De Krester won the Miles Franklin Award in 2013 for Questions of Travel.
Thursday, 30 August 2018
Miles Franklin Award Winner 2018
The winner of the 2018 Miles Franklin Award was announced on 26 August 2018. This year the award and its $60,000 prize went to Michelle de Krester for her novel The Life to Come.
Set in Sydney, Paris and Sri Lanka, the satirical story explores themes of intimacy, friendship and loneliness. Richard Neville, Chair of the Judging Panel, said "With her characteristic wit and style, Michelle de Krester dissects the way Australians see ourselves and reflects on the ways other parts of the world see us."
De Krester won the Miles Franklin Award in 2013 for Questions of Travel.
De Krester won the Miles Franklin Award in 2013 for Questions of Travel.
Saturday, 18 August 2018
Close Encounters
Last year, two beautiful hardcover collections of Garner's work were published: True Stories, her collected non-fiction, and Stories, her collected short stories. I purchased both at this year's Sydney Writers' Festival and have just finished the latter.
Readers of this blog will know how much I love Helen Garner's writing. In fact, I have never met a Garner I didn't love... until now. I am sorry to say that Garner's collection of 14 short stories did not win my heart. This left me perplexed, feeling as though I had failed as a reader, and trying to understand why I could not get into these stories.
I love short stories and have written previously about gifted storytellers like Alice Munro, Tegan Bennett Daylight, Angela Carter, Raymond Carver and others. I marvel at how authors can convey such depth in such brevity.
So why didn't I love Garner's collection? She is a gifted writer, and ofttimes I would marvel at her turn of phrase. She is also a laser-sharp observer of people, and can un-peel their many layers before your eyes. But the stories themselves all felt so morose and lonely. While I didn't enjoy every story in the collection, there were several stories that I thought were pretty good, like 'My Hard Heart' in which a woman is blindsided by her husband's infidelity.
In the end, perhaps my expectations were too high and I have over-Garnered myself. I have recently read Garner's brilliant novella The Spare Room and I am midway through her True Stories collection. So for now I am going to put Helen on hold and read other writers, so I can come back and enjoy her brilliance anew.
I love short stories and have written previously about gifted storytellers like Alice Munro, Tegan Bennett Daylight, Angela Carter, Raymond Carver and others. I marvel at how authors can convey such depth in such brevity.
So why didn't I love Garner's collection? She is a gifted writer, and ofttimes I would marvel at her turn of phrase. She is also a laser-sharp observer of people, and can un-peel their many layers before your eyes. But the stories themselves all felt so morose and lonely. While I didn't enjoy every story in the collection, there were several stories that I thought were pretty good, like 'My Hard Heart' in which a woman is blindsided by her husband's infidelity.
In the end, perhaps my expectations were too high and I have over-Garnered myself. I have recently read Garner's brilliant novella The Spare Room and I am midway through her True Stories collection. So for now I am going to put Helen on hold and read other writers, so I can come back and enjoy her brilliance anew.
Saturday, 4 August 2018
The Booker Longlist 2018
This week the Longlist was announced for the 2018 Man Booker prize. The thirteen titles nominated are diverse, with authors from America, Canada, Ireland and the UK.
I have not yet read any of these books, in fact I haven't heard of most of them. But what I love about the Longlist is that it introduces me to many books and authors I do not know. Four of the authors are debut novelists (Robertson, Mackintosh, Gunaratne and Johnson) and four are past nominees (Ondaatje, Edugyan, Ryan and Powers).
Let's take a look at the books that make up the longlist:
Snap by Belinda Bauer (UK)
English author Belinda Bauer is an award winning crime writer. This novel is about a woman who goes missing, leaving her three children behind. Set in Somerset, this captivating thriller features twists and turns. Val McDermid called it 'the best crime novel I've read in a long time'. Sounds like an intriguing read...
Milkman by Anna Burns (UK)
Set in Belfast in the 1970s, during the Troubles, Milkman is a stream of consciousness story narrated by a young woman who is rumoured to be having an affair with a person known only as the Milkman. The novel explores truth and gossip, with a unique writing style. Burns was shortlisted for the Orange prize in 2002 for No Bones.
Sabrina by Nick Drnaso (USA)
This is the first time a graphic novel has been longlisted for the Booker, an achievement in itself. The story centres on the disappearance of Sabrina and the aftermath for her friends and family. I am intrigued to read this and have just bought a copy of this beautiful book. I greatly enjoyed Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan, and the pictures I have seen of Sabrina remind me Ware's work.
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (Canada)
This novel focusses on an eleven year old slave, Washington Black, who leaves a Barbados plantation when his owner dies, and he is taken in by an eccentric new master. They travel the globe - the Arctic, London, Morocco - opening Washington's eyes to new experiences and knowledge.
In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne (UK)
Set in a London council estate, three young men are enjoying their summer when the killing of a British soldier sparks riots across the city. The novel brings the grit and grime of the city to life over a heated 48 hours.
Everything Under by Daisy Johnson (UK)
At age 27, Johnson is one of the youngest Booker nominees for her debut novel. This is the story of Gretel, who as a child lived on a canal boat with her mother. Together the mother-daughter pair invented a language for their exclusive use. Now an adult, Gretel hasn't seen her mother in many years and has all but forgotten their secret language.
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner (USA)
Romy Hall is incarcerated in a women's correctional facility, serving consecutive life sentences. Her seven year old son is now being cared for by his grandmother. While life goes on outside, he women inside experience a different routine.
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh (UK)
Three sisters grow up on an isolated island with their parents. Protected from the outside world, they never visit the mainland. When three men wash up on shore, everything the girls have ever learned comes into question. A dystopian novel of survival in a hostile world from this debut novelist.
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje (Canada)
I love Michael Ondaatje and always look forward to reading his novels. This is the story of siblings in London, who stay behind when their parents move to Singapore in 1945. Earlier this year Ondaatje won the "Golden Booker" - The English Patient (1992) was named the favourite Booker winner in the past 50 years, so it will be interesting to see whether he progresses to the shortlist.
The Overstory by Richard Powers (USA)
This novel is environmental or eco-fiction - centred on diverse characters that have had various experiences with trees and now fight to save a virgin forest. The Booker judges called this 'an ecological epic, a novel of ideas'.
The Long Take by Robin Robertson (UK)
British poet Robin Robertson has written a noir tale of a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder which leaves him unsettled, trying to piece his life together. I am intrigued by this genre-bending, film-like poem and look forward to tracking down a copy.
Normal People by Sally Rooney (Ireland)
Connell and Marianne grow up together in a small town in Ireland, but have very different lives. When they both attend Trinity College, Dublin, they realise they have a connection. This is an intimate character study and a love story, with a backdrop critique of class and privilege.
From a Low and Quiet Sea by Donal Ryan (Ireland)
Ryan's book tells three seperate stories of men who have experienced loss. Farouk is a Syrian refugee seeking asylum in Western Europe with his wife and child. Irishman Lampy has just been left by his girlfriend and is tending to his broken heart. John is filled with sadness over his failed relationship and remorse for his actions.
The shortlist will be announced on 20 September 2018, with the winner named on 16 October 2018.
