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FEBRUARY 2018

ANNA KRIEN

Ceridwen Dovey

10 Steps to Nanette The most anticipated books of 2018 page 6 CLEMENTINE FORD BOYS WILL BE BOYS

Man Out of Time Stephanie Bishop Chloe Hooper

BOOKS MUSIC FILM EVENTS

MARLON WILLIAMS page 22 LLOYD JONES ALI’S WEDDING page 4 JULIAN BARNES ZADIE SMITH PENNI RUSSON page 21 page 8 page 13 page 18

CARLTON 309 LYGON ST 9347 6633 KIDS 315 LYGON ST 9341 7730 DONCASTER WESTFIELD DONCASTER, 619 DONCASTER RD 9810 0891 HAWTHORN 701 GLENFERRIE RD 9819 1917 MALVERN 185 GLENFERRIE RD 9509 1952 ST KILDA 112 ACLAND ST 9525 3852 STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA 328 SWANSTON ST 8664 7540 | SEE SHOP OPENING HOURS, BROWSE AND BUY ONLINE AT WWW.READINGS.COM.AU

READINGS MONTHLY 3 February 2018

The range includes Mythos by Stephen Fry; Shepherd’s Hut (to be released on 12 March) nonfiction shortlist includes Working Class February Where Song Began by Tim Low; Everywhere from any Readings shop or the Readings Man by Jimmy Barnes, The Museum of I Look by Helen Garner; Not Just Lucky by website. When pre-ordering in our shops, Words by Georgia Blain, Saga Land by Jamila Rizvi; Homo Deus by Yuval Noah you will need to fill in the competition form Richard Fidler & Kári Gíslason and The News Harari; Curing Affluenza by Richard Denniss, at the counter. When pre-ordering online Trauma Cleaner by Sarah Krasnostein. Gut by Giulia Enders and many more. This (readings.com.au), simply write DINNER See indiebookawards.com.au for the full offer is exclusively available in all Readings in the notes field during checkout, and shortlist of every category. shops except Readings Kids until 28 February you’ll automatically go in the draw. See the The Readings Foundation grants on stickered, in-stock items only, while stocks competition form or our website for terms announced last. This offer is not available online. and conditions and further details. All pre- Readings Prize guest judges announced The Readings Foundation has announced ordered copies will be signed by the author. We’re delighted to announce the three $184,692 worth of grants to support a range brilliant authors that will be the guest of projects and organisations within Victoria 3 for 2 Bloomsbury Modern Classics judges for our literary prizes in 2018. Davina in 2018. This round of funding has a strong The Bloomsbury Modern Classics are a Indie Book Awards shortlist Bell will be the guest judge for the Readings focus on organisations that are delivering beautifully designed set of 10 limited edition The Indie Book Awards have announced Children’s Book Prize 2018, Melissa Keil will literacy and education support to the most paperbacks. Throughout February, if you the shortlists for the best Australian be the guest judge for the Readings Young disadvantaged people in our community. purchase two books from the Bloomsbury books of 2017, as chosen by independent Adult Book Prize 2018, and Tony Birch will Readings donates 10% of its overall Modern Classics range, you can choose a booksellers around the country. The fiction be the guest judge for the Readings Prize profit to The Readings Foundation each third book for free! The 10 books includes shortlist includes Force of Nature by for New Australian Fiction 2018. In each year, and the generous donations from The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, The Jane Harper, The Choke by Sofie Laguna, case, the guest judge joins our staff judging Readings’ customers make a crucial Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Little On the Java Ridge by Jock Serong and panel after the shortlist has been decided, contribution. The successful grant Friend by Donna Tartt, Restless by William City of Crows by Chris Womersley. The and helps the panel to select a winner. recipients for this year are: Boyd, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Ardoch Youth Foundation ($10,000); Susanna Clarke, Fugitive Pieces by Anne Asylum Seeker Resource Centre ($14,550); Michaels, The English Patient by Michael Banksia Gardens Community Ondaatje, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Services ($20,000); Brotherhood Gilbert, Snow Falling on Cedars by David of St Laurence ($5,000); Carlton Guterson and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher Neighbourhood Learning Centre ($8,040); by Kate Summerscale. Church of All Nations ($20,000); Jesuit This offer is exclusively available at our Social Services ($15,000); Kids Under Carlton, Malvern, Hawthorn and Doncaster Cover ($7,000); Meadow Heights shops until 28 February on in-stock items Education Centre ($14,102); Reading only, while stocks last. This offer is not Out of Poverty ($16,000); The Smith available online. Family ($10,000); The Stella Prize ($5,000); Wirrpanda Foundation ($10,000); The Wheeler Centre ($20,000) and The Hope Win dinner with Tim Winton Prize ($10,000). We’re delighted to announce that we’re offering our customers a very special opportunity to win a dinner with Tim Winton! 3 for 2 nonfiction favourites 10 lucky Readings customers will be invited Throughout February, we’re offering a special to attend an exclusive dinner with Tim deal on a select range of award-winning and Winton on Friday 27 April at 6.30pm at Jimmy popular non-fiction titles. If you purchase Watson’s restaurant on Lygon St, Carlton. two books, you can choose a third book in To go into the draw, simply pre-order Tim the range (of equal or lesser value) for free! Winton’s highly anticipated new novel The

READINGS MONTHLY EDITOR ADVERTISING PRICES AND AVAILABILITY Free, independent monthly newspaper Elke Power Nina Kenwood Please note that all prices and release dates published by Readings Books, Music & Film [email protected] [email protected] in Readings Monthly are correct at time of publication, however prices and release dates SUBSCRIBE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT GRAPHIC DESIGN may change without notice. Special price offers You can subscribe to Readings Monthly and our Judi Mitchell Cat Matteson apply only for the month in which they are e-news by visiting our website: [email protected] colourcode.com.au featured in the Readings Monthly. readings.com.au/sign-up PROOFREADERS FRONT COVER Readings donates 10% of its profits each DELIVERY CHARGES FOR Isabel Baranowski and Judi Mitchell The February Readings Monthly cover year to The Readings Foundation: MAIL-ORDER PURCHASES highlights some of the titles from our list of the readings.com.au/the-readings-foundation $5 flat rate for anywhere in Australia KIDS/YA CURATOR most anticipated books of 2018. Read the full Alexa Dretzke feature on page 6. DELIVERY CHARGES FOR ONLINE PURCHASES MUSIC CURATOR CARTOON $5 flat rate for anywhere in Australia for orders Dave Clarke Oslo Davis under $100. Free delivery on orders $100 and oslodavis.com over. CLASSICAL MUSIC CURATOR Phil Richards

DVDS CURATOR Lou Fulco

EVENTS CURATOR Chris Gordon

pre-order Special price $29.99 the new novel (was $39.99) from “Can you say a book grabs you by Tim the throat and doesn’t let you go? You Signed by the author can, if it’s about The Shepherd’s Hut!” Go into the draw to win dinner * - Mark Rubbo with Tim Winton!

Winton * Conditions apply Available 12 March readings.com.au EVENTS + LAUNCHES

February Wednesday 21 February, 6.30pm Tuesday 27 February, 6.30pm Tuesday 6 March, 6.30pm CHRISTINE MILNE IN KILL YOUR DARLINGS SALLY HEPWORTH IN Events CONVERSATION WITH FIRST BOOK CLUB CONVERSATION MARTIN FLANAGAN Kill Your Darlings’ First Book Club is a We are delighted to have the bestselling Join former Greens leader Christine Milne monthly gathering for booklovers to come author of The Secrets of Midwives talking Thursday 8 February, 6.30pm and journalist Martin Flanagan for a together and celebrate the work of a to us about her compelling new novel, The discussion of Milne’s memoir, An Activist debut Australian author. This month sees Family Next Door. This delves into the secrets JOE WILLIAMS IN Life. It’s the story of an apparently ordinary Readings’ own Ellen Cregan in conversation we all hold close, until we cannot anymore. woman – a high-school English teacher with author Heather Morris about The CONVERSATION WITH Readings Hawthorn, from northwest Tasmania – who became a Tattooist of Auschwitz – an extraordinary 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn TONY BIRCH fiery environmental warrior, pitted against novel that is based on the true story of Lale Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events Former NRL player, world-boxing-title holder some of the most powerful business and and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews, who and proud Wiradjuri First Nations man Joe political forces in the country. survived Auschwitz and eventually made Williams was always plagued by negative their home in Australia. Readings Carlton, dialogue in his head, and the pressures of Thursday 8 March, 6.30pm Readings Carlton, elite sport took their toll. He turned to drugs 309 Lygon Street, Carlton 309 Lygon Street, Carlton and alcohol, before attempting to take his Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events own life in 2012. In the aftermath, determined Free, no booking required. ART AND POETRY WITH to rebuild, Joe took up professional boxing JOHN YOUNG AND BRIAN and got clean. Defying the Enemy Within is Thursday 22 February, 6.30pm CASTRO his powerful story of recovery and strength. Join us for a conversation about the Come along to hear Joe discuss the book REMEMBERING THE Coming collaboration between conceptual art and with award-winning author Tony Birch. literature based on the history of Macau. SUNBURY POP FESTIVAL Readings Carlton, Macau Days is a tri-lingual publication 309 Lygon Street, Carlton Join us to reminisce about the festival Up including poetic texts by Brian Castro and sometimes referred to as “Australia’s artworks by John Young, as well as classic Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events Woodstock”: Sunbury Pop/Rock Festival. Macanese recipes designed to engage The evening will include words from Peter shared histories of Macau. Evans, who was heavily involved with the Thursday 1 March, 6.30pm Friday 9 February, 6.30pm festival from the beginning and whose Readings Carlton, 309 Lygon Street, Carlton book, Sunbury: Australia’s Greatest Rock CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE Festival, provides fascinating insight. There MICHAEL PEMBROKE IN Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events will also be a live performance by one of the CONVERSATION WITH ON LOVE-CRAZED festival’s original musical acts, as well as a COMPOSERS ABC’S CATHY VAN EXTEL screening of rare archival footage from the Thursday 8 March, 6.30pm Join author, historian and Supreme Court Join ABC Classic FM broadcaster very first Sunbury Pop Festival in 1972. judge Michael Pembroke for a discussion Christopher Lawrence for a glass of Cinema Nova, of his timely new book, wine as he discusses his charming new Korea: Where the TIME’S UP 380 Lygon Street, Carlton American Century Began. It tells the story book, Symphony of Seduction, in which Join artist and activist Rayna Fahey, author of the Korean peninsula with compassion he explores the romantic misadventures, Entry is $10 per person, redeemable off the of Really Cross Stitch, in making your very book, if purchased on the night. Please book at for the people of the North and South, tragedies and occasional triumphs of some own cross-stitch statement to celebrate readings.com.au/events understanding and insight for the role of classical music’s great composers, and International Women’s Day. Create a slogan, of China, and concern about the past traces the music that emerged as a result. craft it and wear it! and present role of the United States. Readings Hawthorn, Pembroke will address the changing roles Readings St Kilda, 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn each country is playing in our future. 112 Acland Street, St Kilda Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events Tickets $30 per person including wine, cross- Readings Hawthorn, stitch activity and a copy of Really Cross Stitch. 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events

Saturday 3 March, 12.30pm - 1.30pm

BRIAN MAY ON QUEEN IN THREE DIMENSIONS We are beside ourselves with excitement about legendary guitarist Brian May joining us to talk about his book, Queen in Three Dimensions. It is the first book about Queen written by a member of the band, and is a unique collection of original, highly personal snapshots from the band’s inception in the Thursday 15 February, 6.30pm Monday 26 February, 6.30pm early ’70s right up to the present day.

Readings St Kilda, KATE YOUNG IN LLOYD JONES IN 112 Acland Street, St Kilda CONVERSATION WITH CONVERSATION Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events SHARLEE GIBB AND Join us in Hawthorn to hear Lloyd Saturday 3 March, 2pm CHRIS GORDON Jones, the award-winning New Zealand author of Mister Pip, discuss KIDS We have all fallen in love with Kate Young’s Monday 5 March, 6.30pm his newest book. The Cage is a The Little Library Cookbook. Perfect for profound and unsettling fable-like STORYTIME WITH DANIEL literary lovers, this tremendous cookbook tale of two strangers who arrive in a MICHAEL MOHAMMED features 100 delicious recipes taken from GRAY-BARNET T small country town. The townspeople AHMAD IN CONVERSATION the author’s favourite works of fiction – try Daniel Gray-Barnett’s beautiful picture want answers, but the strangers are Paddington Bear’s marmalade, or enjoy an The Lebs is a confronting new novel book Grandma Z celebrates the power of unable to speak of their trauma. And afternoon tea at Manderley! from Sydney Morning Herald Best Young vivid imagination through a magical story before long, wary hospitality shifts to Novelist Michael Mohammed Ahmad. This Come along to hear Young chat about and spectacular illustrations full of bold suspicion and fear, and the care of the wonderfully compelling story examines the joys of reading and eating with creative colours and strong brushstrokes. Join us men slides into appalling cruelty. identity and rebellion, and centres on producer, cook and Fully Booked founder as the author– illustrator reads from his Punchbowl Boys High, often dubbed Sharlee Gibb (Mr & Mrs Wilkinson’s How It Is Readings Hawthorn, very first picture book. ‘NSW’s most troubled school’. At Home), as well as bookseller Chris Gordon. 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn Readings Kids, Readings Carlton, Readings Carlton, Free, but please book at 315 Lygon Street, Carlton readings.com.au/events 309 Lygon Street, Carlton 309 Lygon Street, Carlton Free, no booking required. Suitable for children Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events 3–10 years old. READINGS MONTHLY 5 February 2018

