffaut, starring Gerard Depardieu, Michael Gambon stars as the eighteenth- in its depiction of decadent gang culture in Agreement. It also assesses the influence of Marcello Mastroianni and other iconic century clockmaker John Harrison, fighting a the capitalist shooting gallery of Miami. prominent figures from Brian Boru, Wolfe figures, are available at specially reduced reluctant naval establishment, and Jeremy Also released for the first time on Blu-ray Tone and Daniel O’Connell to Eamon De prices. Irons as the twentieth-century shell-shocked this month:The Leopard, The Big Lebowski Valera, Michael Collins and W.B. Yeats. Luxuriate in the sumptuous style of Diva war veteran who obsessively restores Harri- and Eraserhead. and Betty Blue. Dance in the fountain of La son’s instruments, as well as his historical Go Back to Where You Dolce Vita, Be breathtaken by Cinema Para- reputation for global navigation. Longitude is Source Code Came From diso, Manon Des Sources, Cyrano De Bergerac British costume drama of the highest order. $39.95, $49.95 Blu-Ray $29.95 and Tree of Wooden Clogs. And thrill to Wages Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllen- The SBS series that twists of Fear, Jules et Jim, Nosferatu and many The Magnificent Tati haal) is a military pilot reality TV orthodoxy is now more. C’est magnifique! $34.95 unexpectedly – and forcefully available on DVD. Six As Sylvian ‘Triplets Of – recruited into the quantum- Australians agree to chal- Potiche Belleville’ Chomet’s glorious physics-mind-bend Source lenge their preconceived My Afternoons With cell animation homage to Code program. Sent back in notions by living with (and Marguerite Jacques Tati, The Illusionist, time to figure out who caused as) refugees for one month. Released 14 September. $39.95 each plays in cinemas, this a train to blow up in Chicago, To do so, they will trace, in Two delicious slices of stylish documentary comes at the Colter is made to repeatedly live the train’s reverse, the journeys that real refugees took French whimsy featuring perfect time to frame Tati’s final eight minutes and save the day, and then to reach Australia. Along the route, the Gerard Depardieu. Potiche is genius. Director Michael – with the future unclear for himself – at- participants will debate, argue and perhaps an icing sugar fancy by House explores the life and work of the mag- tempt to save yesterday as well. change some of their opinions. François Ozon, starring a nificent Tati through clips and interviews regal Catherine Deneuve as with those who know his work best. Tati is The Thick of It: Series 3 Mad Bastards the pinny-clad trophy wife of followed from his origins as a mime on the $29.95 $39.95 an industrialist whose Parisian music-hall stage to his Oscar- The brilliant BBC political T.J. is a mad bastard, and his breakdown forces her to take control of an winning Mon Oncle, and tells how he lost it satire, The Thick of It (Yes, estranged 13-year-old son umbrella factory and begin a delicate balance all on his masterpiece Playtime. Minister with swearing) Bullet is on the fast track to between her illicit affair, labour management further warps the boundaries becoming one too. After responsibilities and domestic duties that Babies between reality and comedy. being turned away from his leads straight through the garishly painted $34.95 The staff of the Department mother’s house, T.J. sets off door marked ‘screwball farce’. In My Not just for the clucky, the of Social Affairs and Citizen- across the country to the Afternoons with Marguerite, two people of narration-free Babies is an ship continue their struggle Kimberly region of north- contrast develop a friendship: Marguerite, exploration of the formative to balance the relentless demands of spin, western Australia to make things right with 95 – frail but articulate and worldly – intro- years over different cultures. ‘joined up government’, ‘blue skies thinking’ his son. Mad Bastards is a raw look at the duces Germain (Depardieu) – semi-literate Rural kidlets Ponijao and and the 24-hour news cycle while dodging journey to becoming a man and the and of mountainous bulk – to literature Bayar from Namibia and the furious bullets of the profane threats of personal transformation one must make. through daily reading in the park, and Mongolia, and urban Malcolm Tucker, Director of Communica- Developed with local Aboriginal communi- begins to feed his enquiring mind. offspring Mari and Hattie tions and Cabinet enforcer. In the face of ties and fuelled by a local cast, Mad (from Japan and the US) are shown in current events, what other sane response is Bastards draws from the rich tradition of hilarious, heart-warming clarity, their lives a there other than a Malcolm Tucker fusillade storytelling inherent in indigenous life. visual cinematic feast as well as fun, tantrum- of expletives? I’m mad as hell and I’m not inducing and occasionally a little gross. going to take it anymore.

