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Readings.com.au: News Readings staff firstname.lastname@example.com /feed/news 2015-03-30T00:00:00Z 9771 Our top ten bestsellers of the week 2015-03-30T00:00:00Z

Mannix by Brenda Niall

Dear Life - On Caring for the Elderly (Quarterly Essay 57) by Karen Hitchcock

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (translated by Ann Goldstein)

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

One Life: My Mother's Story by Kate Grenville

We are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

Bad Behaviour: A Memoir of Bullying and Boarding School by Rebecca Starford

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon

Our top sellers for the past week include four biographies and memoirs, all written by women.

In Mannix, Brenda Niall tells the story of the former Archbishop of Melbourne, a towering figure in Melbourne's Catholic community while in Girl in a Band, Kim Gordon is completely open about her experiences as a founding member of Sonic Youth. Rebecca Starford's memoir of bullying and boarding school, Bad Behaviour, is already an established favourite with Readings staff this year (read our in-depth interview with her here) and Kate Grenville's intimate account of her mother's life, One Life, looks set to become one too.

(We're also excited to be hosting an event with Kate Grenville in a few weeks about this new book. Find out more here.)

Our list also includes some time-honoured older favourites: Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Karen Joy Fowler's We are All Completely Beside Ourselves and Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend.
 9760 What we're reading: Ben Lerner, Becky Albertalli and Erik Larson 2015-03-27T00:00:00Z
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we're reading, the films we're watching, the television shows we're hooked on or the music we're loving.

Mark Rubbo is reading Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson

I'm reading the latest book by popular historian Erik Larson. His previous book, In the Garden of Beasts, was about Roosevelt's Ambassador to Hitler's Germany, William Dodd – a fascinating story; a fascinating, horrible time. His new book, Dead Wake, is about the tragic crossing of the giant liner the Lusitania from New York to London and the political intrigues that lead to its sinking by a German U Boat in 1915, one hundred years ago. Larson is the master of historical narrative and this one is a cracker! I'm not surprised it went straight to the top of the US bestseller charts immediately upon publication.

Emily Gale is reading Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

I was really excited to get my hands on this book following a presentation of 2015 YA novels back in January (you can see some of the other titles previewed on the night here) but a third of the way in I was on the verge of giving up.

The experience of reading those early chapters felt like sitting behind a group of teenagers on a bus, overhearing their conversation and really not getting all of it. And thinking about it now, that's okay for a young adult book, is it not? Seeing as I am definitely not a young adult. But I did so want to understand the hype this book was getting, so I persevered. And as the sharp observations piled up about being a gay teenager who hasn't yet come out to friends or family, I felt myself getting more and more involved in the story, and more and more fond of Simon, the main character. Thank goodness I decided to hang in there, because by the end I was genuinely moved by the romance and ready to rave about this story to fellow young adult readers.

Although my problems with the execution of the blackmail element of the story didn't change, they faded into the background as Simon – funny, brave and flawed as he is – won me over. This novel, and its two gay characters conducting a romance-via-email, is adorable.

Alan Vaarwerk is listening to Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit by Courtney Barnett

I've been looking forward to Courtney Barnett's full-length debut for a while now and it's everything this fan of the Melbourne singer-songwriter could hope for. Sometimes is full of Barnett's trademark wordplay and stark observations, from the angular, anxiety-riddled 'Pedestrian At Best' to a hilarious poolside vignette in 'Aqua Profunda!'. 'Depreston', with its laid-back accompaniment and quietly-sung observations about a house with handrails in the shower and pressed-metal ceilings, is just sublime in its encapsulation of suburban despair. The rest of the world is fast cottoning on to Barnett's skills, and learning a great deal about the quirks of Melbourne living in the process.

Isobel Moore is reading Leaving the Atocha Station by Ben Lerner

Leaving the Atocha Station is compelling, dreamy and interesting. I've heard several people describe it as funny and, to be honest, I haven't really found it to be. There are humorous aspects to the story, and it's certainly an easy, enthusiastic read – not sad in the least, even if the protagonist does get himself into frequent trouble – but I'm finding it engaging rather than a laugh riot. The backdrop of Madrid is beautifully and tangibly drawn so I think that it's a great novel for those of us daydreaming about being elsewhere. The style reminds me of Tabucci's Pereira Maintains – a book where not a ton happens but it's still absolutely thrilling. I will add that Pereira Maintains is one of the greatest books ever written, so high praise indeed.
 9754 On stories of motherhood 2015-03-27T00:00:00Z
Emily Harms and Chris Gordon discuss two new anthologies, Mothers & Others and Mothermorphosis, featuring women writing about their experiences of being – and not being – a mother.

Chris: Reading two books about women's experiences of motherhood back-to-back was quite engulfing. I found myself reflecting on my kids' birth stories quite a lot. Essentially the stories and experiences, even the short fiction included among the essays in Mothers & Others, were about the inner thoughts of women on becoming a parent. There is that realisation, isn't there, that motherhood brings a whole new meaning to the word solitary? In the end, there is only you and the baby and all those emotions.

Em: I agree! Reading Mothermorphosis and Mothers & Others did take me back to my own early experiences of motherhood. There was certainly a common theme of the mundaneness and isolation of motherhood in these stories.

Chris: I was particularly moved by two stories. Firstly, George McEncroe's birth story ('I Wore My Red Lips and Pretended I Was Fine' in Mothermorphosis) was harrowing for a few reasons: she had a terrible time giving birth. (Me too.) And she portrayed the strange expectations around the post-birth celebrations well. It is extraordinary, don't you think, that there you are, exhausted after probably the most physical endurance test of all time, and then family and friends expect immediate elation and picture opportunities. Monica Dux, in her introduction to Mothermorphosis, talks about this experience too – putting on lipstick, making sure the photos will reflect a moment of control, beauty and joy. I just wanted to sleep and have tea with an enormous amount of sugar.

Em: I know. George McEncroe's story really bowled me over. It took me straight back to the extreme pain and the blood. Anyone who is looking to get or is currently pregnant – or has recently given birth – perhaps skip that piece for now! Monica Dux's introduction to Mothermorphosis reminded me of the many photos I've seen in texts, facebook posts and tweets of new mothers and their babies. As I was reading this, I actually laughed to myself quite a lot when I reflected that my first shots as 'proud mum holding baby' certainly weren't glamour shots! The last thing I would have thought of soon after the birth was to put make-up and designer clothes on!

Chris: The other story I was very taken with was Brooke Davis's 'Future Brooke' in Mothers & Others. I liked reading her dreams for the future. I liked that she talked about the bells that go off when hormones scream at you that it's time to breed. And I like that she, in the end, didn't mourn lost fairytale-princess dreams but rather sought to take action solo. I believe that her story is more common than we might realise. I remember feeling exactly the same way as her as a young woman. Did you?

Em: Yes, I did identify with Brooke Davis's piece. Her story is brave and brutally honest, yet as you say, Chris, her decision to pursue the opportunity for motherhood solo is not so uncommon.

Chris: Was there a story that seemed close to your own experience?

Em: Liane Moriarty's 'The Childless Side of the Room' in Mothers & Others really struck a chord with me. I too never even imagined being a mother in my late 20s and early 30s (when my siblings and friends were beginning their families). I suppose deep down I secretly hoped that I would one day have the opportunity to have a child – when I was ready, and despite this seeming like a distant hope. I was similar to Moriarty though in that I didn't think you needed to dream of something so ordinary, perhaps because I grew up in a house where babies came with being a woman. Since having two kids – and, again, very similar to what Moriarty describes – I will never forget that feeling of being 'childless' and I hope not to take having my kids for granted. If I catch myself in a whinge about my kids or not having enough time to myself, I check myself and think about how appreciative I am to have the incredible opportunity to have children.

I also related to Christine Lieman's 'As a Mum' and how the minute she turned 32 the pressure to have kids was on. Thirty-two seems to be the age at which women are 'hassled, judged, encouraged, and trussed up and out in the pressure cooker!' This was definitely my own experience… What about you Chris? Did you always imagine that you would have kids?

Chris: Mine was very similar to Davis's story. I always knew I was going to have kids. I knew what their names would be, and I knew that I would have a girl and boy. It's only recently that I realised how fortunate I am that those dreams have come true. I did, for a long time, simply take it for granted.

Em: I also related to the way Kate Holden remembered her child self through having her own child. It'll often be moments like brushing my kid's teeth or putting bandaids on bleeding knees when a vivid memory of a moment from my own childhood and how I felt at that age will come to me. Did particular revelations about your own childhood come to light through having your own children, Chris, and if so, when and what were they?

