Reading Rewards

Oscar nominated books 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

This year, six of the nine nominations for Best Picture are based on books. (and they say the book is dead!)

And the nominees are:

War Horse - written by Michael Morpugo
Hugo - based on Invention of Hugo Cabret written by Brian Selznick
Extremely loud and incredibly close - written by Jonathan Safran Foer
Moneyball - written by Michael Lewis
The Descendents - written by Kaui Hart Hemmings
The Help - written by Kathryn Stockett

If one of these movies wins the Best Picture Oscar this year, it will join a long list of worthy winners that originated as a book. Some of the more famous ones include:

Gone with the wind by Margaret Mitchell
Lord of the Rings - Return of the King by J.R.R Tolkien
One flew over the cuckoos nest by Ken Kesey
Schindler's ark by Thomas Kenneally
All quiet on the western front by Erich Remarque
Beautiful mind by Sylvia Nasar
No country for old men by Cormac McCarthy

If you look back through Oscar history, you will find a lot of classic book titles have become books and have won Oscars. So take this opportunity to read the book that become the movie, that then became an Oscar winning film. I'll leave it to you to decide, which was better, the movie or the book!

Michelle

No time for goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:48:00 +0000

I really enjoy the wonderful writing skills of Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly and Robert Crais amongst others, in the mystery genre. As a result, it can be hard to find another author who writes in the same genre and as well as those I have already enjoyed.

I finally found one. On a recommendation, I picked up the first book by Linwood Barclay - No time for goodbye.

The description:
Something was terribly wrong. Fourteen-year-old Cynthia Bigge woke to find herself alone. Her family—mother, father, and brother—had vanished without a word, without a note, without a trace. Twenty-five years later, Cynthia is still looking for answers. Now she is about to learn the devastating truth. Cynthia and Terry Archer still live in Milford, Connecticut, not far from the old Bigge house on Hickory Street. With a solid marriage and a young daughter, the Archers seem on track for a successful future. But the questions raised by Cynthia’s past still haunt her, and her obsession to find the answers threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked for. For Cynthia, there can be no closure until she finds out why her family disappeared—and how they could have left her behind. And as Cynthia’s nerves begin to unravel, no one’s innocence is guaranteed, not even her own. By the time the first body is found, it’s clear that her past is more of a mystery than she ever imagined—or may ever survive.Someone has returned to this Connecticut town to finish what was started twenty-five years ago. And by the time Terry and Cynthia discover the killer’s shocking identity, it will be too late even for goodbye.

This was a well-written, absolutely intriguing and nail-biting story. Told from Terry's point of view, you can easily empathise with both him and Cynthia, whilst still wondering whether Cynthia had any direct or indirect involvement in what happened to her family. What did she do or not do, that meant she was left behind? I had a lot of trouble putting it down.

So if you enjoy a thriller, with a twist or two, that keeps you enthralled, I recommend you check out No time for goodbye.

Michelle

Think: straight talk for women to stay smart in a dumb down world

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:45:00 +0000

“Twenty percent of young American women would rather win America’s next Top Model than the Nobel peace prize. Twenty-three percent would rather lose their ability to read than their figures. ARGH!!!”

Those statistics seem shocking and while I first thought “Americans...” I took a moment one day to look at the young girls around me and thought maybe its not just the Americans. In the 1970’s (long before I was born) a wave of feminism hit that changed cultural and social conventions. But how far have we come since then? In society today women are smarter than men, we achieve higher standards at school and yet we bury ourselves in a world of tabloid magazines, fashion and celebrity. I honestly can’t say why the above statement surprised me, after all, beauty it seems is more rewarded than brains. I hear more about Angelina Jolie’s feud with Jennifer Aniston than I do about her humanitarian work. What has happened to us? When did women start going backwards? Why have our expectations of ourselves been reduced to beauty instead of brains? In Think Bloom analyses these modern-day issues women encounter and not only does she ask the questions, she also provides the answers.

I found this book to be a deeply insightful and thought-provoking read. Honestly, I went into this book thinking I’d be reading about all the other ‘dumbed-down’ girls out there. After all, I am an educated woman not at all body obsessed (just body conscious) and I read a book and newspaper everyday. So imagine my astonishment when I discovered that Lisa Bloom was talking about me (in parts anyway)? Because yes, I do read the tabloid magazines and yes, gossip with my girlfriends about Angelina Jolie as we’re sipping coffee. I may not be in the 23% percent who would rather lose their ability to read than their figures (NEVER!!!) but still I admit to delving into the world of celebrity and knowing more than I should about people I’ve never met. And not knowing anything about life for women who live outside the world I live in. It is ignorance and in today’s age it is unacceptable. In Think Bloom is asking us to think more, to do more and to be more. Reach your potential. And best of all she tells you just how to do it. An inspiring and reflective read for every mother, daughter, aunt, niece…basically every female.

Courtney :)

Aussie Author challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:18:00 +0000

The National Year of Reading 2012 officially begins on 14th February, but that doesn't mean you can't get an early start to a fabulous year of reading.

And here's one way you can.

Why not take up the Aussie Author challenge from Booklover Book Reviews?

Challenge period: 1 January 2012 - 31 December 2012

Objective: Read and review books written by Australian Authors – physical books, ebooks and audiobooks, fiction and non-fiction!

Challenge Levels: TOURIST or TRUE BLUE!

TOURIST – Read and review 3 books by 3 different Aussie Authors
TRUE BLUE - Read and review 12 books by Australian authors (at least 9 different authors)

This challenge asks you to blog your reviews and link to their page, but for those who don't blog, you can still write reviews and get them posted online. We are happy to post your reviews on our Reading Rewards blog or you can add them to our catalogue.