An intimate documentary that breaks the surface of the troubled and A continuing series of documentaries on important artists brilliant world of from a variety of fields, both contemporary and classic.

one of America’s greatest authors.

ON DVD NOW

HOWL CHRIS & DON OBSCENE A LOVE STORY

Explore the lives, loves and lawsuits of these brilliant literary minds with Arthouse Films on DVD now.

madman.com.au/arthouse presented by Readings Monthly July 2011 17

a conference for Science and New Release CDs

the hiatus. It will be interesting to see if their Rationalism fans have grown with them. CD of the Month Lou Fulco is a friend of Readings A Creature Neil deGrasse Tyson I Don’t Know Junk of the Heart Laura Marling The Kooks Christopher Hitchens* Release date 9 September. Normally $26.95 Released September 9 Our special price $21.95 Normally $26.95 Our special price $21.95 Ayaan Hirsi Ali* Vinyl also available Vinyl also available. Winner of Best British The Kooks return with Tim Flannery Female Solo Artist prize at their third album after this year’s Brit Awards as 2008’s Konk and 2006’s Michael Shermer well as the best solo artist classic debut Inside in Inside at the NME awards, Laura Out. Junk of the Heart was Cristina Rad Marling is a sensational produced by Tony Haffer, singer and songwriter. Last year, Marling who has worked with Beck, Air and Belle & Shane Koyczan announced that she would release two Sebastian. The album was recorded at The albums. The first, I Speak Because I Can, LA Sound Factory and London’s Sarm Father Bob Maguire deservedly became an overnight success. Studios. The band has had a few personnel She later announced a change of plan and changes since their last record, but still retain Josh Thomas that she wouldn’t be releasing a second their quirky 60s Brit-pop sound, influenced album that year, but assured her millions of by The Kinks and Bowie. The Kooks take in Melbourne. fans worldwide that the album would be their name from a wonderful early Bowie better due to the delay. Indeed, A Creature I track from the classic 1971 Honky Dory Don’t Know is absolutely brilliant! Laura’s Album. Fans of their earlier records will find September 18 bold voice and folky lyricism transcend her much to appreciate on this new release. I incredibly young age. Being such a great managed to hear some tracks on YouTube; young talent hasn’t always served her well Happy, Eskimo Kiss and Mr. Nice Guy all though: she apparently once chose to contain that classic Kooks, cheeky British Think Inc. perform on the street after being denied Kinks and Squeeze sound. entry to one of her own performances for Michael Awosoga-Samuel is from www.thinkinc.org.au Readings Carlton *live via video link being under-age. This has my vote for one of the greatest albums of the year! Emily Harms is marketing manager of Readings Rain On The Proudly supported by Humming Wire A Fool Who’ll The Panics Laura Jean Normally $26.95 $24.95 Our special price $21.95 Sydney-born, Melbourne- Vinyl also available based singer/songwriter The fourth album from Laura Jean first came to Perth heroes The Panics national attention in 2006 sees them move in a slightly Ebooks ad with the release of her different sonic direction successful debut album Our than their previous Swan Song. Laura received international ARIA-winning Cruel exposure when Snow Patrol asked her to sing Guards. The sound is more electric and WORLDMartha Wainwright’s part in the song Set the confident than their previous efforts; the DVD focus is squarely on frontman Jae Laffer’s Fire to the Third Barduring their two Australian tours in 2007. This soon led to (sometimes political) lyrics. In places it World her supporting major international bands evokes a soundtrack of long road-trips on such as M Ward and Midlake, as well as the highway at the height of summer, in home grown stars such as New Buffalo and others it seems perhaps closer to an homage MOVIES to fellow Perth legends The Triffids. If you Movies Darren Hanlon. Laura Jean’s third album A fool who’ll is a beautiful work of art. Her like your pop interesting and understated, exceptional lyrics and powerful voice take this one is for you. Sale you on a roller-coaster of emotions. From Melissa Whebell is from Readings Hawthorn the complex emotions of being in love with Dedicated SALE So Happy to the plummeting depths of being lovesick in Missing You, this album is well Steve Cropper worth the ride. One of the highlights is $24.95. Vinyl also available Australia: a good alternative national Steve Cropper will require anthem! This album is an absolute must for no introduction to those your collection! EH familiar with the legendary soul catalogue of the Stax I’m With You label. In his long and