create their own unique response to the doesn’t make the world a better place’, February imagery – just like when you deviate from (Sydney Morning Herald, 5 January). The the map while travelling. crux of her argument was that volunteering Wednesday 14 February, 6.30pm and donating to charities transfers the Launches Readings Carlton | Free, no booking required. collective obligations of society and government to individuals, and those who Faerie Apocalypse volunteer or donate are just propping up a Join us for the launch of Jason Frank’s broken system. Walsh’s piece attracted a lot This I Would Kill For Faerie Apocalypse, a fantasy novel about of counter-attention from people who Join Anne Buist for the launch of This I Would the corruption of fairy land at the hands of a volunteer or donate. Yes, bits of the system Kill For, book three in the gripping Natalie handful of mortal adventurers, and Steven are broken and many of us feel that King, Forensic Psychiatrist series. Natalie Paulsen’s short-story collection, Shadows On government has let down some parts of King has been hired to do a psychiatric the Wall, which deals with life in the shadows. society, but to ignore that while waiting for evaluation for the children’s court, for a Thursday 15 February, 6.30pm government to change would mean that lots custody dispute. It’s not her usual territory, Readings Hawthorn | Free, no booking required. of people go without help. Also, but now that she’s pregnant she’s happy to governments aren’t necessarily that do a simple consult. Of course, things are Between Us efficient in targeting need. For example, never as simple as they seem. Join us for the launch of a stunning new young adult novel from Clare Atkins, the award- huge amounts are spent in the Indigenous Thursday 1 February, 6.30pm winning author of Nona & Me. Between Us space, often with little apparent impact. Readings Carlton | Free, no booking required. is the story of two teenagers separated by We support the Indigenous Literacy Cthulhu Deep Down Under: Vol 1 cultural differences, their parents’ expectations Foundation, which works in remote Celebrated horror writer H. P. Lovecraft’s first and 20 kilometres of barbed-wire fence. communities, both with donations and major tale of his Cthulhu Mythos began an Monday 19 February, 6.30pm by soliciting donations. Their fundraiser entire sub-genre of the macabre, and in that Readings Hawthorn | Free, no booking required. at Fitzroy Town Hall last November story he made Australia a crucial location raised $65,000. In the same month, The in his supernatural universe. Now, a group Joining Loose Ends Readings Foundation approved a record of Australia’s most accomplished writers of Come along to the launch of this travel $184,000 in grants. One of the recipients, speculative fiction return to the promise of the memoir for our times. Rescope Radio Kids Under Cover, came in last week to master. Come along to the launch of Cthulhu podcast host Anthony James will talk with receive the Foundation’s cheque for $7,000 Deep Down Under: Volume 1, a series that not author and former corporate executive Keith to fund seven scholarships to help cover only collects the best Australian Lovecraftian Badger about his memoir, Joining Loose the basic costs of schooling for young fiction but also begins a series that will Ends, the inspiring story of how Badger people aged between 15 and 25. Kids provoke with fresh new imaginings of cosmic and his wife walked 2,801 kilometres across Under Cover works with other agencies to horror visited upon the land down under. the UK and how that walk unexpectedly provide housing for young people at risk transformed their lives. Thursday 1 February, 6.30pm of homelessness. For many low income Readings St Kilda | Free, no booking required. Tuesday 20 February, 6.30pm families or grandparents taking on full time Readings Carlton | Free, no booking required. care of grandchildren, it’s often difficult New Philosopher ‘The meaning of life’ to provide accommodation and space for Curious eight-year-olds, heartbroken teens, Small Is Necessary: Shared Living on a Shared Planet young adults to grow and study. Kids Under and expiring octogenarians alike reflect Cover solves those problems by building on life’s meaning, if only in difficult or dull Come along as Eco-polis urbanist Paul studios in the backyards of homes. Walsh moments. And, much like the legions of Downton launches Anitra Nelson’s Small Is is right tha`t the opportunity for every child thinkers before them, they can’t agree Necessary: Shared Living on a Shared Planet, to get an education should be a basic right on an answer. Some say it’s ‘love’; others a book that advocates low-impact living via but the children Kids Under Cover support ‘learning how to die’; or ‘flourishing’; or, one smaller and eco-collaborative housing, such can’t wait. that’s particularly popular among teens and as co-housing. Using international case The bulk of The Readings Foundation’s philosophers, ‘there is no meaning’. Come studies and personal experiences of collective grants support literacy and education along to the launch of the new edition of living, Nelson speculates on urban futures projects. From the most recent round, New Philosopher, on ‘Life’, and listen to where sustainable neighbourhoods and money will be given to a VCE support New Philosopher’s editor Zan Boag and grassroots democracy develop out of well- program in Melbourne’s north, an early philosopher and writer Patrick Stokes discuss connected and productive neighbourhoods, literacy program in the City of Yarra, and life, death, and our search for meaning. where ‘alternative’ becomes mainstream. English language classes for migrants Wednesday 7 February, 6.30pm Thursday 22 February, 6.30pm and refugees in Meadow Heights. The Readings Carlton | Free, no booking required. Readings Carlton | Free, no booking required. Foundation is also continuing to fund the Designing the Compassionate City Rapture Wheeler Centre’s Hot Desk Fellowships, Come along as Trevor Budge and Mark Join Jeremy Stanford for the launch of his which provide a space and a small stipend Sheppard join MC Steven Ingrouille novel, Rapture. Rapture is the tale of an for 20 new and emerging writers each year. (principal of renewable energy firm Going atheist couple whose child is born with a halo. Many Hot Desk alumni are now published Solar) to launch Jenny Donovan’s new book, While Jeremy has previously written a memoir authors who started or finished their books Designing the Compassionate City. This book about his time with the Australian stage during their time at the Wheeler Centre. outlines an approach to urban design that production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Victorian Government’s support is centred on an explicit recognition of the Rapture is his first novel. for the arts is pretty good, but sometimes inherent dignity of all people. It suggests that Thursday 1 March, 6.30pm someone else’s vision and support can do whether we thrive or decline – as individuals Readings St Kilda | Free, no booking required. something that governments can’t. John or as a community – is dependent on our What the Light Reveals Wylie and his partner Myriam Boisbouvier- ability to fulfil the full spectrum of our needs Join Mick McCoy for the launch of What the Wylie had the vision of endowing a Chair Wednesday 7 February, 6.30pm Light Reveals. This new novel is about secrets of Australian Literature at the University of Green building, 60 Leicester St, Carlton and lies, loyalty and betrayal, and the urge Melbourne in partnership with State Library Free, no booking required. for survival. In an increasingly divided and Victoria. Their $5 million donation provides an Australian writer with the opportunity to Ironheart intolerant world, What the Light Reveals is a work and engage with the community and Join Jodi McAlister for the launch of Ironheart, novel that brilliantly captures the sometimes a major university. The appointment isn’t the second page-turning book in her thrilling devastating consequences of individual belief. overly prescriptive and gives the occupant Valentine series. Seventeen-year-old Pearl Thursday 1 March, 7pm financial and creative independence during Linford is back, but she’s stuck: her best Alphington Bowls Club, 28 Parkview Rd, their tenure. The first chair was Man Booker friend won’t talk to her; the internet thinks she Alphington | Free, no booking required. Prize-winner Richard Flanagan, and just is a murderer; and the right moment to forgive before Christmas the university announced Finn Blacklin never seems to come. On top of that it had appointed Indigenous writer this, Unseelie fairies have infiltrated her town, Alexis Wright as the second Boisbouvier and they’ve unleashed a new horror. Mark’s Chair. Wright won the Miles Franklin Award Thursday 8 February, 6.30pm for her novel Carpentaria, and Tracker, Readings Kids | Free, no booking required. her biography of Aboriginal activist Bruce Criss-Crossing Paris Say Tilmouth, was published late last year to Join creators Fiona Sinclair and Sally-Anne wide acclaim. The Age’s Jane Gleeson- Hayes for the launch of Criss-Crossing Paris. White called it ‘superb’ and our reviewer With wonderful cross-stitch interpretations Sydney teacher and writer Bronte Coates wrote that it pushes ‘new of photo-perfect Parisian moments, Sinclair Catherine Walsh caused a boundaries of the written form’. I reckon a and Hayes have fashioned a perfect, crafty bit of a storm when the culture of volunteering and philanthropy inspiration. And it’s not your typical counted- Fairfax papers published a is a good thing – it doesn’t mean that we thread, cross-stitch book! It encourages talk she gave on shouldn’t put pressure on governments to the reader to ‘step off the grid’ at times and volunteering and charities, ‘Volunteering step up too. 6 READINGS MONTHLY February 2018

The most anticipated books of 2018

Dear Reader, from emerging Australian writers, including Michael The Book Ninja (S&S, May). Following in the footsteps of As 2017 drew to a close, a previously Mohammed Ahmad’s The Lebs (whose The Tribe was other local musicians who happen to write lovely novels unknown writer, Kristen Roupenian, shortlisted for the inaugural Readings Prize), Eleanor (Peggy Frew, Holly Throsby, I’m thinking of you) Sally sparked an intense social media frenzy Limprecht’s Passengers, and debuts from Robert Lukins Seltmann will publish Lovesome in May (A&U). Melissa when her short story, ‘Cat Person’, was (The Everlasting Sunday), Tracey Sorensen (Lucky Galah), Ashley’s book, The Birdman’s Wife, won the 2017 ABA published in the New Yorker (NB: though the internet Laura Elvery (Trick of the Light) and Irish-Australian Bookseller’s Choice Award; her new book is The Orange does love cats, the story is not about cats). By the end of writer, Dervla McTiernan: Ruin promises to satisfy those and the Bee (Affirm, October). Jenny Ackland has a second December, the New York Times reported that Roupenian who have found a taste for Australian-penned literary novel too: Little Gods (A&U, April). The award given to had secured a seven-figure, two-book deal (and in 2019 crime-fiction. Actually, March is itself a huge publishing an unpublished manuscript at the Victorian Premier’s we’ll no doubt be talking about her debut collection, month, with new books on their way from David Mamet, Literary Awards is always a harbinger of new talent; Affirm You Know You Want This… I don’t envy the weight of Marilynne Robinson, Sonya Voumard, Nassim Nicholas will publish The Nowhere Child by 2017’s winner, Christian expectation there). Taleb, Martin Flanagan, Willy Vlautin, Eileen Myles, White, in July. Jay Carmichael was shortlisted for the 2016 Then 2018 began with the drama of Fire and Steven Pinker, Geoffrey Robertson, Karl Ove Knausgaard, round of that award: Ironbark comes out in April (Scribe). Fury, Michael Wolff’s explosive exposé of the Trump Lidia Yuknavitch – not to mention the publishing event Text has Tasmanian author Robbie Arnott’s debut, Flame, administration, which rapidly became the book that that is Tim Winton’s first work of fiction in five years, The in May. HarperCollins is excited about two debuts, The everyone just had to have, as publisher and bookseller Shepherd’s Hut, which is such a big deal that it gets its own Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Holly Ringland; April), and Boy alike scrambled to meet unprecedented demand. These special release date: 12 March. Swallows Universe (Trent Dalton; July). Black Inc. has the kinds of publishing stories give a sense of the excitement first novel of screenwriter Mira Robertson, The Unexpected that new writing can elicit. But to be honest, dear reader, I Education of Emily Dean (April). don’t mind telling you that I feel a similar sensation every Tim Winton’s first work of We’ll also hear from authors we know well. Gail month when I start ordering a new month’s releases; the fiction in five years is such Jones’ new book is The Death of Noah Glass (Text, April). feeling is even more acute at the beginning of a new year Acclaimed nonfiction writer Anna Krien publishes her as eyes become fixed on the year of books ahead. All those a big deal that it gets its first work of fiction in September, Act of Grace, which Black words yet to be read, and stories waiting to be revealed … Inc. describes as ‘searing, complex and moving’. Melissa this anticipation is part of the pleasure of working with own special release date Lucashenko’s Too Much Lip will be with us in August books, and I’m happy to report that a typically mind- (UQP). Giramondo collates the collected short fiction of boggling array of new titles will arrive this year. It is set to be a great year for emerging Australian Gerald Murnane (April). Robert Drewe, Tom Keneally and I begin with the excellent news that not one, but writers. Brow Books is building its reputation for bold Nikki Gemmell will all publish books this year. Simon & two former recipients of The Readings Prize for New literary publishing, and this year they’ll publish Apple Schuster’s literary imprint, Scribner, launches locally in Australian Fiction will deliver us new novels in 2018, and Knife by Intan Paramaditha (March), feminist short October with Kristina Olsson’s novel set in 1960s Sydney, the fifth year of the prize. First comes a book from the fiction in translation from its original Indonesian; and the Shell. Bonnier Publishing Australia’s imprint, Echo, is inaugural winner, Ceridwen Dovey, In the Garden of the debut of their ‘new literary prodigy’ Jamie Marina Lau, doing interesting things: SA Jones’s The Fortress (April) Fugitives (Penguin, March). I’m lucky to have read this Pink Mountain on Locust Island (April). Laura Elizabeth taps into the current interest in feminist speculative book already and I can say it is a triumph – an unsettling Woollett impressed last year with her stories, The Love fiction. Gregory Day has a new novel in May, A Sand and unusual novel that provides a totally compelling of a Bad Man. One such bad man, Jim Jones, and his Archive (Picador). Blockbusting superstar Liane Moriarty reading experience. Then, in August, 2015’s winner, Peoples Temple, form the subject of her novel, Beautiful has a book due out in October (Macmillan). Rosalie Ham Stephanie Bishop, will give us Man Out of Time – I really Revolutionary (May, Scribe). Sarah Bailey’s The Dark Lake of The Dressmaker fame will have a new book in October couldn’t be more excited about this news, and I’m already was a 2017 Readings staff favourite: Into the Night is due (Macmillan). waiting by the proverbial mailbox for a proof from in June (A&U), as is Aoife Clifford’s second book, Second Chloe Hooper’s new book, The Arsonist, will be out Hachette (hint, hint …). Sight (S&S). Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus run the ‘Books on later this year (Penguin). Journalist and refugee Behrouz March will bring us a number of anticipated books the Rail’ project in Melbourne, their co-authored novel is Boochani has written a series of powerful articles in the Clockwise from left: The Lebs by Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia edited by Anita Heiss, In the Garden of the Fugitives by Ceridwen Dovey, Pink Mountain on Locust Island by Jamie Marina Lau, The Death of Noah Glass by Gail Jones and The Shepherd’s Hut by Tim Winton.

Guardian while imprisoned on Manus Island, and will Summers is writing a memoir, also for Allen & Unwin: collection, Her Body and Other Parties; and a book-club publish The Long, Dark Night: Writing from Manus in Becoming. Hannah Gadsby famously retired from the pick from publishing’s newest intermediary, Sarah June (Macmillan). Kon Karapanagiotidis, founder of the comedy circuit in 2017 after a sellout tour of her prize- Jessica Parker, No One is Coming to Save Us by Stephanie Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, will publish his memoir, winning show, Nanette. It’s not an unlikely leap to turn her Powell Watts. The first translation of Homer’s Odyssey Power of Hope, with HarperCollins in July. Black Inc. erudition to the page; her memoir is Ten Steps to Nanette by a woman (Emily Wilson) is a significant event. The has some great nonfiction coming our way, including: a (A&U, June). The First Lady of Salads, a title I rightly beginning of the Saint Etienne Quartet by French author collection edited by Anita Heiss, Growing Up Aboriginal bestow upon Hetty McKinnon, will have a new book in Sabri Louatah is Savages: the Wedding; this series is being in Australia (April); a future classic of Australian history September. I’ve left out so many worthy titles due to space compared to Ferrante, Knausgaard and The Wire (I know, writing, Deep Time Dreaming: Uncovering Ancient restrictions, so for a full list of forthcoming Australian right – wow!). Jim Crace, Lloyd Jones, Dave Eggers, and Australia (March); and Paddy Manning’s Inside the Greens, titles due out in 2018, visit the Readings blog (readings. the late Sam Shepard also bring us books to start the year. an account of the political party that many are turning com.au/news). Zadie Smith’s Feel Free is our nonfiction book of the to in the current climate – both metaphorical and actual And we are promised new books from international month; our reviewer compares these essays to a series (September). Can you believe it is thirty years since authors such as Melissa Broder, Rachel Kushner, Lauren of smart conversations with a friend. I really must read Expo 88? Jackie Ryan has written We’ll Show the World Groff, Sebastian Faulks, Curtis Sittenfeld, Andrew Miller, Smith’s take on The Buddha of Suburbia, one of the great (UQP, May) about that bizarre event at which I spent four Raymond Feist, Lisa Genova, Laura Bates, Rachel Cusk, novels of the 1990s that I plan to return to some day. Jeff memorable days with my late grandma (I still have the William Gibson, Sloane Crosley, Sheila Heti, Michael Goodell’s book about our near future, The Water Will diary I kept! There is still time to include my analyses of Ondaatje, Kate Atkinson, Charles Frazier, Sally Vickers, Come, terrifies with title alone. The logical next step after the pavilions in your book, Jackie!). Kevin Powers, Haruki Murakami, Louis de Bernieres, we’ve educated ourselves about brains, hearts and guts is I’m (almost) alone at Readings in my dispassion for William Boyd, Sergio de la Pava, Madeline Miller, Olivia The Story of Shit; and maybe after that, it’s Letting Go: How AFL, but I understand that lots of people will be excited Laing, Soraya Chemaly, Simon Winchester, Mario to Plan for a Good Death (though hopefully we’ve lived A about Bob Murphy’s Leather Soul (Nero, October). Vargas Llosa, Leslie Jamison, Louis de Bernieres, Jeff Life Less Stressed before that). In spite of my admission Maria Tumarkin is a personal heroine of mine, so I wait VanderMeer, Jesse Ball, Meg Wolitzer, Vikram Seth, Parker about AFL above, even I can get on board with Roar, patiently for May when Brow Books will publish her new Posey, Julie Andrews, Tina Turner … This is not even the Samantha Lane’s story of the AFLW. The political cartoons book of nonfiction, Axiomatic. Scribe likens the writing half of it, dear reader: there are many omissions, including of the late Ron Tandberg have been a source of satire and of journalist Kate Wild to that of Helen Garner and Chloe things so confidential that my contacts couldn’t tell me critique for over 40 years: A Year of Madness is a collection Hooper: her debut is Waiting for Elijah (June); Scribe about them yet. Yes … that’s driving me crazy too! of 2017’s cartoons. Amy Goldstein’s Janesville was one of also publishes an essential critique of poker machines But before all the rest of 2018 happens we have Obama’s favourite books of last year. Johann Hari’s Lost in Australian culture, Drew Rooke’s One Last Spin (May). February’s books to discover, including Australian fiction Connections will impact the discourse around depression. NewSouth has a book from Sam Twyford-Moore, The from Jennifer Mills, whose Dyschronia adds to the literary And finally, dear reader, though Sapiens by Yuval Rapids: Ways of Looking at Mania, in the second half of refrains of warning around climate change; the author of Noah Harari was published back in 2014 it still came in the year. 2015’s Useful (and the TV show Offspring) Debra Oswald’s at number 12 on Readings’ 2017 bestseller list! Harari Bruce Pascoe’s fabulous book about Aboriginal new work, A Whole Bright Year; Kali Napier’s The Secrets at has a new book coming out in June (attention Readings agriculture, Dark Emu, was published in 2014 and Ocean’s Edge; Dustfall by Michelle Johnston; The Tattooist warehouse: you guys need to start making space for the continues to find new readers (including young ones this of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. We have the new work of incoming boxes soon). If you are yet to own a copy of this year when a junior edition of the book is released in July); beloved Man Booker Prize-winning author Julian Barnes, breakout title, you can take advantage of our nonfiction Magabala will publish his work of adult fiction, Imperial The Only Story, our Fiction Book of the Month, and new sale this month – buy three books for the price of two on Harvest in October. Clementine Ford’s 2016 book, Fight novels from Lloyd Jones (The Cage) and Craig Sherborne a fantastic range of titles, which includes Sapiens (and his Like a Girl, should be on every Australian bookshelf. Her (Off the Record). Look out for US buzz titles including An second book, Homo Deus) and a stack of other great books new book, Boys Will Be Boys, will be out in the second American Marriage by Tayari Jones; Oliver Loving by to see you through the last month of summer. half of the year (A&U). It explores the negative effects Stefan Merrill Block; The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin; Alison Huber is the head book buyer for Readings. of patriarchy on male children. Feminist legend Anne a local edition of Carmen Maria Machado’s acclaimed FICTION