Australia has many great authors, both past and present, so the challenge will not in being able to find books to read. As I posted recently, I have just enjoyed another great read from Matthew Reilly - an Australian author.

If you don't know where to start, check these pages on Australian novelists at Wikipedia, or ask library staff to recommend an author who writes in your preferred style or genre.

Michelle

Scared Yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

From the cover: When Livia Prescott fights off a terrifying assault in a deserted car park, the media hail her bravery. And after a difficult year – watching her father fade away, her business struggle and marriage fall apart – it feels good to strike back for once. But as the police widen their search for her attacker, menacing notes start arriving. And brave is not what she feels any longer. When her family and friends are drawn into the stalker’s focus – with terrifying consequences – the choice becomes simple. Fight back, or lose the people she loves the most.

In the review I wrote on Jaye Ford’s debut novel, Beyond Fear, I said: “This novel grabs you from the very first few pages and does not let up 400 or so down the track. Building tension is one thing, but sustaining it is another and Ford adroitly keeps up the pressure in such a subtle way that you only notice by realising your stomach muscles are clenched.”

In Scared Yet? Ford repeats her previous talent for creating suspense and not letting go. She knows quite plainly – experience or imagination? - what is terrifying for a woman and manages to write about it without sounding glib or patronizing. This book has more character threads woven into the storyline than her previous, but that doesn’t confuse the momentum. Fear can be pretty much anywhere for Livia, and this story has you looking for it with each turn of the page. It’s definitely a worthy read for fans of the suspense genre.

Deb.

Christmas magic

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:36:00 +0000

Definitely Magical!

I’ve long been a fan of Cathy Kelly, so when I saw her latest book “Christmas Magic” on the display shelves at the library I quickly grabbed it & took it home to read. I didn’t need to know anything else about it, it’s by Cathy Kelly, and so I knew I was in for a good read.

I was enthralled from page 1; but then I got to page 33. The characters introduced in the new chapter didn’t seem to fit in with the story line – “That’s OK” I thought, “they will all meet up in the next chapter and it will make sense then.” Page 53, chapter 3 – more new characters! It was at this stage I decided to turn the book over & read the blurb on the back cover. Yep – as I was beginning to suspect, Cathy’s new “novel” was actually a collection of short stories! I’m not a fan of short stories – never have been. When I sit down with a book I want to see the characters grow and develop, I want them to be my companions for as long as possible; not for just 20 odd pages.

Cathy may have changed my opinion of the short story. I picked up “Christmas Magic” on the 20th of December, right at the hectic end of my own Christmas preparations. When I had a minute to put my feet up and have a coffee, “Christmas Magic” was there with a 15 minute story for me; just enough time to recharge the batteries before running around some more. There was no temptation to read “just one more chapter” before getting up, a nasty habit of mine that has resulted in veggies boiled dry on the stove and washing left out in the rain!

Not just about Christmas, “Christmas Magic” is filled with heart warming stories that leave you either laughing or smiling. A great read any time of year – especially if you’re busy!

Leanne

Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:58:00 +0000

Matthew Reilly writes books that take you on a ride, more thrilling and death-defying than the greatest roller coaster and Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves is his latest.

It reintroduces us to marine Captain Shane (Scarecrow) Schofield, who is on a 'baby-sitting' mission, some time after the callous murder of his love in Scarecrow.

"An old Soviet weapons installation in the Arctic has fallen into disrepair. Known as Dragon Island, the facility is home to a next-generation weapon with the potential to unleash a destructive force upon the world that was developed during the Cold War and subsequently forgotten. When a terrorist organisation known as the Army of Thieves takes control of the fortified island and activates the weapon, a small band of Marines and civilians is sent in to stop them as they are the only unit close enough to Dragon Island to be able to reach the installation in time. "

Unfortunately for him, Scarecrow is leading that small band and so he is thrown in the deep end. Fortunately, he has his ever faithful fellow marine, codename "Mother" as well as some new scientific tricks and tools to help out.

What is a Matthew Reilly book without impossible odds, but otherwise amazingly and scarily possible scenarios. If you have enjoyed Matthew Reilly before, you'll love the new Scarecrow. If you enjoy a great thriller with lots of action, you'll love it too. And if you can accept a bit of suspension of disbelief, you are in for one awesome ride!

Enjoy!

Michelle

Constant Princess

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:31:00 +0000

Constant princess by Phillipa Gregory.

When Princes Catalina leaves Spain for England she is promised a marriage with Prince Arthur and to one day be Katherine Queen of England. What she didn't expect was to fall completely in love with her new husband, and together plan their ruling of England and strengthening the alliance between Spain and England. Just months into their marriage Arthur dies and Catalina's last promise to him is to remain in England and become Queen by marrying Arthur's younger brother...the infamous Henry VIII. After years of living in poverty, denied by both the Spanish and English courts Catalina and Henry wed, who knew this would be just the start of her problems?

I really like these sorts of books because they are based on history and in particular I liked this one as it was focused on Henry VIII. If you enjoy historical fiction or this era of English history, you will enjoy the story, which works within the facts of the era.

Natalie

Our Best Reads 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:00:00 +0000

The team at RR has enjoyed some excellent reads this year, so much so that picking just one title proved impossible for a couple of us.

If you've read one of our favourites, drop us a comment or two -- we'd love to hear your opinions. Now, drum roll ...

On the Record by Laurie Oakes

Few of us, even those not into Australian politics, do not know who Laurie Oakes is. Laurie Oakes has been writing about politics, power and politicians for over forty years, and still pops up nightly on the TV screen giving us his rundown on the latest shenanigans from Canberra. The articles in this collection range from the Australia of the era of 'Black Jack' John McEwen, John Gorton, Billy McMahon and Gough Whitlam right through to the rise and fall of Kevin Rudd and the era of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.