Chris: I can hear my mother's voice even now! We are always a daughter first, aren't we? I find history repeating itself when I make certain comfort foods for my kids: rice pudding, chocolate self-saucing pudding and ice-cream. The tastes of my childhood have not left me at all, but rather seem to support me through nights with ill children and tired winter days. I was surprised there weren't more reflections in the stories about being a daughter.

Em: Alice Pung's beautiful piece on being a daughter preparing for motherhood, 'The New Grandparents', was a wonderful opening to Mothers & Others to shake us out of the comfortable suburban context of 'motherhood'. Some of my other favourites in Mothers & Others were: Melinda Marchetta's 'Adopting a Child: Letter to My Daughter (or of a Lesser God)'; Celeste Liddle's 'Why I Choose Not to Have to Make a Choice'; and Rosie Waterlands' gut-wrenchingly harrowing 'Thirty Seconds' about her troubled relationship with her mother.

While also a highlight, Debra Adelaide's piece 'Grief' really hit me hard. Since having kids, I too have an extreme aversion to hearing about, reading or watching any violence against children. In the piece, Adelaide opens with two parents' extraordinary loss of their three children and one of their own parents in last year's disastrous flight MH17. When they are interviewed on TV about the loss of their three children, Adelaide wonders how the parents remain so calm through such pain. She also refers to Helen Garner's recent book This House of Grief. Despite so many brilliant reviews, I too haven't been able to read the account of the Farquharson family case as I can't bear to enter into the grief of the mother of the three children.

Adelaide also brings up what I think is one of the most poignant common themes of both collections on motherhood – the conflict between the feminist self and the mother self: '… as a feminist, one is not defined by one's children. For me this is the single most difficult aspect of contemporary mothering: reconciling my feminism and all its profound rationality, egalitarianism, and sheer good sense with the more visceral, emotional and perhaps even biological claims of raising children. Being responsible for people whom you have created and nurtured from sweet infant dependency through to the alien teens and beyond often defies all logic and good sense.' As a mum of teenage kids, Chris, do you sometimes feel conflicted between your emotional mothering self and your feminist self?

Chris: No, not at all. Being a feminist helps me parent; it has helped me when I have felt alienated or confused. After all, feminism is entirely based within a social justice framework, and motherhood is where it all starts. I want my kids to be treated equally emotionally and physically. It seems to have worked. I love to hear my daughter and son talking about feminism and choices in general. Having said that, I do believe this is made easier for me with a partner who also supports feminism and all that it means: sharing the workload, having choices and financial freedom. In the end, I enjoyed both books very much. I liked that so many of the authors are from Melbourne. I liked that here are two collections featuring creative women making sense of their stories and generously sharing them.

Em: I also loved reading both collections. I liked the surprise element of the fiction peppered between the largely non-fiction pieces in Mothers & Others. Maxine Beneba Clarke's 'Paint' was definitely a highlight amongst the fiction pieces for me – her writing just leaps off the pages and shakes me out of my comfort zone. However, I too valued both collections for shining a light on the truth of those early days of parenting.

Chris: It all helps make sense of our lot, doesn't it?

Em: It sure does!

 9752 A note from our Readings Monthly editor 2015-03-27T00:00:00Z
It is always exciting when reviews begin to arrive for a new issue of the Readings Monthly. Volunteers to review Lisa Gorton's first novel, The Life of Houses, for the April issue were numerous and swift. Readings Managing Director Mark Rubbo was the first to put his hand up by mere seconds and his review has reassured me that hype won't be the agent of disappointment with this much-anticipated book.

One of the most wonderful things about working for Readings is that interesting conversations about books are impossible to avoid. It's not uncommon for Readings staff to be writers as well as readers. Fortunately for all of us, many of these talented people generously give their time to write for the Readings Monthly and for the Readings blog. Emily Harms and Chris Gordon wrote such an insightful and entertaining piece for our blog about Annabel Crabb's superb book The Wife Drought (find it here) that when we realised there would be several anthologies published this month featuring Australian women writers on 'why not all women are mothers and not all mothers are the same' (the incredibly apt subtitle to Mothers & Others!), it was clear we needed to hear from them again.

You'll find Chris and Emily's conversation about Mothers & Others and Mothermorphosis here.

While we're on the theme, the new edition of Rachel Power's seminal anthology The Divided Heart, which has been expanded to include new contributors and is now titled Motherhood & Creativity, is also out this month. As Bronte Coates says in her review of Mothermorphosis, 'Religion, politics and money are usually cited as the top three topics to avoid at a dinner party, but surely parenthood trumps them all.' (Find her full review here.)

As this is not a [stuffy] dinner party, there is no shortage of lively discussions to be had about these books or any of the other fantastic titles out this month.

Elke Power is the editor of Readings Monthly.

Download a PDF of the latest issue of Readings Monthly here, or sign up to become a subscriber here. You can also pick up a copy from our shops.
 9757 Three authors that remind me of Terry Pratchett 2015-03-25T00:00:00Z
In an attempt to cheer myself up and make myself feel a little better since my literary hero Sir Terry Pratchett passed away, I thought I'd list a few authors whose work Terry has influenced, or who simply remind me of him in their work.

Francis Hardinge

The first Francis Hardinge book I read was A Face Like Glass and the day after I finished it, I ordered every other book she's ever written. The Pratchett influence shows in her razor-sharp wit, in her inability to write anything other than strong, kick-ass girls and in her intricate world-building.

The world of the story is set deep inside a mountain, in a place called Caverna. This world is as well-realised as Discworld ever was! My favourite and probably the most Pratchett-like invention are the Cartographers who are tasked with mapping Caverna – a place that goes up and down and twists around and meets itself going the other way. The only way these mapmakers can fully comprehend their landscape so as to do their job is to be mad, and so they are. Even better than that, their madness is contagious. When out in public they are locked in boxed-up sedan chairs and only allowed to talk with a 5-minute hourglass marking the time. Any longer then that and their passionate, insane ramblings start to make sense, and then you're in trouble!

Michael Logan

Michael Logan was one of the co-winners of Terry Pratchett's Anywhere but Here and Anywhen but Now First Novel Prize (the other winner was the equally excellent but slightly more serious David Logan – no relation). The titles of his books (Apocalypse Cow, World War Moo) may give away the fact that Logan is not averse to using the odd pun, though he's fairly restrained within the novels.

Like Pratchett's, Logan's books will have you laughing on one page, then nodding thoughtfully, then recoiling in horror at the human race. Terry Pratchett once said that when making fantasy worlds and alternate realities, 'you can have flying pigs, but you have to be aware that people are going to need really stout umbrellas'. Meaning… it's all very well and good to make the impossible possible but without ramifications, it's meaningless. Well Logan's world does not have flying pigs, it does have rabid, horny, zombie pigs and the consequences are just as evident (if, by necessity, a little more dramatic) as stout umbrellas.

Really… I shouldn't have to say anything about this author apart from the following: Michael Logan made Terry Pratchett himself 'snort with laughter'.

Walter Moers

Terry Pratchett once described bookshops as 'genteel black holes that know how to read' using the equation: 'Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass'. He described books as dangerous, even the ordinary, non magical ones: 'A man sits in some museum somewhere and writes a harmless book about political economy and suddenly thousands of people who haven't even read it are dying because the ones who did haven't got the joke.' In short, Terry Pratchett knew there was more to books than dead trees and ink. Walter Moers knows this too.

The City of Dreaming Books and its sequel The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books are insane love songs to books and their authors, both the successful kind and the not-so-successful kind. (As a fun fact, all the authors listed in these books are anagrams of real-world authors.) A word of warning though – if four elephants carrying a flat world while standing on a giant turtle which is swimming through space sounds too much for you, stay away from Moers! The protagonist of these two books, Optimus Yarnspinner is a dinosaur and his mortal nemesis the Al Capone-esque Volzotan Smyke, is a shark grub. (A highly intelligent creature with 14 arms and shark-like features, just in case you didn't already know.) I know – Madness! Utter madness!

Dani Solomon works in the Children's & YA section at Carlton.
 9701 The 2015 Indie Award Winners 2015-03-25T00:00:00Z
The winners of the Indie Book Awards 2015 have been announced!

Each year, independent booksellers from around the nation get together and vote for their favourite titles in four different categories, as well as their favourite book overall.