raise her daughter on a stone-fruit farm incarceration. Inspired by the author’s own February in the country. For sixteen years mother family history, The Secrets at Ocean’s Edge is and daughter share a close bond. Things a haunting, memorable and moving tale of change when two itinerant workers arrive one family’s search for belonging. For fans Fiction to help with the peach harvest. of The Light Between Oceans. Sheena has also decided to get out of the city in order to keep her younger, 18-year- Sign old brother, Kieran, out of trouble. When Julian Barnes’ writing has always dealt with the complicated Colin Dray Sheena’s car breaks down, the two are forced BOOK OF THE notions of history and truth. We saw this clearly in his Man A&U. PB. $29.99 to seek work in order to pay for the repairs. Booker Prize-winning title, The Sense of an Ending, which Young Sam is recovering MONTH Celia is at first wary of the pair, but having prompts the reader to ask whether truth is fundamentally from an operation that Fiction no other help on hand and a crop of peaches elusive. In his latest beautifully succinct novel, The Only has left him unable to to be picked, she agrees to hire them. Story, Barnes raises a comparable question: is there only one speak. Their father Zoe and Kieran are instantly attracted love story in us all? The novel commences with protagonist abandoned the family to each other and a relationship develops, Paul stating: ‘Most of us have only one story to tell. I don’t long ago, but when their to the concern of both Celia and Sheena. mean that only one thing happens to us in our lives: there mother begins to date The trouble begins when Celia, in an effort are countless events, which we turn into countless stories. again, Aunt Dettie (who to protect her daughter, decides to take But there’s only one that matters, only one finally worth lives with them), packs matters in hand. telling. This is mine.’ Sam and Katie into her car and tells them Given Oswald’s background, it should The novel is divided into three acts: the beguiling that she’s taking them to Perth to be come as no surprise that The Whole Bright beginning, the middle, and the pitiful end. In each section, reunited with their father. As they cross Year is a great drama and a thoroughly with the power of hindsight, Paul reflects on each inevitable Australia in the middle of a sweltering enjoyable read, with a few twists and turns crossroad he encounters. Set in London in the early 1960s, it bushfire season, Dettie’s behaviour becomes towards the end, just to keep the reader begins with Paul as a university student, falling hopelessly increasingly erratic, and the children begin guessing. and wholly in love with Mrs. Susan Macleod, a woman more to realise that something is very wrong. than twice his age, a married mother of two nearly grown-up Sharon Peterson is from Readings Carlton The Only Story daughters. Paul and Susan enter an irregular relationship The Tattooist of Auschwitz Julian Barnes that lasts years. Dustfall: A Novel Heather Morris Jonathan Cape. HB. This is not an easy story, and it reminded me, not in Echo. PB. $29.99 Was $32.99 Michelle Johnston style, but certainly in context of Erich Segal’s 1970 Love UWAP. PB. $26.99 Lale Sokolov is a $27.99 Story. It is the pathos of young love occupied with endless Dr Raymond Filigree, well-dressed ladies’ man possibilities but ending with an inevitable conclusion. Told running away from a … and a Jew. On the first with particular heartbreak, The Only Story allows us to consider exuberance and its disastrous medical transport from Slovakia partner in crime, grief. In this work, Barnes forces us to reflect on the very essence of what career, takes charge of to Auschwitz in 1942, makes a love story. Of course, he raises more questions than he answers but, surely, this the small hospital in the Lale stands out. In the is his gift to us. The Only Story will lead you to ruminate, pleasurably. Truly. isolated town of camp, he is assigned the Chris Gordon is the events manager for Readings Wittenoom, where, he privileged position of discovers an asbestos tätowierer – the tattooist. mining corporation One of them is a young woman, Gita, who with no regard for the safety of its workers steals his heart. The smitten Lale does his best to use his position for good. This story, migraine-induced visions of the future since and no care for the truth. Thirty years full of beauty and hope, is based on years of childhood, so why did she not warn the town later, another medical fugitive, Dr Lou Australian interviews with a real-life Holocaust of this impending catastrophe? Fitzgerald, stumbles across the abandoned Wittenoom Hospital. Here she discovers survivor and Auschwitz−Birkenau tattooist. Fiction Mills conveys Sam’s increasingly faded letters and barely used medical confused perception of time through an equipment, and, slowly the story of the appropriately nonlinear narrative structure, A Week in the Life of hospital’s tragic past comes to her. weaving together past, present and future Cassandra Aberline Dyschronia to question ideas of fate and causality. Glenda Guest Text. PB. $29.99 Jennifer Mills Chapters move between Sam’s story and the Off the Record Picador. PB. Was $29.99 story of the town as a collective, told in the Craig Sherborne A tender, thoughtful Text. PB. $29.99 story about a woman’s $26.99 first person plural: we. This ‘we’ makes the reader part of a group formed and bound Miles Franklin journey back to her In recent years, a together by our hubristic attempts – and shortlisted novelist, home town − and a number of ultimately our failure – to dominate a harsh, memoirist and poet life-changing moment. Australian authors have unforgiving landscape; we are complicit in Craig Sherborne is one of After 45 years in Sydney, turned their attention environmental catastrophe and vulnerable Australia’s finest – and Cassandra Aberline to the interrelated to the unleashed forces of nature. most black-wittedly returns to the Western effects of climate funny – writers. In Off Australian wheatbelt the change, the Freya Howarth is from Readings St Kilda the Record, former same way she left: on the Indian Pacific disintegration of rural tabloid journalist train. As they cross the emptiness of the communities, the The Whole Bright Year Sherborne stylishly skewers his old vast Australian inland, Cassie travels back growing power of corporations and the Debra Oswald profession – and male vanity. When through her memories, too, frightened that omnipresence of social media. Lois Viking. PB. Was $32.99 after-work drinker and dangerous flirt she’s about to lose them − and her last Murphy’s Soon and Briohny Doyle’s The $29.99 Callum Smith blows up his marriage after a chance to answer the question that has Island Will Sink are examples of this trend. Debra Oswald has night of drinking goes too far, he takes a haunted her almost all her life. When faced with unprecedented and been writing since pay cut to work with a new online alarming changes to everyday life, it she was a teenager and publication covering local crime. There the makes sense that authors are seeking new is perhaps best known plum role of editor will soon be his, he ways to tell a story, borrowing elements for her scriptwriting for reasons. Will he win back his family? Or is a International from fantasy and science-fiction to write both stage and screen comeuppance around the corner? about an increasingly surreal reality. (she is the creator and Fiction Jennifer Mill’s Dyschronia adds a new main writer of the TV The Secrets at Ocean’s Edge voice to this growing chorus. series Offspring). In Kali Napier The residents of the seaside town of 2015, Oswald released her first novel for Hachette. PB. $29.99 Clapstone wake one morning to find that the adults, Useful, a humorous and Her Body & Other Parties 1932. Ernie and Lily sea has vanished, leaving behind detritus entertaining story about finding the Carmen Maria Machado in the form of rotting sea creatures. This Hass, and their daughter meaning of life. Oswald’s second foray into Serpent’s Tail. HB. $24.99 have lost almost is just the latest in a series of setbacks and adult fiction is a more serious tale of what everything in the Her Body and Other tragedies that have befallen the embattled can happen when you try too hard to Depression. Abandoning Parties is an town, and the consequences of this protect the ones you love. their failing wheat farm exhilarating fiction natural disaster play out with a frightening Set in the summer of 1976, The Whole and small-town gossip, debut – a wild, sprawling inevitability, as the residents struggle to Bright Year, is the story of single mother they make a new start collection of stories that survive and adapt. Although scientists Celia and her teenage daughter Zoe. on the west coast of explore the reality of fail to predict or explain the disaster, a Before she was born, Zoe’s father was Australia. Then Lily’s shell-shocked being a woman. Carmen young woman from Clapstone has seen it killed in an armed robbery. Heartbroken, brother, Tommy, returns after three Maria Machado draws all happen before. Sam has suffered from Celia decided to move from the city and harrowing years on the road following his from fairy tales, science FICTION READINGS MONTHLY 9 February 2018 fiction, queer theory, pop culture and and agency, about family and self-identity, town’s tragedy. Closer to home, his horror to craft something that is and the subsequent struggle between guilt condition shapes the trajectory of his exquisitely strange, yet devastatingly and forgiveness. Mortality is something family’s lives. His parents and younger relatable. that’s never far from my mind, but The brother must contend with their grief and Familiar stories and tropes are Immortalists is not about death; rather it’s also the possibility that a new medical turned on their head. ‘The Husband about life and what we do with the time test will give Oliver the chance to Stitch’ opens the collection and it’s a we have. Chloe Benjamin’s clear writing communicate and, finally, shed some knock-out. Machado reimagines the and clever structure weave threads of light on that fateful night. macabre campfire ghost tale of a woman magic, destiny, Jewish lore and complex The novel operates as a sort of who refuses to remove a green ribbon family ties into an engrossing, tender and murder-mystery, but instead of from around her neck, transforming it thought-provoking journey. It’s an ideal ‘whodunnit’ we are trying to figure out into a blistering indictment of societal book-group choice with plenty to unpack why a troubled youth turned the gun on expectations on women. Tucked into and discuss. a former class before taking his own life. the middle of the book is the brilliantly Pilgrim Hodgson is from Readings Kids As the novel progresses, more and more inventive ‘Especially Heinous’. Structured details are revealed, especially those around the first 12 seasons of Law & Order: The Melody connected to Rebekkah Starling, Oliver’s Special Victims Unit, this novella renders unrequited crush and another survivor of Jim Crace the well-trod beats of the ubiquitous police the shooting. Picador. PB. Was $32.99 procedural into something otherworldly Beyond the mystery at the centre $29.99 and utterly original. In Machado’s vision, of the novel, Stefan Merrill Block is the show’s continual violence against Available 13 February primarily concerned with exploring women has supernatural consequences It was always going the destruction wreaked by grief. The that will haunt readers along with the to be a tough act for characters in the novel are insufferable characters. Jim Crace to follow. I’d and self-destructive. They struggle Women are never safe in the world of only just finished reading to connect and empathise with both this book. They’re assaulted or murdered, the astonishing Lincoln in the mute Oliver and each other. As harassed by doppelgangers, haunted by the Bardo by George an exploration of the toxicity of grief, ghosts, sewn into fabric. In one story, Saunders, when I picked Oliver Loving is confronting; ‘warts and women are simply evaporating into thin up The Melody to review. all’ depictions of each character can air. All too frequently, it is their own But of course, considering make it a difficult read at times. I found bodies that betray them and Machado that Jim Crace is also a Man Booker Prize- myself struggling to even like anyone powerfully evokes the physicality of our shortlister, I felt confident that he wouldn’t in the novel, but this makes the journey lives. Her prose bubbles with energy – let me down. And, fortunately, he didn’t. more true-to-life and, ultimately, more voracious and sensual, playful and acerbic, The Melody is the story of what rewarding. tender and brutal. There are moments of happens when Alfred Busi – famed singer Block has a crafted a lyrical, honest, pure pleasure to be found; Machado has and ageing local icon – is attacked one and genuinely surprising novel about a barbed sense of humour and she writes night in his own home by a creature that tragedy, grief, and families. Although not joyously of sex: ‘I come fast and hard, like a he is convinced is not an animal but a the lightest of summer reads, you don’t bottle breaking against a wall’. child, ‘wild and innocent’. want to miss out on this one. Rumours of an ancient race of people Machado’s book sits easily alongside Tristen Brudy is from Readings Carlton the works of authors such as Angela Carter, living in the bosk surrounding his town have bubbled away for years, but news of Shirley Jackson, Helen Oyeyemi, Kelly Savages: The Wedding Link and Karen Russell. As with them, the attack on Busi raises the hackles of Sabri Louatah she writes the kind of fiction that reveals the township and the decision is made to Corsair. PB. $29.99 truths about our world where non-fiction ‘move on’ the homeless who live on the couldn’t. Her Body and Other Parties is a town’s fringes. However, while much is Savages: The thrilling, queer, feminist delight; I want being made of civic safety as a reason for Wedding is the everyone I know to read it. moving the ‘feral wastrels’ on, it turns out first instalment in Sabri that some in the town have less concern Louatah’s Saint-Etienne Bronte Coates is the digital content Quartet, a cycle of coordinator and The Readings Prizes manager for civic safety, and more of an eye on the prize of real-estate values. political dramas centring on an Algerian The Immortalists Busi’s architect nephew wants to buy his uncle’s charming but rundown home family in that region of Chloe Benjamin and redevelop it into a block of upmarket central France. The Tinder. PB. Was $32.99 apartments. And given that Busi’s house novel opens on the wedding day of two $27.99 backs onto the bosk, it’s in his nephew’s best young third-generation French Algerians, If you knew the interests to spearhead a campaign to get rid which also happens to be the day of the date of your of the homeless. While Busi is determined French Presidential elections, at which death, how would you not to sell, the pressure is mounting for him France’s first Arab candidate is tipped to choose to live the rest of to sign the papers and be ‘moved on’ himself. win an historic vote. The Nerrouche family your life? In the late This is a book about the loneliness has both distant and close links to the ’60s in New York’s that can come with growing old, and how charismatic would-be President, and this Lower East Side, word a chance encounter with one of society’s dialogue-heavy novel focuses in on the spreads of a psychic forgotten people will help one elderly diverging opinions about what role an who can predict the gentleman reconnect with the world, a Arab, specifically Algerian, head of state date a person will die. The four Gold place that he finds puzzling and too fast- would play in the lives of marginalised children visit this mysterious seer, moving. This is a gentle read that slows the families throughout France. unprepared for what they will hear and pulse and warms the heart. As is typical of French and Italian how this knowledge will define each political novels, Savages is not afraid Gabrielle Williams is from Readings Malvern sibling’s life. to weave discourse and dogma through First, we travel with Simon, who the plot, which could be challenging for Oliver Loving escapes his predestined role in the family readers unfamiliar with European politics business to run away to San Francisco Stefan Merrill Block and its obsession with the boundaries Atlantic. PB. $29.99 and become a dancer. Part two follows of Left, Right and Centre. It is, however, Klara, whose childhood fascination with There are many interesting and thought-provoking to stage magic and the children’s mysterious ways to describe read, as an Australian, about debates grandmother leads her to a career on stage the titular Oliver around racism and colonialism happening and a tenuous grip on reality following Loving – his mother’s overseas. Savages, which begins in Simon’s death. Eldest son Daniel tries favourite son, a beloved 2005, feels intensely contemporary, to control fate as an army doctor, and older brother to recalling American and British political becomes compelled to track down the Charlie, and an upheavals of 2016–17 and full of media and gypsy woman the children visited. Finally, aspiring poet. He has technology, as well as a modern concern the eldest, Varya, is a studious longevity also been comatose with terrorism and political dog-whistling. researcher testing the boundaries of (perhaps even brain-dead) for close to ten In this regard, it will be intriguing to local science and mortality but living a life years. At seventeen, Oliver was the victim readers who have enjoyed the political paralysed by fear. of a school shooting. Now – paralysed and fiction and non-fiction published in the The Immortalists is a novel about fate wordless – Oliver lies at the centre of a last twelve months. 10 READINGS MONTHLY FICTION February 2018