Red Hot Chilli Peppers illustrious career, he’s not only secured himself a place in the Rock and ONLY $14.95ea OR 3 FOR $30 Normally $26.95 3 for $30 Roll Hall of Fame, but also garnered much Our special price $21.95 A selection of foreign language films by directors including love for his work as a founding member of or $14.95 each This is an interesting Fellini, Clouzot and Truffaut, and starring Gerard Depardieu, Booker T and the MGs. This is his first solo proposition. Red Hot Marcello Mastroianni and other iconic figures are available at album, and is a tribute to the equally Chilli Peppers release a new specially reduced prices. C’est magnifique! legendary 5 Royales. It features a swag of Rediscover the classics or start album without John guests: Lucinda Williams, Bettye LaVette, your foreign film library with Frusciante, the guitarist Spooner Oldham and B.B. King, to name a the Umbrella Entertainment / and creative force respon- few. His playing is as dynamic as ever, and sible for much of the band’s signature sound. Readings World Movies sale. this is well worth the price of admission. MW A selection of foreign language It has been five years since Stadium Arcadium and fans have been waiting patiently. The films by directors such as Fellini, The Suburbs: wait will now involve a period of adjusting Clouzot and Truffaut starring to a new sound. The funky grooves and Deluxe Edition Gerard Depardieu, Marcello smart lyrics still wash through the songs, but Arcade Fire Mastroianni and other iconic it is not hard to miss the different guitar $29.95 figures are available at specially sound. Josh Klinghoffer is a subtler player For the anniversary of the release of their last album reduced prices. C’est magnifique! than Frusciante, more interested in effects and open to different sounds. Listening to The Suburbs, which won the first single, The Adventures of Rain Dance Album of the Year at the Maggie, is the perfect example of this. The 2011 Grammy Awards, individuals in the band have grown during Best International Album 18 Readings Monthly July 2011 at the 2011 BRIT Awards and Album of the Only Sparrows Year at the 2011 Juno Awards, comes a very Josh Pyke special CD/DVD deluxe edition of the Normally $26.95 Country Folk & World album. Included on the CD are two exciting Our special price $21.95 Ghosts on the Canvas Tassili new tracks (one featuring vocals by David Josh Pyke is the kind of Glen Campbell Tinariwen Byrne) in addition to the original album, as guy you secretly hope to $24.95 $24.95 well as an extended version of Wasted Hours. meet one day: not only is He has been in the music Although their music has The DVD includes the Spike Jones film he a bit cute, but his business for over 50 years. only been widely known Scenes from the Suburbs, plus the companion ability to turn guitar and He has been both one of the for the last decade or so, documentary Behind the Scenes from the dream-like singing into the hottest guitar players in the Malian collective Tinari- Suburbs and the official music video for The story of your life – love, family, happiness, world, and an artist selling wen have existed in some Suburbs. Also included in this release is an pain and all that’s in-between – is down- over 45 million records. form since 1979. This exclusive booklet featuring lyrics and 80 right good for the ears. This is summery Hits like Witchita Lineman, Rhinestone beautiful, hypnotic and enchanting album, pages of photos taken during the film, and indie-folk, sometimes tender and pared Cowboy and By The Time I Get To Phoenix with a bit of country and rock flair courtesy other exclusive content. back, as in Punch in the Heart (with Little have made him instantly recognisable to of Wilco’s Nels Cline and TV on the Miranda La Fleur is from Readings Carlton Birdy’s Katy Steele); sometimes transformed different genres of music fans. Keeping all this Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, is possibly the 100 Acres of Sycamore by well-timed violins to turn Coffee Cups in mind, Ghost on the Canvas is a look back most amazing album they’ve ever produced. from its gentle beginnings into something on his career and life; a life that has had its Stripped back but still sonically powerful, it Fionn Regan spine-tingling; or, like Break, Shake, Make, fair share of ups and downs. Having recently will lift your heart and blow your mind. I $24.95. Vinyl also available Matter, harking back to his trademark been diagnosed with Alzheimers, Campbell dislike the term ‘world music’, but if that’s Irish singer-songwriter chipper-melancholy Pyke style. Lovely. FH has decided this is also his ‘farewell album’. It what this is, then it’s currently about the Fionn Regan has deeply features songs written