This is a fascinating collection of some of Oakes’ best pieces: astute, farsighted and at times visionary. They can be dipped into randomly or consumed from cover to cover, but every one is worth savouring.

Teresa

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan

Jacob Marlowe is the last of his kind: a werewolf. He is tired of life and tired of being hunted by his enemies. He decides to give himself over to the authorities at the next full moon, however events conspire against him and he rediscovers his passion for life and love.

This is a very well written novel with a great balance of horror and humour. A werewolf book for grownups!

Gareth

The Retribution by Val McDermid

For those of you who know and love the English TV series of the 90’s, “Wire in the Blood”, the credit goes to Val McDermid, on whose characters and books the series was based. I just had to get a hold of her latest in the ongoing saga of profiler Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan and I was not disappointed.

There is a lot of change happening in Hill’s and Jordan’s lives. Maybe some positive changes in their complicated relationship too. All that is totally disrupted, when serial killer and former tv personality, Jacko Vance escapes from jail. Vance’s revenge against those who brought him to justice, will drastically impact both Hill and Jordan in ways they could not have imagined. A read I could not put down and which I highly recommend to both Tony Hill fans as well as those who may not have read McDermid’s wonderful writing before.

Michelle Mc

Vanishing Act by Mette Jakobsen

I think one of my fave reads this year was this spellbinding debut novel - it's a gentle treasure you'll never forget. It is a delightful and imaginative fable about 12-year old Minou's life on a snow-covered island you won't find on any map. The morning after the circus, her Mama walked out into the reain with a black umbrella and never came back. It's a story about a magician and a priest and a dog called No Name.

Pru

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.

This is a gripping and moving novel about war, art, love and survival. Geraldine Brooks takes you on a journey through history and time as a precious medieval manuscript is recovered from the smouldering ruins or war-torn Sarajevo. Hanna Heath, a renowned Sydney book conservator, is called in the middle of the night to make her way to Bosnia to start conservation work on the Jewish prayer book called the Haggadah.

Each element of the book takes you through its history, from the clasps to the hair and wing found in the binding, every facet tells its own story.

The Bolinda audio book was narrated brilliantly by Edwina Wren, who gave life to the different characters and their nationalities. I must admit that a book about the conservation of a book was not high on my “subjects to read about” list, but I was more than pleasantly surprised and couldn’t turn it off.

Monique

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

We all know the story of Jaycee Lee Dugard; snatched from outside her home by convicted paedophile Phillip Garrido at eleven, Jaycee would spend eighteen years in captivity being sexually and mentally abused. Jaycee recounts with such honesty the horrific details of the horror she lived at the hands of Garrido and how she has reclaimed her life back. An awe-inspiring read about the strength of the human spirit.

Mia Culpa by Mia Freedman

Life as a Woman in the 21st century can be difficult and complex. Come and join Mia Freedman as she discusses the highs and lows of modern life. From discussion about pubic hairs to motherhood, body image and everything in between, Mia Culpa is an honest look at the 21st century woman. I challenge anyone not to get a giggle out of this one.

Courtney

Room by Emma Donoghue

This stood out for me because it was totally believable. The innocent narrator's voice was engaging and put a comforting distance between the reader and the horror of the story. The sacrifice the child’s mother made at the end of the book showed the depth of her love for him, regardless (or in spite) of the circumstances of his birth.

Rocks in the Belly by Jon Bauer (I interview Jon about his reading habits here - http://cclcreadingrewards.blogspot.com/2011/08/interview-jon-bauer.html ) This story was rich with emotion while being free of sentimentality, and I thought it was powerfully written.

Both of these novels are essentially about a mother and son, and I found both to be heartbreaking, heart-warming and life-affirming. If you’re looking for something to read with “heart”, that will speak to you on a deeper than surface level; something that will linger with you after the final page, then I recommend you try either one or both of these books.

Lisa

The Maid by Kimberly Cutter

This was an engrossing historical novel capturing the life of Joan of Arc in the early 15^th Century France. The book brings alive her destiny from her visions, struggles and triumphs, leading armies into battle against the English, and finally being captured and burnt at the stake. Well researched and very readable.

Lyne

The Changi Brownlow by Roland Perry

This is a powerful book. Initially slow to start, it’s worth sticking with, particularly if you don’t know much about this horrendous chapter in the history of Australia’s participation in World War Two. It’s gut-wrenching reading in parts, while others have you leaping up from your chair to punch the air in celebration of bravery, intestinal fortitude and sheer physical endurance. I believe if you’re a footy fan you may enjoy this book more than those who aren’t into the code, but above all, it is an amazing story of human spirit – one that was a privilege to read and one I highly recommend.

A Cafe in Venice by Dorian Mode

Jazz musician turned author, Dorian Mode, is “one out of the box”, a real character which oozes from his talented fingertips onto the printed page. The book is laugh out loud, emotional, and populated with memorable characters. It has a strong sense of place; the desert landscape makes a great setting and is where the story genuinely shines.

I downloaded the Bolinda eAudiobook and was treated to not only the talented David Treddinick (to my mind doing one of the narrations of the year - give the man an Audie award) but two of Mr Mode’s uber-cool jazz tracks, a fine surprise indeed. This book was great; it was one of those stories that sneaks up on you, takes you on a journey, and when it ends you sort of whistle slowly and say ‘wow’. Highly recommend for those who are looking for something different.