Despite its complex factual context, can be shared through it. Tom and Kate have they were in his adolescence. Aciman writes that Lullaby essentially explores ‘the Savages reads mostly like a melodrama – resisted addiction. And this will serve them maps the most inscrutable corners of neoliberal intensification of mothering’, tense, quick, gossipy, shifting between a well when The Feed collapses … until their desire, proving to be an unsparing reader revealing what our conceptions of large cast of characters as the lead up to six-year-old daughter goes missing. Because of the human psyche and a master stylist motherhood do to society in the same way and aftershock from the assassination of how do you find someone in a world devoid of contemporary literature. Rachel Cusk reveals what it does to the self. the controversial candidate propels the of technology? For fans of Station Eleven, A must-read! novel forward. Louatah leaves the story on a and Black Mirror devotees. The Great Alone cliffhanger – and if the hype is true readers Kristin Hannah The Mermaid and Mrs. in the northern hemisphere are well and The Girl in the Tower Pan Mac. PB. $29.99 Hancock truly addicted. Press compares Louatah’s Katherine Arden Alaska, 1974. Cora Imogen Hermes Gowar work to Elena Ferrante; I would say that it Del Rey. PB. $32.99 Allbright and her Harvill Secker. PB. $32.99 is more of a political thriller with less of the Available 12 February husband Ernt, a One September evening interiority which typifies Ferrante’s novels. For a young woman in recently-returned in 1785, merchant Jonah In this way it has broader appeal to an medieval Russia, the Vietnam veteran, uproot Hancock discovers one of audience that likes its juicy novels to be fast- choices are marriage, or their thirteen-year-old his captains has sold his paced and action-packed without scrimping life in a convent. Vasya daughter Leni to start a ship for what appears to on substance or dangerous ideas. will choose a third way: new life. Utterly be a mermaid. Its arrival Georgia Delaney is from Readings Carlton magic. The Moscow court unprepared for the spins him out of his is plagued by power weather and the isolation, but welcomed by ordinary existence and The Earlie King & the Kid in struggles and forest the close-knit community, they fight to through the doors of high Yellow raiders. When the Grand build a home in this harsh, beautiful society. At an opulent party, he makes the Danny Denton Prince and his companion Sasha discover a wilderness. At once an epic story of human acquaintance of Angelica Neal, a courtesan of Granta. PB. $29.99 young man on a magnificent horse, only survival and love, and an intimate portrait great accomplishment. This meeting will A noir thriller, lyric Sasha recognises this ‘boy’ as his younger of a family tested beyond endurance. steer both their lives onto a dangerous new romance and dystopian sister, thought to be dead (or a witch) … and course, on which they will learn that priceless saga in one fearless perhaps the only way to save the city, from Happiness for Humans things come at the greatest cost. debut. Ireland is flooded, threats both human and fantastical. P.Z. Reizin derelict. It never stops Sphere. PB. $29.99 No One is Coming to Save Us raining. The Kid in An American Marriage A quirky rom-com for Stephanie Powell Watts Yellow has stolen the Tayari Jones fans of The Rosie Project. Viking. PB. $32.99 babba from the Earlie Vintage. PB. Was $32.99 Jen is sad. Aiden wants Though billed as an King. Why? Something to $27.99 her to be happy. Simple? African-American, do with the king’s daughter, and a talking A stunning story about Except that Jen is a contemporary The Great statue, something godawful. And from three people at once thirty–something Gatsby, the Washington every wall the King’s Eye watches. And yet bound and separated by woman whose Post asserts that ‘Watts the city is full of hearts-defiant-sprayed in forces beyond their boyfriend has just left has written a sonorous, yellow, the mark of the Kid. It cannot end control. Newlyweds her and Aiden is a very complex novel that’s well. Can it? Follow the Kid, hear the tale. Celestial (a budding complicated, very expensive piece of entirely her own’, in this artist) and Roy (a young software. Aiden has calculated that Jen story of a post-Jim Crow The Cage executive), are beginning needs a man in her life for optimum North Carolina beset by factory decline, Lloyd Jones their lives together when wellbeing. With the whole of the internet at jobs outsourced to China, and communities Text. PB. $29.99 Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve his disposal, he doesn’t have to look far to (and families) changed by it all. JJ Ferguson A powerful and timely years, for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t find a perfect specimen. But what, exactly, returns home to build his dream house and allegory about commit. Bereft, she finds herself taking makes human beings happy? to pursue his high-school sweetheart, Ava. humanity, dignity and comfort in her childhood friend Andre, best But everyone has changed – including the oddly justified brutality, man at their wedding. Then, after five years, I Love You Too Much married, unhappily infertile, Ava. ‘All of from the Man Booker Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, Alicia Drake this is conveyed in a prose style that renders Prize-winning author of and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume Picador. HB. $29.99 the common language of casual speech into Mr Pip. Two mysterious their life together. Available 13 February natural poetry … an indelible story about strangers appear at a Seeking solace in an the substance of one woman’s life.’ hotel in a small country The Adulterants unlikely friendship with town. Where have they come from? Who are Joe Dunthorne tear-away classmate On the Bright Side they? What catastrophe are they fleeing? Hamish Hamilton. HB. $35 Scarlett and the Hendrik Groen The townspeople want answers, but the Brace yourself for a temptation of the Michael Joseph. PB. $32.99 strangers are unable to speak of their wickedly funny look at numerous patisseries in Another life-affirming, trauma. And before long, wary hospitality modernity from the his elegant hilarious and shifts to suspicion and fear, and the care of comic genius behind neighbourhood, Paul heartwarming fictional the men slides into appalling cruelty. Submarine. Ray just searches for diary from the world’s cheated on his heavily unconditional love. But what will he do if he most beloved Fallow pregnant wife and can’t find it? Alicia Drake evokes octogenarian and Daniel Shand secretly despises his contemporary Parisian life with the subtlety international bestseller, Picador. PB. $17.99 friends. A freelance tech of a latter day Françoise Sagan, and she Hendrik Groen. Picking Two brothers elude a journalist, he spends his afternoons captures the pains of adolescence with the up where The Secret press witch-hunt by churning out listicles in his pants. But no poignance of Salinger’s Holden Caulfield. A Diary of Hendrik Groen left off, at the hiding out in the remote matter how low you sink, things can always devastating coming-of-age story told from Dutch care home of the anarchic Old-But- wilds of highland get worse ... A tale of sadistic estate agents the sidelines of Parisian perfection. Not-Dead Club, Hendrik describes the Scotland. One of them is and catastrophic open marriages, helicopter quirks and adventures of his fellow a murderer. But it’s the parents and internet trolls, riots on the Lullaby residents, nurses and old age in general. other you have to watch streets of London, and one very immature Leïla Slimani out for ... Daniel Shand’s man finally learning to grow up. Faber. PB. $27.99 The One Inside brilliant debut is at once Published in France as Le Sam Shepard a tense psychological thriller, and an Enigma Variations Chanson and in the US as Vintage. PB. $27.99 unreliable narrative of unsettling force. André Aciman The Perfect Nanny, this This evocative narrative Picador. PB. $24.99 promises to be the most opens with a man in his The Feed André Aciman’s zeitgeisty novel about house at dawn, coyotes Nick Clark Windo exquisite book Call me contemporary cackling in the distance, Headline. PB. $29.99 by Your Name has been motherhood and family as he quietly navigates Set in a vividly imagined the literary hit of the since We Need to Talk the distance between post-apocalyptic world, summer, following the About Kevin. And yes, it’s present and past. He this timely debut rapturous acclaim for similarly dark. The French mega-bestseller, sees himself in a explores what it is to be the film version, which winner of the prestigious Prix Goncourt, movie-set trailer, his human in the digital age. won the audience follows what happens when the co- young face staring back at him in a mirror The Feed can be accessed award at last year’s dependent relationship between a Parisian surrounded by light bulbs. In visions, he by anyone, at any time. MIFF. Enigma Variations charts the life of couple (a French-Moroccan lawyer and her sees his late father – sometimes in Every interaction, every Paul whose loves remain as consuming husband) and their polite, devoted nanny miniature, sometimes at war. And, he sees emotion, every image and covetous throughout his adulthood as spectacularly implodes. The New Yorker the bygone America of his childhood: the FICTION READINGS MONTHLY 11 February 2018 farmland and feedlots, the railyards and catch on the beach. Terrified for her sister, diners – and his father’s young girlfriend, Hana swims as hard as she can for the shore. with whom he also became involved. So begins the story of two sisters suddenly and violently separated by war but whose love Restless Souls for one another is strong enough to triumph. Dan Sheehan W&N. PB. $29.99 Available 13 February A stunning debut novel Classics about war and loss, male friendship and the power of home. Tom, Karl and Baz grew up together in The Odyssey down-on-its-luck Dublin. Homer & Emily Wilson (trans.) Friends since childhood, W.W. Norton. HB. $56.95 their lives diverged when Available late February Tom left home to be a war Having listened to correspondent. Now, after three years Mary Beard talk embedded in the Siege of Sarajevo, he returns about Women & Power, a haunted shell of the lad who went away. Karl starting with an incident and Baz are determined to see him through in Homer’s The Odyssey, the darkness, even if it means travelling (‘I want to start very near eadly Woman Blues, stunning, the beginning of the halfway around the world. Hearing about an original and brimming with life, unlikely cure – an experimental clinic called tradition of Western D is the first of its kind. Part art book, Restless Souls – they embark on a road trip literature, and its first part comic book, part biography and across California. recorded example of a man telling a woman fully deadly, it is a unique graphic to “shut up”; telling her that her voice was history of the black women who not to be heard in public.’) my attention was They Know Not What They Do made Australian music. Traditional Jussi Valtonen & Kristian London caught when I heard that the first English- Indigenous music, spirituals, (trans.) language translation by a woman of The vaudeville, post-war jazz, country, Oneworld. PB. $29.99 Odyssey was about to be published. Clearly, this was my chance to tackle a foundation gospel, soul, R&B and hip-hop have For fans of David work of the Western canon that I had always been made and re-made by these Mitchell and Dave Eggers managed to dodge. legendary women, some household (and from the boutique publisher of two of the Every time I mentioned to a colleague names, some forgotten, some totally last three Man Booker that this was the first translation by a unknown until now. Prize winners) comes woman of, arguably, one of the two most this piercing seminal texts of Western Anglophone psychological satire set literature, we all marvelled that it had never been done before. While the political aspect in the near-future, where www.newsouthpublishing.com nothing is private and everything is for sale. is fascinating, and I highly recommend When Professor Joe Chayefski’s reading the wonderful introduction that neuroscience lab in Baltimore is attacked by exemplifies why a differing viewpoint animal rights activists, he receives a phone on gender and presumption is of such call from Alina, his Finnish ex-wife, and importance, the text itself is a rollicking, realises the threats are connected to Samuel, joyful and truly odd reading experience. the son he left behind in Finland two Emily Wilson’s translation is the same decades ago – now an animal-rights activist. length as the original and it is in iambic pentameter. As Wilson explains, iambic The Which Way Tree pentameter is the conventional meter for English narrative verse, and the choice Elizabeth Crook brings an understandable spoken-narrative Scribe. PB. $29.99 verse to the English-language reader. The Early one morning in the great strength of this translation is the way remote hill country of in which this familiarity of form renders the Texas, a panther attacks truly odd and foreign choices and actions a family of of the ancient-Greek heroes relatable, and homesteaders, mauling a yet also emphasises the strangeness and young girl named distance of the text. I recommend reading Samantha and killing it aloud to yourself. I did, in the comfort of her mother, a former my own lounge room, and when I stopped to slave, whose final act is return to reading quietly I missed the wonder to save her daughter’s life. Samantha and her and freedom of hearing a great story told. half-brother, Benjamin, survive, but she is left traumatised, her face horribly scarred. Marie Matteson is from Readings Carlton Narrated in Benjamin’s beguilingly plain- spoken voice, The Which Way Tree is the story of Samantha’s relentless determination to stalk and kill the notorious panther and Poetry avenge her mother’s death.

White Chrysanthemum The Alarming Conservatory Mary Lynn Bracht Corey Wakeling C&W. PB. $32.99 Giramondo. PB. $24.00 The heartbreaking story Acclaimed poet Corey of Korea during the Wakeling’s second Second World War is collection continues brought to life in this his inquiry into gripping, redemptive language and the debut about two sisters. spatial architectures of Hana and her little sister history and culture. Set Emi are part of an island among twentieth- community of haenyeo, century ruins, the women who make their living from diving poems are cast as hallucinations: colonial- deep into the sea off the southernmost tip of style houses are ‘guarded by palm trees’, Korea. One day Hana sees a Japanese soldier Royal Park ‘detains two immoveable heading for where Emi is guarding the day’s statues’ while the ‘Wheel of Fortune dizzies’. CRIME

Seventeen emotional carnage of these battles in this Dead Hideo Yokoyama harrowing thriller. Riverrun. PB. $29.99 Write Available 13 February This is What Happened Newspaper politics go Mick Herron with Fiona Hardy hand-in-hand with one John Murray. PB. $29.99 of the world’s deadliest Sometimes, as a Sometimes, when reading a gripping crime novel, you feel aviation disasters in the bookseller, it’s so hard to BOOK OF THE almost paralysed with helplessness as things go terribly new book by Six Four promote books whose MONTH wrong for your protagonist and all you can do is read in a author Yokoyama (who surprises are so integral panic as the author leads them to certain doom. seems to have decided to the plot that all you Crime that numbers are the This feeling is crystallised in If I Die Before I Wake, when, can do is shove the book new ‘girl’ in titles). from the very first page, we are in the mind of Alex Jackson, helplessly at a customer Kazumasa Yuuki is a reporter and avid rock a journalist and rock-climber who is confined to a hospital and say, ‘It’s good climber (yes, I was just as surprised to get bed eighteen months after falling from a rock-face and because it is.’ With Gold two rock-climbing-based crime books in suffering a catastrophic head injury. and Steel Dagger-winning Mick Herron’s one month, giving a new meaning to ‘niche This is What Happened, it’s much the same. market’) who abandons a trip with a friend Maggie, a young woman who has escaped one thing is becoming clear – what when a single plane crashes into a Japanese small-town England for London, has an happened to Alex was no accident mountain and he’s put in charge of his unassuming job and lives a dull, quiet life. newspaper’s coverage. Years later, he starts When she’s approached by MI5 to indulge in The trauma has left him in what others consider a the same trip again, fulfilling a promise a touch of corporate espionage in her own vegetative state, but Alex is fully aware – he can hear, and made years ago, with a new climbing company, she takes on the challenge. And smell, and when his muscles involuntarily open his eyes, partner and the weight of the past on his that is about all we can say: the rest of it is he can even see a little. None of the tests are showing any shoulders. Yokoyama was a journalist when such a surprising, enthralling spy thriller, If I Die Before I sign of this, and those who love him are starting to consider the real Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashed, full of red herrings (red Herrons? Sorry.) Give Wake that he will never wake. Just as Alex comes to term with and the newsdesk tensions are a yourself the afternoon off and settle in. Emily Koch it himself, wishing death over this version of life, there’s a forensically detailed, anxiety-inducing Harvill Secker. PB. $32.99 shift in what’s happening around him. Secrets are unfurling, reality, when the horror of the carnage and Zen and the Art of Murder overheard visits get more cryptic, but one thing is becoming the thrill of the story change the lives of Oliver Bottini clear – what happened to Alex was no accident. everyone involved. MacLehose. PB. $32.99 Emily Koch has done a superb job of strapping you down and holding you in place, A Japanese monk arrives able only to piece together information from snippets of conversation between friends, The Stakes in a German town, gossiping nurses, family spats and mournful girlfriends. Alex’s partner, Bea, is starting Ben Sanders unnervingly silent and to worry that someone is following her. Alex’s climbing mate Tom and his girlfriend A&U. PB. Was $29.99 dressed only in a cowl. Rosie are endlessly indecisive about what should be happening. Alex’s sister is angry $26.99 When the town’s about a rift from years before that will never heal. Alex, able only to be talked at and NYPD Detective Miles inhabitants are frightened never able to respond, can’t take notes, can’t always guarantee his body won’t lull him to Keller has a pretty sweet into action, a local police sleep or get distracted, and, if no one speaks, is sometimes only left with smell and noise system going on, if not officer is dispatched to cues to figure out who is in his room – and why they might be there. This makes for an an entirely legal one. speak to him, getting no enthralling, read-between-your-fingers story, where the protagonist can’t blunder in, Well, if you’re the type of response but discovering, nonetheless, that guns blazing, at just the right time, but is left with his wits and determination to figure person who doesn’t the monk is wounded. When Louise Boni – out what went on that day on the rocks – and what is happening right now. think it’s a crime to rob chief inspector with the Black Forest crime the wealthy criminals squad and your suitably unstable protagonist that cross your path, it – joins the investigation, it’s all she can do to The Innocent Wife meeting to sell a show he’s writing. But a sounds like a good plan, and Keller knows follow the monk as he walks purposefully Amy Lloyd terrifying TV producer and a history of he’ll be out of the system before anyone through the German snow in his sandals. Century. PB. $32.99 defusing bombs is nothing compared to the really works out who he is. Unless, of Uncovering his motivations – what he’s For decades, American dangers that await him. Writers are being course, he’s waylaid by murder charges walking towards, or away from – leads Boni’s Dennis Danson has been found dead, and everything’s as suspicious against him, such as the shooting of a team to a horrific crime and deadly imprisoned for murder as a plotline in a cop show – and Danny, even hit-man – another one of those things also consequences. A beautifully translated – a murder the public is with his particular skills in dealing with in that murky is-it-really-a-crime? grey thriller in which snow is not quite the salve to starting to believe he problems, needs all the help he can get, area. But the charges could really put a an Australian summer that we wish it to be. didn’t commit. As including from Zan, his neighbour, editor spanner in the works, especially when the and a possible killer herself. Perfect documentaries and dead hit-man’s cousin is hired to retrieve Also out this month: a local release of the Criminals is a low-glitz, high-entertainment books revealing the lack Nina Stone, the wife of an LA crime boss, New York Times bestseller, The Woman in ride that might make you rethink your of evidence and and someone who’s passed through Keller’s the Window by A.J. Finn; some books with summer television schedule. following his plight stack up, Samantha, a life before. She’s got an offer for Keller, and short titles including Joe Ide’s Righteous British woman whose life has become sure, the stakes are high, but since when (W&N, PB, $29.99), James Lee Burke’s dominated by the online message-boards Redemption Point did that bother him? Another fast-paced, Robicheaux (Orion, PB, $29.99), Robert that support him, strikes up a friendship Candice Fox thrillingly entertaining tale from New Crais’ The Wanted (S&S, PB, $32.99), Alafair with Dennis that turns into something much Bantam. PB. Was $32.99 Zealand’s bestselling Ben Sanders. Burke’s The Wife (Faber, PB, $29.99), Nadia more serious when he proposes from behind $29.99 Dalbuono’s The Extremist (Scribe, PB, bars. But the relationship that until this In the Queensland town This I Would Kill For $29.99), and Anton Svensson’s The Sons point was only ever experienced behind a of Crimson Lake, Ted Anne Buist (Sphere, PB, $29.99); some man-based books Plexiglas wall changes considerably when Conkaffey is settling in Text. PB. $29.99 in Jack Heath’s Hangman (A&U, PB, $29.99) someone else confesses to the crime, seeing – as much as you can When psychiatrist and Alan Drew’s Shadow Man (Corvus, Dennis released – and Sam’s initial thrill is when you’re a cop Natalie King is asked to PB, $29.99); Alan Parks’ seasonal release replaced with the worry that this exonerated struck from the force be an expert witness in Bloody January (Canongate, PB, $29.99). killer may not be as innocent as she thought. after being accused of a custody battle And a whole lot more including Eva Dolan’s Another unsettling entry into Britain’s kidnapping a teenage between Jenna and This Is How It Ends (Raven, PB, $27.99); C. growing did-they-or-didn’t-they? girl, who is now taking Malik for their daughter J. Tudor’s surely-a-movie-soon The Chalk psychological thriller genre. on the job of a private investigator along Chelsea, it’s the kind of Man (Michael Joseph, PB, $32.99), Peter with Amanda Pharrell, a local woman low-key thing she’s May’s I’ll Keep You Safe (Riverrun, PB, Perfect Criminals previously convicted of murder. Ted is still interested in now that $32.99), Karen Cleveland’s Need to Know Jimmy Thomson desperate to clear his name, but not she’s pregnant. However, since this is a (Bantam, PB, $32.99), Nicolás Obregón’s Affirm Press. PB. $29.99 everyone wants to hear about it, and crime book and not a resumé, things aren’t Sins As Scarlet (Michael Joseph, PB, $32.99), From a career as an army distraction comes along when two dead quite as smooth as she expects, and while Karen Ellis’s A Map of the Dark (Mulholland, engineer in Afghanistan bartenders are found in the Barking Fog she grapples with her own personal PB, $29.99), Andrea Camilleri’s The to a TV writer in Sydney, Inn. As they work alongside Homicide’s problems, she has to use all her skills to Pyramid of Mud (Mantle, PB, $32.99), Greer Danny Clay has taken an Pip Sweeney, barrelling through her first find out which parent is telling the truth Hendricks’ & Sarah Pekkanen’s The Wife unexpected route. His homicide investigation, they could find the about the danger the other represents to Between Us (Pan Mac, PB, $29.99), Sarah past haunts his dreams, redemption they seek – or a violent end. their child. Who is lying? What if neither of Vaughan’s Anatomy of a Scandal (S&S, PB, especially when he’s Candice Fox’s gritty humour and tense them are lying – or both? Anne Buist, the $29.99), W.R. Dean’s Dark Pines (Oneworld, feeling a bit panicked writing once again make for a thrilling chair of Women’s Mental Health at the PB, $24.99), and Laura Carlin’s The Wicked about an upcoming summertime read. University of Melbourne, lays bare the Cometh (H&S, PB, $29.99). READINGS MONTHLY 13 February 2018