by Paul Westerberg, best thing the music world has to offer. impressed many with his Bonfires in Silver City Jakob Dylan, Teddy Thompson and Robert KOM two previous full-length Lucie Thorne Pollard, and includes guests Chris Isaak and releases: The End of History, $29.95 Dick Dale among others. This album is a Bel Air his absolutely wonderful fitting final bookend to a great career and a Cosmo Cosmolino debut release which was shortlisted for the Lucie Thorne’s 2008 great artist. LF $24.95 2007 Mercury Music Prize, and Shadow of album, Black Across The The first thing that caught an Empire, which was also well-received Field, was my album of the Our Blood my attention about this critically. His latest release 100 Acres of year; it was shortlisted for Richard Buckner CD was the beautiful Sycamore won’t disappoint those who are the prestigious Australian $24.95 packaging. But I was not fans of his work, nor many of those picking Music Prize and helped her Five years since his last quite prepared for the as- up a Regan album for the very first time. It’s find a new, larger audience. She has a lot to record, Meadows, Richard tonishing, mostly string- a gorgeous, heartfelt, orchestral album, live up to with the follow-up Bonfires in Buckner returns with a driven, madness inside. This quintet feature reminiscent of the playful folky manner of Silver City, but has yet again proven that selection of nine single- violins, cello double bass and accordion, The End of History, leaving behind the her songwriting, arranging, guitar playing word titled songs that hold with links to My Friend the Chocolate surprisingly raw and aggressive electric and singing are, dare I say it – World Class. powerful emotions. The Cake and The Stiletto Sisters and Circus approach of Shadow of an Empire. Very Think an amalgam of Joni Mitchell, songs on this record are set to a sparse Oz. They integrate the sounds of gypsy highly recommended. MLF Emmylou Harris and The Cowboy Junkies. She is an artist well worth discovering and I acoustic backdrop, with Buckner playing violin, tango klezmer, French Impression- Making Mirrors can’t think of another Australian artist I most of the instruments himself. One gets the ism and modern classical music into a Gotye would recommend more highly right now. feeling they are inhabiting the very depths of rich aural tapestry. This is for serious Dave Clarke is from Readings Carlton these strong emotional compositions. We are listening and covers a lot of ground, Normally $26.95 lucky to even have these; they were lost twice stylistically and emotionally. It’s hard to Our special price $21.95 from his laptop and he was detained by police isolate individual tracks here, but Helen Vinyl also available Watch the Throne on a murder charge (he just happened to be Mountford’s Boat of Faith is a totally The electronic-pop trickster Jay-Z & Kanye West in the wrong place at the wrong time). There compelling piece of musical weirdness with Gotye (aka Wally de Normally $26.95 is a cinematic quality to some of these songs, a driving cello that concludes with eerie Backer) is back with his Our special price $21.95 which remind me of Stewart Copland’s early wordless vocals. It’s hard to forget once you fourth album. There are Jay-Z and Kanye are very 80s work and the work of Richmond have heard it. PB strong influences from wealthy men, a fact they Fontaine. Ultimately this is a record to be Peter Gabriel all through will remind you of more treasured – and played repeatedly in your Pearl these songs and even a touch of Phil Collins than once on this album. quiet place, with your headphones on. MAS here and there. One track is an absolute This wealth has many Rose Bygrave stand-out: Somebody That I Used To Know is advantages, not least the & Marcia Howard a classic pop song that gets into your head ability to pay for awesome samples. There is $29.95 and stays for days. Get onto YouTube and no one who can rip a sample apart and turn Pearl is the welcome return watch the clip. It’s very arty and clever, with it into something new like Kanye, and his Jazz & Blues of two of Australia’s finest lyrics that reflect a common emotion after a studio wizardry perfectly complements Hush Collection voices and songwriters relationship breakdown, and includes Jay-Z’s too-cool charm. Kanye takes himself Volume 11 Luminous from the contemporary gorgeous guest vocals from Kimbra. seriously, but on this album he may actually Inspired by Mozart folk scene, with a bunch I’ll bet you watch it more than once! be having fun, and Jay-Z sounds looser Joe Chindamo of songs about love, loneli- than he has in years. Possibly the biggest- ness, taking stock and finding a place in Alice Bisits is from Readings Malvern $24.95