I was a bit surprised that Ali Smith wasn't nominated for Winter, as she has been for her previous season Autumn. I also thought the Kate Atkinson or Rachel Cusk may be on the longlist. Having read none of the titles, I find it hard to predict the winner, but I reckon the following will be shortlisted: Drnaso, Johnson, Ondaatje, Rooney, Ryan. I also reckon that after the last two winners have been American, this year the prize will go to a member of the Commonwealth. A complete guess, but that is where I will start my Booker reading.
I have not yet read any of these books, in fact I haven't heard of most of them. But what I love about the Longlist is that it introduces me to many books and authors I do not know. Four of the authors are debut novelists (Robertson, Mackintosh, Gunaratne and Johnson) and four are past nominees (Ondaatje, Edugyan, Ryan and Powers).
Let's take a look at the books that make up the longlist:
Snap by Belinda Bauer (UK)English author Belinda Bauer is an award winning crime writer. This novel is about a woman who goes missing, leaving her three children behind. Set in Somerset, this captivating thriller features twists and turns. Val McDermid called it 'the best crime novel I've read in a long time'. Sounds like an intriguing read...
Set in Belfast in the 1970s, during the Troubles, Milkman is a stream of consciousness story narrated by a young woman who is rumoured to be having an affair with a person known only as the Milkman. The novel explores truth and gossip, with a unique writing style. Burns was shortlisted for the Orange prize in 2002 for No Bones.
This is the first time a graphic novel has been longlisted for the Booker, an achievement in itself. The story centres on the disappearance of Sabrina and the aftermath for her friends and family. I am intrigued to read this and have just bought a copy of this beautiful book. I greatly enjoyed Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan, and the pictures I have seen of Sabrina remind me Ware's work.
This novel focusses on an eleven year old slave, Washington Black, who leaves a Barbados plantation when his owner dies, and he is taken in by an eccentric new master. They travel the globe - the Arctic, London, Morocco - opening Washington's eyes to new experiences and knowledge.
Set in a London council estate, three young men are enjoying their summer when the killing of a British soldier sparks riots across the city. The novel brings the grit and grime of the city to life over a heated 48 hours.
At age 27, Johnson is one of the youngest Booker nominees for her debut novel. This is the story of Gretel, who as a child lived on a canal boat with her mother. Together the mother-daughter pair invented a language for their exclusive use. Now an adult, Gretel hasn't seen her mother in many years and has all but forgotten their secret language.
Romy Hall is incarcerated in a women's correctional facility, serving consecutive life sentences. Her seven year old son is now being cared for by his grandmother. While life goes on outside, he women inside experience a different routine.
Three sisters grow up on an isolated island with their parents. Protected from the outside world, they never visit the mainland. When three men wash up on shore, everything the girls have ever learned comes into question. A dystopian novel of survival in a hostile world from this debut novelist.
I love Michael Ondaatje and always look forward to reading his novels. This is the story of siblings in London, who stay behind when their parents move to Singapore in 1945. Earlier this year Ondaatje won the "Golden Booker" - The English Patient (1992) was named the favourite Booker winner in the past 50 years, so it will be interesting to see whether he progresses to the shortlist.
This novel is environmental or eco-fiction - centred on diverse characters that have had various experiences with trees and now fight to save a virgin forest. The Booker judges called this 'an ecological epic, a novel of ideas'.
British poet Robin Robertson has written a noir tale of a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder which leaves him unsettled, trying to piece his life together. I am intrigued by this genre-bending, film-like poem and look forward to tracking down a copy.
Connell and Marianne grow up together in a small town in Ireland, but have very different lives. When they both attend Trinity College, Dublin, they realise they have a connection. This is an intimate character study and a love story, with a backdrop critique of class and privilege.
Ryan's book tells three seperate stories of men who have experienced loss. Farouk is a Syrian refugee seeking asylum in Western Europe with his wife and child. Irishman Lampy has just been left by his girlfriend and is tending to his broken heart. John is filled with sadness over his failed relationship and remorse for his actions.
The shortlist will be announced on 20 September 2018, with the winner named on 16 October 2018.
I was a bit surprised that Ali Smith wasn't nominated for Winter, as she has been for her previous season Autumn. I also thought the Kate Atkinson or Rachel Cusk may be on the longlist. Having read none of the titles, I find it hard to predict the winner, but I reckon the following will be shortlisted: Drnaso, Johnson, Ondaatje, Rooney, Ryan. I also reckon that after the last two winners have been American, this year the prize will go to a member of the Commonwealth. A complete guess, but that is where I will start my Booker reading.
Tuesday, 24 July 2018
The Survivor
In May I had the pleasure of attending a session at the Sydney Writers' Festival on The Trauma Cleaner, in which author Sarah Krasnostein spoke about the award winning biography she had written.
The subject of her book is Sandra Pankhurst, a business woman who specialises in trauma cleaning: attending crime scenes and homes of hoarders, and restoring them to order and tidiness. This is not a job for the faint-hearted. Rather it requires someone with a deep empathy, a desire to heal and an iron gut to get past the rotting food, vermin, mould, bodily fluids and accumulated detritus.
But Pankhurst's unusual job is only one aspect of her extraordinary life. She was born male at birth and experienced a deeply unhappy, abusive childhood in the family to which she was adopted. She married and had children, before undergoing the transformative surgery that would forever change her life. Sandra then worked as a prostitute in Melbourne and Kalgoorlie, surviving a violent assault. Later, she found love, married Mr Pankhurst and found more mainstream work in a funeral parlour and running her own businesses. Her work for the past twenty years, cleaning the squalor left by others, is a job she takes pride in and excels at.
Krasnostein has crafted a remarkable tale, inserting chapters about Sandra's work with clients in amongst the story of her life. Sandra's memory is faulty, marred by years of drug and alcohol abuse and suppressed by trauma, so Krasnostein has had to piece together the fragments of Sandra's reminiscences and bring order to her life story. Sandra is an incredible woman, who has picked herself up over and over again, and managed to move beyond the pain and abandonment.
Krasnostein writes that: "Sandra is at once exactly like you or me or anyone we know and, at the same time, she is utterly peerless." I believe this to be true. Sandra is unlike anyone I have ever met, and yet once you get past our differences, she is like me and the other women I know, a woman with a strong heart, deep empathy and a desire to belong.
The Trauma Cleaner is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read. It pushed me out of my comfort zone several times, and made me think about how other people live. The stories of Sandra's clients, the hoarders, were particularly heartbreaking. They had gone from being functioning, intelligent, family-oriented people to living in a crushing environment surrounded by filth they cannot part with. Each one needing help, needing empathy, needing love.
This book has won many awards this year, including the Victorian Prize for Literature, Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction, ABIA General Non-Fiction Book of the Year, and been shortlisted for countless others.
But Pankhurst's unusual job is only one aspect of her extraordinary life. She was born male at birth and experienced a deeply unhappy, abusive childhood in the family to which she was adopted. She married and had children, before undergoing the transformative surgery that would forever change her life. Sandra then worked as a prostitute in Melbourne and Kalgoorlie, surviving a violent assault. Later, she found love, married Mr Pankhurst and found more mainstream work in a funeral parlour and running her own businesses. Her work for the past twenty years, cleaning the squalor left by others, is a job she takes pride in and excels at.