Deb

Interview - Toni Jordan

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:59:00 +0000

Toni Jordan is a freelance writer, award-winning novelist and lecturer in creative writing at RMIT. Her most recent novel is Fall Girl.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

I've been reading for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories are of a book of children's poetry by Mary Gilmore (kind of strange--it wasn't a poetry-reading home) and the Faraway series by the awesome Enid Blyton.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

When my first book, Addition, was picked up by publishers overseas, I thought to myself: 'Perhaps I do know what I'm doing.' I'd love it if readers enjoyed themselves, but found plenty to think about as well. I think readers can laugh and think at the same time.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

These days it's a very special book that enables me to lose myself. When I love something, I can't help thinking: 'How did she/he do that?'

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

I couldn't possibly stop reading while I was writing. It takes me around 18 months to write a book. If I stopped reading fiction during that time, I'd go bonkers. I've never understood this 'polluting my voice' theory of reading.

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way.

Sorry, must have six. The six people who make me want to give up: Peter Carey, Jonathan Franzen, Zadie Smith, Peter Temple, Richard Ford, AS Byatt. Freaks, every one.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

At the moment, it would be Freedom by Jonathon Franzen. I've been looking forward to it but haven't started yet. It’s a biggun.

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

I think this is what every writer would give their left kidney to know, but there's no easy answer. It's a magical thing, often unrelated to technical skill.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

I'm such an optimist that I firmly believe in giving a writer every chance. Who knows? Even if the book's a stinker, they might pull something out in the last ten pages that is so fantastic that the rest of the book falls into place. I've only given up half way once in living memory. Embarrassingly for me, it was Patrick White's The Living and the Dead. I really hated it and it made me incredibly angry, because I'd never read White before and I was so looking forward to it.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

There's too many to mention. Apart from the six aliens I've listed earlier, I love Michelle de Kretser, Chris Womersley, Brian Castro...the list goes on. So many writers make me go weak at the knees.

If you had to list them, what would be your ‘top ten’ reads of all time (excluding the classics) and why?

Yikes. This changes on a daily basis. Excluding the classics, the books I try to read at least once a year are:

The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen

Possession - AS Byatt

Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey

White Teeth - Zadie Smith

Independence Day - Richard Ford

The Gathering - Anne Enright

The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje

The Acolyte - Thea Astley

Carpentaria - Alexis Wright

Flaubert's Parrot - Julian Barnes

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

AAARGH! Lisa you ask all the tough questions. I can't pick one because it was a tie: Peter Temple's Truth and Chris Womersley's Bereft. Wonderful, wonderful books. I don't write anything like this type of thing, but you can see the genius in them. They are both exquisite in every way.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

They'll be prying my pBooks out of my cold dead hands.

Find out more about Toni here.

- Lisa

Book Chat

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:46:00 +0000

In the last Book Chat for the year, booklovers at Emerald enjoyed a cuppa and shared opinions on a wide range of titles, both fiction and non-fiction. Here's a 'fly on the wall' peek at some of the books; why not reserve a couple and let us know your opinion too?

Mother of the Bride by Adrienne Sallay
Written blog-style month by month, this is an entertaining journey through the year that the author's daughter prepares to be married.

"Not just a light-hearted tale, it is often funny, sometimes sad, but very human. A good read."

So Much for That by Lionel Shriver

From the author of We Need To Talk About Kevin comes the story of an American woman diagnosed with mesothelioma. She needs her husband to remain employed so as to have access to his employer subscribed health insurance.

"I almost didn't make to the end of this book as I had trouble being emotionally engaged with the characters. It was an intelligent but ultimately disappointing read."

Giant George by Dave Nasser and Lynne Barrett-Lee

This is the true story of life with the world's biggest dog and how the family coped as he kept growing.

"This is a much nicer book than Marley & Me. George is now very famous - he had his Guinness Record announced on Oprah!"

Buddhism for Mothers of Schoolchildren by Sarah Napthali

This is the third book by Sarah Napthali about parenting with awareness of Buddhist principles.

"This book is a complete, beautiful package offering so much wisdom and guidance. I would highly recommend it to any mother."

The Weather of the Future by Dr. Heidi Cullen.

Heat waves, extreme storms and other scenes from a climate-changed planet.

"Riveting reading!"

A Home Companion by Wendyl Nissen

A light-hearted read with lots of good information on getting back to basics by well-known New Zealand Women's Weekly journalist. Make your own beauty products, grow your own food, op-shop clothes, keep chickens etc.

" Find out how to become a green goddess - her old-fashioned recipes and potions really work."

Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley

Who survives when disaster strikes, and why? This book gives clues about how and why we humans react to the unthinkable - such as plane crashes, fires, tsunamis or car accidents.

"This wonderful book might just save our lives. Highly recommended."

Emerald Book Chat - November 2011

Ruby Blues- Jessica Rudd

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:18:00 +0000

In Campaign Ruby Roo managed to get drunk, the PM elected and Luke.

Now two years later she’s got a whole new list of things to do:

Screw things up with Luke
Turn 30
Deal with hormonal pregnant lesbian aunt
Save an imploding government
And figure out who she is and what she wants.

Sequel to Campaign Ruby ( see review here)

Two years ago Ruby Stanhope got fired, got drunk and travelled to Australia on whim. There she encountered a few mishaps, fell in lust then in love and helped win the election for the opposition party. Now two years later Roo is back the government is beginning to crumble under broken promises, her relationship is faltering under differing expectations and the party’s chief of staff/ Ruby’s boss is being blackmailed. To top it all off Ruby’s also dealing with a hormonal pregnant lesbian and her impending 30^th birthday. What’s a girl to do? Screw it up further of course, as only Ruby Stanhope can.