selling album of the year – but that doesn’t life. Opening track Great Ocean Road sets

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Ewa & Nic Richardson Nic & Ewa

your spirit and calm your emotions. your calm and spirit your Melbourne jazz pianist Joe

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who help create each Hush CD. The Hush series series Hush The CD. Hush each create help who their shared patients and families after about

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The Hush project supports our children’s hospitals luminous – inspired by Mozart Melbourne – The Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre profile Australian musician Sydney – The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick featuring Zoe Black and friends collection volume 11 luminous – inspired by Mozart by Joe Chindamo Newcastle – Kaleidoscope Hunter Children’s Health Network Perth – Princess Margaret Hospital for Children Adelaide – Women’s and Children’s Hospital Brisbane – Royal Children’s Hospital, Mater Children’s Hospital plus the Children’s Wards in Canberra, Darwin and Hobart 01 Clarinet Concerto in A K 622 2nd mvt (piano) 2.56 02 Symphony No 40 in G minor K 550 1st mvt (piano, violin, cello, bass, drums) 3.58 the atmospheric dobro of Dave Steele 03 Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 1st mvt (piano) 2.48 04 Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 2nd mvt (cello, piano) 1.22 05 Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 3rd mvt (piano, violin, cello) 0.42 $21.95. Vinyl also available 06 Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 4th mvt (piano, violin soloist & string quartet) 3.33 07 Piano Concerto in B flat K 595 2nd mvt (piano & string quartet) 6.29 08 Piano Concerto in B flat K 595 3rd mvt (piano) 3.21 09 The Magic Flute Overture (piano, bass, drums & strings) 4.49 volume 11 music for complete calm 10 Piano Concerto No 21 in C K 467 2nd mvt (piano, bass, drums) 5.53 11 Violin Sonata in B flat K 454 2nd mvt (violin, piano) 7.47 to lend his talents to the 12 Piano Sonata in A major K 331 1st mvt (piano accordion, violin) 3.06 13 Piano Sonata in A major K 331 1st mvt (piano) 2.23 All tracks are original reconceptions of Mozart’s music by pianist and composer Joe Chindamo: Joe Chindamo – Piano/Piano Accordion Zoe Black – Violin (soloist on tracks 2, 6, 11 and 12) Sarah Curro – Violin Bush League Bard Caroline Henbest – Viola on a great road song. The orphan tale of Josephine Vains – Cello (soloist on track 4) Daniel Farrugia – Percussion Philip Rex – Bass Beirut’s Zach Condon is Recorded, mixed and mastered by the inimitable Michael Letho at ABC Iwaki Auditorium, Melbourne, Australia. The assistance of ABC Classic FM is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks to the Freedman Foundation for their generous support. www.hush.org.au Produced by Catherine  Crock  & Paul Grabowsky    HUSH 011 ©2011 Hush Music Foundation. All rights reserved. extremely worthwhile Hush