Krasnostein has crafted a remarkable tale, inserting chapters about Sandra's work with clients in amongst the story of her life. Sandra's memory is faulty, marred by years of drug and alcohol abuse and suppressed by trauma, so Krasnostein has had to piece together the fragments of Sandra's reminiscences and bring order to her life story. Sandra is an incredible woman, who has picked herself up over and over again, and managed to move beyond the pain and abandonment.Krasnostein writes that: "Sandra is at once exactly like you or me or anyone we know and, at the same time, she is utterly peerless." I believe this to be true. Sandra is unlike anyone I have ever met, and yet once you get past our differences, she is like me and the other women I know, a woman with a strong heart, deep empathy and a desire to belong.
The Trauma Cleaner is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read. It pushed me out of my comfort zone several times, and made me think about how other people live. The stories of Sandra's clients, the hoarders, were particularly heartbreaking. They had gone from being functioning, intelligent, family-oriented people to living in a crushing environment surrounded by filth they cannot part with. Each one needing help, needing empathy, needing love.
This book has won many awards this year, including the Victorian Prize for Literature, Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction, ABIA General Non-Fiction Book of the Year, and been shortlisted for countless others.
Monday, 23 July 2018
Miles Franklin Award Shortlist
Last month, while I was overseas, the Miles Franklin Award shortlist was announced.
The Shortlist consists of the following books:
The Winner of this prestigious literary award will be revealed on 26 August. My money is on Gerald Murnane, with Kim Scott as a close second.
The Shortlist consists of the following books:
- Felicity Castagna - No More Boats
- Michelle de Krester - The Life to Come
- Eva Hornung - The Last Garden
- Catherine McKinnon - Storyland
- Gerald Murnane - Border Districts
- Kim Scott - Taboo
The Winner of this prestigious literary award will be revealed on 26 August. My money is on Gerald Murnane, with Kim Scott as a close second.
Saturday, 21 July 2018
Holiday (Un)Reads
For the entire month of June I travelled with my family throughout the United Kingdom. We drove from Edinburgh down to London, passing through Glasgow, the Lake District, York, Manchester, Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk, and beyond.
Our first stop was London, and I had tickets to see Hamilton in the West End. Some weeks before my trip I started reading Ron Chernow's bestselling biography Hamilton (2004), on which the musical was based. It is an interesting read, although I have not yet finished it. Historical political biographies can be dry and dull, but not Chernow's. Hamilton is such a fascinating character, coming from nothing to be a Founding Father of a new America. I look forward to continuing this book now that I am home.
After a couple of days in Glasgow I was drawn to architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh more than to any authors or books. I love Mackintosh's art deco work and enjoyed time visiting his home and tea rooms. It was devastating to hear that his Glasgow School of the Arts building was destroyed by fire a few days after we left the city.
Manchester has a diverse literary history with writers from Karl Marx to Anthony Burgess having lived and/or worked here. For me Manchester is all about Elizabeth Gaskell, one of my favourite writers of all time. I have read many of her works, including North and South (1855) and Wives and Daughters (1865) several times, but the one book I was hoping to read on this trip was her first novel Mary Barton (1848). I had also wanted to visit her home in Manchester but it is only open three days a week and did not align with our travel plans. Something to look forward to on my next visit...
With two 24 hour flights from Australia to London and back, and countless hours on trains and other forms of transport, I figured I would have a lot of time to read. Before I left I carefully planned my holiday reading, loading up my e-reader with books inspired by my travel plans. However, with the hustle and bustle of sightseeing and catching up with friends I came home having read none! So here's a look at what I didn't read on my vacation.
Our first stop was London, and I had tickets to see Hamilton in the West End. Some weeks before my trip I started reading Ron Chernow's bestselling biography Hamilton (2004), on which the musical was based. It is an interesting read, although I have not yet finished it. Historical political biographies can be dry and dull, but not Chernow's. Hamilton is such a fascinating character, coming from nothing to be a Founding Father of a new America. I look forward to continuing this book now that I am home.
Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical is an incredible adaptation of this biography. Mum and I scored front row seats and were literally within spitting distance of the action. The diverse West End cast were gifted actors who drew us into the story from the moment they stepped on stage. Since returning from holidays the soundtrack has been played on repeat during my daily commute and I cannot wait to see this show again if they ever bring it to Australia.
We travelled by train from Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley - a lovely trip through the countryside. Each time I journey this way I marvel at how the scenery changes once you cross into Scotland; the landscape becoming rugged and green. For my train trip I flicked through my ereader and found a title to enjoy: Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train (1950). The story is about two men who meet on a train and agree to swap murders. Highsmith is a gifted writer and I always enjoy her work. Alas, I did not finish it before the end of my trip, and will need to pick it up again on or before my next train journey.
Edinburgh always feels like a second home to me. I have many fond memories of past visits, and delight in catching up with old friends whenever I am in town. Each time I go to Edinburgh I get a hankering to read Ian Rankin. As you wander down the Royal Mile, and peek in the closes, you feel as though you are walking alongside Inspector Rebus.
Throughout the 1990s, long before I began blogging, I was obsessed with Rebus and read the books in order from Knots and Crosses (1987) to The Hanging Garden (1998), savouring each one and anxious for the next instalment. Then the TV series came, and I got distracted by new obsessions so did not return to Rebus. I thought I would get back into Rebus with book #10, Dead Souls (1999) on this trip but my reading time was limited in Scotland by my hectic social life, and I will have to save this for another day.
After a couple of days in Glasgow I was drawn to architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh more than to any authors or books. I love Mackintosh's art deco work and enjoyed time visiting his home and tea rooms. It was devastating to hear that his Glasgow School of the Arts building was destroyed by fire a few days after we left the city.
Our next stop was the Lake District, where we stayed in an isolated art deco hotel on the edge of a lake. As my family and I sat in the dining room, we remarked how very Christiesque the setting was, as if Poirot himself would suddenly appear and deduce which among us was a murderer! The location was beautiful and had we more time there, I would have loved to curl up in a leather armchair in front of the fire and read the next Agatha Christie on my list, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926), as it would have been the perfect setting.
The Lake District is a beautiful part of England and we enjoyed several days here, visiting family history sites and taking in the scenery. One of the highlights of our stay was our visit to Beatrix Potter's home Hill Top. We toured her cottage and garden and enjoyed lunch in a local historic pub. It was lovely to see the setting of the tales I enjoyed so much as a child. As we strolled around her home and nearby village you could sense Peter Rabbit, Flopsy, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, Tom Kitten and so many more beloved characters.
After a brief stop in York we arrived in Manchester, a delightful city infused with a rich culture. We visited the Lowry, and saw the incredible 'Matchstick Men' works of Salford's most famous artist LS Lowry. We visited the stunning Manchester Central Library and I delighted in the displays on the women's suffrage movement.
Manchester has a diverse literary history with writers from Karl Marx to Anthony Burgess having lived and/or worked here. For me Manchester is all about Elizabeth Gaskell, one of my favourite writers of all time. I have read many of her works, including North and South (1855) and Wives and Daughters (1865) several times, but the one book I was hoping to read on this trip was her first novel Mary Barton (1848). I had also wanted to visit her home in Manchester but it is only open three days a week and did not align with our travel plans. Something to look forward to on my next visit...