Roo is a character that will please you, thrill you, frustrate you and disappoint you. Delightfully energetic Roo will take you on a hilarious roller coaster ride through life, love and Australian politics. Ruby Blues is chic lit; a fun, light and entertaining read about a typical 21^st century woman. I can guarantee every reader will find something in common with Roo. In her lifetime so far Jessica Rudd has had three careers; law PR and politics- but I think it’s safe to say her career as a writer look bright. Rudd has a witting, light hearted style of writing that makes it easy to breeze through 327 pages that comprise Ruby Blues; a genuinely good read not to be missed.

Courtney :)

Scarlet Stiletto

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 03:27:00 +0000

The Scarlet Stiletto, a national award for short stories written by Australian women and featuring a strong female protagonist, was cooked up over a few glasses of wine in 1994 at a convenors’ meeting in St Kilda, Victoria. The purpose was to support and unearth new talent.

Over the last few years, fashionista Sally Browne has become the shoes’ patron. She has offered an on-going supply of scarlet stilettos which she’s been photographed wearing all over the world, including the peak of Mt Kilimanjaro.

In the 2011 awards held last night, Angela Savage took out the Stiletto for The Teardrop Tattoos. Other winners were Liz Filleul for Crime Travel, Carmelo Saloman for the Barleymint Corpse and Vicky Daddo for The Ugly Thing.

Check this out ...

A thrilling selection of short crime stories chosen from the Scarlet Stiletto Awards held annually by Sisters in Crime Australia. This sequel to the bestselling FIRST CUT features the First Prize winners from 2007-2010, and a selection of category winners from the 17-year history of the Scarlet Stiletto Awards.

Deb.

Long live the Queen of Dragons

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:05:00 +0000

As a long-time reader of scifi/fantasy, I was saddened when I heard that author Anne McCaffrey passed away last Monday, aged 85, from a stroke.

Anne was a prolific author in the genre, having published more than 100 titles, ranging from highly lauded science fiction titles, such as the Ship who sang, to her much loved (including by me) Dragonriders of Pern series, beginning with Dragonflight.(one of my favourite books of all time).

"Over the course of her 46 year career she won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award. Her book The White Dragon, became the one of the first science fiction novels ever to land on the New York Times Best Seller List. The Science Fiction Writers of America in 2005 named her the 22nd Grand Master, a now-annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame inducted her on 17 June 2006." (Wikipedia)

Her son Todd has already taken up the mantle, having co-written several Dragonriders titles with his mother, with a new one expected out next year. So the stories of Dragonriders will live on a bit longer.

Why not check out or revisit her prolific bibliography and discover her rich characters and engaging stories - there is much to choose from and I promise you won't be disappointed.

Michelle

Interview - Lisa Heidke

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:20:00 +0000

Lisa Heidke writes contemporary women’s fiction. Her first book, Lucy Springer Gets Even (Allen & Unwin, 2009), was quickly followed by What Kate Did Next (2010). Her third novel, Claudia’s Big Break, was published in January 2011.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

My mother started reading to me when I was very small so I don’t remember a time when books weren’t a part of my life. Mum read Australian classics to me like Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie, Blinky Bill and The Magic Pudding. Enid Blyton was the most prominent author I remember when I was a child. I loved The Magic Faraway TreeThe Naughtiest Girl in School, The Wishing Chair, The Famous Five, etc.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

That’s a difficult question. I have always written because I trained as a journalist but I guess I realised I was a writer when I started wanting to create my own fictional worlds. I love having the power to make characters act and talk in ways they would never dare in real life. Generally, I write about women in their thirties going through crises and personal upheaval so I guess I’d like people to read my books and realise that there’s light at the end of the tunnel (if they’re going through a tunnel). If women reading my books are already living prefect lives, then I’d hope they’d be relieved they are not living my characters lives! That all sounds very gloomy...in fact I write with a humorous bent, so even though my main character might be going through a divorce there’s enough humour in the story to stop it from becoming a tragedy.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

No, I love reading for pleasure. I’ll admit when I am reading books in my genre, I’ll think, ‘now why didn’t I write that’ or I might analyse how the author has created the tension or woven several strands of a plot together. When I’m reading outside my genre, for example — crime, fantasy, historical romance etc, it’s entirely for pleasure. I love being swept away by a story and transported to another time.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

I avoid reading books in my genre when I’m writing, so that I am not indirectly influenced or led astray. To completely get away from what I’m writing, I’ll read memoirs, historical romance or the classics like Pride and Prejudice.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams. In case I get lost – and it’s laugh-out-loud funny.

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

When I get swept away BY the story...when every page is a page turner and I am thinking to myself...I can’t go to sleep yet...just one more chapter...I have to read what happens next. And then I fall asleep thinking about the book and wondering what is going to happen in the following scene or chapter.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

I try not to do that. When I pick up a novel, I do my best to see it through to the end. Having said that, if the characters aren’t engaging or I can’t relate to them for whatever reason, I do find it a struggle to continue.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

When it comes to modern day authors, I would say Marian Keyes. I like her style. However the more I read Australian authors, the more I enjoy them. Women like Kirsty Eagar, Kylie Ladd, Fleur McDonald, Sara Foster, Anita Heiss, Helene Young, Liane Moriarty, and Fiona Palmer are truly talented authors writing interesting and original stories.

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

One Day by David Nicholls. It’s a love story about Emma and Dexter, who have an end of university one night fling - and about how their lives intersect and parallel over the next twenty years. It’s funny, wise, sad and poignant. One Day is definitely one of those books that after I finished reading it, I thought, why couldn’t I have written this?