Here are the winners for each category, along with comments from booksellers across Australia and thoughts from our own staff:

The Non-Fiction winner and the overall Indie Book of the Year winner is…
 The Bush: Travels in the Heart of Australia by Don Watson

"Only Don Watson would be brave enough to attempt to define what the meaning of 'The Bush' is to Australians. He takes us on a journey through both time and place to explore the many facets of the outback."
 – Mark Steedman from Cairns Bookshop in Queensland

"I love this book; I love the writing, I love the language, I love the breadth and the insights."
 - Mark Rubbo, Readings

The Fiction winner is…
 Golden Boys by Sonya Hartnett

"A suburban psychological horror novel deserving of a place alongside Christos Tsiolkas' The Slap. Here is family dysfunction under a microscope – not only the concrete details of it, but also the intangible, the emotional, the intuitive, all rendered into prose with near-impossible clarity."
 – Samuel Williams from Mostly Books in South Australia

"…as I made my way through this novel, my heart was in my throat, the tension palpable."
 – Bronte Coates, Readings

The Debut Fiction winner is…
 Foreign Soil by Maxine Beneba Clark

"Ten short stories, raw, gritty and well-crafted confirm Clarke as a startling new talent. Clarke gets each voice pitch-perfect. Clarke's assures, lyrical prose gives a voice to the voiceless. The stories at times make for an uncomfortable read as the characters – disenfranchised, lost, abused and downtrodden - hold a mirror to our society."
 – Bonnie Serov in Your Bookshop in New South Wales

"Marks the arrival of a major new voice in the Australian literary landscape."
 – Martin Shaw, Readings

The Children's winner is…
 Withering-By-Sea: A Stella Montgomery Intrigue by Judith Rossell

"This gorgeously produced book is a lovely object in itself. The story is about Stella Montgomery, an unloved but resilient orphan. There are many colourful characters in the book, and singing cats, sideshow acts and a sad boy all play their part. The illustrations, also by the author Judith Rossell are lovely, and make this book a very special item."
 – Heather Dyer from Fairfield Books in Victoria

"A fun mystery with interesting characters, thrilling chases and singing cats!"
 – Katherine Dretzke, Readings

You can read more about Indie Book Awards here.
 9671 Chris Gordon interviews Alice Zaslavsky 2015-03-24T00:00:00Z
Chris Gordon chats with local foodie Alice Zaslavsky about her new fact-filled, kid-friendly cookbook.

Alice, it's all going on for you! You must be super busy with your new book, your television show, your new business, being the face of Prahran Market – and goodness, do you have time to relax?

Ha! When you put it like that, it does sound like I should have way less time on my hands. I'm pretty sure that most of the people I meet on my daily dog beach adventures with Leopold Tolstoy (my Rhodesian Ridgeback) just assume I'm a uni student because I'm there so often. As for 'relaxing', everything I'm doing for 'work' these days is actually just stuff I find enjoyable and happen to get paid for every now and then, so I don't ever feel like I'm working hard enough to need a break.

You seem like a really fun woman. I've heard you described as zany, fun and infectious, but how would you describe yourself?

Well, the latter is also used to describe the flu, so not quite sure how I feel about that one! But thank you! I actually find it harder to accept the description of myself as a 'woman' than I do any of those other adjectives. It's probably why I got along with my students so well as a teacher. I've never truly come to terms with the fact that I'm not a kid anymore. Mind you, I am turning 30 this year so it might happen (but I won't be holding my breath).

And how would you describe your completely ace cookbook? As a mum of a son that loves to collect useful facts, I just know he will love this one. (And I love that it is targeted at kids.)

Oh yay! I hope he does. I'm exactly the same – a fact collector. Nothing makes me happier than imagining someone opening my book and storing away some little tidbit from it every now and then. I love that it's targeted at kids too! It was never even a question of whether my book was going to be for kids or grownups – it was more: What to write about first?

Did you have much to do with the layout?

When I first started writing the book, I included ideas for little pictures and even set it out with textboxes and arrows. But my publisher Sue Whiting (who is a legend!) reassured me that they would handle all of that and I should just focus on making the content really strong. To be honest, I still found it hard to let go of but I was in the best hands. My art director, Gayna Murphy, has worked on so many incredible cookbooks over the years – you can really tell that she has an eye for what foodie types are looking for. The layout is super fun but also super clean, which means that you don't start to feel overwhelmed as you're flipping through the pages. This is no mean feat considering all of the information within. As for the illustrations from Kat Chadwick, they're exactly what I was hoping for when I wrote my early suggestions in those little text-boxes. Food pun perfection.

The food you've highlighted in your book with your top tips and recipes are accessible and delicious. What's your favourite recipe from the book?

Hooray! I love how accessible and delicious the recipes are are also. If I had to pick one, it would be the borscht (beetroot soup). I'm always proudest when I'm able to share my family's recipes and this one is a cracker. Mum would make up a big batch at the start of the week and it would see us through as an after-school snack until Friday afternoon.

Imagine it's Sunday night and it's been a huge weekend. Now your mates are coming over for a relaxed meal. What do you serve?

I try to change up my spread if we have guests – but it almost invariably includes some sort of slow-cooked meat like lamb shoulder or a roast chook and some form of bright and luscious salad. I love set-and-forget cooking whereas my husband Nick is all about the intricate and labour-intensive kitchen tasks. That's why I leave dessert (and washing up) to him.

Thanks so much for your contribution. I think it's about time that a book like this came along.

Thank YOU for having me! I used to wish that there could be a book like this to recommend to curious students when I was teaching, but there never seemed to be anything out there. I believe Étienne penned it best – if you want something done right, do it yourself. Of all of the opportunities that have come my way following my pirouette out of the MasterChef Australia kitchen in 2012, this is the one that I am the most grateful for.

Alice's Food A-Z is now available in-store and online.
 9728 Our top ten bestsellers of the week 2015-03-23T00:00:00Z

Dear Life - On Caring for the Elderly (Quarterly Essay 57) by Karen Hitchcock

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

Bad Behaviour: A Memoir of Bullying and Boarding School by Rebecca Starford

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

The Story of Australia's People Volume 1: The Rise and Fall of Ancient Australia by Geoffrey Blainey

Hello, Beautiful!: Scenes from a Life by Hannie Rayson

Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido

Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano by Dana Thomas

Our top seller for last week is the new Quarterly Essay. In Dear Life - On Caring for the Elderly, Karen Hitchcock investigates the treatment of the elderly and dying through some unforgettable cases. Literary critic Stephen Romei called the essay 'required reading for every Australian', and we agree. You can find an extract from it here.

Other interesting non-fiction titles on our list include Dana Thomas' story of how John Galliano and Alexander McQueen changed the face of fashion (Gods and Kings) and Jon Ronson's brilliant exploration of shame (So You've Been Publicly Shamed).
 9700 The Readings Children's Book Prize 2015 shortlist 2015-03-22T00:00:00Z
We're delighted to announce the six books shortlisted for the Readings Children's Book Prize 2015!

The Prize recognises and celebrates Australian books that children love to read, and raises the profile of debut and on-the-rise Australian children's book authors. The Prize judges are a panel of Readings children's book specialists.

The six shortlisted titles are…

Rivertime by Trace Balla

This book is delightfully unique, it is an absolute thrill that it has been shortlisted for our award. Produced in a landscape format, it is a hand-drawn graphic novel suitable for independent readers aged 5–10, but also for adults and children to enjoy together. The story is one we all need to absorb – it's about tuning in to the rhythms of nature and appreciating the cornucopia of animal and plant life that can be discovered away from our busy lives. When 10-year-old Clancy's Uncle Egg takes him on a boat journey on the Glenelg River, Clancy is initially worried about being bored and missing his hi-tech toys. But Clancy soon learns to tune in to 'rivertime', to relax and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of nature. The simple line drawings are perfect for this gentle journey, with illustrations of numerous Australian birds and animals labelled. It's just perfect for those interested in discovering nature and for youngsters you'd like to engage with something other than their screens. – Angela Crocombe, Readings Carlton

Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy by Karen Foxlee

Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy has it all: a magical realm embroiled in a battle between good and evil; a council of wizards pitted against an evil Snow Queen; a 300-year-old boy and a pragmatic, rational girl caught in a peculiar museum; a delicious juxtaposition of magic and logic; and a quest to save the world. Our heroes, Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy, are appealing characters vulnerable yet strong, ultimately courageous in the face of adversity, their fates inextricably linked. Certainly, Ophelia's quirky mannerisms and adroit observations inject a touching humour. I cared for both of them deeply and shed a few tears when the going got tough! In this enchanting story, which skilfully draws from a number of sources, fantasy kingdoms collide and merge with the real world and parallels are artfully drawn and explored. A wonderful adventure, perfect for independent readers aged 9 and up, and an ideal read-aloud for the whole family. – Athina Clarke, Readings Malvern

