Book: Glitz

I just finished Louise Bagshawe's latest blockbuster. Now Louise WAS my favourite chick lit author for many years, but the last two novels have been a bit off. I mean I really enjoyed this but it seems she has slapped it together whereas her first 10 or so were brilliant. Not sure if it is because she has gotten really popular or what?? Anyway, this was about 4 cousins who are accustomed to living the high life, thanks to a trust fund set up by their super-rich, reclusive Uncle Clem. But when Uncle Clem summons his nieces to his mansion in the Seychelles to announce his engagement to Bai-Ling, a woman young enough to be their baby sister, the four girls instantly know trouble's afoot. We read about them trying to stop the wedding and how the four pampered princesses have to cope without their trust fund. But as in all of Louise's books the girls find an inner strength that will be the making of them all. Ah - trashy (but great)!

NLS4 Meeting

On the Saturday morning I was up early and headed back into the city for an NLS4 meeting. It was a great meeting as everything is starting to "fall into place". It really will be a superb event. There is still so much to do (so I want time to slow) but it will be so exciting so at the same time I want it to speed up and arrive. Plus, we also had a new edition to the team. Jill had a baby boy two weeks ago (Ronan Baker Stephens) and I went and visited him at the hospital and he is gorgeous. Congrats to our beautiful Jill and welcome along for the ride Ronan!

HLI Dinner (Life Membership Award)

On Friday July 25th I did head to Melbourne for the HLI Life Membership Award. Kerry Johannes, was the recipient of the 2008 Award. Kerry has contributed in many ways to the development of the Victorian Health Library Sector and to both ALIA and HLI during her lengthy career in Libraries. It was great to hear the citation because as I am relatively "new" to libraries you come to hear about the industry and those who contributed to it before my time. Not to forget of course that the dinner was deliciously and the company superb!

ALIA Rural and Regional NAC Teleconference

On July 16th I participated in the ALIA Rural and Regional NAC Teleconference. It was great to be able to dial into an ALIA meeting rather than having to trek up and down that highway (which I just can't face these days).

The meeting focused on the future of Professional Development and it was great to have a discussion with those that are in similar situations. ie. NOT in capital cities. I mean PD can be really expensive as is, not to mention the costs of travel, accommodation etc. Anyway, Jan who chaired the teleconference asked who was in the PD Scheme etc. and those who were got a prize. A week later in the mail I received one of those cool memory sticks that are bracelets. It was worth dialling in just for that!!

Anyway, it was nice to "meet" Jan as she is ALIA VP and she lives in a regional area so she knew where we were coming from. It will be interesting to see what comes of the discussions around the country.

Book: Alek

I read the above book far too soon after reading the Waris Dirie one as they were very similar. This book was very easy to read and a nice story about Alek who was once a Sudanese refugee and is now a International Supermodel (apparently - I had not heard of her before but that isn't surprising considering I have no idea about fashion!). Anyway, we see her raised from a rural up bringing to the glamour of London and New York. Not bad - but not super either.

Book: Chapatti or Chips

I also read this on holidays in NZ but never realised the author lived and set the books in Milton Keynes in the UK, just down the road from where I was born (so you know I liked it even more!). Basically a chick lit book based on an Indian girl who has a arranged marriage organised. She however, falls for the white Biritsh incorragible womaniser Dave. Just like a Mills and Boon romance he comes in just before she is to be married and sweeps her off her feet. Yes, you could easily read the plot from page one but I still loved it!

Book: Desert Flower

I read this book whilst on holidays in New Zealand. One of those that has been very well received by the public, lots of publicity etc. but just one I had never got around to reading. It was brilliant. Waris Dirie's life story, from her childhood as a desert nomad in Somalia to the start of her career as a supermodel in England, provides a great deal of cultural insight. Her strength of conviction, faith in a higher power, and courage in the face of great danger are truly inspiring. This is a very frankly written, often disturbing account meant to spread awareness of the dangerous but all-too-common cultural practice of female genital mutilation. Just a great heart wrenching read. Her story since continues in more books that have been published since which I need to read now!

Book: Return to the High Country

This was a good book, but not a great one like the first one. It carried on David's story with his wife and three children, which in turn grew into their lives, their children etc. Another great story but just not quite as good as the first. I definitely can't wait to read more of his though!

Book: Call of the High Country

WOW! Awesome - new favourite author. Tony Parsons books are very much like Rachael Treasure's (whose I also love). This is a brilliant Australian saga about life in the high country of NSW. It follows young David and his family as they struggle to maintain their farm and then to build upon there little empire. There is love and tragedy, weddings and funerals. Lots of drama. Just brilliant. I am rushing home tonight to start the sequel!

Ballarat Library Industry Dinner

On Thursday May 29th we had our second Ballarat Library Dinner at Lekkers. It was a good night and as you can see we all got to wear pearls! It was great to chat to those in the region who work in different libraries. We also heard from the Acting CEO of the public library about their new Swift Consortium which was also interesting.

Book & Bookgroup: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

I was so excited to read this because I had never ever read an Agatha Christie book before (hence the reason I joined a book group to spread my reading further!). Anyway, it was lovely. The writing reminded me of Austen and Bronte with villages and towns and estates etc. Naturally I completely missed who the murderer was (the Doctor) but I throughly enjoyed it like a giddy school child!

NLS4: Dinner venue confirmed

How exciting - we are having the conference dinner at the MCG, overlooking the hallowed turf! It promises to be a wonderful night. I was so relieved when it was confirmed as we had heaps of problems securing a venue. Not that its all booked - bring it on!

Book: I Choose to Live

Oh this was a sad book. It is the story about Sabine who at age 12 was abducted and held captive and raped for 80 days. She was only found because the nasty man abducted another girl. I was so amazed by the determination of Sabine and how she has become such a strong young woman. Just amazing - I forgot I was reading about real life events!

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.

NLS4 Meetings

The conference is fast approaching and yet again I have trekked up and down that highway for meetings. I have actually struggled to make it down to Melbourne during the week but as NLS4 meetings are on Saturday’s there is no problem making these (except for being tired afterwards!) We had meetings on:
March 25th dinner venue visits and a public holiday for me!
March 29th meeting
April 19th meeting

It will be here before we know it and it looks set to be a wonderful conference.

Book: My Brother's Keeper

I love a bit of true crime. I picked this one up on mooch and read it within 2 days! It’s about a murder in Sydney a few years ago that included the “Bra Boys” a name I had only heard about and included an international world renowned surfer. Just one of those great reads that really suckers you in. I was a bit dubious about some of the things said but hey – it’s true crime – you can’t dispute it!