We spent a week or so travelling across the English countryside through Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire. Our days were filled with family history, churches and cathedrals, and even the viking burial ground at Sutton Hoo.
Every time I visit England I think about Jane Austen. On this trip, Austen loomed even larger as we went to Gretna Green, spent a day in Bath and went to the Jane Austen Centre, and travelled around Hertfordshire. Austen was a pervasive figure on our trip. I have read all of Austen's novels countless times and each re-read reveals something new. I didn't even attempt to delve into one again on this trip, although I did get very nostalgic and almost tempted by Persuasion!
Back in London for our last few days we wandered through Bloomsbury, once home to writers like JM Barrie, Charles Dickens, John Wyndham, William Butler Yeats and Virginia Woolf. We visited Denmark Street, home and workplace of Detective Cormoran Strike, en route to Foyles Bookstore on Charing Cross. We also attended the hilarious West End production of Book of Mormon (a book I have no desire to read).
I did pick up a few books on my travels that I have long wanted to read including Janet Malcolm's The Journalist and the Murderer, and Julian Stodd's Social Leadership Handbook, but elected to pack them in my suitcase, rather than read them on the return voyage home.
While I didn't actually finish any books on my holiday, I had an incredible month of learning and came home with a renewed passion for literature. Best get reading then...
Tuesday, 5 June 2018
End of Watch
On a crisp autumnal Sunday afternoon, I curled up with a cup of tea and spent a few hours in the company of an old friend, Helen Garner's The Spare Room (2008).
Garner is my favourite Australian author and having seen her recently at the Sydney Writers' Festival I have been on a bit of a Garner kick - reading or rereading some of her work. The Spare Room is a delightful short novel that can be read in a few hours.
Set in Melbourne, Helen is busily preparing her home for the Nicola's arrival. Nicola has come to stay with her for three weeks while she undergoes treatment for her advanced cancer at the Theodore Institute, a clinic offering hope to the terminally ill by way of vitamin C injections and caffeine enemas. As Helen spends her days in waiting rooms and nights changing sheets, tending for her friend, she suspects the treatments are doing more harm then good. She grows frustrated with Nicola’s unwillingness to come to terms with her situation and finds it difficult to be a supportive friend.
Anyone who has cared for someone during a debilitating illness will be able to relate to this story.
I love Garner’s crisp prose. She has an uncanny ability to get under the skin of a character and doesn’t shy away from a situation riddled with complexities. This book is deceptively simple but provides much to think about long after you have turned the last page.
Sunday, 27 May 2018
The Wanderer
With a lot on at work, I was looking for a quick and easy, escapist read. I grabbed a copy of Lee Child's Killing Floor (1997), the first novel in the bestselling Jack Reacher series, and read it on my daily commute over the course of a week.
Reacher is a former military police officer who was passing through the town of Margrave, Georgia when he was arrested for a murder he knows nothing about. Without identification or an alibi, Reacher is definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time. As he works to convince Detective Finlay and Officer Roscoe of his innocence, Reacher needs to figure out who the real killer is to be exonerated. But what looks like a simple murder is actually a much bigger crime with far reaching consequences.
Having spent several days with Jack Reacher, I am utterly perplexed by the popularity of this series. Reacher is a ridiculous confection - tall, handsome, smart, and able to take out five guys with his bare hands, he easily picks up the only woman in town for mind-blowing shower sex, and inevitably breaks the case wide-open.
A few times I felt like giving up on this book, but I kept going as it was an easy read and there was enough of a plot to move the story along. But the prose is dreadful, with Child relying on short, dull, repetitive sentences ("There was carpet"). The dialogue is simplistic and the mystery has gaping holes. I also had to remind myself that the book is twenty years old, when I was wondering why they were using fax machines and landlines. And yet, there was enough momentum to make me want to learn how the story would pan out.
From what I understand Child's writing improves as the 22 books in the series progress. I doubt I will read any more Reacher novels but at least I now know what the hype is about.
Reacher is a former military police officer who was passing through the town of Margrave, Georgia when he was arrested for a murder he knows nothing about. Without identification or an alibi, Reacher is definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time. As he works to convince Detective Finlay and Officer Roscoe of his innocence, Reacher needs to figure out who the real killer is to be exonerated. But what looks like a simple murder is actually a much bigger crime with far reaching consequences.Having spent several days with Jack Reacher, I am utterly perplexed by the popularity of this series. Reacher is a ridiculous confection - tall, handsome, smart, and able to take out five guys with his bare hands, he easily picks up the only woman in town for mind-blowing shower sex, and inevitably breaks the case wide-open.
A few times I felt like giving up on this book, but I kept going as it was an easy read and there was enough of a plot to move the story along. But the prose is dreadful, with Child relying on short, dull, repetitive sentences ("There was carpet"). The dialogue is simplistic and the mystery has gaping holes. I also had to remind myself that the book is twenty years old, when I was wondering why they were using fax machines and landlines. And yet, there was enough momentum to make me want to learn how the story would pan out.
From what I understand Child's writing improves as the 22 books in the series progress. I doubt I will read any more Reacher novels but at least I now know what the hype is about.
Saturday, 26 May 2018
Miles Franklin Award Longlist 2018
The Miles Franklin Award is the most prestigious literary award in Australia, with a cash prize of $60,000 and the opportunity to join the ranks of past winners including Frank Morehouse, Tim Winton, David Malouf, Peter Carey, Sofie Laguna and Anna Funder.
The 2018 Longlist was announced this week and it includes some familiar faces along with those less well known.
The Longlist is:
Peter Carey - A Long Way From Home
Two time Booker Prize winner, and past Miles Franklin Award recipient, Peter Carey's latest novel is set in 1950s Victoria. It revolves around a couple who love cars and embark upon an epic motor challenge to circumnavigate Australia. This is Carey's 14th novel.
Felicity Castagna - No More Boats
In 2001 the Norwegian container ship, Tampa, picked up 438 refugees who were sinking en route to Australia. The captain wanted to dock and offload the refugees, but the Australian government refused access to any port. Castagna uses this event as the backdrop for her novel about migration, multiculturalism and empathy. Castagna previously won the Prime Minister's Literary Award for her book The Incredible Here and Now (2014).
Michelle de Krester - The Life to Come
Set in Sydney, Paris and Sri Lanka, the satirical story explores themes of intimacy, friendship and loneliness. De Krester won the Miles Franklin Award in 2013 for Questions of Travel. This novel was also on the shortlist for this year's Stella Prize.
Lia Hills - The Crying Place
This is a novel about friendship, grief and guilt. Saul wants to know why his best friend Jed killed himself, so sets out to discover why. He journeys into Central Australia, to the remote Aboriginal Community where Jed recently worked.
Eva Hornung - The Last Garden
In a small Lutheran settlement Warheit, a murder-suicide shatters young Benedict. He hides in a barn with his beloved horses to mourn. The community's spiritual leader Pastor Helfgott watches over the boy. This novel won the 2018 Premier's Award at the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature.
Wayne Macauley - Some Tests
In this dark satirical novel, aged-care worker Beth is sent to a doctor for some tests. These lead to more tests and referrals to specialists searching for what is wrong with her. But is there actually anything wrong?