Figgy in the World by Tamsin Janu

Sometimes you meet a child character in a story and wish that you were more like them. That's how I feel about Figgy. She's a determined and resilient girl with a fantastic sense of humour, who can survive anything because her rationalisations about the world are a hundred times better than the truth. In this way Figgy bears resemblance to the much-loved Pollyanna, with a similar streak of independence and mischief as well as a happy disposition, but here the setting is Africa and the author has drawn on her personal experience to write this story. On her quest to travel from Ghana to America to buy vital medicine for her beloved grandmother, Figgy makes a friend for life and surprises everyone she meets. Figgy in the World is an uplifting adventure, seasoned with hope and laughter. Highly recommended as a family read for children aged 6 and up, or independently from 8. – Emily Gale, Readings Online

How to Save the Universe in Ten Easy Steps by Allison Rushby

A fair proportion of children's fiction has been issue based in recent times and while that definitely has its place, when a book comes along that is just fun it is refreshing. How to Save the Universe in Ten Easy Steps is fun with great dialogue, a narrative that zings along and an endearing main character. Cooper and Molly are twins who have nothing in common and on the eve of his party she reveals she is an alien sent to protect him as he gets about saving the world – no pressure! Now, Cooper is just an ordinary kid with only one remotely feasible super power: telling the time, to the second, without a timepiece. But then, maybe saving the world is all about timing! This is a laugh-out-loud funny book but you better read it quickly before the end of the world. Suitable for readers aged 8 and up. – Alexa Dretzke, Readings Hawthorn

The Mapmakers Chronicles: Race to the End of the World by AL Tait

I'm delighted to announce Race to the End of the World as a finalist in the Readings Children's Book Prize. With its high-seas adventure and characters that any reader would follow to faraway lands, it was one of my standout favourites of last year. In Book 1 we meet Quinn, a boy with an extraordinary memory who is picked to train as a mapmaker. The king has announced a competition: the first person who can create a map of the world will receive whatever they wish, be it money, power or fame. Quinn soon finds himself at sea aboard the Libertas, where treachery and danger are commonplace as they search for undiscovered lands. This book made me feel like I was discovering an Australian fantasy classic in the vein of Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest, and I bet there will be plenty of readers aged 9 and up eagerly awaiting Book 2's release in April. – Holly Harper, Readings Carlton

Stuff Happens: Jack by Tony Wilson

I will be honest – I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did! Books about (and aimed at) primary-school boys with lots of sporting activities and playground roughhousing are not generally my cup of tea. But Jack, beautifully written by Tony Wilson, is just such a lovely character to spend time with. Each book in the Stuff Happens series is told from the perspective of a different character and Jack is an easy, gentle companion. He instantly draws you into his world and within the first couple of pages Wilson made me care deeply about Jack's life and problems. The book is very easy to relate to and I think that it really encourages engaged reading and emotional literacy amongst younger readers as it deals with the relationships between the boys in a way that is, unfortunately, uncommon in junior fiction. It's perfect for readers aged 7–9 to read independently. – Isobel Moore, Readings St Kilda

The winner will be decided by the Readings Children's specialists along with our guest judge, bestselling author Sally Rippin, in June and will feature in our July newsletter. Find out more here. If you'd like to buy all six books at once, the entire shortlist is available here at a special price.
 9704 What we're reading: Allan Stratton, Laura van den Berg and Catherine Chanter 2015-03-20T00:00:00Z
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we're reading, the films we're watching, the television shows we're hooked on or the music we're loving.

Nina Kenwood is reading The Well by Catherine Chanter

I was handed a copy of The Well last Friday and I read it in one big gulp over the weekend. It's a book chock-full of ideas, and interesting ones at that. The story is set in a world where it hasn't rained in Britain for years, except for one place: a rural farm owned by a couple, Ruth and Mark, who left the city for their tree-change dream when the water crisis was just beginning. The heart of the novel is actually a murder-mystery, with the water crisis and the strange happenings at Ruth and Mark's farm setting the stage for this tragedy. It's a big, thoughtful novel, with a lot to say about the internet and the media, and faith and survival. A good one for book clubs, I think.

I also recently read So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson, and it was so much fun (as well as being rather horrifying). It's the kind of book you race through very quickly, only stopping to tell whoever's around about the outrageous, irritating or amusing chapter you just read. I highly recommend.

Emily Gale is reading The Dogs by Allan Stratton

I read the YA novel The Dogs, by Allan Stratton, in just a few hours: a combination of the fuss-free style and tensely unfolding dual mystery that makes this an ideal page-turner for teenage readers who would really prefer it if authors could just get to the point.

Stratton wrong-foots us from the start with his portrait of an unsettled teenage boy frustrated by his anxious mother who is convinced that her violent ex-husband has caught up with them again. Not for the first time she makes them pack up all their things and relocate. But then while the mother's anxiety seems to subside, it's the boy's mental health that comes into question – we're not sure which of his memories of his father to trust because he's not sure either.

In the new place he becomes obsessed with an unsolved murder that he's sure must have happened in the remote house they now live in, so much so that he's distracted when his own past catches up with him. I found the last few chapters incredibly tense and confronting. This is a powerful depiction of domestic violence, and very accessible for young teenagers.

Bronte Coates is reading Find Me by Laura van den Berg

There are a few short-story collections that I return to again and again. One of them is Laura van den Berg's What the World Will Look Like When All The Water Leaves Us which is straight-up fantastic. Now her debut novel is here and, much like her short stories, it's all kinds of weird and wonderful. Set in a America ravaged by a strange new sickness that causes rapid memory loss, Find Me, opens in a hospital. Along with the other 'inmates' (the hospital has the eerie feel of a prison), the narrator Joy is immune to the sickness and being studied for a cure. The second half of the novel follows Joy's trip across a desolate landscape to track down her birth mother.

Van den Berg's debut has been warmly received overseas. Salon described her as 'the best young writer in America', while the Guardian compared her writing to Margaret Atwood and Kazuo Ishiguro. It's easy to see why. The themes van den Berg tackles are wide-ranging and universal while the details that evoke her dystopian vision of the world are elegant constructions in miniature, precise and haunting. I don't think Find Me is a perfect novel – the structure is unwieldy – but I get so much joy out of her perspective on the world and writing style.
 9699 Our top picks from the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2015-03-19T00:00:00Z
Our staff bring us an update from the Alliance Française French Film Festival – what they've seen so far and what's still to come!

Mark Rubbo on Gemma Bovery:

I had the privilege of attending the opening night which included a viewing of Gemma Bovery – a funny retelling of Madame Bovary's classic story. The film is based on a popular graphic novel by Posy Simmonds. Skilfully directed by Anne Fontaine, who also made the similarly sumptuous Coco Before Chanel, Gemma Bovery is a quaint film about the dangers of stirring passions. Gemma Arterton is the playfully updated version of France's most famous heroine with Fabrice Luchini as the smitten baker and film's narrator. Complications ensue when Gemma meets a dashing aristocrat.

Chris Gordon on Elle L'Adore:

Me and my bloke walked to the movie theatre, hand-in-hand. Before the show started we had a wonderful glass of crisp French white wine. It was a warm evening. Around us, in the foyer of the theatre, people were speaking French. Already I felt transported, far away from Melbourne town.

We'd chosen to watch the thriller comedy, Elle L'Adore. The story centres on Muriel, an obsessive fan of international rock star Vincent Lacroix. When Vincent accidentally kills his passionate girlfriend, he turns to Muriel to dispose of the body. Unfortunately, Muriel is a compulsive liar, and the plan does not go accordingly. Suspense builds as Vincent and Muriel try to stay ahead of a delicious pair of squabbling detectives (that are also lovers). At moments, my bloke and I laughed out loud. At other moments we simply marvelled at the pared-down style of the actors. The film ends with a wonderful sense of fate complete.

On the way home we brought an ice cream and rejoiced in feeling European, at least for one night.

Emily Harms on The Gate:

With The Gate, the Oscar-winning director Régis Wargnier returns to South East Asia, this time within the former French colony of Cambodia. Set during the horrific reign of Pol Pot in the early 1970s, this film is based on a true story about Francois, a French ethnologist, working on the ruins of Angkor, who is imprisoned by the Khmer Rouge and accused of being a CIA spy.

The film draws out incredibly moving performances from the non-professional actors as the story centres on the unlikely bond Francois develops with his interrogator and torturer, Duch.