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

I don’t know a lot about the eBook market but I do know most books being published these days, including my own, are available as eBooks. As far as I am concerned, anything that gets more people reading or makes it easier for people to access books is good. I definitely believe in the future of print books. Nothing beats holding a book in your hands when you’re reading in bed at night. (I have to confess I’m one of those people who turn the top corner of the pages over!)

In February 2011, Claudia’s Big Break, was listed in SMH’s Spectrum as one of the Top Ten Australian Best Sellers.

You can find out more about Lisa and check out her blog, at www.lisaheidke.com

You may also like to follow her on Twitter @lisaheidke

- Lisa

The Diggers Rest Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:20:00 +0000

I promised back in August that I'd do a review of The Diggers Rest Hotel by Geoffrey McGeachin - now the holder of the Best Fiction Award at this year's Ned Kelly's...

After his time as a bomber pilot and POW, and two years after witnessing the death of a young Jewish woman in Poland, Charlie Berlin has rejoined the police force a different man. Sent to investigate a spate of robberies in rural Victoria, he soon discovers that World War II has changed even the most ordinary of places and people.

When Berlin travels to Albury-Wodonga to track down the gang behind the robberies, he suspects he's a problem cop being set up to fail. Taking a room at the Diggers Rest Hotel in Wodonga, he sets about solving a case that no one else can - with the help of feisty, ambitious journalist Rebecca Green and rookie constable Rob Roberts, the only cop in town he can trust. Then the decapitated body of a young girl turns up in a back alley, and Berlin's investigations lead him ever further through layers of small-town fears, secrets and despair.

From the author of the brilliant Fat, Fifty and F***ed!, DED Dead, and others, McGeachin brings us a new hero, Charlie Berlin, and an entertaining array of characters. The cover says it’s a Charlie Berlin Mystery; so that flags the thought that this is going to be a series. I hope so because I was a bit annoyed at the ending that left me with “but what happened to…?” If it is a series, it should be an enjoyable one because the period and setting are not your humdrum garden-variety stock.

The immediate period in Australia after WWII sees returned soldiers fractured not just by injuries but by nightmares, stress and not much work; the women who took the men’s jobs are expected to relinquish them, and the countryside is littered with munitions and equipment from abandoned army camps and weapons stashes. There is no excitement, particularly in country towns still coping with ration coupons. These factors all set the stage where Berlin is battling his own demons while trying to investigate the robberies and a gruesome murder.

Along the way we are peppered with signs of the times - The Argus newspaper, Lifebuoy soap, Capstan cigarettes, the price of cinema tickets and what’s playing; and enjoy the original characters that McGeachin brings to life, one of his main strengths as an author throughout the three books of his that I’ve read. The story has warmth, pathos, crime and brutality, all dished out with some laconic humour and an entertaining plot that keeps you involved. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a Bolinda download narrated by Peter Byrne. Click on the link above for other formats in our catalogue.

Deb.

Best of modern sci-fi

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Its another list, alongside so many others. 10 Modern Must-Read Sci-Fi Masterpieces comes from Giant Freaking Robot, a website which presents "the latest news in science fiction and real science happening in the world around us all." They point out that not all great science fiction has come from earlier in the 20th century. They have demonstrated this, by picking their best ten science fiction novels, written since 1980.

Their top ten is:

Dark Tower by Steven King
Neuromancer by William Gibson
Ender's game by Orson Scott Card
Balance of trade (Liaden series) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos series) by Dan Simmons
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
On Basilisk Station by David Weber
Time ships by Stephen Baxter
Deepness in the sky by Vernor Vinge
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Lots of other titles to supplement the list, are offered in the comments. One I would include would be Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. What do you think? Are these modern science-fiction classics? What other titles should be included?

Michelle

Voyage of Their Life

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:21:00 +0000

Evocative, poignant and compelling, The Voyage of Their Life is a remarkable human story. It celebrates the spirit and resilience of those who lost everything yet found the strength to rebuild their lives.

In August 1948, 545 passengers boarded an overcrowded, clapped-out vessel in Marseilles to face an uncertain future in Australia and New Zealand. They came from displaced persons camps in Germany, death camps in Poland, labour camps in Hungary, gulags in Siberia and stony Aegean islands. There were those who had been hunted by the Nazis and those who had welcomed them; those who had followed the Communists and those who had fled them. The epic voyage lasted almost three months and was marked by catastrophe, conflict and controversy. Conditions on board deteriorated while tension and violence simmered above and below decks.

Diane Armstrong set sail on this hellship, the S.S. Derna, with her parents when she was nine years old. Many, many years later, like a detective searching for clues, she located over a hundred passengers. Through their recollections and memorabilia, as well as archival documents, she created the voyage and traced what became of their hopes and dreams. The result is the unique portrayal of a migrant ship and its passengers.

This book is long, 45 chapters in two parts, but if you can stick with it, it is a rewarding read. In this Bolinda eAudiobook download, narrator Deidre Rubenstein has a very measured, almost clipped way of speaking but somehow it suits the many cultural accents she has to portray, and she does them with elan.

As a Baby Boomer I cringed with embarrassment when hearing how Australians treated this migrant influx in the late 1940s–early 1950s. I was also taken aback at the painful travail to make the foreign spaghetti, baklava, olives, even cottage cheese, become acceptable, no, totally taken for granted, these days.