Catherine McKinnon - Storyland
In this novel, five interwoven stories explore diverse people in and around Lake Illawarra over a period of almost 500 years. From Matthew Flinders' first encounter with local indigenous peoples to early colonisation and on through the years to the near-future, the novel blends historical, literary and dystopian fiction.
Gerald Murnane - Border Districts
The New York Times recently called Gerald Murnane "the greatest living English language writer most people have never heard of". I was one of those people and have never read any of his books. This is purported to be his last work. The story revolves around a man who moves from Melbourne to a remote town to live out the rest of his life.
Jane Rawson - From the Wreck
In August 1859 was shipwrecked off the coast of South Australia with most of the passengers clinging to wreckage for days on end before perishing. This novel tells the story of George Hills, one of the survivors and how he made it with supernatural assistance.
Michael Sala - The Restorer
Separated from her husband Roy for a year, Maryanne decides to give her marriage another try. To rebuild their family life, they move from Sydney to Newcastle and start to restore a derelict property. The novel is told from the perspective of the couples teenage daughter.
Kim Scott - Taboo
Scott has won the Miles Franklin on two previous occasions for his novels: That Deadman Dance (2010) and Benang (1999). His latest novel tells the story of the Noogar people of Western Australia who revisit a site of a massacre. The farmer who owns the land today hopes the presence of these visitors will cleanse the land of its' past sins.
The Shortlist will be announced 17 June 2018 and the winner will be revealed on 26 August.
The 2018 Longlist was announced this week and it includes some familiar faces along with those less well known.
The Longlist is:
Peter Carey - A Long Way From HomeTwo time Booker Prize winner, and past Miles Franklin Award recipient, Peter Carey's latest novel is set in 1950s Victoria. It revolves around a couple who love cars and embark upon an epic motor challenge to circumnavigate Australia. This is Carey's 14th novel.
In 2001 the Norwegian container ship, Tampa, picked up 438 refugees who were sinking en route to Australia. The captain wanted to dock and offload the refugees, but the Australian government refused access to any port. Castagna uses this event as the backdrop for her novel about migration, multiculturalism and empathy. Castagna previously won the Prime Minister's Literary Award for her book The Incredible Here and Now (2014).
Set in Sydney, Paris and Sri Lanka, the satirical story explores themes of intimacy, friendship and loneliness. De Krester won the Miles Franklin Award in 2013 for Questions of Travel. This novel was also on the shortlist for this year's Stella Prize.
Lia Hills - The Crying PlaceThis is a novel about friendship, grief and guilt. Saul wants to know why his best friend Jed killed himself, so sets out to discover why. He journeys into Central Australia, to the remote Aboriginal Community where Jed recently worked.
Eva Hornung - The Last GardenIn a small Lutheran settlement Warheit, a murder-suicide shatters young Benedict. He hides in a barn with his beloved horses to mourn. The community's spiritual leader Pastor Helfgott watches over the boy. This novel won the 2018 Premier's Award at the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature.
Wayne Macauley - Some TestsIn this dark satirical novel, aged-care worker Beth is sent to a doctor for some tests. These lead to more tests and referrals to specialists searching for what is wrong with her. But is there actually anything wrong?
Catherine McKinnon - StorylandIn this novel, five interwoven stories explore diverse people in and around Lake Illawarra over a period of almost 500 years. From Matthew Flinders' first encounter with local indigenous peoples to early colonisation and on through the years to the near-future, the novel blends historical, literary and dystopian fiction.
Gerald Murnane - Border DistrictsThe New York Times recently called Gerald Murnane "the greatest living English language writer most people have never heard of". I was one of those people and have never read any of his books. This is purported to be his last work. The story revolves around a man who moves from Melbourne to a remote town to live out the rest of his life.
Jane Rawson - From the WreckIn August 1859 was shipwrecked off the coast of South Australia with most of the passengers clinging to wreckage for days on end before perishing. This novel tells the story of George Hills, one of the survivors and how he made it with supernatural assistance.
Michael Sala - The Restorer
Separated from her husband Roy for a year, Maryanne decides to give her marriage another try. To rebuild their family life, they move from Sydney to Newcastle and start to restore a derelict property. The novel is told from the perspective of the couples teenage daughter.
Kim Scott - Taboo
Scott has won the Miles Franklin on two previous occasions for his novels: That Deadman Dance (2010) and Benang (1999). His latest novel tells the story of the Noogar people of Western Australia who revisit a site of a massacre. The farmer who owns the land today hopes the presence of these visitors will cleanse the land of its' past sins. The Shortlist will be announced 17 June 2018 and the winner will be revealed on 26 August.
Sunday, 13 May 2018
Sydney Writers' Festival - My Big Weekend (pt 2)
After a long day at the Festival, I opted for a shorter Sunday of only four sessions.
Sunday 6 May 2018
Amy Goldstein - Janesville
Washington Post journalist Amy Goldstein is interested in how economics affect people. She spoke with George Megalogenis about her book Janesville - a case study in the impact of the recession on a Midwestern town.
During the global financial crisis, Goldstein was looking for a story about people falling out of the middle class onto welfare. Goldstein said that 'The American dream has a forward trajectory and these people were heading downward.' While most reporters were taking the macro-view, Goldstein went to Janesville Wisconsin, a microcosm of what was happening.
Goldstein wanted to write about this particular downturn, not decades of boom and bust. So Janesville was the right place as it had survived past depressions/recessions. The General Motors plant was the main employer in Janesville, and most of the other businesses in town were suppliers to GM or the people who worked there.
GM was having difficulty, as the gas-guzzling SUVs made at the plant were not selling due to the high price of petrol. Instead of changing to another vehicle, GM decided to close its plant - ending the employment of 9,000 of Janesville's 63,000 people.
Goldstein followed three families for five years to see what would happen to them. One of her most interesting findings was around the retraining of retrenched workers. Surprisingly, she found that those who did not undertake training were better off.
Last year I read JD Vance's Hillbilly Elegy, a fascinating first person account of growing up in the rust-belt. Janesville sounds just as interesting, and if it was good enough for Obama, it is good enough for me. I bought a copy of Janesville, signed by Goldstein. and look forward to reading it.
Tegan Bennett Daylight and Charlotte Wood - If you don't laugh, you'll cry
I am a great admirer of Australian authors Tegan Bennett Daylight and Charlotte Wood so jumped at the chance to hear them talk about how humour can enliven even the most serious literature.
Wood and Daylight spoke about writers who use laughter in their writing which beings about a rhythm. Daylight is a huge fan of George Saunders and read extracts of his short stories. Wood agreed that 'Saunders' humour is in the sadness'. Wood finds Anne Enright is funny in a dark way, likewise Edna O'Brien is self-depreciating and puts humour in her woundedness.
The authors talked about Australian novelist Kim Scott and how he uses humour to diffuse the hurt, and that play is an important part of his work.
They spoke about boring characters and how witty they can be. Daylight told how Jane Austen does this in a brilliant way - for example in Pride and Prejudice's Mr Collins, who is pompous and boring. Wood recommended the pretentious Maynard in Joan London's The Good Parents.
Saying the unsayable is also a source of humour. They referred to Helen Garner's essay 'The Indignity of Age' and Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kittredge, where older women behave appallingly.