Stella Charls on Girlhood:

I'm really looking forward to seeing Girlhood at this year's Festival as I really loved writer/director Céline Sciamma's previous explorations of female adolescence (Tomboy and Water Lilies). Her newest film, a joyous story of female empowerment set in the tough neighbourhoods of Paris, has already won the Critics Prize at this year's festival. In their  review, the New York Times described it as a 'socially conscious drama about the choices facing a tough, intelligent, basically decent young person in a world that views her with indifference and suspicion'.

There seems to be a swell of coming-of-age narratives recently released, with Boyhood generating so much deserving hype. Girlhood feels like a fresh, risky, exuberant addition to the genre, not to be missed!

Don't miss your change to catch a film at the festival before it closes on Sunday. Find out more here. Readings is a proud sponsor of the Alliance Française French Film Festival.
 9698 30% off Bloomsbury books 2015-03-19T00:00:00Z
For one day only, we're offering 30% off a range of Bloomsbury books on our website!

To receive the 30% discount, apply the promo code BLOOMSBURY on the final payment page of online checkout. Please note, this sale is online only and ends at midnight on Thursday 19 March. Shipping times may vary if in-stock items sell out.

If you're looking for a meaty novel to sink your teeth in try The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert, which our reviewer describes as a 'sprawling story of botany, nineteenth-century scientific development, herbariums, sea voyages, love, death, old books and abolitionists'. Or Jhumpa Lahiri's Booker Prize shortlisted The Lowland, which our reviewer calls 'a wonderful novel of intricacy and, overall, compassion for those caught in changing times'. Or try Lucy Wood's newly released Weathering, which the Guardian describes as ' a fine, strange novel about the pains of love between mothers and daughters.'

Looking to memoir, Katharine Norbury's The Fish Ladder is a mix of travelogue, nature writing and poetry that has our School and Libraries Liaison Ann Le Lievre captivated (find out why here). There's also Jesmyn Ward's deeply personal and moving Men We Reaped, and Ann Patchett's beloved essay collection This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.

Two stand-out non-fiction titles are Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, and Daniel Goleman's Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence.

Bloomsbury crime authors include former Director General of MI5, Dame Stella Rimington (her most recent release is Close Call) and the bestselling author and screenwriter William Boyd (his most recent release is Restless).

If you're shopping for children, there's some adorable picture books (see Never Tickle a Tiger and Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar) or perhaps your son or daughter is due to read their first Harry Potter book.

Browse the collection below to find even more great titles included in this offer, including cookbooks, young adult fiction and more. Remember to use the promo code BLOOMSBURY in checkout to access your discount.
 9717 The Inky Awards Longlist 2015 2015-03-19T00:00:00Z
The Centre for Youth Literature has just announced the two longlists for the Inky Awards.

The Inky Awards recognise high-quality young adult literature, with the longlist and shortlist selected by young adults, and the winners voted for online by teens. There are two awards: the Gold Inky Award for an Australian book, and the Silver Inky Award for an international book.

The Gold Longlist (Australian books)

Nona and Me by Clare Atkins

Head of the River by Pip Harry

The Other Side of Nowhere by Steve Johnston

The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil

Razorhurst by Justine Larbalestier

The Astrologer's Daughter by Rebecca Lim

Clariel by Garth Nix

Laurinda by Alice Pung

The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer

The Protected by Claire Zorn

The Silver Longlist (International books)

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Bird by Crystal Chan

Spark by Rachael Craw

Half Bad by Sally Green

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Noggin by John Corey Whaley

Find out more about the Inky Awards here.
 9661 Best new crime in March 2015-03-18T00:00:00Z

CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH:

If She Did It by Jessica Treadway

Hanna and Joe Schutt are unsure about their awkward daughter Dawn's first love, the handsome yet unnerving Rud, but are pleased to see their daughter happy – until the night they are viciously beaten by a croquet mallet in bed, leaving Joe dead and Hanna with facial injuries so acute that they leave her, nearly three years later, still with visible scars and a brain injury that impedes her memory of the night. So when Rud, jailed for the attack, wins an appeal, Hanna needs to try to recall what really happened that night so that she can put him back behind bars. She must also defy those around her, even her best friend and other daughter, Iris , who both insist that the killer was not Rud at all, but someone much closer to her heart.

I think I've considered, in the past, that memory loss in books often feels contrived, but Treadway's skill as an author – she's a creative writing professor –never made me feel like Hanna's injury was cheap. No, she did not want to remember the day her beloved husband died, but she never seemed to be actively pushing it away. Likewise, when Dawn does things that arouse suspicion, Hanna does not dismiss them without consideration, but asks questions, fights back, and searches for reality in a world split apart. She wants her daughter, long adored despite being maligned at school for her lazy eye and slight oddness, to love her, to be loved, to shake off everyone's view of her, and to be happy. Dawn or not, someone is a threat to Hanna's life now, and she needs to break into her own mind to find out who it is. This is a stay-up-late, stare-at-your-child-suspiciously-the-next-day thriller.

Camille by Pierre LeMaitre

LeMaitre, once a literary professor and now happily drowning in crime-fiction awards, finishes up his incredibly popular Camille Verhoeven trilogy with a book about the detective himself – a man with the kind of shattered past writers enjoy giving poor innocent protagonists. Four years after the death that broke his heart, Camille has a new love, Anne Forestier, who stumbles onto a robbery on the Champs-Élysées which is as heart-racing and brutal as anything LeMaitre has previously penned. Shot, beaten, but alive, her hospital stay is further darkened by the knowledge that someone is after her. But the man who loves her has never been known to abide by the rules, and if someone is after Anne, then Camille is after them.

Gun Control by Peter Corris

Corris, the 'godfather' of Australian crime fiction and an enjoyable writer if there ever was one, has been writing Cliff Hardy books for 30 years – and here, in book 40, his fans rejoice again. Hardy is hired by Timothy Greenhall, an ex-shooting champion, to find out who was behind Timothy's son's grisly murder. The case goes from city to country, from dodgy to straight to beautiful cops, and on the road with bikers who may be more help than horror. The first death isn't the last – it never is – and as guns fire over Sydney, Hardy just needs to dodge the bullets and save the day.

The Exit by Helen FitzGerald

The first crime book I ever read – Agatha Christie's wonderful By the Pricking of My Thumbs – started in a nursing home with an 'old dear' waffling on about murder and being patted gently on the head as things became much more sinister. Here, Catherine, a young woman begrudgingly working at a nursing home, meets Rose, a resident who suffers from dementia and wanders in and out of the present and her long-distant past. Rose is convinced something is wrong in room seven. Cynical at first, but humouring one of the few residents she can tolerate, Catherine begins to suspect that Rose's desperate ravings contain some truth, and that danger is just down the hall.

The Port Fairy Murders by Robert Gott

In 1943, the early days of Victoria's homicide department, Detective Joe Sable and Constable Helen Lord are on the trail of George Starling, a remnant from the book's prequel, The Holiday Murders. Meanwhile, in scenic Port Fairy, a double murder occurs that homicide originally considers fairly cut and dry, but it's not like Robert Gott to make anything easy when it could instead be thrilling. This series takes a look at the conflicts of a past that sometimes seems not so far away – religious intolerance, industrial problems, gender politics – against a backdrop of a beautifully preserved Greater Melbourne area and its undercurrents of blisteringly brutal violence.

The Prince by Vito Bruschini

Need a meaty historical crime fiction fix? Then read The Prince, a novelisation with its hooks in truth that follows Prince Ferdinando Licata, a rich landowner with all the generous charisma and bloodthirsty violence you need in the fictional founder of the Sicilian mafia. Starting in 1920s Sicily as Licata's manipulation of the poor and defiance against the fascists sees him booted out of Italy, it moves to the 1930s and Licata in a new little town where he can flex his power – New York – and then back to Italy during the Allied invasion of WWII. Smart, well-researched and gloriously epic.

Second Life by S.J. Watson

From the author of the smash hit Before I Go To Sleep comes the story of Julia, middle-aged and lacking excitement until her younger sister, Kate, is murdered in Paris. Feeling guilty that she wasn't helping her sister enough and that their complicated past is sending her emotions all over the place, Julia discovers that Kate enjoyed salacious internet shenanigans and so goes online to find someone who knows what happened to her. However, the temptations of anonymity, pretence, and handsome men may lead Julia into a new and sinister world.

Bad Seed by Alan Carter

Newly minted Acting Detective Sergeant Cato Kwong turns up at the scene of a multiple homicide and recognises the bodies even when their faces are, well, unrecognisable. Rich property developer Francis Tan, his wife, and two of his three children are dead. Now, trying to find out who killed his old friend, Cato must dive into the world of shady online deals – and resurface alive.