collection includes the earliest extant set part of the layout of the front page of The February of Pukumani poles from Melville and Age. His insightful cartoons cut through Bathurst Islands, alongside more recent to the essence of the big news stories of contributions of artworks and cultural the day with razor-like humour. Nonfiction objects. You’ll discover materials never Tandberg’s work has been recognised yet exhibited in Australia. with eleven Walkley awards including two Gold Walkleys. This final collection showcases Tandberg’s irascible take on Zadie Smith’s new collection brings together eight years of The Suitcase Baby 2017, a year of madness like no other. BOOK OF THE eclectic cultural essays written ‘during the eight years of the Tanya Bretherton MONTH Obama presidency’. Hachette. PB. $32.99 In 1920s Sydney, dead The Battle Within: POWs in In her foreword, she is specific about this period, and how it Nonfiction babies were regularly Post War Australia shaped her work: specifically, the ‘ambivalence’ it explores, turning up in public Christina Twomey about life, art, and what the intersection between the two places. Mostly NewSouth. PB. $39.99 tells us (or attempts to discover) about being human. As murdered by their This landmark book she suggests, it’s already a reminder of a time when public mothers, they were a follows the stories of intellectuals could afford to wrestle with ambiguities. devastating symptom 15,000 Australian There’s a typically revealing reflection on Get Out. (‘Peele of changing morals prisoners of war, from has found a concrete metaphor for the ultimate unspoken and a growing their release by the fear: that to be oppressed is not so much to be hated as to be metropolis. One of these babies turned Japanese at the end of obscenely loved … in place of the old disgust comes a new up on a harbour beach – and from there, World War II. Prize- form of cannibalism.’) The text of the inaugural Philip Roth an extraordinary story unfolded. Police winning historian Lecture takes us inside the art of novel-writing, and the place tracked down Sarah Boyd, the mother of Christina Twomey of ‘I’ within it – the ‘clean bullets of lived experience’ buried in the suitcase baby. The subsequent finds that official policies and attitudes even the most unautobiographical fiction. She channels Billie murder trial of Sarah and her friend Jean towards these men were equivocal and Holliday (exquisite!) and communes with Joni Mitchell. In one Olliver became a media sensation. arbitrary for almost 40 years. The image Feel Free: Essays of my favourite pieces, Smith fangirls over Hanif Kureishi’s Sociologist Tanya Bretherton masterfully of a defeated, emaciated soldier held The Buddha of Suburbia, and how it influenced her reading Zadie Smith tells their complex tale, in this gripping prisoner by people of a different race did Hamish Hamilton. PB. and writing. ‘I didn’t know you could speak to a reader like true-crime tragedy. not sit well with the mythology of Anzac. Was $35 this, as if they were your equal – as if they were a friend.’ Drawing on the records of the Prisoner of $29.99 It’s a privilege and a thrill to be invited in to these War Trust Fund for the first time, this moments of connection and reaction. It’s the kind of writing This Time: Australia’s book presents the struggles of returned that inspires you to seek out or revisit what she’s engaging Republican Past and Future prisoners in their own words. with, but also to take her myriad observations and apply them to your own reading and Benjamin T. Jones writing. Feel Free is like a series of amazing conversations about culture at your favourite Redback. PB. $22.99 pub, with that smarter-than-you, cooler-than-you friend who speaks with you (never at Benjamin T. Jones you) as if you were their equal. charts a path to an independent future, Biography Jo Case is from Readings Doncaster revealing the fascinating early history of the Australian republican Brave Midawarr Harvest: The Art of movement of the Rose McGowan Mulkun Wirrpanda and John 1850s and its larger- HQ. PB. $29.99 Art Wolseley than-life characters. Rose McGowan was Will Stubbs & John Wolseley (eds.) He shows why we need a new model for a one of the loudest, & Design National Museum of Australia. HB. $49.95 transformed, multicultural nation, and angriest voices in the Two artists, two discusses the best way to choose an Harvey Weinstein completely different Australian head of state. With republicans affair – and this approaches, but one leading every government around the revealing memoir Living on Water abiding passion — to nation, the time is ripe for change. and empowering Phaidon Editors celebrate the natural manifesto is perfectly Phaidon. HB. $59.95 bounty to be found in timed for our Available 14 February Trump in Asia: The New World the floodplains, swamps, Disorder – Australian Foreign moment in history. A sumptuous global savannas and Affairs, Issue 2 McGowan was born in one cult (Children survey of houses built woodlands of northern of God) and came of age in another, more Jonathan Pearlman with strong Australia. Mulkun Wirrpanda and John visible one: Hollywood. Stardom soon Black Inc. PB. $22.99 connections to the Wolseley, her adopted wäwa (brother), have became a personal nightmare of constant Available 19 February oceans, lakes, rivers, created a powerful body of works depicting exposure and sexualisation. Hollywood The second issue of and pools around many of the edible plants of north-east expected Rose to be silent and Australian Foreign them. These homes Arnhem Land. cooperative. Instead, she rebelled. This is Affairs (from the have been designed a pull-no-punches account of the rise of a publishers of Quarterly with water as a fundamental key to their very millennial icon, fearless activist, and Essay) examines the essence – whether built with a water view, unstoppable force for change. United States’ sudden built on water itself, or built to be reflected in Australian shift from the Asia water – and the results are stunning. Perfect Pivot to America First. Fire on All Sides hot-weather browsing material. Studies It provides insights James Rhodes into Donald Trump’s White House and Quercus. PB. $32.99 Gustav Klimt at Home explores how his unpredictable approach to See page 23 for the companion CD Patrick Bade international affairs is affecting the volatile For many who suffer Frances Lincoln. HB. $49.99 Australia: The Vatican Asian region. Essential reading for anyone from depression or Gustav Klimt at Home Museum’s Indigenous anxiety, the simple act Collection wanting to understand the issues facing explores the Canberra as Australia’s closest ally recasts of having to appear Katherine Aigner (ed.) influences of Vienna its alliances. ‘normal’, is a daunting, – and other places Aboriginal Studies Press. PB. $40 painful and heroic Klimt travelled to and From the ancient A Year of Madness task. James Rhodes called home. Klimt Etruscans and Romans, Ron Tandberg attempts to find how to was one of the most to the Renaissance make the unbearable Wilkinson. PB. $29.99 prominent members masters of bearable in the most Ron Tandberg of the Vienna Secession movement. He was Michelangelo and exposing circumstances imaginable. As he began producing both influenced by and shaped the city at Raphael, the Vatican embarks on a gruelling five-month concert cartoons for the turn of the century. Trips to Venice and Museums represent an tour, the tortuous voices in his mind are his metropolitan Ravenna, as well as annual summers on the aspect of the history of constant companions: he has no choice but newspapers in 1972, shores of Attersee, were a source of humanity through art. The Indigenous to face these wild ramblings head-on. when the great inspiration and influence. This fully Australian collection is a little known or Luckily, there is the music. Bach, Chopin, Graham Perkin illustrated book features paintings, archive explored part of that story. Among some Beethoven – they are his holy grail, his decided to use his imagery and photographs of the of the earliest-known documentations of mechanism for survival. Just. work as an integral surrounding city and landscape. Australian Indigenous cultures, the 14 READINGS MONTHLY NONFICTION February 2018

The Line Becomes a River ‘a gripping story of psychological defeat and Thankfully this isn’t just a story about Hannibal’s Oath: The Life and Francisco Cantú resilience’. Amy Goldstein follows the the developed world; Goodell also travels Wars of Rome’s Greatest Enemy Bodley Head. PB. $29.99 closing of a General Motors assembly plant to Nigeria and visits the water slums John Prevas Available 12 February in Janesville, Wisconsin, and how it tells a where tens of thousands of people have Da Capo. HB. $39.99 Descended from larger story of the hollowing of the already been forced by sea-level rise to live Available 13 February Mexican immigrants, American middle class. But it’s not the and work in shacks on stilts. At the Paris From an internationally Francisco Cantú was a familiar tale. Most observers record the climate talks Goodell interviewed Tony De acknowledged expert on US Border Patrol agent immediate shock of vanished jobs, but few Brum, the foreign minister of the Republic Hannibal comes the first from 2008 to 2012. He stay around long enough to notice what of the Marshall Islands where an entire full biography of Rome’s worked in the desert happens next when a community with a culture is under threat from rising seas, soil enigmatic nemesis in along the Mexican can-do spirit tries to pick itself up. salinisation and fresh water contamination over 20 years, exploring border, at the remote and whose population has done almost Hannibal's crossroads of drug Radical Happiness: Moments nothing to contribute to the CO2 levels extraordinary character routes and smuggling of Collective Joy in the atmosphere. Even when he writes in the context of his corridors, tracking humans through Lynne Segal about wealthy cities like Miami and Venice, legendary success and ultimate failure. In blistering days and frigid nights across a Verso. PB. $24.99 Goodell is very aware that it is the poorest this new biography, John Prevas reveals the vast terrain, detaining the exhausted and With new ways to residents that will suffer the most. truth behind the myths of Hannibal’s life, the parched, and hauling in the dead. measure contentment, This book is a glimpse into the very wars, and character: from his childhood in Haunted by nightmares, he abandoned we’re told that we have a near future and, worryingly, it is not Carthage to his training in military camps in the Patrol for civilian life, but when an right to individual joy. necessarily a call to arms about drastically Spain, crossing of the Alps, spectacular immigrant friend is caught on the wrong But at what cost? In an cutting fossil-fuel emissions because, victories in Italy, humiliating defeat in the side of the border, Cantú faces a final age of increasing even in the unlikely event this were to North African desert, banishment from confrontation with a world he believed he individualism, we have happen, when it comes to sea level rise, Carthage, and suicide. had escaped. never been more alone unfortunately most of the damage has and miserable. But what been done and the wheels have been set in Under the Knife motion. Rather, this book is a fascinating When They Call You a Terrorist if the true nature of happiness can only be Arnold van de Laar and disturbing investigation into what Patrisse Khan-Cullors & Asha found in others? In Radical Happiness, John Murray. PB. $32.99 engineering solutions are currently being Bandele leading feminist thinker Lynne Segal shows The history of surgery in employed, the corrupt politics behind Canongate. PB. $29.99 that only in the revolutionary potential of 28 famous operations – them, and, tragically, their likely futility. Available 7 February coming together it is that we can come to from Louis XIV to JFK, From one of the understand the powers of flourishing. Kara Nicholson is from Readings Carlton and from Einstein to co-founders of the Houdini. Surgeon Black Lives Matter The Story of Shit Arnold Van de Laar uses movement comes a Midas Dekkers & Nancy Forest- his own experience and powerful poetic Flier (trans.) History expertise to tell the witty memoir and reflection Text. PB. $32.99 history of the past, on humanity. Leaders A wonderfully wry, present and future of surgery. What of the Black Lives erudite and altogether happens during an operation? How does the Matter movement have charming investigation The Amorous Heart: An human body respond to being attacked by a been called terrorists, a into the most rarely Unconventional History of Love knife, a bacterium, a cancer cell or a bullet? threat to America. But they are loving discussed of bodily Marilyn Yalom And, as medical advances continuously women whose life experiences have led functions: defecation. Basic Books. HB. $39.99 push the boundaries of what medicine can them to seek justice for those victimised by Dutch biologist Midas Available 13 February cure, what are the limits of surgery? the powerful. In this meaningful account of Dekkers presents a An eminent scholar survival, strength and resilience, Patrisse personal, cultural, unearths the captivating We Are Here: Talking With Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele seek to scientific, historical and environmental history of the two-lobed Australia’s Oldest Holocaust change the culture that declares innocent account of shit, from the digestive process heart symbol, shedding Survivors black life expendable. and the fascinating workings of the gut, to light on how we have Fiona Harari expressed love since the act of defecation and toilet etiquette. Scribe. PB. $29.99 antiquity. Marilyn With irreverent humour and a compelling When Adolf Hitler Yalom tracks the heart narrative style, Dekkers brings a became Chancellor of metaphor and Cultural refreshing, entertaining and illuminating Germany in 1933, he iconography across two thousand years, perspective to a once-taboo subject. quickly began to realise through Christian theology, pagan love Studies his dream of a racially poetry, medieval painting, Shakespearean superior nation free of drama, Enlightenment science, and into the ‘inferior’ groups. His present. She argues that the symbol reveals a Environmental goal included the tension between love as romantic and sexual The Monk of Mokha eradication of European on the one hand, and as religious and Dave Eggers Studies Jewry. By 1945, almost two in three spiritual on the other. Hamish Hamilton. PB. $32.99 European Jews were dead. Now, the last of those adult survivors have reached an age A vitally important The Book Thieves: The Nazi once considered unattainable. They journalistic account of The Water Will Come: Rising Looting of Europe's Libraries outlasted Nazism, and have outlived most the ongoing Yemeni civil Seas, Sinking Cities, and the and the Race to Return a of their contemporaries. Eighteen of these war. Documenting his Remaking of the Civilized Literary Inheritance Australians, originally from all over first-hand research over World Anders Rydell Europe, tell what it is like to have lived the past couple of years, Jeff Goodell Penguin. PB. $27.99 through – and beyond – those years. Dave Eggers presents an Black Inc. PB. $34.99 For readers of The unflinching portrait of After witnessing Monuments Men, this is the conflict in Yemen. the devastation the story of the Nazis’ Imbuing his subject with drama, urgency from Hurricane Sandy systematic pillaging of Music and compulsive readability, Eggers throws a which wreaked havoc on Europe’s libraries, and much-needed spotlight on an ongoing crisis. the East Coast of the the small team of heroic United States, Cuba and librarians now working Deadly Woman Blues: Black Janesville: An American Story parts of the Caribbean to return the stolen Women & Australian Music in 2012, Rolling Stone books to their rightful Amy Goldstein Clinton Walker journalist Jeff Goodell owners. When the Nazi soldiers ransacked S&S. PB. $24.99 NewSouth. HB. $49.99 headed to Miami to investigate how rising Europe’s libraries and bookshops, large This intricately reported, Stunning, original sea levels are endangering this particularly and small, the books they stole were not intimate account of one and brimming with low-lying city. The article he wrote burned, but compiled in a Nazi library that Mid-Western industrial life, this part art book, appeared under the headline ‘Goodbye, they could use to wage an intellectual war town’s decline and part comic book, part Miami’ and the dire situation he stumbled on literature and history. Armed with survival was on Obama’s biography (full into became the basis for this book about extensive new research that includes Best Books 2017 ‘playlist’ deadly) is the first of climate change, sea-level rise, sinking records saved by the Monuments Men – and other fans include its kind: a unique cities and the inability of human beings to themselves, Anders Rydell joins the effort Bob ‘Watergate’ graphic history of the adapt with enough speed. to return the stolen books. Woodward, who calls it black women who NONFICTION READINGS MONTHLY 15 February 2018 made Australian music. Traditional A Life Less Stressed: Five Indigenous music, spirituals, vaudeville, Pillars of Health and Wellness post-war jazz, country, gospel, soul, R&B Dr. Ron Ehrlich and hip-hop. In this album of portraits, the Scribe. PB. $35 Discover long-awaited follow-on from Clinton Life has never been Walker’s classic Buried Country, more than more stressful. It’s no your next favourite one hundred amazing artists are reborn. coincidence that chronic degenerative Symphony of Seduction: The disorders such as The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock Great Love Stories of Classical cancer, heart disease, Imogen Hermes Gowar Composers autoimmune illnesses, In 1785, a merchant hears Christopher Lawrence and mental-health urgent knocking on his front Nero. PB. $29.99 conditions are on the door. One of his captains has sold his ship for what appears What was love like for rise. Health advocate Ron Ehrlich to be a mermaid. the people who could untangles how problems in one part of the really feel that song body are intimately connected to the Feel Free: Essays Zadie Smith coming on? The whole, and how we as individuals are inextricably linked to our own Dazzlingly insightful, much-loved Christopher explosively funny. Zadie Lawrence tells of the environment. A guide to strengthening Smith is back with a second romantic the five pillars – sleep, breathing, collection of essays. misadventures, nutrition, movement, and thought – that “Every moment happens twice: tragedies and support our health. occasional triumphs of some of classical inside and outside, and they are music’s great composers, and traces the The Motivation Hoax: A Smart two different histories.” music that emerged as a result. He takes Person’s Guide to Inspirational ZADIE SMITH WHITE TEETH what we know about these love-crazed Nonsense geniuses and adds a garnish of imagined James Adonis pillow talk to recreate stories that are Nero. PB. $24.99 ultimately stranger than fiction – and Everywhere you look The Only Story Julian Barnes come with a great soundtrack. See page 23 there’s a motivational for the companion CD. From the Man Booker quote to greet you. Prize-winning author of Dreams can come true! The Sense of an Ending. Happiness is a journey! You can do anything! But The Whole Bright Year Debra Oswald Personal how many of these are From the creator of accurate? Which of them ‘Offspring’ and author Development are based on evidence of Useful. you can actually trust? The answer is depressing: not many at all. The Motivation Hoax exposes and unravels the nonsense Brain Rules for Ageing Well: that permeates the inspiration industry, 10 Principles for Staying Vital, and in its place offers a suite of tools and Read more at penguin.com.au Happy, and Sharp insights that are reliable, credible and, most John Medina importantly, tested. Scribe. PB. Was $32.99 $29.99 Thinking is Overrated: Empty THE HARPER EFFECT In his previous Brain - Happy Brain Taryn Bashford bestseller, Brain Rules, Niels Birbaumer & Jörg Zittlau Sixteen-year-old Harper has been ditched by her tennis developmental Scribe. PB. $27.99 coach, her sister isn’t speaking to her and she’s pining molecular biologist Dr. Few things scare us for the boy next door. As her heart and dreams pull John Medina showed more than inner her in different directions, she has to figure out exactly what she wants. And just how hard she’s willing to fight us how our brains emptiness. The to get it. really work – and why presumed emptiness of we ought to redesign coma or dementia scares our workplaces and us so much that we even THE ECONOMISTS’ DIET schools to match. In Brain Rules for Ageing sign living wills to avoid Christopher Payne Well, he shares how you can make the most these states. Yet as zen & Rob Barnett of the years you have left. It takes an masters have long Two professional men in their overview of the ageing brain, hones in on known, inner emptiness can also be the ‘feeling brain’, then the ‘thinking forties got obese without productive and useful. Leading brain meaning to. This is their no- brain’ and how they change with time, and researcher Niels Birbaumer explains how nonsense advice on how they finishes with an alternately joyful and to overcome the evolutionary attentiveness shed the weight and kept it serious section on your brain’s future. of your brain and take a break from off. By applying economic concepts, The Economists’ thinking – a skill that’s more important Letting Go: How to Plan For a Diet provides simple weight than ever in an increasingly frantic world. loss solutions from a male Good Death perspective. Dr. Charlie Corke Scribe. PB. $29.99 As Australia’s Philosophy population ages, many THE GREAT ALONE individuals are faced DYSCHRONIA Kristin Hannah with making complex Jennifer Mills From the bestselling medical decisions, for More Than Happiness: One morning, the residents of a author of The Nightingale, comes a glimpse into a themselves and for Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom small coastal town somewhere in Australia wake to discover the vanishing way of life in others, in times of great for a Sceptical Age sea has disappeared. Blazing America. Set in Alaska in stress. Letting Go is an Antonia Macaro with questions of consciousness, 1974, The Great Alone is important and timely Icon. HB. $24.99 trust, and destiny, this is a wildly at once an epic story of human survival and love, guide through the kinds of decisions that An inspiring, critical imaginative and extraordinary novel from award-winning author and an intimate portrait individuals, families, and medical and practical look at Jennifer Mills. of a family tested personnel face in a medical crisis. It shows what we can learn beyond endurance. us how to start thinking about our end-of- from ancient wisdom. life stage before we get there; how to make The goal is more than an advanced-care plan that will help happiness: it’s living people make decisions on our behalf; and ethically and placing how we can maintain our dignity and value on the right www.panmacmillan.com.au autonomy for as long as possible. things in life. 16 READINGS MONTHLY February 2018