   Distant Child is a soulful slice of country ridiculously talented, but Van Walker    Collection series. The music rock, featuring riffing electric guitar, dobro cast your jealousy aside (if $24.95 is designed to reduce stress and anxiety for and fiddle. All Written Here is a tribute to you are that kind of This up-and-coming parents and children through very difficult a partner with some wonderful mandolin person) to enjoy The Rip singer/songwriter from times and also serves as an extremely effective from Steel and beautiful acoustic guitar Tide, Beirut’s newest album north-west Tasmania has a fundraising tool for children’s hospitals all from Stephen Cooney. Universe is a love and yet another beautiful listen likely to send couple of very good over the country. Joe Chindamo is not only song to country life, featuring the unmis- you into fits of wistfulness and happy albums behind him, one of Australia’s best jazz musicians, but he is takable harmonies, dobro and ukulele of longing. Songs are packed with esoteric including the obscure gem also a very talented arranger. Having tackled the Pigram Brothers. The album closes with instruments (accordion, flugelhorn, ukelele) Last Record Store. This time around, Walker the music of Paul Simon, Burt Bacharach and Love Song (the only non-original), a strir- filling every beat, and an alt-gypsy-folk is growing in confidence. He moves into the film music of the Coen Brothers, this ring slice of folk rock. PB sound that the band has mastered perfectly. more up-tempo territory, with stronger time he is taking on one of the greatest The album opens with the quintessentially country rock leanings and the odd slice of composers of all time in Mozart. DC Beirut A Candle’s Fire, jigs its way through to sixties Byrds-style folk rock. chirpy first single East Harlem, and with the Paul Barr is from Readings Carlton Bonus Offer: and Coming Soon very nearly perfect Port of Call, wraps up A free copy of the CD Cello Lullaby with every New albums from Bjork, Wilco, Tom what could be 2011’s best album. purchase of Hush 11. Waits, Coldplay, Feist, Ry Cooder, Fiona Hardy is from Readings Carlton Jayhawks & Noel Gallagher ...

all through September, Live in-store, performing songs % at Carlton, Hawthorn

from her new album, A fool who’ll. 20 OFF & St Kilda shops LAURA Offer ends 30.09.11. Offer not Thursday 15 Sept, 6pm, Readings available online. Not valid for St Kilda, 112 Acland St. Friday 23 Sept, special orders or lay-bys. Not JEAN 6pm, Readings Carlton, 309 Lygon St, valid with any other offer. Both events Free. No bookings needed. See full range of vinyl at VINYL www.readings.com.au Readings Monthly September 2011 19

Extraordinary performances.Fabulous Extraordinary Recordings. Classical Up to 50% off selected Box titles. Over Set 65 titles available. Sale