Fiona Hardy blogs about Crime Fiction at readingkills.com and puts together the Dead Write column for the Readings Monthly newsletter.
 9678 Classic novels that are overrated 2015-03-17T00:00:00Z
Our staff share the classic novels (and authors) they believe are overrated…

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. An unappealing heroine, a very dull story and an awful 'love interest' – I genuinely do not understand what people see in this classic. I do, however, very much recommend the sublime Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, which tells the story of Rochester's wife. – Isobel Moore, bookseller at St Kilda

George Orwell's time would have been much better spent writing more of his wonderful essays than the novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, which is remarkably dull. – Ford Thomas, online team member

I really did want to like On the Road. I bought a copy as a fifteen-year-old because I was pretentious (clearly) and it seemed like a pretty cool thing to carry around. I planned on dropping references to the 'beat' generation effortlessly into everyday conversations and I started a stream-of-consciousness diary. But I don't think I ever made it past page 20. Its manic energy is supposedly a call to freedom but I found the prose tediously repetitive. Even now, when I see bearded boys in skinny jeans clutching copies every day on the tram (I spotted at least two just this morning) I feel guilty for never having finished it, but maybe, like The Catcher in the Rye, it's one of those books that you need to let go if you didn't read before your early twenties. – Stella Charls, marketing and events coordinator

Rumour has it that a member of my family smuggled Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence onto a plane and into Australia back when it was still banned here. If I had to make that choice now, I probably wouldn't bother. While I recognise how groundbreaking and important it was at the time – and still is as an artefact of the time – it's not a classic to which I'll return. – Elke Power, Editor of Readings Monthly

Anything by Hunter S. Thompson. – Jemima Bucknell, Online Fulfilment Manager

Shakespeare, oh my gosh Shakespeare. I feel like I was forced to study one of plays every other week at high school and have never recovered. (I did surprise myself by enjoying Joss Whedon's adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing but I suspect this isn't one for the purists.) – Bronte Coates, Digital Content Coordinator

Ulysses… The detail – the mind-numbing detail – in this book is not genius. It is repetitive and filled me with an enormous and overwhelming fatigue both times I've tried to read this book. I know many will disagree with my cold-hearted approach to one of the most beloved (?) Irish novels of all time. Some might even hate me for it but for me, I recommend you leave this one alone. – Chris Gordon, Event Manager of Readings

There's no doubting Tolkien's incredible imagination, but my god, glaciers melt quicker than the plot of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. For me, the extended histories, detailed family trees and overwrought descriptions feel more like reading an encyclopedia than a novel. Obviously for many people this is exactly the point – they're my mum's favourite books and for her, the enjoyment comes knowing every nook and cranny of Middle Earth. And such a fully realised world made for a terrific film adaptation – but for me, that's plenty. – Alan Vaarwerk, Editorial Assistant for Readings Monthly

Want to defend one of the books listed here? Email your response to email@example.com.
 9696 A tribute to Terry Pratchett 2015-03-17T00:00:00Z
Stop all the clacks.

An entire world ended last Friday: warring countries; vibrant, huge, dirty cities; small villages settled by people with busy work-filled lives all gone. Individuals perished too: a sharp-as-nails old woman and her wicked friend; a straight-as-an-arrow cop and his big-hearted wife and son; a sixteen-year-old girl who had just discovered what love can mean. A world full of people with hopes and dreams, and love and hate, simply ceased to exist.

At least that what it felt like when I heard Terry Pratchett passed away. There are much more eloquent people out there who will write far better tributes to the man and you should read them all, after you read his books of course. I can only say some of what he did for me.

Pratchett was my first introduction to feminism. After finishing The Light Fantastic, he reportedly looked into the fantasy genre where he noticed the difference between the 'clever and powerful' magic done by wizards (men) and the 'third-rate and negative' magic by witches (women). (Even today the word 'witch' is often negative, while 'wizard' is positive.) Terry Pratchett couldn't let that slide and so he wrote Equal Rites, about a young girl Esk, who was accidentally given a wizard's staff at birth. She was apprenticed to the witch Granny Weatherwax to make up for it but despite Granny's attempts to dissuade Esk from taking up egocentric magic, Esk was determined to go to the wizard's Unseen University. Granny eventually caves and heads to the city to show a group of old men who are terrified of women (unless they're carrying laundry or dinner of course) a thing or two. I wont tell you the outcome but I think that one book did more to shape my mind than anything else I've ever read.

Every October I would pick up my copy of the latest Terry Pratchett novel, secretly hug it to myself, and force myself to wait until Friday night when I would surround myself with snacks and disappear into Discworld until the last page was turned. Then, more often than not, I would push aside the uneaten snacks and just stare at a wall fighting off reality, not wanting the magic of Discworld to completely fade away, not yet.

Sometimes, I would be furious because Terry had created a creature that whispered poison into the ears of unthinking people, filling them with prejudice, anger and fear; making me aware that the same thing is happening here too, in our own reality. Except newspapers and politics are much harder to fight than a bitter burnt up ghost. That's what Terry did. He held a mirror up to our world and showed us everything, including the bad bits – he just changed names (and sometimes species) of the players to make it easier to for us swallow.

Sometimes, though, I would finish the book and simply laugh from the joy of what I'd just been allowed to read. Terry is the only person I've read with pitch-perfect comic timing. He mocked word play as often as he used it. He could be as dry as a bone (through Lord Vetinari) or as filthy as a barman's rag (through Nanny Ogg). He could write physical comedy with as much beauty and grace as a pineapple cream pie to the face. More than once he had me crying from laughter at the Nac Mac Feegle (hilarious little blue Scottish pictsies).

But they're gone now and every moment since Terry's passing I find a new old friend to grieve for: Sybil Ramkin, Tiffany Aching, Daft Wullie, No'-As-Big-As-Medium-Sized-Jock-But-Bigger-Than-Wee-Jock Jock … even Nobby Nobbs.

There will always be the books, of course. And the beauty of Terry's books is that they are so packed full of references, laughs and wisdom that you will find something new in every re-read. But right now, this is a bittersweet comfort to me. Right now I mourn for a man I met only once. A man who since I was 18 has snuck big ideas and new thoughts into my mind and helped shape who I am today. And for all the people who lived in the worlds he created whose stories have suddenly stopped.

Granny Weatherwax, my personal hero, you can put aside your I Aten't Dead card now. You won't need it anymore.

Sam Vimes, your wife, the Patrician and not even your young son could stop you walking your beat and fighting with fury for those who had no voice, but your creator has succeeded where they failed. It's 12 O'Clock and all is not well. Ring your bell one last time and walk no more.

Rincewind, you are finally safe.

Sir Terry Pratchett, from the bottom of my aching heart, thank you.

Dani Solomon works in the Children's & YA section at Carlton.
 9693 Kids' and young adult highlights for March 2015-03-17T00:00:00Z
Recently there has been a more open dialogue about what it's like to live with anxiety, which has made me think about the worries we experience as children and how, as parents or caregivers, we react to those worries. Our response to a child who is uncomfortable about a particular situation, or struggling to find their place in the world, is a great responsibility. This month there are some beautiful picture books with simple messages about how to nurture a worried child, as well as characters children can identify with.

The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade by Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys opens with a heartrending illustration of a little boy in a defeated pose that I've seen in my son so many times. Alfie is so worried about public events (running races, parties, an upcoming fancy-dress parade) that his instinct is to avoid them. He has a sleepless night and a tummy-ache before the parade, and feels anxious that his mother will be angry with him for not wanting to be in it. But she isn't angry at all. In fact, they go off on a day-trip to the aquarium and Alfie's equilibrium is restored. Not only that but, without being pressured, Alfie makes a promise to himself to try entering the parade next year. I can't say I've always reacted to my son's worries without urging him to do the thing he was scared of (or, I confess, sometimes making him) but I've definitely learned over the years that letting him do things in his own time is key. So I thought this book about respecting a child's right to say, 'this is not for me, today at least' was beautiful and positive.

Another common childhood worry is explored in Those Pesky Rabbits, in which a bear constantly refuses the offer of friendship extended by his new neighbours. In this sweet and gently humorous tale, not only do we learn the value of opening yourself up to new possibilities but also the art of persistence when it comes to shy people. The rabbits don't give up on bear, even when he's a little rude – they seem to instinctively understand that he needs special handling. Eventually they change tactics, which leads to success.

Then, in George In The Dark, we meet a little boy who is terribly brave and impressive by day but scared rigid simply to lie in his bedroom with the lights out at night. His parents tell him, as we probably all have at some point, that, 'there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of', which achieves nothing, of course. I thought the tension in George's face was so right, and the text perfectly spare. In the end, George does overcome his fear when his favourite bear is lost in the darkest, scariest part of the bedroom.