But it’s the passengers personal stories that are more confronting, leaving you questioning yourself, “how could that have happened?” and “how could anyone live with something like that?” Man’s inhumanity to man left this reader very uncomfortable, but, like the passengers of the Derna believed, these stories must be told, and must never be forgotten.
Deb

The Broken Shore

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 02:07:00 +0000

Joe Cashin was different once. He moved easily then; was surer and less thoughtful. But there are consequences when you've come so close to dying. For Cashin, they included a posting away from the world of Homicide to the quiet place on the coast where he grew up. Now all he has to do is play the country cop and walk the dogs. And sometimes think about how he was before. Then prominent local Charles Bourgoyne is bashed and left for dead. Everything seems to point to three boys from the nearby Aboriginal community; everyone seems to want it to. But Cashin is unconvinced. And as tragedy unfolds relentlessly into tragedy, he finds himself holding onto something that might be better let go...

The Broken Shore has been publicised as: "a chilling tale of murder in a community where tensions over race, class, and politics have reached boiling point". Sounds gripping, doesn't it? The Broken Shore was awarded the Crime Writers’ Association Duncan Lawrie Dagger 2007, ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year 2006, Ned Kelly Award Best Crime Novel 2006, The Colin Roderick Award and H.T.Priestley Medal 2006. It was also longlisted for the 2006 Miles Franklin Award.

Hmmm ... after finishing the book I erase the publicised blurb from my mind. In my opinion it's a slow, bleak, crime novel with an interesting setting, original characters, but about as gripping as a wet sock. If nothing else, it’s educational reading award winners – I am always trying to pinpoint in the writing what exactly raises them above the general hoi polloi.

Why oh why are most award-winners dark and humourless? It’s hard to bring to mind a ‘ROFLMAO’* novel that has collected any kind of literary gong, more’s the pity. Perhaps they are harder to write, ergo more scarce the winner?

Peter Temple has developed a style where you’d be hard pressed to find more than a handful of “and”s in the whole book! I need a hard copy to check (this was a Bolinda eAudiobook). Sentences are short. Clipped. It suited the novel. It doesn’t suit me. I listened attentively. The book was well narrated by Peter Hosking. His voice is laconic. Dry.

If you've read it, we'd love to hear your comments. If you haven't, why not check it out and gain your own opinion, then drop us a line. We'd love to hear from you.

Deb.
* SMS acronym – rolling around the floor laughing my ass off.

Our Story - Victoria Reads

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:29:00 +0000

This year, the Summer Read program has taken a different direction and gone national! ..... kind of.....

All of Australia will participate in the 'Our Story', but each state will be reading different books, focusing on their state's 'local flavour' - in both fiction and non-fiction.

Readers will be asked to vote for their favourite of the six (starting from November 1st) and winners will be announced at the launch of the National Year of Reading on February 14, 2012. From then, the winning title will represent Victoria in the national Our Story program for the rest of the year.

And the nominees are...................

Bearbrass – Robyn Annear
Radical Melbourne – Jeff Sparrow and Jill Sparrow
Sold – Brendan Gullifer
The comfort of water – Maya Ward
Unpolished gem – Alice Pung
Well done, those men – Barry Heard

So get reading and get your votes in, either online or at your local library (beginning 1 Nov 2011).

Check out further information on these titles and more about the program at the State Library of Victoria's Our Story website.

Michelle

Vanishing Act

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:02:00 +0000

Mette Jakobsen has written a delightful and imaginative fable about 12-year old Minou’s life on a snow-covered island that you won't find on any map.

A year ago, the morning after the circus, her Mama walked out into the rain with a black umbrella and never came back. It's a story about a magician and a priest and a dog called No Name. It's about Papa's endless hunt for the truth. It's about a dead boy who listens, and Minou's search for Mama's voice. And it's about discovering what love is.

The Vanishing Act, Mette Jakobsen's spellbinding debut novel, is a gentle treasure you will never forget.

Pru

Man Booker Prize

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:55:00 +0000

Author Julian Barnes has won the £50,000 Man Booker Prize for his short novel, The Sense of an Ending. His 11th novel explores memory: how fuzzy it can be and how we amend the past to suit our own wellbeing. It tells the story through the apparently insignificant and dull life of an arts administrator.

At only 150 pages, it is not, however, the shortest to ever win the prize. That went to Penelope Fitzgerald’s Offshore which won in 1979.

Deb.

Interview - Fran Cusworth

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:37:00 +0000

Fran Cusworth is an author and freelance journalist who has written for The Age, Herald Sun and The Australian.

What authors/books did you read as a child? When did you first discover your love of books?

I was an early reader and I remember my father growing exasperated at how quickly I would finish books and ask for more. I would wake in the night and read, and my parents finally took the light bulbs out of my room to stop me – it sounds mean now, but I think they were worried I wasn’t sleeping. The first book I ever read was Jaws; after that my family realised I could read chapter books and furnished me with more appropriate reading matter. I loved Enid Blyton, CS Lewis, the poetry of Walter De La Mare, Lewis Carroll, and any Australian books – the Billabong series, Seven Little Australians.

When did you first realise you were a writer? What do you hope your readers will take away with them from reading your books?

I decided very young I was a writer, and I started keeping a journal at about age eight. The good thing about starting early is that you have a couple of decades to work through the deadly, terrible, self obsessed stuff, and I have all sorts of short stories about favourite hiding places, or my best friend looking at me the wrong way, or who did the best jump on the trampoline. I really can’t remember a time when I didn’t feel certain I would be a writer, and being a keen reader helped this.

I hope my readers will be absorbed, and escape their every day lives for a while when they read my books. I’m not seeking to change the world through my books, I just want to entertain, and at the most reflect some aspect of the reader’s life back at them in a new way.

Do you find it difficult to read purely for pleasure? Does everything you read come under your ‘writer’ microscope?