They then turned to their own works and how they use humour. Neither author is promoting new works (alas!), but I can highly recommend Daylight's Six Bedrooms and Wood's The Natural Way of Things. When Natural Way was being published in America, the publishers changed 'ute' to 'pick-up' and a few other Australian-isms were lost. I think this is a shame, as readers can look words up and learn as they read. But Wood and Daylight found the humour in that.
Various Speakers - The Changing Face of Australia
My final panel of the festival was on the topic of the shifting make up of Australia with the influx of migrants from China, India and the Philippines.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane spoke of the waves of migrants - British, then European, and then, once the White Australia Policy ended, increasingly non-white migrants from all over the world. He said that 85% of Australian feel multiculturalism is good for our nation, and 80% say we should not discriminate with immigration. He spoke of the dangers of the global rise of far right movements.
Former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans said he has been advocating for diversity for 50 years. He spoke of the decline of learning Asian languages in school and how short-sighted that is. He also spoke about Peter Dutton and his dog-whistling (e.g. favouring white South African farmers over Syrian refugees).
Linda Jaivin spoke about how we talk of 'China' without realising that Chinese is not a homogenous group. We also speak of China when we mean the political institutions and we should be referring to Beijing, the way we speak of Washington or Canberra. Jaivin is a huge advocate for Australians learning more about Chinese culture, history and language. It was great to hear Jaivin speak, as I admired her Quarterly Essay on translation.
The Lowy Institute's Richard McGregor spoke about how in America the elite is culturally diverse, but in Australia it is not. He spoke about the changing global world order, with China wanting America to go through a bourgeois decline.
I really like George Megalogenis as a writer (e.g. Quarterly Essay QE61) but not so much as a facilitator. In both sessions today it felt like he was disinterested and disengaged. He spoke to the audience coldly and (as he wanted to monitor the session times) was frequently checking his phone, which gave the impression of disrespect to the speaker and those in attendance. I would think twice before attending his sessions in the future.
Jennifer Egan - Closing Address
The final session of the Festival was the closing address by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Jennifer Egan. I didn't know what to expect from this session, only that she would be talking about technology and fiction. She said she thought it was ironic that she was taking on this subject since she still writes all her novels by hand.
Egan described her youth and how she took a gap year in 1981 when she realised she didn't want to be an archaeologist but had no other plan. She backpacked across Europe at 18, armed only with a Eurorail pass and a journal. In those days she was genuinely isolated from everyone, but 'writing tied me to the world'. She said she would 'never have experienced the solitude that lead me to be a writer' if she were doing this today.
She spoke of the nostalgia we often have for a time we never experienced, and how this has fuelled her writing. Egan then went on to talk about her various books- Invisible Circus, Look at Me, A Visit from the Goon Squad - and her latest Manhattan Beach. In each one she has experimented with form - for example, Goon Squad was designed to be like a concept album and has a chapter written as a PowerPoint presentation. She also described the Twitter Novella she wrote called The Black Box, for the New Yorker.
Egan also spoke about the importance of empathy, how it is our chief tool as writers for bringing people into another person's consciousness. If writers do this well, people will read.
It was an interesting lecture and a great end to the festival.
Final Musings
A few thoughts on the festival itself: I have been to the Sydney Writers' Festival quite a few times and I have always struggled to pick sessions as there have been so many I want to see, often two or three in each timeslot. This year I felt the program was a bit flat, and I struggled to find sessions I really wanted to attend. I really liked the new Carriageworks venue - it is warmer and easier to hear speakers there than the Wharf venue. The walk to Seymour Centre was not too far. I am also pleased to see Gleebooks is still involved. I will definitely be back again!
See also:
Sunday 6 May 2018
Amy Goldstein - Janesville
Washington Post journalist Amy Goldstein is interested in how economics affect people. She spoke with George Megalogenis about her book Janesville - a case study in the impact of the recession on a Midwestern town.
Goldstein wanted to write about this particular downturn, not decades of boom and bust. So Janesville was the right place as it had survived past depressions/recessions. The General Motors plant was the main employer in Janesville, and most of the other businesses in town were suppliers to GM or the people who worked there.
GM was having difficulty, as the gas-guzzling SUVs made at the plant were not selling due to the high price of petrol. Instead of changing to another vehicle, GM decided to close its plant - ending the employment of 9,000 of Janesville's 63,000 people.
Last year I read JD Vance's Hillbilly Elegy, a fascinating first person account of growing up in the rust-belt. Janesville sounds just as interesting, and if it was good enough for Obama, it is good enough for me. I bought a copy of Janesville, signed by Goldstein. and look forward to reading it.
Tegan Bennett Daylight and Charlotte Wood - If you don't laugh, you'll cry
I am a great admirer of Australian authors Tegan Bennett Daylight and Charlotte Wood so jumped at the chance to hear them talk about how humour can enliven even the most serious literature.
Wood and Daylight spoke about writers who use laughter in their writing which beings about a rhythm. Daylight is a huge fan of George Saunders and read extracts of his short stories. Wood agreed that 'Saunders' humour is in the sadness'. Wood finds Anne Enright is funny in a dark way, likewise Edna O'Brien is self-depreciating and puts humour in her woundedness.
They spoke about boring characters and how witty they can be. Daylight told how Jane Austen does this in a brilliant way - for example in Pride and Prejudice's Mr Collins, who is pompous and boring. Wood recommended the pretentious Maynard in Joan London's The Good Parents.
Saying the unsayable is also a source of humour. They referred to Helen Garner's essay 'The Indignity of Age' and Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kittredge, where older women behave appallingly.
Various Speakers - The Changing Face of Australia
My final panel of the festival was on the topic of the shifting make up of Australia with the influx of migrants from China, India and the Philippines.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane spoke of the waves of migrants - British, then European, and then, once the White Australia Policy ended, increasingly non-white migrants from all over the world. He said that 85% of Australian feel multiculturalism is good for our nation, and 80% say we should not discriminate with immigration. He spoke of the dangers of the global rise of far right movements.
Linda Jaivin spoke about how we talk of 'China' without realising that Chinese is not a homogenous group. We also speak of China when we mean the political institutions and we should be referring to Beijing, the way we speak of Washington or Canberra. Jaivin is a huge advocate for Australians learning more about Chinese culture, history and language. It was great to hear Jaivin speak, as I admired her Quarterly Essay on translation.
The Lowy Institute's Richard McGregor spoke about how in America the elite is culturally diverse, but in Australia it is not. He spoke about the changing global world order, with China wanting America to go through a bourgeois decline.
I really like George Megalogenis as a writer (e.g. Quarterly Essay QE61) but not so much as a facilitator. In both sessions today it felt like he was disinterested and disengaged. He spoke to the audience coldly and (as he wanted to monitor the session times) was frequently checking his phone, which gave the impression of disrespect to the speaker and those in attendance. I would think twice before attending his sessions in the future.
Jennifer Egan - Closing Address
The final session of the Festival was the closing address by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Jennifer Egan. I didn't know what to expect from this session, only that she would be talking about technology and fiction. She said she thought it was ironic that she was taking on this subject since she still writes all her novels by hand.
Egan described her youth and how she took a gap year in 1981 when she realised she didn't want to be an archaeologist but had no other plan. She backpacked across Europe at 18, armed only with a Eurorail pass and a journal. In those days she was genuinely isolated from everyone, but 'writing tied me to the world'. She said she would 'never have experienced the solitude that lead me to be a writer' if she were doing this today.