Buddhism and Stoicism have a lot to anyone who wonders how the situation offer modern readers seeking the good on the Korean peninsula has Science Food & life, but they’re also radical systems that deteriorated to the point it is today. ask much of their followers. Antonia Macaro delves into both philosophies, Fire and Fury: Inside the Gardening focusing on the elements that fit with Trump White House When: The Scientific Secrets with Chris Gordon our sceptical age, and those with the Michael Wolff of Perfect Timing potential to make the biggest impact on Little, Brown. PB. Was $32.99 Daniel H. Pink This year we are all embracing food how we live. $29.99 Text. PB. $32.99 sustainability and humane food Already in reprints Daniel H. Pink, the experiences; we are going be eating flowers around the world, bestselling author of and we will be eating the entire vegetable, Politics the book that Drive, unlocks the root to tip. We are eating plants of any everyone’s been scientific secrets to colour, we are eating meat from animals talking about, every good timing to help that run free, and we are all, apparently, day, is here! you flourish at work, going to be looking very well and feeling as With extraordinary at school, and at if we could change the world with a single The Dawn of Eurasia: home. Everyone Following the New Silk Road access to the Trump tweet. Cookbooks that reflect the 2018 White House, knows that timing is trends include beauties like Celia Brooks’ Bruno Maçães bestselling author everything. But we SuperVeg which celebrates the power of Allen Lane. HB. $49.99 Michael Wolff tells the inside story don’t know much about timing itself. Pink the 25 healthiest vegetables on the planet. In this original and of the first nine months of the most shows that timing is not an art, but a (Fried potato, sadly, did not make the list, timely book, Bruno controversial presidency of our time. science. Drawing on a rich trove of but watercress is in!) Completely in vogue Maçães argues that Brilliantly reported, shocking, and research from psychology, biology, and is Hayley McKee’s Sticky Fingers, Green the best word for the astoundingly fresh, Michael Wolff’s Fire economics, Pink reveals how best to live, Thumb which invites your imagination emerging global and Fury shows us how and why Donald work, and succeed. to travel out of the kitchen and into the order is ‘Eurasian’, Trump has become the king of discord garden. Here are recipes that use edible and shows why we and disunion. flowers with notes on how to utilise their need to begin unique flavours, prep them for baking and thinking on a Sport even grow them yourself. (Truly, it’s not super-continental that hard.) scale. Weaving together history, Psychology diplomacy and vivid reports from his six-month overland journey across Roar We are eating plants of Eurasia from Baku to Samarkand, Samantha Lane any colour, we are eating Vladivostock to Beijing, Maçães provides Lost Connections: Uncovering Michael Joseph. PB. Was $34.99 meat from animals that a fascinating portrait of this shifting the Real Causes of Depression $29.99 run free, and we are all, geopolitical landscape. and the Unexpected Solutions The inaugural season apparently, going to be Johann Hari of the AFL Women’s looking very well and Directorate S: The C.I.A. and Bloomsbury. PB. $27.99 league was a game- feeling as if we could America's Secret Wars in changer for Australian Award-winning change the world with a Afghanistan and Pakistan, journalist Johann sport – and for 2001-2016 Hari (Chasing the Australia, culturally. single tweet. Steve Coll Scream) suffered When women joined Allen Lane. PB. $35 from depression the nation’s biggest There are cookbooks coming from Following on from since he was a child and most popular our favourite bars and restaurants. These the Pulitzer Prize- and started taking sporting code as include CIBI (‘a little one’) which is a book winning Ghost Wars, antidepressants players, it gave them licence to become on home-style Japanese cooking, inspired this takes up the when he was a legitimate football heroes. It was personal, by the eponymous Melbourne café and story of America’s teenager. As an political, proud and powerful. With unique design space created by Meg and Zenta grim involvement in adult, he learned that almost everything insights from award-winning journalist Tanaka. Just around the corner from there the affairs of we have been told about depression and Samantha Lane, including previously lies one of my favourite Melbourne bars, Afghanistan, from anxiety is wrong. Hari´s journey took untold details behind AFLW’s birth, Roar Naked for Satan. This place has become 2001 to 2016. him from a life-threatening experience tells the remarkable tales of a group of a landmark destination that epitomises ‘Directorate S’ was a in Vietnam, to an Amish community in trailblazers. the distinctive Melbourne restaurant/bar highly secretive arm of the Pakistan Indiana, to an uprising in Berlin – all scene. In this gorgeous book of the same state with its own views on the Taliban, illustrating these insights in vivid and name are recipes that call out to be shared and Afghanistan’s place in a wider dramatic detail. Just as Chasing the by all of your nearest and dearest. competition for influence between Scream transformed the global debate Travel If you are purely looking for an Pakistan, India and China – and which about addiction, The Lost Connections overview of our country’s wonderful assumed, post-9/11, that the US and its will radically change the debate about Writing dining places, wait for the gorgeous allies would soon be leaving. Steve Coll's depression and anxiety. edition of Flavours of Australia which remarkable new book tells a powerful, includes dishes from the best restaurants, bitter story of just how badly foreign The Other Side of Happiness cafes, producers and hotels across all our policy decisions can go wrong and of Brock Bastian The Colossus of New York states and territories. And let us not forget many lives lost. Allen Lane. PB. $35 Colson Whitehead the massive influence that the Country Fleet. PB. $19.99 Women’s Association has had on our In the modern world, culinary tastes: Tried, Tested and True: Korea: Where the American we have become In this dazzlingly Treasured Recipes and Untold Stories from Century Began addicted to original book, the Australian Community Cookbooks is based Michael Pembroke positivity. We try to Pulitzer Prize- on extensive research by Liz Harfull. She Hardie Grant. PB. $32.99 eradicate pain winning author of The brings to light previously untold stories The failed invasion through medication Underground Railroad about community cookbooks and the of North Korea by and by insulating recreates the people who created them. US-led forces in late ourselves from risk exuberance, the 1950 (and the and offence. Yet chaos, the promise, We are heading back in time with unrelenting three- social psychologist and the heartbreak of one-pot meals that hark back to our year long bombing Brock Bastian shows that hardship and New York. Colson grandparents’ era. One Knife, One Pot, campaign of North sadness are neither antithetical to Whitehead conveys with almost uncanny One Dish: Simple French Cooking at Home Korean cities, towns pleasure nor incidental: they are immediacy the feelings and thoughts of by eminent chef and writer Stéphane and villages) help necessary for happiness. Here, he draws long-time residents and of newcomers who Reynaud allows us to consider meals that explain why the on psychology, neuroscience and dream of making it their home; of those have been in families for generations and Pyongyang regime has been determined internationally acclaimed research from who have conquered its challenges; and of are honest, sustainable, and delicious. to develop a credible nuclear deterrent. his own laboratory to demonstrate how those who struggle against its cruelties. And, as we know, in the end cooking is all The first Korean War became the first of difficult experiences are ultimately Whitehead weaves individual voices into a about who is sitting around the table so America’s failed modern wars; and its proven to make us stronger, happier and jazzy musical composition that perfectly I’m thrilled that Hetty McKinnon has a first modern war with China. This lucid more connected to those around us. reflects the way we experience this new collection coming out later in the year book should be compulsory reading for gloriously storied city. titled, simply, Family. READINGS MONTHLY 17 February 2018

Ellery Finch, Alice must venture first to allowed out of detention to attend Young the Hazel Wood, then into the world of school. Lost and depressed, Jono feels as her grandmother's lore to find Ella and if he’s been left behind with his bring her back. Vietnamese single father, Kenny. Kenny Adult If you thought the old Brothers Grimm is struggling to work out the rules in his fairy tales were strange and cruel then new job as a guard at the Wickham Point brace yourself as you follow Alice into the Detention Centre. As Jono and Anahita Hinterland. Melissa Albert has created grow closer, Kenny starts snooping In Neal Shusterman’s latest dark, dystopian epic, Scythe, a vivid storybook world in The Hazel behind the scenes. BOOK OF THE the age of mortality is over. All inhabitants of earth are Wood full of twists and turns and gritty now immune from disease, old age and even suicide MONTH fantasy that bleeds into our reality. A in their stable, AI-governed utopia which ensures that The Centre of My Everything Young Adult dark but mesmerising journey! Perfect for famine and war will never occur again. The world’s Allayne L. Webster twisted fairy-tale fans aged 13 and up who population now lives in total harmony; all knowledge Random. PB. $19.99 enjoyed Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles has been acquired and there is nothing left to learn. Justin’s back, and and Stephanie Garber’s Caraval. However, in order to combat the ever-growing population wants to put the within this utopia, appointed Scythes must carry out Pilgrim Hodgson is from Readings Kids past behind him. random ‘gleanings’ – true deaths from which one cannot Corey’s a footy be revived. WaR: Wizards and Robots hero and high- will.i.am & Brian David Johnson school dropout Puffin. PB. $19.99 who can’t even The world that Shusterman has created find work picking is not like anything I’ve read in a YA In 1489 in what is now fruit. Tara wants to novel before; it’s dark, philosophical Slovenia, a wizard be loved. But if her and sometimes incredibly funny. witnesses an entire mother doesn’t army and the castle care, why would anyone else? Margo Scythe The novel follows Rowan Damisch and Citra it’s defending being wants out, and she has a plan to get there. Plans change. Life happens. Some Neal Shusterman Terranova, two normal 16-year-olds who by chance destroyed by secrets won’t stay buried. Peace isn’t as Walker. PB. $16.99 witness a gleaning performed by the Honourable ‘mechanical men’. Scythe Faraday. Impressed by both Rowan and Citra’s In 2052, in simple as laying bones to rest. compassion and strength during their chance encounter, Gainesville, Florida Scythe Faraday offers them both an apprenticeship, after which one of them will teenager Ada and Indigo Blue become a Scythe. After they both begrudgingly accept the offer, they are thrown her small robot companion, Kipp, Jessica Watson into the mysterious world of Scythedom where they must learn the deadly art of celebrate their mum making it as a finalist Lothian. PB. $15.99 Killcraft and witness numerous gleanings. to the Rodin Challenge, a competition Alex feels like a fish Over the course of their apprenticeship, both Rowan and Citra begin to learn that requiring entrants to create a robot that out of water in her not all Scythes are alike and that Scythedom may not be as noble as they have been can surpass human intelligence. At the new hometown, the lead to believe. So, when a new order of Swcythes emerges that takes pleasure in same time in the Pazin Caves in Croatia, sleepy little some of the most brutal gleanings imaginable, they are both left to question where Geller, a teenage wizard, wakes up from lakeside village of their place will lie within Scythedom. If, that is, they survive their apprenticeship. nearly 600 years of sleep and eavesdrops Boreen Point where Scythe is an incredibly original book. The world that Shusterman has created on his father’s plan to stop the rise of the she has been is not like anything I’ve read in a YA novel before; it’s dark, philosophical and mechanical men. In 3019, in Rio de reluctantly sent to sometimes incredibly funny. Given the violent content – the body count is Janeiro, Kaku, a research robot stood live with her astronomic – it’s perhaps best for sci-fi fanatics aged 14 and up. inside the damaged Christ the Redeemer slightly eccentric statue scanning thousands of years of aunt for her final Alistair Mathieson Lynn is from Readings Malvern human history, trying to find a way to year of high school. None of Alex’s defeat the Spawn, the alien invaders who classmates could care less about the new are destroying Earth. girl, so as a distraction from what is There is a lot going on all around the quickly shaping up to be a very lonely The Cruel Prince: The Folk of maybe at the end of the garden. But the world and all through time in Wizards year, Alex spends her savings on a the Air, Book 1 faeries here are beautiful and twisted and Robots but the authors are smart so, rundown little yacht and throws herself and you never know what is about to Holly Black as a reader, you always know where and into restoring it. But it’s Sam, the HotKey. PB. $19.99 happen. Both romantic and dark, this when you are. This is a book about time sailmaker’s apprentice, that capture is an addictive new series for lovers of After travel (among many, many other things) Alex’s attention and forces her to urban fairy tales aged 14 and up. witnessing that will not leave you with a paradox- question what is real and what matters the murder of their Julia Gorman is from Readings Kids induced headache. The inclusion of most. A captivating novel about fate, parents, Jude and wizards and magic shouldn’t lead you friendship and finding yourself from her sisters have The Hazel Wood to believe this is in any way a fantasy Young Australian of the Year 2011, been raised as the Melissa Albert book, it’s straight up science fiction (for Jessica Watson. only mortals in the Puffin. PB. $17.99 those in doubt, even Geller, the wizard world of Faerie by Stay away from 1489, admits magic is just science Nobody Real the very man who from the you don’t understand yet). That being Steven Camden committed the Hazel Wood was the case, I was slightly disappointed HarperCollins. PB. $16.99 murders. the warning Alice’s about the lack of hard science in this Marcie is at a Constantly made to feel weaker than the mother Ella left sci-fi book. In the preface the authors crossroads: Faerie Folk she is surrounded by, Jude before she profess everything in this book is based finished with craves the kind of power that will allow vanished. on real science and technology; it would school, but unsure her to gain advantage over her Bad luck isn’t have been nice if they could somehow what to do next. tormentors. Seduced by the charismatic new to Alice and tie it to something recognisable from our Long abandoned by Crown Prince Dain, Jude is drawn deep Ella though, and present day. This book is good for kids her mother, she’s into the dark and dangerous world of the they’ve spent years aged 11 and up, especially those with a drifting away from Faerie High Court, where gossip and on the move doing their best to stay one budding interest in STEM. her dad. Marcie is deceit lie everywhere. Soon, she finds step ahead of it. But when word reaches Dani Solomon is from Readings Kids real, with real that she is not the only one conspiring to Ella that her mother – the reclusive problems. Thor is at gain more power, but as the stakes author of a cult book of fairy tales whom a crossroads too. Soon, he’s going to face become higher and higher, it becomes Between Us her granddaughter Alice has never met ‘the fade’. Years ago, before she sent him harder for her to quit the game. Clare Atkins – has died alone on her estate, the Hazel back to his own world, he was Marcie’s The first book in a new series from Black Inc. PB. $19.99 Wood, Ella assumes their losing streak is imaginary friend. Thor is not real; that’s YA author Holly Black, the world of the Is it possible for two behind them. a real problem. To fix their lives, Marcie Faerie is so vivid you can almost touch very different Then strange characters who claim to and Thor will have to destroy everything, it. Magic reigns and with it both delight teenagers to fall in come from the Hinterland, the twisted and build a new world together. and terrible darkness follow. If you are a love despite barbed- wonderland where her grandmother's fan of Holly Black’s previous work then wire fences and a stories are set, begin to pop up in their this new one will be a definite hit. If you political wilderness lives before they snatch Alice’s mother haven’t read her work before, imagine between them? from her own home. With no other See the next page for what it is like to believe that faeries Anahita is an option than to seek the help of her might exist, just around the corner, Iranian asylum Kids Books classmate and Hinterland super-fan seeker who is only KIDS February Kids Books

