Book: If I am Missing or Dead

From the blurb I thought this book was going to be about the authors sister who went missing and who had taped a note "If I am missing or dead" to the inside of her desk, but it wasn't. Well it was sort of. The first 300 pages were about the author and her horrible life (abusive husband) and it intermingled bits about her sister to, but not really until the last 100 pages or so in depth. Anyway, apart from that it was an interesting read just looking at the different sort of abuses women out up with. I am so fortunate to have a wonderful husband - the life for these two women was hell.

Book: Daddy's little girl

WOW! I read this in one day (when I was meant to be studying). This is a story about Julia who was sexually abused by her father. When she told people her father made up lies and her mother made her retract her statements. A true insight at what abuse can do to a normal little girl, who turned into a truly amazing woman! And a husband that believed and cherished her from the beginning and stuck with her until she was ready to tell her story, unbelievable! Very sad, but amazing...

Book & Bookgroup: Heart of Stone

I just finished reading this for my bookgroup. WOW! What a story. It was awfully sad, a little obscure etc. but a riveting read. It follows the life of Ellen who is living by herself and trying to figure out what happened 25 years ago. The story eventually unfolds that her mother had postnatal depression and suicided her husband, and 3 of Ellen's siblings. One other sibling survived from the suicide attempt on his life whilst Ellen was completely left out and forgotten about (she was outside playing with her dog). So it follows Ellen trying to accept what has happened and rebuilding her life 25 years on. I really liked it - not sure why but I was drawn to it. No one else in bookgroup liked it though!

Clunes Booktown 2008

On the weekend I headed 15 minutes up the road to the Clunes Booktown Festival. What a wonderful weekend. Not only did I buy a few books that I had wanted for ages (from expensive booksellers) but I also bought about 40 books from the cheap sales (the CFA nothing under $5 ones...) Most books were $1 each so I bought lots for friends and plenty for myself and many for Bookmooch too! OK - so I was super pleased with all my books, I loved wandering through the town looking at books, eating yummy food and enjoying the festival atmosphere. One of the best parts though was the Writer Talks - the Backchat events. On the Saturday morning it was John Marsden and Melissa Lucashenko (in conversation with Nigel Krauth who actually taught John Marsden at Uni!). Then I missed Sunday morning's talk but managed to make it back on Sunday afternoon (after having to drive to and from Melbourne that morning to pick up a motorbike - long story) . Sunday afternoon was again Nigel Krauth leading a panel with the 4 guest writers: John Marsden, Melissa Lucashenko, poet Anthony Lawrence and Miles Franklin winner Alexis Wright. Here are my notes:

Saturday:

John Marsden

Very laid back. Jeans knitted jumper etc. Very casual feel.
Wanted to be a cricketer, rugby player, guitarist, Prime Minister, bus driver...
Power as a teacher is immense. Seeking to empower the readers.
Reordering the world in his own vision through his words.
Young people taken seriously, respected, making there mark on the world.
Every sentence you strive for perfection.
Nice if your ideas connect with somebody else.
Traces of people they know in their novels
Setting fresh and contemporary language but essential the stories don't change (ie. adventure)
Important skills for kids: 1/ Language fluency (not necessarily writing but just language - speech etc. 2/ Confidence 3/ Integrity - values to sustain you.

Melissa Lucashenko

Wanted to be wealthy - LOL! Jockey - anything to do with horses.
Started a psychology degree (never finished).
Helps the homeless, drugos, prisoners (Sisters Inside organisation).
Murri (aboriginal). Laid back - jeans, windcheater with Obama 08 on it - not afraid to voice opinions.
Everything as a writer always feeds into your work.
When writing she comes in and out of perspective. Sometimes she doesn't know if it's any good until she has left it dormant for 6 months.
Structures her novel and plots it our but then sometimes the characters take over and the story changes.
When writing they live in parallel worlds - for instance the may see the back head of a character down the main street.
Not the end of the world if a child can't read or write but it is an important skill.
Very indigenous focused. Saying the KKK is still around in parts of rural Australia!

Sunday: Where Nigel and the audience threw "swear" words at the 4 panel members.

Publishing

Poetry publishers - small/independent, no longer main stream.
Need to work together instead of being enemies.
JM had a just story of a bad experience with Macmillan UK. He is extremely funny.
The Carpentaria novel (AW's) was the only book that small publisher released all year! One book!

Making the most of it

If you change one person - you are changing the world

Audio books

Hard for a writer to hear someone else read your work.

Correspondence

Sometimes they are blatantly questions from students
Sometimes complex questions - too long to answer
Lovely handwritten letters are the best.

Critics

Don't read them - well try not too!

How'd you get into writing

JM - in grade 4 set up a class newspaper
Others all influenced in Primary School


Just a wonderful, wonderful weekend!

Librarian Idol

On Friday night I headed down to the Butterfly Club in South Melbourne to see Andrew Finegan in his show Librarian Idol. I meet the rest of the gang first for dinner at the Groove Train, then we headed into the club for a cocktail before the show. Let me just say - the inside of the club was a little eccentric (trust me - you have to go there to know what I am talking about) .

Anyway - Andrew was great. He had us in tears with laughter (though mind you I was laughing quite hard at Jill's laugh). Naturally there were lots of library jokes, stories of the DDC, public libraries, books, dictionary jokes and Harry Potter. A well rounded show. I never realised Andrew could really sing. He did a great job. Fantastic effort and awesome show! Great work.