Egan also spoke about the importance of empathy, how it is our chief tool as writers for bringing people into another person's consciousness. If writers do this well, people will read.
It was an interesting lecture and a great end to the festival.
Final Musings
A few thoughts on the festival itself: I have been to the Sydney Writers' Festival quite a few times and I have always struggled to pick sessions as there have been so many I want to see, often two or three in each timeslot. This year I felt the program was a bit flat, and I struggled to find sessions I really wanted to attend. I really liked the new Carriageworks venue - it is warmer and easier to hear speakers there than the Wharf venue. The walk to Seymour Centre was not too far. I am also pleased to see Gleebooks is still involved. I will definitely be back again!
See also:
Saturday, 12 May 2018
Sydney Writers' Festival - My Big Weekend (pt 1)
I spent the weekend of 5-6 May 2018 at the Sydney Writers' Festival, attending ten sessions over the two days. Here's a run-down of my weekend at the Festival.
Saturday 5 May 2018
Sarah Krasnostein - The Trauma Cleaner
Krasnostein was attending a legal conference when she met Sandra Pankhurst, a trauma cleaner. Intrigued by this unusual profession, Krasnostein sought to learn more, quickly discovering that Pankhurst's job was the least interesting thing about her.
Assigned male at birth, Pankhurst has a life story that includes adoption, assault, marriage, parenting, prostitution, gender reassignment and running a business. Krasnostein said Pankhurst's character 'would not be believed if the book were fiction'.
Krasnostein spoke of the challenges of writing without the certainty of facts and figures. Pankhurst has many time gaps, and chronological difficulties. She said she needed a good spreadsheet to keep track of everyone.
Spending so much time with her subject, attending crime scenes and hoarder clean ups with her, Krasnostein was overwhelmed by empathy and spoke about the problem of exclusion and isolation.
For several months I have been in the queue at City of Sydney Libraries to get a copy of this book. I have finally been able to release my reserve as I purchased a copy and had it signed by the author. The Trauma Cleaner has won countless awards including the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction.
Peter Greste - The First Casualty
Journalist Hugh Riminton interviews Peter Greste about his career as a foreign correspondent, his time in prison in Egypt on false terrorism charges and his book The First Casualty about the assault on freedom of the press.
The session was timely as nine journalists had been killed this week in a suicide bomb attack specifically targeting the media. Greste spoke about how other journalists have been attacked, including Maria Grazia Cutuli and his colleague Kate Peyton. He sees his unjust incarceration as part of this continuum of undermining the media.
Greste spoke about the changing nature of war. What was once a conflict over tangible things - water, land etc - since 9/11 wars have been fought over ideas. Journalists have become targeted because they are vectors for those ideas.
In order to do their job, journalists need to get the whole story by talking to all parties to a conflict. George W Bush stated categorically that you are 'with us or against us' and now we fight on extremes. Increasingly draconian laws passed since 9/11 have used the threat of terrorism to deprive citizens of rights. Whistleblowers are no longer protected given the metadata laws.
Greste said 'we need journalists to stick to first principles - accuracy, fairness, balance' and that 'we need to protect the grey zone' which is a space to debate ideas.
This was an interesting session. I last heard Greste speak at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2015, when he spoke with the late Mark Colvin, a few months after his release from prison.
Leigh Sales - On Doubt
About ten years ago, Leigh Sales wrote an essay On Doubt. At the time she was concerned about the increasing move toward opinion instead of fact in journalism. In the age of fake news and Trump, Sales recently updated the book with a new afterward. At the festival she spoke with Julia Baird, about the essay and modern day journalism.
Sales was unequivocal, stating Í think the truth matters. Integrity matters' and is dismayed that even when you expose the lies it doesn't matter as 'people don't like to hear things that don't accord with their beliefs'. She recently had the opportunity to interview former FBI Director James Comey, and shed the light on her approach to interviews.
Baird inquired about how Trump has changed the role of the journalist. Sales said that Trump speaks in a 'word salad' and that it is essentially a 'wall of sound' that comes out of his mouth. She said it would be virtually impossible to interview him since he goes all over the place.
Baird asks how much the media is to blame for creating a culture of disbelief. Sales said the media shares culpability. For example, calling out politicians as flip-floppers, denies them the opportunity to change their mind.
They spoke about the 'insidious propaganda' that arises when the media is unchecked and the personal attacks that take place where instead of debating ideas, we attack individuals. Sales said 'the rise of Trump makes me thing there is a market for nastiness'.
Sales has a new book coming out in October, called Any Ordinary Day about how ordinary people cope when life changes on them suddenly. I enjoyed this session, listening to two intelligent women discussing ideas. I recently read Julia Baird's amazing Victoria: The Queen, so it was great to see her in person.
Various Authors - The Body Politic
One of the things I love about going to writers' festivals is learning about new authors and books I have never heard of. I booked into this session, precisely because I knew nothing about the international authors on this panel.
Carmen Maria Machado (USA), Emma Glass (UK) and Sharlene Teo (Singapore) had each written books which placed the human body centre stage.
Glass' debut novel Peach is about the aftermath of a violent assault. Teo's Ponti is about a young woman remaking a cult horror story that once stared her mother. Machado's short story collection Her Body and Other Stories, also uses the horror genre.
There was much discussion about gender and language in this session. Machado's book sounded quite interesting, but I doubt I will read any of these authors. Still, it was good to learn about what some up-and-coming novelists are writing about.
Various Writers - Its' Not a Moment, It's a Movement
After a full day at Carriageworks, I travelled into the city to attend two evening sessions at Town Hall with my Festival friend. First up was this timely panel about the #MeToo movement.
Journalists Tracey Spicer, Irin Carmon and Jenna Wortham spoke with Sophie Black about evens that happened in the last 48 hours: the scandal engulfing the Nobel Prize for Literature judges, the allegations against author Junot Diaz resulting in his sudden withdrawal from the writers' festival and return to the USA, and Carmon's expose of an additional 21 complaints against Charlie Rose.
They spoke about the victim blaming playbook being continually used and the 'himpathy' in which a disproportionate empathy is displayed for men we have a relationship with - like male celebrities (e.g. Cosby, Spacey).
Carmon spoke at length about the reporting she did on the Charlie Rose case, and the difficulty of getting sources to speak out. Spicer argued that Australian defamation laws have restricted the ability of journalists to report on cases - Don Burke had been a known predator for thirty years. Wortham spoke about social media and its use to out R Kelly. The #MuteRKelly campaign is trying to get him off the radio.
The most powerful moment of the night came when one woman came to the mike and said she was someone who had contacted Spicer to report on something that had happened to her. She spoke with gratitude to journalists like Spicer and Kate McClymont and the importance of believing women. She encouraged media companies for being bolder in allowing reports to be made.
This was a thought-provoking panel. I was particularly keen to hear Carmon speak as I read her wonderful biography on Ruth Bader-Ginsburg earlier this year, the Notorious RBG.
Julia Gillard - Power and Gender
The Town Hall was abuzz with excitement waiting for Julia Gillard to be interviewed by Laura Tingle about gender and power.