Meet the Outhwaites, a rambunctious family of five BOOK OF THE children and their bohemian parents. MONTH The Outhwaites live a simple life in rural Victoria – Middle Fiction Bunjil Country – and their nearest neighbour, just down the kangaroo track, is Aunty May Wilson, an elder of the Wurundjeri tribe. But life takes an unexpected turn for the Outhwaites when a great aunt passes away and the family become the beneficiaries of a vast inheritance that includes a fully furnished, four-storey mansion in London. With cautious, yet hopeful trepidation the family pack up their belongings and make the bold move to live in England.

This mystery/ghost story is enthralling The Endsister and just a little bit scary to impress Penni Russon fearless readers aged 10 and up. A&U. PB. $16.99

Life in their new London home is strange. A sense of restless unease sets the mood of the house and puts the family on edge. Sibbi, the youngest in the family, Picture talks openly about the ghosts she sees there and of the whispers she hears about the endsister. But not even the Books ghosts remember what binds them to the house or the significance of what or who the endsister relates to. The only tangible trace of memory in the home is a foreboding energy about the attic that cautions all to stay away. This The Feather mystery/ghost story is enthralling and just a little bit scary to impress fearless readers aged 10 and up. Margaret Wild & Freya Blackwood Little Hare. HB. $24.99 Natalie Platten is from Readings Doncaster This is a story about hope, kindness and redemption, set in a grey, dystopian world. When a great feather drifts from the leaden sky, two children recognise its extraordinariness and take it to their village for its protection. The villagers encase Junior it and the feather loses its radiance. The children take it Fiction home and care for it through the night. In the morning it is again radiant, and when they Middle set it free it leaves behind the first signs of blue sky and colour. Children in mid-primary school and older will get Baby Monkey, Private Eye Fiction the most out of this beautiful book. Brian Selznick & David Serlin Scholastic. HB. $24.99 Me Too Lost jewels? Missing pizza? Stolen Erika Geraerts, Charl Laubscher & Gatsby (illus.) spaceship? Baby Monkey can help The List Walker. HB. $24.99 … if he can put on his pants! Patricia Forde Two little friends discuss the Caldecott medalist Brian Affirm Press. PB. $16.99 someones they want to find Selznick and author David Serlin This dystopian middle- when they grow up. Perhaps bring Baby Monkey’s adventures to fiction title is set in a world in they’ve met them already. life in an exciting new format that the aftermath of great tragedy Me Too is a picture book blends elements of picture book, caused by global warming and about best friends, written beginning reader and graphic human greed. Food and water are by best friends, who wanted novel. It is ideal for sharing aloud heavily rationed, people are not to write a story about and for emerging readers. With allowed to speak freely and they discovering what you want over 120 black and white drawings accented with red, are controlled in their walled by realising what you have. Brian Selznick’s extraordinarily detailed pages hold community, known as ‘Ark’, by a It’s about friendship, love, delights for children and adults alike! dictator named John Noa. There is and loving your friends. an ever-restricting list of words Olivia’s Secret Scribbles #1: that people are allowed to use, as Noa believes that My Worst Book Ever! My New Best Friend language is the cause of humanity’s downfall. Letta is Allan Ahlberg & Bruce Ingman (illus.) Meredith Costain & Danielle McDonald apprentice to the sole wordsmith, who is keeper of the T&H. HB. $21.99 Scholastic. PB. Was $9.99 words people are allowed to use, so she has access to the ancient words that have fallen out of use. She loves Allan has a good idea for a $5 language and is resentful of its forced subjugation. book about a crocodile, but I have so many super-amazing every time he sits down to and important things to write When a boy stumbles into her shopfront after being write, he’s interrupted. The about! I’ll tell you all about shot, Letta chooses to protect him from the malevolent manuscript gets soaked in them: I’ve got a brand-new police force, known as gavvers. But this sets her down tea and nibbled by snails. bedroom – yay! My best friend a dangerous path where she must choose to join the When Bruce gets started on Lucy moved away last week and fight for the future of words and go up against their the pictures, he gets I really miss her. I’m planning increasingly violent and deranged leader, or stay silent overexcited and draws a lots of cool inventions (I’m and complicit. hippo, not a crocodile. The pretty sure some will work too!) This is a compelling and sophisticated page-turner publishers get overexcited, Someone keeps sneaking into with a gutsy heroine that has much to say about too – they want a dinosaur and experiment with all kinds my room but I don’t know who! censorship and the importance of language in making of different fonts. Allan and Bruce think they’ve There’s a new girl at school called Matilda. She looks fun … us human. Readers aged 11 and up who enjoy fantasy straightened things out, but then when the book goes off but why does she act so mysteriously all the time? I’m and thrillers will enjoy it immensely. to the printer, you guessed it, there’s more trouble. going to find out exactly what’s going on! Angela Crocombe is from Readings Kids KIDS READINGS MONTHLY 19 February 2018

My Brigadista Year Refugee This is Australia Katherine Paterson Alan Gratz Kevin Pettman Candlewick. HB. $24.99 Scholastic. HB. $24.99 Wayland. HB. $24.99 After visiting Cuba, Josef is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Did you know: Australia has Katherine Paterson, the Nazi Germany. With the threat of more beaches than any other legendary author of Bridge to concentration camps looming, he country in the world? Over 22 Terabithia, was inspired to write and his family board a ship bound million jars of Vegemite are sold this fascinating story. When Castro for the other side of the world. Isabel every year? Just one of came to power in 1961 he resolved is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots Australia’s deserts is nearly to stamp out illiteracy in Cuba. He and unrest plaguing her country, she three times the size of England? recruited a volunteer army of and her family set out on a raft, And it is home to around 60 students who moved into farms all hoping to find safety in America. million kangaroos! Find out around the country, working Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. everything you ever wanted to alongside the families and at night With his homeland torn apart by violence and know about Australia, from its amazing landscapes and teaching them to read and write. destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward fascinating wildlife to the country’s most famous sports This warm, engaging novel is of one such student, Europe. All three children go on harrowing journeys in people and important dates in history. This glorious thirteen-year-old Lora who, against the wishes of her search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers, guidebook is brought to life in bold, bright graphics, father, leaves her life and family in the city to teach her from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But there is maps and fun visuals. fellow countrymen. When she first arrives none of her always the hope of tomorrow. host family can even write their own names. By the end of Lora’s year, not only her hosts but neighbouring families The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole have learned to read and write, and she has learnt many of Michelle Cuevas Classics their traditional jobs. S&S. PB. $16.99 Filled with wonderful characters and incredible Eleven-year-old, space-mad Stella warmth, this is a fascinating story of a society very Rodriguez is followed home from different from our own. Even now Cuba has one of NASA by a black hole who wants live The Chinese Emperor’s New Clothes the highest literacy rates in the world. The author has in her house as a pet. The black hole Ying Chang Compestine & David Roberts (illus.) provided a timeline of Cuban history and more details in swallows everything he touches, Abrams. HB. $24.99 an afterword. This heart-warming novel will suit readers which is challenging to say the least Ming Da is only nine years old aged 9 to 12 interested in learning about different cultures. – but also turns out to be quite when he becomes the emperor Angela Crocombe is from Readings Kids convenient. Soon the ugly jumpers of China, and his three advisors her aunt made all disappear, then take advantage by stealing his The Wild Robot the smelly class hamster, and all the rice, gold, and precious stones. But Ming Da has a plan. With Peter Brown painful reminders of her dead father. It’s not until Stella, the help of his tailors, he comes Bonnier. PB. $14.99 her younger brother, Cosmo, the family puppy and even the bathroom tub all get swallowed up by the black hole up with a clever idea to outsmart After a fierce storm sinks a that Stella realises she has been letting her own grief his devious advisors. He asks his cargo ship and dislodges its consume her. tailors to make magical new contents, boxes of robots are clothes for him. Anyone who is honest, the young destroyed on the rock of a wild and emperor explains, will see the clothes’ true splendour, remote island and only one but anyone who is dishonest will see only burlap sacks. remains intact. Cheeky otters explore this Nonfiction robotic gravesite and with playful antics activate Roz, who has a Classic sophisticated computer brain Bygone Badass Broads: 52 Forgotten with the capacity to evolve. The Women Who Changed the World of the Month future meets a formidable natural world where instinct is paramount to survival. It’s the one thing Roz lacks – or Mackenzi Lee & Petra Eriksson (illus.) T&H. HB. $29.99 does she? She is not welcomed by the animals, who fear this big, crazy-looking thing and yet, over time they learn Based on Mackenzi Lee’s popular weekly Twitter series of the same My Sweet Orange Tree cooperation and respect, and eventually this refugee robot José Mauro De Vasconcelos becomes a member of their community. name, Bygone Badass Broads features 52 remarkable and forgotten trail- & Alison Entrekin (trans.) Who would have thought a story about a robot could be blazing women from all over the Pushkin. HB. $18.99 so imaginative, quirky and touching? This is Peter Brown’s world. Starting in the 5th Century BC Children’s literature is so much first novel, after a very successful career as an award- and continuing to the present, the richer and more multi-cultural winning picture-book illustrator, and it is a masterful and book takes a closer look at the bold since Pushkin Press began charming transition with the added bonus of illustrations and inspiring women who dared to publishing many gems that the that enhance a wonderful book for readers aged between 8 step outside of traditional gender roles for their times. English-speaking world had to 12 years. Coupled with illustrations and Lee’s Drunk History-esque previously missed out on. Alexa Dretzke is from Readings Hawthorn storytelling style, this book is an outright celebration of And, now, another comes the badass women who paved the way for the rest of us. our way and the wonderful Zeze Nicola Berry and the Petrifying Problem captures our hearts. 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Georgio Gorgioskio is dispatched to young readers’ edition of the bestselling Shoe Dog is a up will be astonished at what a tough life he has. find the Earthling Ambassador, the only person in the story of determination certain to inspire. Alexa Dretzke is from Readings Hawthorn galaxy who can change Princess Petronella’s mind. BARGAINS

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In incredible journey to the three books in the intimate and poignant. this book, Oliver Sacks discover how a few Fruit & Veg Box set Short biographies are describes his time at fundamental laws gave birth to the most feature inspiring ideas illustrated with important Oxford University, his time complex, diverse and unique force in the for turning pots and window boxes into works, self-portraits and photographs. spent in San Francisco and Los Angeles in Universe – life itself. mini-gardens, step-by-step advice on sowing, READINGS MONTHLY 21 February 2018

through solidarity ... [A] French-Swiss Jordskott Season 2 February DVDs stop-motion masterpiece.’ – The Guardian $29.95 | Available 7 February Blending Scandi-noir Suburbicon crime and mythology the $29.95 | Available 7 February critically acclaimed I go to the cinema quite regularly, but for some reason I Suburbicon is a peaceful, Jordskott returns for a DVD OF THE overlooked Ali’s Wedding. I probably wouldn’t have picked it idyllic suburban community second season. Police up on DVD either, except that I agreed to do our DVD buyer a MONTH with affordable homes and investigator Eva Thörnblad favour and write this review! Film manicured lawns, but the moves to Stockholm where Ali’s Wedding is based on the true experiences of co-writer tranquil surface masks a she is soon drawn into the mysterious case and lead actor Osamah Sami, an Iraqi refugee. It’s been disturbing reality. Matt of a severely tortured man, barely alive. described as the best Australian comedy since The Castle and Damon plays Gardner Lodge who must it certainly is a fun, feel-good movie about a young Muslim navigate the town’s dark underbelly of Joanna Lumley’s India man who wants desperately to do the right thing by his family betrayal, deceit, and violence. Joanna Lumley’s Japan and make his father (Don Hany) proud. $24.95 each Ali is about to sit his entrance exams to study medicine at The Limehouse Golem The much- Melbourne University. In spite of his best efforts, he doesn’t $29.95 loved Joanna even come close to getting the score he needs. To save face Bill Nighy stars as Scotland Lumley with his family and the Muslim community, though, he lies Yard detective John returns to about his score and turns up to classes anyway. Added to all of Kildare in this murder- her roots of this is Ali’s infatuation with an Australian-born Lebanese girl, mystery in which ‘lurid India and Dianne (Helena Sawires). Although Dianne’s father is against beheadings aside, this travels the his daughter attending university, Ali manages to convince him Ali’s Wedding unlikely feminist Jack the far reaches of Japan to explore and $29.95 it’s a good idea. A secret romance blossoms, as the two attend Ripper-esque thriller celebrate the people, beauty, culture, classes together, even though Ali’s family have already arranged cleverly unpicks late-Victorian London’s history and wildlife which make these a marriage for him. Inevitably, Ali’s lies are eventually uncovered. social strictures’ – The Guardian countries unique. Part of the appeal of the movie for me was the fact it was filmed in suburban Melbourne (some of it on the grounds of Melbourne University), so there are many familiar scenes throughout. AFL features quite a bit too and there’s a classic scene where American border security misinterprets a text Ali sent to his mate about an upcoming footy match – ‘the bombers TV Documentary will slaughter you’ takes on a whole different meaning. Ali’s Wedding is an enjoyable, charming, romantic comedy that I’m glad I got to see! Sharon Peterson is from Readings Carlton Genius Season 1 Blue $39.95 | Available 14 February $24.95 | Available 7 February Starring Geoffrey Rush and With a provocative mix of The Dancer Johnny Flynn, National scientific essay, $29.95 | Available 7 February Geographic’s scripted investigative journalism Film French singer/actress Soko television drama Genius and arresting imagery Blue (Augustine) and Lily-Rose explores Albert Einstein’s tackles themes of habitat Depp star in Stéphanie Di extraordinary professional destruction, species loss Giusto’s screen biography, achievements along with and pollution and takes us Blade Runner 2049 inspired by the true story of his volatile, passionate and complex into the ocean realm where we witness $29.95 two rival pioneers of modern personal relationships, to reveal the man ocean change first hand. ‘Visually, sonically, dance and theatrical performance in late behind the mind. thematically, tonally, 19th-century Paris. Mountain Denis Villeneuve’s sequel Friday on My Mind $29.95 to Ridley Scott’s 1982 My Life as a Zucchini $29.95 Including original music sci-fi masterpiece is $29.95 | Available 7 February ‘They formed in a migrant from Richard Tognetti and absolutely spot-on, After his alcoholic mother’s hostel, were told to go back the Australian Chamber mimicking the very accidental death a ‘young boy where they came from, and Orchestra and narrated by particular look, sound and feel of the is sent to a children’s home in they took on the world. Willem Dafoe, Mountain is a earlier film with eerie specificity. It’s a a frank and affecting They were The Easybeats, ‘ravishingly beautiful serious cinematic work, Villeneuve’s best animation about abused and their story rocks.’ – The documentary from Jennifer film…’ – CJ Johnson, ABC Radio youngsters finding strength Sydney Morning Herald Peedom, director of Sherpa.’ – The Australian