And finally, one last picture book about figuring out your identity during childhood. If you were a fan of Oliver Jeffers' and Drew Daywalt's The Day The Crayons Quit you will love Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall. 'Red' the crayon has a label telling him what he should be but try as he might, he can't help the fact that inside the label he is actually blue. The crayons around him – such as his mother, 'Olive', and his grandparents, 'Gray' and 'Silver' - who all behave as their labels dictate, try to encourage him when Red fails to … well, draw red things red. But then he meets 'Purple', who gently shows him who he really is. This is great fun and can be read on two levels.

Moving into Junior Fiction now and, regrettably, the book I most wanted to recommend to you in this category has already sold out! A new shipment is on its way though so I'll keep you in suspense until it arrives. Fortunately there's a great new crop of books for 6- to 10-year-olds to draw from until then.

If your daughters would rather climb a tree or do a science experiment than put on a frilly dress and play Princesses, they'll love The Anti-Princess Club series by Samantha Turnbull. Although I can't agree with the author's assertion that she could find no books for girls without fairies and princesses in them before she decided to write some of her own, I say the more books that recognise girls' diversity the better and this looks like a series that will really appeal. A new Squishy McFluff is also cause for delight (little girl, imaginary cat, rollicking rhyme), along with a new Violet Mackerel.

Kyle Mewburn's Dinosaur Rescue series was an excellent mix of funny, adventurous and slightly revolting. Lots of kids who obsess over dinosaurs eventually discover dragons and this is exactly what Mewburn is tapping into next with Dragon Knight. The illustrations by Donovan Bixley provide a lot of the humour and energy. Equally fart-filled but not a dragon in sight is Johnny Danger about a young spy (read our review here). And sticking with humour, though for a slightly older reader of around 10 and into early teens, is Son of Death. This second novel by Andrew McDonald is an entertaining and clever book, and I urge you to read a blog post by the author: Why I Wrote A Book About Death For Kids.

Sometimes my 11-year-old daughter and I share books, and two authors we definitely agree on are Rebecca Westcott and Hilary McKay. Westcott's third novel, Five Things They Never Told Me is just out but I haven't been able to get anywhere near it yet for this very reason. And if you missed Hilary McKay's Binny For Short in hardback last year, it's now out in paperback. Binny is such a fresh, funny voice for tweens and early teens; she's quite stroppy but means well, and actually reminds me of a tween I know very well…

This month sees the conclusion to Melbourne author Ellie Marney's great young adult series inspired by Sherlock Holmes. By all accounts, Every Move is a fitting end to an exciting trilogy. But as good things end, new ones begin and The Hush by another Melbourne author, Skye Melki-Wegner, sounds like a highly imaginative and clever fantasy (Melki-Wegner also wrote the Chasing the Valley series of recent years). The Hush is set in a world where music is literally magic. Another fantasy I'm hearing great things about is The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson. And if you're looking for something light and funny, catch up on the Geek Girl series which is now into its fourth story with All That Glitters.

It's hard to pick a favourite in the non-fiction selection for this month. I loved The Story of Life: A First Book About Evolution. When my kids were young and their badgering about, 'How the world began' stretched my knowledge to its not-very-far-reaching limits, I relied on Neal Layton's brilliant The Story Of Everything to help it all make sense. Sadly that's no longer available but The Story of Life is a great replacement for it. It is told just like a story, with a solid narrative that children can really grab hold of. It isn't dry – the author somehow manages to give enough detail to rocks and volcanoes to make even them seem like characters in the story. Plus, the illustrations are fun and attractive. If you've ever tried and failed to explain evolution to a young child, this is for you.

Other non-fiction favourites of the month include Creaturepedia, Atlas of Adventures A Collection of Natural Wonders, Exciting Experiences and Fun Festivities from the Four Corners of the Globe and Extraordinary People: A Semi-Comprehensive Guide to Some of the World's Most Fascinating Individuals. These are the kind of books that make the best birthday gifts and will be used by children for years.

Finally, Dreams of Freedom by Amnesty International is full of quotes to inspire children to stand up against injustice and inequality. This stunning book also features illustrations by some of the greatest talents in children's books and is perfect for use in the home or the classroom.

Emily Gale is the Online Children's Specialist, and a Children's & YA author the rest of the time.
 9694 Our top ten bestsellers of the week 2015-03-16T00:00:00Z

The Abyssinian Contortionist: Hope, Friendship and Other Circus Acts by David Carlin

Skin by Ilka Tampke

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

Down To The River by SJ Finn

Bad Behaviour: A Memoir of Bullying and Boarding School by Rebecca Starford

We are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

The Happy Cookbook by Lola Berry

Hot Little Hands by Abigail Ulman

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (translated by Ann Goldstein)

Last week saw the launch of several terrific books, three of which were top sellers last week. This includes David Carlin's biography of professional contortionist Sosina Wogayehu (The Abyssinian Contortionist), Ilka Tampke's thrilling debut set in Iron-Age Britain on the cusp of Roman invasion (Skin) and SJ Finn's courageous and timely second novel (Down To The River).

(Check out more upcoming launches and events here.)

We're delighted that Finn is our online writer-in-residence this month. Find out more here!

This month has also seen the release of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels in smaller paperback editions (each available for $22.99) – the first of which is included here on our bestsellers list. To find out why our staff are raving about this series, click here.
 9691 Chris Gordon reflects on women in science 2015-03-13T00:00:00Z
Earlier this week I chatted with Kate White, an internationally recognised researcher on gender in higher education, about women working in the area of science.

Specifically, we talked about why so many women choose to leave the field of science and why is it important that they stay. White's research explores new models intended to enable younger women (and men) to have successful science careers that balance with other priorities in life. Her research supports Annabel Crabb's theory in The Wife Drought: if we want more women in work, then we must give men more flexible work practices.

The conversation, of course, was based on gender politics and we established the importance of stories as a tool for keeping Australian women in science. We must share the stories of women in the science field – their work and home practices – to use as inspiration for our young scientists. This is a way of demonstrating that a career is possible in the highly competitive field of research grants and international knowledge.

But we must also not use sexuality to categorise work either. Work achieved should only concentrate fully on findings. In her novel, The Signature of all Things, Elizabeth Gilbert features the first female botanist. She only ever had her work published using her initials so that the reader did not know her sex and this is important. Discovery is not dependent on sex.

White's book Keeping Women in Science is important, provoking reflection on how we want our future to be. White has made a critical contribution to this debate.

Chris Gordon is the Events Manager for Readings.
 9689 What we're reading: Alejandro Zambra, Mary Norris and Michel Faber 2015-03-13T00:00:00Z
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we're reading, the films we're watching, the television shows we're hooked on or the music we're loving.

Stella Charls is reading The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber

When I was a teenager I precociously decided that fantasy and science fiction were for children and I was only going to read "the real stuff" from now on. I didn't exactly know what "the real stuff" was - Love! Death! Humanity! – but this ridiculous aversion to genre fiction hit me somewhere in between the fourth and fifth Harry Potter books and has sadly stuck with me for over a decade.

This year I'm keen to be braver, and read more broadly, which is what I told Michel Faber when he came into the Carlton shop to sign copies of his latest novel, The Book of Strange New Things. The book itself is a stunningly beautiful object, and my colleagues had raved about it since its release a few months ago (Deb calls it "nothing short of luminous" in her review). It seems like a story of humanity, only set in an alien world – for believers and non-believers alike. So I'm going to dive straight in. Michel Faber is known for his personalised inscriptions, so here's what he wrote inside my copy: "Preare to be taken out of your comfort zone, trust me, and exhale when you get to the other end. I promise this is "the real stuff" as you put it…".

Mark Rubbo is reading Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris

Mary Norris has been working as a copy editor at The New Yorker for over 30 years; her first real job was as a 'milklady' in Cleveland but somehow that didn't pan out and somehow she ended up as the comma queen at The New Yorker. I bet she was tempted to sub title it 'comma Nazi'. Anyway, I've only read the introduction as you can see from my terrible grammar and use of commas, but I'm getting into the serious bit and, (is that comma right?) it's looking really good.

I think we should all read this book, it's coming out in May from Text. My friend Garrison Keillor really likes it too; actually I've never met him but I have met Mary and I want her grammar.