The opening question was whether Gillard thought people had changed their views on her. She said that over time the 'froth and bubble' gets forgotten and they tend to remember what was underneath. She talked about her legacy of the NDIS, the Royal Commission into Child Abuse, the Carbon Price and various other achievements.
Gillard talked about her current work. She is Chair of Beyond Blue and her she spoke passionately about the importance of mental health. Gillard is also Chair of the Global Partnership for Education, which focuses on education for children in developing companies. Earlier this year Gillard opened the Kings College Global Institute for Women in Leadership which is involved in researching what works and doesn't in terms of leadership initiatives to increase women's representation in positions of power/authority.
They spoke about the #MeToo movement and Gillard is of the view that this will be part of a major wave of feminism. She says that MeToo must have meaning for cleaners, migrant workers etc, not just those with labour market power.
Tingle asked whether there has been a loss of respect for leadership roles. Gillard said there has been 'a loss of respect and faith in institutions - school principals, bank managers, doctors, teachers, and priests were held in high regard. We are in an age of more cynicism'.
It was a fascinating discussion, which ended in a standing ovation for Julia Gillard. I read her memoir, My Story, in 2015 and at the time I wondered what would happen to her. I am pleased to see she is following her passions for education, feminism and mental health issues. She has a lot to offer the world.
So that was my big day out at the Writers' Festival. Stay tuned for my recap of Day 2.
See also:
Saturday 5 May 2018
Sarah Krasnostein - The Trauma Cleaner
Krasnostein was attending a legal conference when she met Sandra Pankhurst, a trauma cleaner. Intrigued by this unusual profession, Krasnostein sought to learn more, quickly discovering that Pankhurst's job was the least interesting thing about her. Assigned male at birth, Pankhurst has a life story that includes adoption, assault, marriage, parenting, prostitution, gender reassignment and running a business. Krasnostein said Pankhurst's character 'would not be believed if the book were fiction'.
Krasnostein spoke of the challenges of writing without the certainty of facts and figures. Pankhurst has many time gaps, and chronological difficulties. She said she needed a good spreadsheet to keep track of everyone.
For several months I have been in the queue at City of Sydney Libraries to get a copy of this book. I have finally been able to release my reserve as I purchased a copy and had it signed by the author. The Trauma Cleaner has won countless awards including the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction.
Peter Greste - The First Casualty
Journalist Hugh Riminton interviews Peter Greste about his career as a foreign correspondent, his time in prison in Egypt on false terrorism charges and his book The First Casualty about the assault on freedom of the press.
Greste spoke about the changing nature of war. What was once a conflict over tangible things - water, land etc - since 9/11 wars have been fought over ideas. Journalists have become targeted because they are vectors for those ideas.
In order to do their job, journalists need to get the whole story by talking to all parties to a conflict. George W Bush stated categorically that you are 'with us or against us' and now we fight on extremes. Increasingly draconian laws passed since 9/11 have used the threat of terrorism to deprive citizens of rights. Whistleblowers are no longer protected given the metadata laws.
Greste said 'we need journalists to stick to first principles - accuracy, fairness, balance' and that 'we need to protect the grey zone' which is a space to debate ideas.
This was an interesting session. I last heard Greste speak at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2015, when he spoke with the late Mark Colvin, a few months after his release from prison.
Leigh Sales - On Doubt
About ten years ago, Leigh Sales wrote an essay On Doubt. At the time she was concerned about the increasing move toward opinion instead of fact in journalism. In the age of fake news and Trump, Sales recently updated the book with a new afterward. At the festival she spoke with Julia Baird, about the essay and modern day journalism.
Baird inquired about how Trump has changed the role of the journalist. Sales said that Trump speaks in a 'word salad' and that it is essentially a 'wall of sound' that comes out of his mouth. She said it would be virtually impossible to interview him since he goes all over the place.
Baird asks how much the media is to blame for creating a culture of disbelief. Sales said the media shares culpability. For example, calling out politicians as flip-floppers, denies them the opportunity to change their mind.
They spoke about the 'insidious propaganda' that arises when the media is unchecked and the personal attacks that take place where instead of debating ideas, we attack individuals. Sales said 'the rise of Trump makes me thing there is a market for nastiness'. Sales has a new book coming out in October, called Any Ordinary Day about how ordinary people cope when life changes on them suddenly. I enjoyed this session, listening to two intelligent women discussing ideas. I recently read Julia Baird's amazing Victoria: The Queen, so it was great to see her in person.
Various Authors - The Body Politic
One of the things I love about going to writers' festivals is learning about new authors and books I have never heard of. I booked into this session, precisely because I knew nothing about the international authors on this panel.
Glass' debut novel Peach is about the aftermath of a violent assault. Teo's Ponti is about a young woman remaking a cult horror story that once stared her mother. Machado's short story collection Her Body and Other Stories, also uses the horror genre.
There was much discussion about gender and language in this session. Machado's book sounded quite interesting, but I doubt I will read any of these authors. Still, it was good to learn about what some up-and-coming novelists are writing about.
Various Writers - Its' Not a Moment, It's a Movement
After a full day at Carriageworks, I travelled into the city to attend two evening sessions at Town Hall with my Festival friend. First up was this timely panel about the #MeToo movement.
Journalists Tracey Spicer, Irin Carmon and Jenna Wortham spoke with Sophie Black about evens that happened in the last 48 hours: the scandal engulfing the Nobel Prize for Literature judges, the allegations against author Junot Diaz resulting in his sudden withdrawal from the writers' festival and return to the USA, and Carmon's expose of an additional 21 complaints against Charlie Rose.
They spoke about the victim blaming playbook being continually used and the 'himpathy' in which a disproportionate empathy is displayed for men we have a relationship with - like male celebrities (e.g. Cosby, Spacey).
Carmon spoke at length about the reporting she did on the Charlie Rose case, and the difficulty of getting sources to speak out. Spicer argued that Australian defamation laws have restricted the ability of journalists to report on cases - Don Burke had been a known predator for thirty years. Wortham spoke about social media and its use to out R Kelly. The #MuteRKelly campaign is trying to get him off the radio.
This was a thought-provoking panel. I was particularly keen to hear Carmon speak as I read her wonderful biography on Ruth Bader-Ginsburg earlier this year, the Notorious RBG.
Julia Gillard - Power and Gender
The Town Hall was abuzz with excitement waiting for Julia Gillard to be interviewed by Laura Tingle about gender and power.
Gillard talked about her current work. She is Chair of Beyond Blue and her she spoke passionately about the importance of mental health. Gillard is also Chair of the Global Partnership for Education, which focuses on education for children in developing companies. Earlier this year Gillard opened the Kings College Global Institute for Women in Leadership which is involved in researching what works and doesn't in terms of leadership initiatives to increase women's representation in positions of power/authority.
They spoke about the #MeToo movement and Gillard is of the view that this will be part of a major wave of feminism. She says that MeToo must have meaning for cleaners, migrant workers etc, not just those with labour market power.
It was a fascinating discussion, which ended in a standing ovation for Julia Gillard. I read her memoir, My Story, in 2015 and at the time I wondered what would happen to her. I am pleased to see she is following her passions for education, feminism and mental health issues. She has a lot to offer the world.
So that was my big day out at the Writers' Festival. Stay tuned for my recap of Day 2.
See also:
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