MOLLY’S GAME February 1 (M) The Metropolitan Opera: TOSCA February 10 (E) LADY BIRD February 15 (CTC) Aaron Sorkin makes his feature film directorial debut with MOLLY’S Regarded as one of the most admired and beloved works in the Golden Globe Award winning writer-director Greta Gerwig, reveals GAME. A razor-sharp true-life thriller on an Olympic-class skier canon, The Metropolitan Opera premieres a new production of herself to be a bold new cinematic voice with her acclaimed solo (Jessica Chastain) turned underground poker maven who was to Puccini’s tragic tale of love and murder, TOSCA. Rivaling the splendor directorial debut, LADY BIRD. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002 become an FBI target. Based on the memoir Molly's Game: From of Franco Zeffirelli’s Napoleonic-era sets and costumes, Sir David and starring Saoirse Ronan as the title character, Gerwig crafts a Hollywood's Elite to Wall Street's Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes McVicar’s ravishing new production offers a splendid backdrop for masterful study of that period of life for teenagers when adulthood Adventure in the World of Underground Poker by Molly Bloom, her extraordinary singing. Sonya Yoncheva stars as the title prima donna and freedom seems so close and yet so far. An affecting look at the players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and alongside Vittorio Grigolo and Željko Lu i . relationships and beliefs that shape and define us, LADY BIRD is a čć unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. must-see confluence of fantastic women making heartfelt art. HHHH “Jessica Chastain is phenomenal in Aaron Sorkin’s poker drama” “Yoncheva triumphs in premier of Met’s new and dazzling Tosca” HHHH “A coming-of-age story distinguished The Guardian New York Classical Review by a great script and a perfect cast” Toronto Sun

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Between Two Shores Havana Meets Kingston Popular Glen Hansard Mista Savona Presents & Various $21.95 | Also on vinyl $24.95 Music The Frames frontman Havana Meets Kingston Glen Hansard’s third is a one-of-a-kind album, Between Two musical project by Shores, is ‘an honest leading reggae and Many moons ago, I was privileged enough to witness a very outpouring of emotions ... dancehall producer Jake ALBUM OF intimate gig at the sorely missed Pure Pop records in St Kilda [It] feels both tender and Savona, aka Mista THE MONTH by a then unknown, fresh-faced Kiwi ex-pat by the name of raw and while honouring the days of Savona, that brings together Cuban and American rock gone by, it doesn’t sound Jamaican music for the first time ever. It Pop/Rock/Alt Marlon Williams. The lucky fifty or so people in attendance were left in no doubt that the young man from the small town overdone or aged but it’s a warm tribute to the includes over 50 Cuban, Jamaican and of Lyttleton, NZ was every inch a star in the making. artists who have undoubtedly influenced a international musicians playing mostly original material as well as covers of Several moons later, in 2015, Williams burst onto the local generation of songwriters.’ – The Irish Times classic Cuban songs. and international scene with his wonderful, self-titled debut album. An angelically crooned, Orbisonesque blend of country, Shape the Future folk and bluesy influences, it led to much overseas interest and Nightmares on Wax Jazz/Blues an eventual appearance on the iconic and hugely influential $19.95 | Also on vinyl BBC music program Later ... With Jools Holland. The secret was Nightmares on Wax’s very much out. (George Evelyn) eclectic Chinese Butterfly His much-anticipated second album, Make Way for groove continues from Chick Corea & Steve Gadd Band Love, is now upon us and it’s clearly a giant artistic leap for the trip-hop heyday of $21.95 Williams. Whilst at times the songwriting chops on his first Make Way for seminal album Carboot Two iconic artists join record were, understandably, not quite there – as is so often Love Soul with his fusion of together to form The the case for such a young artist’s debut – Make Way for Love Marlon Williams hip-hop, soul, dub and gospel. Evelyn Chick Corea + Steve displays many moments of a newly found depth and intimacy $21.95 | Also on vinyl describes the record as ‘[a journey] both Gadd Band, culminating which ultimately add up to some incredibly brave and nerve- inward and outward all over the world... a 50-year musical shreddingly raw, emotional gut punches. both physically and emotionally.’ relationship. Chinese Amidst the reverb heavy and gorgeously twangy, swirling guitars there are many Butterfly finds the two longtime revelatory lyrical snapshots which darkly detail a love gone wrong – inspired, no doubt, by collaborators co-leading a band for the first the recent ending of his long-term relationship with equally wondrous, fellow-Kiwi musician Soul time, joined by Lionel Loueke, Steve Aldous Harding, who herself released the stunning Party in 2017. Of particular note on Make Wilson, Carlitos Del Puerto, Luisito Way for Love is ‘Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore’ – a duet that Williams and Harding Quintero and special guest Philip Bailey. supposedly recorded via a late night, long-distance phone call. Whatever It Takes The two are undoubtedly destined for greatness whether together or apart, and it would James Hunter Six Black Coffee appear that their mutual sense of loss is very much our gain. $26.95 | Also on vinyl Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa Declan Murphy is from Readings St Kilda Available 2 February $26.95 A permanent fixture in Beth Hart and Joe the world of rhythm and Bonamassa have soul, English singer reunited for another range of sonic elements of these songs. [It] is James Hunter follows up Pop/Rock/Alt collection of scorching unlike anything we’ve ever heard from the five critically acclaimed interpretations of ten seven-piece band.’ – No Depression albums with his latest soul gems which pair recording, Whatever It Takes. At the height Ruins Hart’s breath-taking vocals with of his famed recording career Hunter has First Aid Kit Marble Skies Bonamassa’s masterfully expressive recorded an elegantly crafted collection of $14.95 | Also on vinyl Django Django playing. Digging deep into the soul 10 originals with the lyrics, melodies, ‘Ruins is a lush, $21.95 | Also on vinyl catalogue they honour songs from artists harmonies, rhythms and phrasing all expansive release that After their 2012 Mercury including Etta James, LaVern Baker and locking into perfect synchronicity. uses [sisters Klara and Prize-nominated debut Howlin’ Wolf. A captivating listen. Johanna Soderberg’s] and 2015's Top 20 uncanny blood harmony follow-up Born Under Country Animarum to full effect, elevating Saturn, musical Jonathan Zwartz their low-key folk songs into something adventurers Django $29.95 majestic. Like The Staves, Haim and classic Django are back exploring new sounds ... Rifles and Rosary Beads Available 2 February Marble Skies is a more concise and focused rockers Heart before them, something Mary Gauthier After a four year break, happens when these sisters sing together offering which recalls the dynamic, genre- $24.95 Jonathan Zwartz that defies the boundaries.’ – NME blurring music of their debut. Available 2 February returns, again bringing Co-written with U.S. together some of the Mother Don’t Talk About It veterans and their finest musicians in Xylouris White Ruby Boots families, the eleven Australia for his third $21.95 $21.95 | Also on vinyl deeply personal songs on album Animarum. Barney McAll, Julien ‘This is the third album Available 9 February Mary Gauthier’s Rifles Wilson, Phil Slater, James Greening, for the Xylouris White Following her award- and Rosary Beads reveal Richard Magraith, Steve Magnusson, project, and it feels like winning debut album the untold stories, and powerful struggles Hamish Stewart and Fabian Hevia caress they're now deep into a Solitude, acclaimed that these veterans and their spouses deal the melodies and swing the grooves on the conversation in a performer Ruby Boots with abroad and after returning home. eight new Zwartz originals. language only they ushers in a new breadth speak. Xylouris sings a good deal here, in of sound. Don’t Talk Greek, and it's by turns rousing and About It sees her embrace a generous dose of Folk/World Vinyl re-issue of the mystically seductive. It's dark and magical Indie-Rock while continuing to encompass Month music, and there's nothing else like it.’ all the Americana sensibilities for which she – theartsdesk.com is known and greatly admired. Brasil Various – Soul Jazz Records Nasty Gal The Thread That Keeps Us Accomplice One Presents Betty Davis Calexico Tommy Emmanuel $26.95 | Also on vinyl $44.95 and also available on CD for $24.95 $21.95 | Also on vinyl $19.95 Recorded at the height of Ahead of its time and ‘Though it may have Accomplice One is a the first wave of interest showing Betty Davis been inspired by a sense testament to Tommy in Brazilian music in digging deep into her of chaos around them in Emmanuel’s musical London in the 1990s and musical and cultural the world right now, it is diversity. The songs are a out-of-print for over 20 expression, ‘1975’s Nasty hard not to find real joy mix of new takes on years, Soul Jazz Records’ Gal is another classic in Calexico’s ninth studio indelible classics and Brasil has been fully digitally re-mastered from one of the founders of funk. Davis and album. It pulsates with energy and light … brand-new originals from Tommy and his for this new edition and features a host of her band are a little sleazy, a little sultry, the arrangements are lush and layered and collaborators. Guests include Jason Isbell, legendary musicians including Sivuca, Raul and show some surprising range on an the band sounds excited to explore the wide Jerry Douglas and Suzy Bogguss. de Souza and singer Joyce Moreno. album newly reissued on vinyl’. – Pitchfork READINGS MONTHLY 23 February 2018

From Darkness to Light: astonished by the musical and emotional Classical Works for cello and piano by range of this economical score. Neschling, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and his committed players and a radiant Rachmaninov soloist whose bel canto experience is Music Catherine Hewgill & Vladimir invaluable here, do the composer proud. Ashkenazy The highpoint of Neschling’s cycle thus Decca. 4816562. far; the rarely heard Il tramonto is a real $21.95 find.’ – Music Web International People often remark that Steve Reich’s music can be an ‘Hewgill and Ashkenazy ALBUM OF acquired taste, one only for those serious, modern-classical are consummate music listeners wanting to expand their horizons. As New Year’s Concert 2018 THE MONTH musicians and someone who has been firmly entrenched in the romantic Riccardo Muti & Vienna Classical impeccable technicians. orchestral style for most of my music life, I can say that Philharmonic Orchestra They convey to the yes, Reich can be challenging, but he can also be inspiring, Sony. 88985470582. listener, a deep $19.95 fascinating and even easy to listen to. understanding not only of each other’s The 2018 Vienna musicianship, but of the music and Philharmonic New His fans will savour getting to know importantly, the sentiments behind the Year’s Concert took these recent works, whereas those works which tell of the personal and place on January 1, who haven’t heard him before will political lives of the writers ...’ – Shamistha 2018, under the baton enjoy getting their feet wet with this de Soysa for SoundsLikeSydney of Riccardo Muti in the terrific new recording. Musikverein in Vienna. This year’s J.S. Bach: The Art of Fugue concert marked the fifth time – after Ottavio Dantone & Accademia 1993, 1997, 2000 and 2004 – that Reich: Pulse/ Pulse (2015) and Quartet (2013) are two of Reich’s newer Bizantina Riccardo Muti, whose close ties with the Quartet works, recorded here by International Contemporary Ensemble Decca. 4832329. Vienna Philharmonic extend over International and the Colin Currie Group respectively. Both of whom did the $26.95 several decades, conducted this Contemporary premiere performances of each work, which means they bring a ‘[Dantone] opts for an prestigious event. Ensemble & Colin new level of understanding to these second performances. The ensemble of string Currie Group pairing of the works is deliberate, with Reich himself saying that quartet, harpsichord Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring Nonesuch. 7559793243. Pulse was: ‘In part, a reaction to Quartet, in which I changed and organ, dividing the $29.95 keys more frequently than in any previous work. In Pulse I felt Marc-André Hamelin & Leif Ove numbers between the the need to stay put harmonically and spin out smoother wind Andsnes instruments in a very and string melodic lines in canon over a constant pulse in the Hyperion. CDA68189. skilful and effective way – the use of the $29.95 electric bass and or piano ... All in all, a calmer, more contemplative piece.’ two keyboards together, for instance, is This is certainly the case from the opening melodic lines of Pulse, which gently Shortly before its unexpectedly striking.’ – The Guardian spins outwards. Reich’s use of the piano as an almost percussive instrument is not notorious Paris ballet revolutionary anymore, but with the gentle, cascading ideas from both wind and strings, premiere in 1913, this Pulse has an edge it might not otherwise have had. The bouncing and energetic Quartet Tesori d’Italia was essentially how The then provides a delightful contrast. Although, as Reich commented above, Quartet Albrecht Mayer & I Musici di Roma Rite of Spring first saw has different harmonic ideas, there is no mistaking that minimalistic rhythmic style DG. 4797144. the light of day: Leif Ove for anyone but Reich. His fans will savour getting to know these recent works, whereas $26.95 Andsnes and Marc-André Hamelin those who haven’t heard him before will enjoy getting their feet wet with this terrific new Passionate about recapture the heady, visceral thrill which recording. expanding his must have been in the air when Stravinsky instrument’s repertoire, sat down at the piano with Debussy to Kate Rockstrom is a friend of Readings Mayer embarked on a create this landmark of modernism. quest to uncover some of the buried treasures of the Italian Baroque. After a long and Classical Specials Mirages Smetana: Má Vlast - In exciting musical research in numerous Sabine Devieilhe memoriam Jiří Bělohlávek libraries and archives throughout Europe, of the Month Erato. 9029576772. Jiří Bělohlávek & Czech Albrecht brings to light unrecorded music $26.95 Philharmonic from the Italian Baroque and early The Carnegie Recital Two years on Decca. 4833187. Classicism. For this fascinating and $21.95 Daniil Trifonov from her Mozart musical journey Albrecht counts on the DG. 4791728. Was $24.95 album The Weber In one of his last Italian iconic ensemble I Musici di Roma. Sisters, Sabine recordings with the $12.95 Limited stock at this price ‘… what's impressive Devieihle delivers yet Czech Philharmonic, Fire on all Sides another set of brilliant Jiří Bělohlávek conducts here is not just the James Rhodes top Es, and more besides. Now, in Mirages, a heartfelt account of magnificent and Signum Classics. SIGCD494. Devieilhe explores the music of her native Smetana's great set of reactive pianism on $29.95 France, ranging from the art songs of symphonic poems: Má Vlast (My Country). show but also his See page 13 for the companion book Maurice Delage and Charles Koechlin to Smetana's Czech masterpiece has played a maturity. His Chopin ‘There is real pain in the operatic music of Delibes, with a central role during the most important Preludes possess a stunning elan ... the pivotal chords that French aria by Stravinsky thrown in. moments of the Czech Philharmonic's Perhaps it's no coincidence that Trifonov shift the mood in the The high-set coloratura title role in history. This is an authoritative recording is also a composer; he has a composerly last movement of Delibes’s Lakmé provided inspiration for of Má Vlast performed by musicians with grasp of the structure of all the works Beethoven’s piano Mirages. Devieilhe first performed the an innate understanding of the music of here.’ – Gramophone Magazine sonata No 31 in A flat role in 2012, and it immediately proved their homeland. major; aching tenderness and stately the perfect vehicle for her sweet soprano. grandeur in two Chopin nocturnes (B Rachmaninov Variations Mirages demonstrates why. The recordings Elgar & Bruch Violin Concertos major, Op 62 No 1 and C minor, Op 48 No 1) Daniil Trifonov, Yannick Nézet- of Lakmé’s arias alone will surely secure Rachel Barton Pine, Andrew Litton and glorious triumph against the odds in Séguin & Philadelphia Orchestra Devieilhe’s position among the finest DG. 4794970. Was $24.95 & BBC Symphony Orchestra Rachmaninov’s prelude in D flat minor, Op sopranos in the world today. Perhaps, I Avie. AV2375. 32 No 13.’ – The Observer $12.95 Limited stock at this price hesitate to suggest, as Natalie Dessay’s long- $29.95 ‘The opening bars tell awaited successor. I struggle to describe Rachel Barton Pine's Respighi: Vetrate di chiesa, you this is going to be a how sensational Devieilhe’s voice is in ‘Air first recording of Elgar's good “Pag Rhap”. As des clochettes’ (‘Bell Song’). Her top register Il tramonto & Trittico Violin Concerto and botticelliano things turn out, it is a is certainly more pure and more beautiful Bruch's Violin Concerto great one, up there with Anna Caterina Antonacci & John than any bell I’ve ever heard and, amazingly, No. 1 probes the works’ the very best. That Neschling she manages to sing with an impressively Romantic qualities with includes the indispensable benchmark BIS. BIS2250. wide dynamic range even on the highest her rich and soulful interpretations, recording with the composer and the same $29.95 notes. For the uninitiated, these high matched by Grammy Award-winning orchestra made in 1934 … while Trifonov ‘What a glorious work, notes – Devieilhe’s specialty – are difficult, conductor Andrew Litton and the BBC revels in the pianistic gymnastics, he is and what a find! even though Devieilhe again makes them Symphony Orchestra. Both works straddle also alert to the moments of mischief … Anyone inured to sound effortless. If you want to hear spine- the turn of the 20th century but have in Trifonov and Nézet-Séguin do seem Respighi’s gaudy tinglingly good singing, buy Mirages. common a Romantic hue which Rachel genuinely to be a meeting of musical colours and thumping Alexandra Mathew is from Readings Carlton probes with her rich, soulful tone. minds.’ – Gramophone Magazine rhythms will be *SELECT THREE BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF TWO. OFFER IS AVAILABLE ON A SELECT RANGE OF NONFICTION BOOKS IN ALL READINGS SHOPS (EXCEPT READINGS KIDS). THE LOWEST PRICE BOOK IS FREE. 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