WAGNER der ring SCHUBERT COMPLETE BRAHMS COMPLETE Pärt TABULA RASA des nibelungen SONGS CHAMBER MUSIC LIMITED BOOK EDITION Furtwangler, RAI Milano 60 soloists, Johnson (piano). Various. Hyperion. 12CD Kremer, Schnittke, Orchestra and Choir. EMI. Hyperion. 40CD set. set. CDS4433142. 12 Cellists BPO. ECM. 14CD set. 9081612. CDS4420140. Was $99.95. Now $63.95. CD plus 200 page book. Was $49.95. Now $32.95. Was $319.95. Now $199.95. Trios, quartets, and sonatas. ECM1275DELUXE. Was This is the legendary Ring “A treasury of the greatest “Best buy of the year!” — $74.95. Now $38.95. – Remastered and magical. “Essential!’ — lieder ever composed.” —Guardian. BBC Music Magazine. Includes book containing previously Classical Music Guide. unpublished manuscript. Very limited edition. TELEMANN TAFELMUSIK VICTORIA BEECHAM: Musica Antiqua Koln, SACRED WORKS SCHUBERT PIANO WORKS LATER TRADITION Goebel. Archiv. Ensemble Plus Ultra. Brendel. Decca. Beecham. Royal 4CD set. 4778714. DG. 10CD set & 80 page 7CD set. 4782622. Philharmonic Orchestra. Was $39.95 Now $26.95. booklet. 4779747. Was $74.95. Now $48.95. EMI. 8CD set. 9186112. “Dazzling virtuosity ... Was $99.95. Now $64.95. “Few pianists illuminate Was $32.95. Now $21.95. vivid and fresh.” —Gramophone. Over 90 works. this music better.” “Flair … precision, blazing “Breathtakingly beautiful.”—BBC Radio. —Mail on Sunday. warmth ...”—The Times. MOZART OPERAS Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir, MUSIQUE A LA CHAPELLE HANDEL ARIODANTE DINASTIA BORGIA English Baroque Soloists, ROYALE DE VERSAILLES Didonato, Curtis, Il Savall, Hesperion XXI. Terfel, Von Otter. Archiv. Various. Virgin. 5CD set. Complesso Barocco. Virgin. Alia Vox. 3SACD set & 18CD set. 4779595. 9177012. 3CD set. 0708442. DVD & 244page hardcover Was $109.95. Now $74.95. Was $35.95. Now $23.95. Was $39.95. Now $25.95. book. AVSA9875. Operas (complete) conducted by Gardiner. Musical accompainment to “Terrific recording … This Was $74.95. Now $35.95. A glorious and very limited edition. the splendour of Versailles. is the Ariodante to have!” —BBC Music. Stellar recordings from the time of the Borgia dynasty. “Hats off.” —Gramophone. BEETHOVEN STRING CHOPIN PIANO WORKS BACH J.S. QUARTETS Rubinstein. Regis. 6CD set. GREAT CHORAL WORKS ANGELA HEWITT PLAYS Emerson Quartet. RRC6010. Was $49.95. Various. EMI. 11CD set. 0978962. BACH KEYBOARD WORKS DG.7CD set. 4778649. Now $34.95. Was $59.95. Now $39.95. Hewitt. Hyperion. 15CD Was $74.95. Now $48.95. “[Rubinstein is] one Includes passions, masses set. CDS4442135. Grammy award-winning. of the greatest pianists and oratorios and artists Was $139.95. Now $86.95. Includes Grosse Fugue. of the century.” —NY Times. such as Fischer–Dieskau, “[The] finest exponent of “Never less than superb”—Stereophile. Popp, Baker, Fassbaender Bach’s keyboard music”— COMPLETE MUSICIAN and Kings College Choir. Gramophone. “Her [Bach] has long been a BEETHOVEN COMPLETE Mutter. DG. 40CD set. thing of wonder” —Daily Telegraph. PIANO SONATAS AND 4779464. Was $379.95. VIVALDI CHAMPIONS CONCERTOS Now $249.95. Spinosi. Alessandrini. MARTHA ARGERICH Brendel. Decca. Note: Released 16.09.11. Biondi. Various. NAIVE. EDITION 12CD set. 4782607. Mutter’s complete DG 3 new award–winning box Argerich, various artists. Was $99.95. Now $67.95. discography. With 2 previously unreleased sets. Includes vocal, sacred, EMI. Three new box sets to “[Brendel] at the height bonus discs, 250p book. Very limited edition. instrumental and concerti. commemorate the pianist’s of his skills.” —AllMusic. VIVALDI SPINOSI. 70th birthday. MARRINER AND THE Ensemble Matheus. NAIVE. SOLO AND DUO PIANO. SACRED MUSIC ACADEMY:20TH CENTURY 4CD set. OP30515. 6CD set. 0940442. OF THE BACH FAMILY CLASSICS Was $56.95. Now $29.95. Was $39.95. Now $25.95 Rheinische Kantorie, Schlick, Marriner, ASMF, Cooper. VIVALDI ALESSANDRINI. CONCERTOS. Helling, Max. Capriccio. Decca. 10CD set. 4782759. Concerto Italiano. NAIVE. 4CD set. 0940312. 4CD set. 5CD set. C7100. Was $89.95. Now $56.95. OP30516. Was $56.95. Now $29.95. Was $55.95 Now $33.95. A 50th anniversary Was $35.95. Now $23.95. VIVALDI BIONDI. Sacred works by Bach’s sons celebration of ASMF’s CHAMBER MUSIC. Europa Galante. and lesser known family members performed huge 19th and 20thC repertoire: Wagner, 0940142. 8CD set. NAIVE. 4CD set. OP30517. by a renowned ensemble. Stravinsky, Bartok, Shostakovich, and more. Was $39.95. Now $25.95. Was $56.95. Now $29.95.

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