Chris Somerville is reading the work of Alejandro Zambra

In anticipation for My Documents, published this month by McSweeneys, and which has already been called his best work to date, I've been making my way through the earlier work of Alejandro Zambra. So far I've read Zambra's novella, Bonsai, and now I'm about halfway through his novel Ways Of Going Home, which is about a young boy growing up in Chile and also a writer working on a novel about growing up in Chile. The pleasure of reading books features heavily.

Zambra's work is equally sad and funny and it feels, in the best way, nostalgic. I'm only about halfway through Ways Of Going Home and already there's been more ideas contained in it than novels twice its size.

Amy Vuleta is reading Big Bad Love by Larry Brown

A fellow bookseller recently gifted me a book (expertly chosen to suit me, in classic bookseller style!) which is unfortunately now out of print – a collection of stories by Southern American writer Larry Brown called Big Bad Love. Brown's voice is unique and distinct. His characters are good-for-nothing romantics, misfits, deadbeats, and dreamers. His narrators are brutally honest and wear their hearts and egos on their sleeves.

My favourite so far has been the story of a guy whose old dog dies. Before he buries the dog, he just wants to go get a drink and thinks he can probably manage to do that before his wife gets home and finds the dog in the yard. He stalls and drinks and drives around a while, and when he finally comes home he finds a note from his wife saying she's left him for another man.

Larry Brown was the captain of the Mississippi fire department for forty years while he wrote hundreds of stories and tried tirelessly to get some published. I'm glad he did.

The other book I'm reading is also unavailable BUT it is due to be published later this year. Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy is, again, a novel set in America's south and has all the raw brutality of Katherine Faw Morris and the poetic realism of Daniel Woodrell.


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There are answers to our problems
Published: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.
How did having to evacuate make you feel? If you live on Grand Isle, evacuation was always part of life. But how about those in Larose, Lockport, Gheens, Houma or Thibodaux? Why is it that these areas now have mandatory evacuations?
The line of evacuation keeps moving north. When I was a young boy, the only people that evacuated were the people in Grand Isle. They would come up to Larose, Lockport and Raceland for a couple of days, and then go home. They would park the charter and trawl boats in Lockport. However, this has changed because the government has failed to take the action necessary to protect Louisianas coastal parishes for the long-term. They have patched the holes in the levees and spent tons of money. They cut a few trees and took out a few gazebos next to some levees. Some people got Road Home funds, but most all got Road Home Headaches. Recent legislation has increased the costs of insurance coverage and home-building. The government has spent its time on petty issues like making it illegal to have a rope tied in a noose and cock fighting. This has made many good people in Louisiana consider moving to other states.
What is the plan? Well I have one. Use the engineering universities to make a map from the 1800s of the barrier islands and marshes. Hire Dredging Supply Company DSC of Reserve, the well-known manufacturer of dredges and get them to start doing what they do best, pump sand. The fleet of dredges should be working 24-7. Put in the freshwater diversion projects to sustain the work by the dredges. This plan has our first line of defense and more.
We can also use the levee-box system for areas that need new levees, instead of the old system used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which requires a 300-foot base and years to construct. This would save time and money. What took years to build could be done in months.
We could use all those moth-balled ships that the Navy and Coast Guard have retired along with retired Army tanks and other vehicles and bring them to Bayou Steel to be melted down into metal sheet pilings. That would give us miles and miles of sheet pilings for our levees and islands. Even Grand Isle could have a seawall built around it, and the land raised to about 15 feet above sea level. No more splitting the island in half every storm, or having the road flooded. With that much elevation, underground utilities would be possible.
Alvin Dominique Jr.
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About James Tuer
Graphic illustrator based out of Toronto.
James Tuer joined Society6 on November 30, 2011. Verified on November 30, 2011.
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tag: notions
Coronation Elsa
Coronation elsa Frozen costume. Everything was hand made but the crown. Skirt, bodice, shirt, cape and shoes were all hand painted by me. It also has gloves but unfortunately she was hot and took...view details
FASHION FORWARD LOOKS by Ayana Ife`
I derive immense gratification out of creating beautiful work with my hands. All garments were constructed by me. The camo jacket, and denim pants were made from patterns. The special occaion dress...view details
The Little Black Dress2 comments
This is a one shoulder party/cocktail dress, very sexy, with a 12" long fringe. I used a embroidered net with sequins. Dress is all lined, but with an sheer back.view details
Mother of the Bride1 comment
Using Marfy 2137 I made this stunning mother of the bride dress. The fashion fabric was a fuchsia silk jacquard with silk organza underlining, and a china silk lining. I used china silk because it is...view details
Ombre Satin Prom Dress with Rhinestones1 comment
This is a dress I made for my daughter's prom. She liked the reference to the 1940's pinup style. The heavy ombre dutchess satin fabric gave the the mermaid train just the right amount of body and...view details
Future *tart*an
I will be creating a line of dresses, skirts, blouses, and jackets over the next few weeks, mixing plaid with lace and jackets made of wool for shell and silk lining.view details
Peplum & Ruffled Top
I used the Simplicity 1699 as my base pattern but I altered it by lowering the neckline, making a ruffled pattern for the neckline, changing the sleeves, adding volume to the peplum (6x the volume...view details
Sun hat for the gardener or beach comber1 comment
This pretty yet sturdy hat was made with the outdoors in mind. Outdoor home decor/utility fabric and sew in interfacing were key to construction. The fabric was chosen for its floral...view details
Cupcake Party Dress & Coat1 comment
Talk about I love to sew! I am a Grandma of 8 beautiful grandkids. and Thank you for giving me this oppunity to make my 2yr old grand daughter this party dress. Dress- is a 2T Cupcake pattern lined...view details
In honor of our Soldiers
I was asked to make an Army costume for one of my grandsons for Halloween, if I could. I didn't have a specific pattern for the costume, I just used a basic shirt and pant pattern that I had...view details
Another costume for another Grandson!
My second grandson wanted to be "Superman" for Halloween, I looked for patterns for the costume and could not find any, so I took a vintage pattern that I had of the old pajama's that snapped at the...view details
BooBerry Cereal Ghost Costume
Boo Berry is super easy to make! Just paper mache a helmet, cut the eyes, nose and mouth out. Glue while fleece cut to drape to the knees (I airbrushed it very lightly with blue) and glue circle...view details
QUEEN OF HEARTS - Costume for Alice in Wonderland Children's Theater Production8 comments
I made this costume for my grandaughter, Beth Ann when she played the Queen of Heartsin Alice in Wonderland, in a Youth Theater production in Austin, TX. This is the only picture I havenbsp...view details
MAD Hatter
I made this Mad hatter costume for a friend of mine, Brian Brady(in the pictures). I made the entire costume from my own pattern I made. I made the long, coat out of cordoroy. The cuffs are...view details
Lapped Zippers Rule!4 comments
Lapped zippers are easier to insert and look better than centered zippers in almost every situation.view details
A Hand-Picked Zipper is Worth the Effort4 comments
Show off your stitches with this easy-to-learn technique.view details
How to Shop for Elastic
Sewing educator and author Connie Long explains how to get the right type and the right amount of elastic for a flexible waistline.view details
Making Sense of Stabilizers5 comments
Fabric stabilizers are rewriting the book on decorative sewing techniques, and new ones appear daily. Here's how to sort through the maze.view details
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Trio of International Trade Leaders to Visit MIIS for Fall Speaker Series
Three nationally-recognized trade leaders will address current issues in international trade policy in a new public lecture series at the Monterey Institute this fall.
Three nationally-recognized trade leaders will address current issues in international trade policy in a new public lecture series at the Monterey Institute this fall.
This past summer, four Monterey Institute students served as Peace Fellows for the Advocacy Project, working on such diverse issues as women's reproductive rights in Nepal and helping families of victims in Peru find closure through forensic anthropology.
The greatest hope of Bishnu Adhikari (MAIEP '07) is that the humanitarian development work he and his colleagues undertake will someday make international aid unnecessary: "I hope one day to be out of a job!"
On August 20, the Institute will showcase the research and consulting work of students from the Graduate School of International Policy and Management in all-day event.
Emily Sloane (MAIEP '09) found her career path - with a few stops along the way - through networking while still at MIIS.
Monterey Institute student Faraaz Mahomed (MAIPS '10), a self described "Amnesty Groupie," says putting the skills and knowledge from class into practice was an invaluable experience.
Twelve students from Shandong University participated in a simulation of China's accession to the World Trade Organization as part of a special summer training course in trade and development at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Lucy Jodlowska and Kiersten Anderson are working to assess the needs of impoverished women bead makers in Uganda and evaluating the program that allows them to sell their product in the US.
Monterey Institute Summer Programs offer students intensive practical language and professional training.