I read a great deal for pleasure, but my writer radar is always turned on. I find a lot to inspire me. I just finished Jonathon Franzen’s Freedom, and then read Corrections, and while I absolutely loved them, I was very envious that he could write about family so humourously and cleverly, while pinpointing society so accurately at the same time.

Do you have to avoid reading certain types of fiction while writing your own? Does what you read while writing have an effect on what you write? In what way?

I should avoid reading certain types of fiction while I’m writing, but I don’t. I’m always writing, so I would never read if I did that, and reading is too enjoyable to stop. I am very affected by what I read – the last Geraldine Brooks book I read, I decided I had to have a historical thread through my novel and it took a couple of months to realise that was impossible for the novel I was writing. I read Toni Jordan’s second novel Fall Girl, and felt I wanted my book to be more funny. Then I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and just about felt like never bothering to write again, it was so perfect. I certainly should stop reading. But I won’t.

Name five authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own writing in some way.

Well, as described above, most books I read. Even bad ones inspire me with what I don’t want to do. I would have to say Geraldine Brooks, Anne Tyler, Toni Jordan, Franzen, Jane Austen.

If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book with you, what book would it be and why?

A compendium of Jane Austen’s six novels. Or The Forsyte Saga. Or The Bone People.

What makes a book ‘too good to put down’?

Wondering what will happen next. Providing a world you want to return to. Humour. Likeable characters.

What makes you put down a book without finishing it?

Pretension. Boredom. Literary high-falutin’ showing off where nothing happens and the reader is treated with disdain.

Do you have a favourite author? Who is it and what is it about their writing that draws you to them?

I like a lot of English classics: Thomas Hardy, George Eliot, Austen – I think I’m drawn to the wordiness of their writing style and the focus on morality.

What was your 2010 ‘best read’? What was it that made it number one?

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I loved the language and I found the fictionalised life of Thomas Cromwell, PA to Henry Eighth, fascinating.

What do you think of the non-traditional publishing methods – eBooks etc? Do you think the new technology will encourage more people to read? Do you think there’s a future for print books?

I think eBooks will probably take off in a big way over the next year, and maybe even people I know will be buying them – they’re not yet. I just had floor to ceililng wall to wall bookshelves installed in my home, so I won’t be getting an eBook just yet I don’t think. I think it’s just a medium, I doubt it will change how much people read.

Fran Cusworth is a Melbourne based journalist who has published two novels, The Love Child and Hopetoun Wives, both with Penguin Books.

- Lisa

Antarctica on a Plate

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:06:00 +0000

Antarctica on a Plate by Alexa Thomson is a fascinating biography. Imagine you are a young woman with a stellar career but an increasing dissatisfaction with life. Imagine that your idea of a 'remote location' is the distance between a taxi rank and a shoe shop. How do you shrug off your growing ennui? Simple. You apply for the position of cook in the coldest place on earth: Antarctica.

I really enjoyed this true tale of a Sydney-sider fed up with her glitzy existence, and realising it. As a wake up call to her psyche, she schlepped herself off to an international 'way station' in Antarctica as cook - a bold move when one has only been cooking for school holiday campers.

I wanted to know what food she cooked in a tent, on an ice-shelf, with between 4 and 70 people transiting the area as they flew in Norwegians, Fins, Russians, French, and die-hard trekkers. Unfortunately, not much is forthcoming about recipes, but how inventory and storage is handled is mind boggling, from ice-caves to store meat and perishables, Rubber Maids - whatever they are, and and I’m still agog over the amount of alcohol that was supplied to the base. The rage and frustration in camp is staggering when the tonic runs out for their G&T’s.

The writing is articulate, building many images of the frozen continent. I was gripped by the descriptions of the mighty Ilyushin aircraft that freighted the tonnes of cargo and its handful of passengers for their 'summer' stay, landing dangerously on a runway of blue ice. Luckily I found a You Tube clip - take a look, it's jaw-clenching vision. In good weather, those black runway markers were garbage bags filled with snow. In times of poor visibility, all hands were armed with mirrors to deflect the pallid sun as landing indicators.

Alexa's story is more about the people though and a visit to their nearest neighbours, the Russians at Novolazarevskaya Station some 160kms away, is fascinating. They also visited the Indian Maitri Station, the Russian's closest neighbour, where there is only one woman in the base team - a very difficult situation for her indeed.

If you’re looking for an action-packed adventure on the ice, this story isn’t it. But it is a fascinating entree into a truly foreign world where dedicated scientists and crazy larger-than-life characters live and work on the most inhospitable terrain on the planet.

This was a great book - a Bolinda eAudiobook download and Caroline Lee does a pleasing job with the narration. Highly recommended.

Deb.

Nobel Prize - Literature

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Cardinia Library Corporation) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 03:19:00 +0000

With four authors vying for this year's Nobel Prize in Literature, a surprise nominee has just firmed up in the betting arena - Bob Dylan! That's right, iconic American singer-songwriter, musician, and poet.
With the clock ticking to the big announcement, we thought we'd keep an eye peeled for the winner announcement, so, grab a cuppa and stay tuned... apparently this Nobel Prize site will spring into life as the winner is interviewed. [fingers crossed]

And the winner is - - - - -
Deb. 14:25pm EDST *tick tick tick*

Update .... 08:50 7 October. Sweden's most famous living poet, 80-year old Tomas Transtromer, has won the Nobel Prize for Literature, the first time in more than 30 years the award has gone to a native of the Nordic country.
The Swedish Academy, which awards the prize of 10 million crowns ($1.45 million), said the poet had won "because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality".
The prize last went to Sweden in 1974.

Sorry, it seems like the Podcast above is not behaving as promised. Ah well, it was a nice idea at the time. :o(