FREE JULY 2013 KALINDA ASHTON ON VANESSA RUSSELL / MICHELLE LAW ON JANE EYRE Event Highlights BARBARA ARROWSMITH YOUNG SUPERHEROES PARTY! DAVID BRIDIE BOOKS MUSIC FILM EVENTS JULY NEW RELEASES VANESSA RUSSELL $24.95 p4 IAIN BANKS $29.99 / $24.95 p6 DREW DAYWALT, OLIVER JEFFERS $24.99 / $19.99 p14 AMOUR $39.95 p17 SIGUR RÓS NEW ALBUM FROM SIGUR RÓS / KVEIKUR $21.95 BANAZI (THE JACKY WINTER GROUP) BY KATE COVER ILLUSTRATION p18 MORE INSIDE... MIFF 2013 BOOK NOW ONLY THE BEST FILMS MAKE THE CUT MIFF.COM.AU CARLTON 309 Lygon St 9347 6633 HAWTHORN 701 Glenferrie Rd 9819 1917 MALVERN 185 Glenferrie Rd 9509 1952 ST KILDA 112 Acland St 9525 3852 READINGS AT THE STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA 328 Swanston St 8664 7540 READINGS AT THE BRAIN CENTRE 30 Royal Parade, Parkville 9347 1749 See shop opening hours, browse and buy online at www.readings.com.au 2 READINGS MONTHLY JULY 2013 This month’s news WINNER OF THE 2013 WOMEN’S MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR FICTION FILM FESTIVAL 2013 Mark’s A.M. Homes has been announced as the The Melbourne International Film Festival 2013 Say winner of the 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction. is on from 25 July to 11 August. As we head Homes won for her sixth novel, May We Be into the depths of winter, cinephiles can burrow Forgiven, which chair of judges Miranda away into the heart of Melbourne to take in an Richardson described as ‘a dazzling, original, incredible line-up of features, documentaries, News and views from Readings’ viscerally funny black comedy’ and ‘a retrospectives and tributes from Australia and managing director, Mark Rubbo subversion of the American dream’. Other around the world. Catch Ginger & Rosa, a lovely shortlisted novels for 2013 included Kate and devastating look at inseparable friendship in The Australian Booksellers Association had their annual conference in Adelaide a few weeks ago. Each Atkinson’s Life After Life, Barbara Kingsolver’s 1960s London from director Sally Potter, or the year, booksellers from around the country gather together to exchange ideas, acknowledge their peers Flight Behaviour, Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up twenty-first century adaptation of Henry James’s and, of course, enjoy some good company. At the gala dinner for 2013, I was very proud and chuffed to the Bodies, Maria Semple’s Where’d You What Maisie Knew, starring Julianne Moore and see Readings’ own Martin Shaw announced as the ABA Text Publishing Bookseller of the Year. Martin Go, Bernadette and Zadie Smith’s NW. The Steve Coogan. Astounding docos include Ken joined Readings over 19 years ago. I recall he was doing a Masters in German at Monash University, and Women’s Prize for Fiction, formerly known Loach’s call to arms, The Spirit of ’45, and Slavoj sent me a note saying that he wanted to become a bookseller and that he was prepared to do anything. as the Orange Prize, was launched in 1996 Žižek and Sophie Fiennes’s postmodernist ode It was an intriguing and irresistible offer. For the past 14 years, Martin has been the Books Division to celebrate the best novel written by a to cinema, The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology. If Manager at Readings and a major player in shaping our collection. He has been a great champion of woman in the English language. It is widely you’re a fan of Australian literature, don’t miss Australian writing, especially in his support of debut writers and independent publishers. In addition, he recognised as having had a huge impact on the all-star omnibus adaptation of Tim Winton’s has taken a particular interest in literature in translation. He first read authors such as W.G. Sebald and the promotion of women’s writing worldwide, The Turning. Visit www.miff.com.au to view the Stieg Larsson in German and became a great advocate of their work, despite the differences between including being one of the key inspirations full program (released 5 July), buy passes or them in terms of style and content. Always interested in what Australia’s small presses were producing, for Australia’s very own Stella Prize. The become a MIFF Member. Readings is a proud he became a member of the board of the Small Press Network and an editorial adviser to the journal Kill Women’s Prize is about to embark on a three- sponsor of the festival. Your Darlings. He’s been a judge of numerous awards, most recently the Commonwealth Book Prize. year partnership with Baileys, who have come In a recent conversation, Martin told me that what he admired most in a writer was a willingness to take on board as a headline sponsor. risks and try something new: ‘When they can pull it off, it’s magical.’ Martin epitomises exactly what MADMAN DVD SALE makes a good bookseller – a commitment to the writers and a commitment to the readers. ENTRIES CLOSING FOR THE To celebrate this year’s Melbourne MELBOURNE PRIZE FOR MUSIC International Film Festival, we’re holding a CEO of the American Booksellers Association, Oren Teicher, was also at the ABA conference. The annual Melbourne Prize runs on a three- fantastic DVD sale with more than 100 films Independents in the US have been struggling for the past decade or so, due at first to the rapid year awards cycle, alternating between from Madman from 1 July to 11 August. Prices expansion of chains such as Borders, and then to the rise of online retailers such as Amazon and the literature, music and urban sculpture. This year start from $9.95 and titles include Searching growth of ebook sales. The demise of Borders gave them some relief, but the huge growth in ebook sees the focus return once again to music in For Sugar Man, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, sales mitigated that. Teicher reported that in the last year, however, independent booksellers have seen support of Victoria’s vibrant local sector, with Paul Kelly: Stories of Me, Monsieur Lazhar, a bit of a turnaround. This stems from a range of factors, he said. The stabilising of the ebook market is entries closing on 16 July 2013. The Prize A Royal Affair, Eames: The Architect and the one, but there is also a growing desire in many communities to support their local bookshops. It is part consists of the $60 000 Melbourne Prize For Painter and Your Sister’s Sister. Get down of a nationwide movement to support local businesses and the contribution made by bookshops to the Music, the $30 000 Outstanding Musicians to your local Readings to check out the full community in turn. Booksellers champion writers in ways that no Amazon algorithm can. Indeed, when Award and the $13 000 Development Award. range. The sale is on at all shops and online I was at BookExpo America recently, American booksellers chose Australian novels Burial Rites and A residency at the Victorian College of the Arts at www.readings.com.au. The Rosie Project to champion in their shops during the coming fall season. It was exciting to see such and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the enthusiasm and confidence abound. University of Melbourne will also be offered to one of the recipients of those awards. Apology and correction: In the June 2013 issue of the Readings Monthly, Mark’s Say stated that Chris Womersley’s Additionally, a $4000 Civic Choice Award will new novel, Cairo, would be published in the UK by Scribe’s new imprint. Quercus will be publishing Cairo in the UK be given to the finalist with the highest number in 2014. They have also published Womersley’s backlist there. of public votes. Readings is a proud sponsor of the Melbourne Prize For Music. Entry forms can be found at www.melbourneprize.org or picked up at any Readings shop. Readings Monthly is a free independent monthly newspaper published by Readings Books, Music & Film. Editorial enquiries: Jessica Au at [email protected] Advertising enquiries: Ingrid Josephine at [email protected] or call 03 9341 7739. Design by Sonja Meyer www.sonjameyer.com.au Thank you to Readings staff members and contributors for your reviews. Readings donates 10% of its profits each year to The Readings Foundation. Oslo Davis www.oslodavis.com CINEMA NOVA RECOMMENDS BEN AFFLECK RACHEL McADAMS JAVIER BARDEM Visit the Cinema Nova Bar JOSS WHEDON directs WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S TO THE WONDER ‘an irresistible A film by Terrence Malick blend of mirth director of THE TREE OF LIFE 380 LYGON ST CARLTON and malice’ MUCH “An ambitious thriller assisted www.cinemanova.com.au Rolling Stone ADO ABOUT “An ambitious ‘an absorbing, thoughtful, moving meditation’ Empire Magazine Join our e-news for updates on the Met Opera, by excellent performances”JULYEmpire 4, EXCLUSIVE National Theatre and other stage spectaculars. NOTHING thriller assistedJULY 11 READINGS MONTHLY JULY 2013 3 HANIFA ROBERT 17 DEEN 30 HILLMAN In conversation with Linda Briskman Part road trip, part biography, Gurrumul July Events (HarperCollins, HB, was $65, special price $54.95) Award-winning author Hanifa Deen will discuss For more information and updates, please visit the events page at her latest book, On the Trail of Taslima. In it, Deen is the story of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, one www.readings.com.au. Please note bookings do not necessarily travels the world in search of dissident writer of Australia’s most inspirational musicians. Join guarantee a seat and some events may be standing room only. Taslima Nasreen, intent on discovering the woman Robert Hillman as he takes you behind the scenes.