writingWA Recommends in 2012...
April 2012
Losing It, Julia Lawrinson (Penguin, $19.95)
Among the many things Julia Lawrinson writes superlatively well is the awkwardness of adolescence. Losing It begins with a provocative challenge: four friends resolve to lose their virginity before schoolies week, keeping their progress secret until ‘the big reveal’ at year’s end. The novel then gives us the experiences of Zoe, Abby, Mala and Bree, and part of the reading pleasure comes from our privileged position of seeing the whole comic trajectory as well as each girl’s account. It’s a funny, surprising, agonising story of friendship and self-discovery, and you don’t have to be a young adult to be hooked.
Marngrook – The long-ago story of Aussie Rules, Titta Secombe. Illustrated by Grace Fielding (Magabala Books, $16.95)
Marngrook brings Australian people together. And whilst Indigenous players are well known for their skill on the field at a national level, the game has a strong heartbeat within Aboriginal communities where hundreds, sometimes thousands of people regularly gather to participate. It therefore comes as no surprise to learn that what we know as Aussie Rules football has traditional origins in Aboriginal culture. This enchanting children’s book tells the story of Marngrook as passed down to Titta Secombe by her Jardwadjali elders (NW Victoria) and is beautifully illustrated by WA artist, Grace Fielding.
Reform and Resistance in Aboriginal Education, eds Quentin Beresford, Gary Partington & Graeme Gower, (UWAP, 498pp, $45.00)
As the Preface to this revised edition of a 2003 publication contends, ‘Aboriginal educational disadvantage ranks as one of Australia’s most pressing social issues’. The wide ranging essays in Reform and Resistance, by a number of experts in the area, will be of invaluable assistance to all those within the field, including policy makers. Organised thematically, each chapter presents a critical issue, taking account of the historical, cultural and political as well as the pedagogical influences on Indigenous education. The Conclusion looks forward to ‘dramatic improvement in all outcomes’, and with its extensive and accessible research, this important book will support that future.
The Greatest Liar on Earth, Mark Greenwood, illustrated Frane Lessac (Walker Books, $29.95)
The Greatest Liar on Earth is the true to life story of Louis de Rougemont, who claimed to have been shipwrecked in northwest Australia for thirty years. On arrival in London he told packed theatres of fantastic experiences involving flying wombats, sea monsters, turtle riding and skies that rained fish. But ‘The Most Remarkable Man of the Century’ was soon exposed as a charlatan. Greenwood and Lessac have recreated this incredible rags-to-riches-to-rags tale. Each page brings to life the 19th century adventure and reminds us of the power of storytelling. With thoughtful language and vibrant illustrations, young imaginations are sure to run wild!
Do Not Forget Australia, Sally Murphy, Illustrated by Sonia Kretschmar (Walker Books, $29.95)
Villers-Bretonneux was the site of a WW1 battle on April 25 1918. The village was liberated by Australian troops, many of whom lost their lives in the battle, and after the war the school was rebuilt with money raised by Australians. Murphy uses these real life events as the inspiration for her tale of Henri, a local boy from the French village, and Billy from Australia. Each experiences the war in his own way, both linked by Billy’s dad, one of the soldiers who liberated the village. Based on a true story of compassion and kindness, and beautifully illustrated by Sonia Kretschmar, this is an ANZAC story to share with young readers.
Preloved, Shirley Marr (Walker Books, $18.95)
Amy Lee has got problems. She plays second fiddle to her impossibly beautiful best friend, Rebecca; doesn’t fit in at school; can recite the ghost warnings her Chinese mother has filled her head with since birth. So when Logan appears out of a trashy 80s locket, Amy finally has someone who is hers – or does she? Marr is a witty, inventive writer, and Preloved is full of warmth, humour and retro supernatural. Will appeal to girls who love Twilight – and especially to those who don’t.
March 2012
Reaching One Thousand, Rachel Robertson, (Black Inc. $29.95)
Written as a series of personal essays, this is a mother’s memoir of life with a son who is autistic. Ben has a high verbal ability and an extraordinary skill with numbers. Aspects of Ben’s life and her experiences as his mother awaken for Robertson memories of her childhood and past, so that the book offers much more than a story of diagnosis and treatment. Never sentimental, it is moving and also often very funny. Robertson draws on a wide range of reference as she writes, to books on autism as well as many others. Rewarding on many levels, this is an exceptional book.
A Dissection of Murder, Felicity Young (Harper Collins, $24.99)
A Dissection of Murder is Felicity Young’s fifth crime novel, although her first work of historical crime fiction. The novel is set in Edwardian Britain prior to WW1, both in the entertaining rooms of genteel West London and the grime and poverty of East London. A high-profile suffragette has been murdered at a rally, and Britain’s first female autopsy surgeon, Dr Dody McLeland together with Inspector Mathew Pike, must identify her murderer. The elegant writing, pacing and characterisation of the novel reflects the period, although there are some chilling and graphic moments as the story heads to its satisfying conclusion.
Dingo’s Tree, Gladys & Jill Milroy (Magabala Books, $19.95)
Mining is slowly devastating the land upsetting the balance between development and the environment. Dingo, Wombat, Crow and their friends watch as the trees are cut down and the river stops flowing. They all have to find a way to work together to save their home before there is nowhere left for them to live. Gladys and Jill Milroy, both from the Pilbara, continue a tradition of protecting Country and culture through storytelling. This engaging and simply written, brightly illustrated environmental story for children delivers an important message. Gladys believes "You’ve got to tell the children. If you teach children to care for Country and care for animals, maybe they can talk to the adults and tell them it's not all about money…….”
Ngaanyatjarra Art of the Lands, Tim Acker and John Carty (UWA Publishing, $49.95)
This magnificent book presents thoroughly researched histories of six Aboriginal art centres in Australia's Ngaanyatjarra desert country and fascinating examinations of the distinctive features of the artwork produced by artists in these groups (Maruku Arts, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Warakurna Artists, Tjarlirli Art, Papulankutja Artists and Kayili Artists). These discussions are contextualised by three essays that explore the social, cultural and artistic histories of the region and are supported by glorious colour plates throughout, short artist biographies and a glossary of Ngaanyatjarra words making this a compulsory addition to the library of anyone who's interested in Australian Indigenous art.
Women of Note, Rosalind Appleby (Fremantle Press, $35.00)
Rosalind Appleby takes us on a journey through the lives of twenty eminent female Australian composers. Thankfully, she has avoided the trap attempting to document an exhaustive list of women composers and thus provides a nice balance of thoughtful commentary, personal stories and biographical information. The book is beautifully written and by placing the biographies in chronological order cleverly tells a bigger story about the role of women in the evolution of contemporary composition in Australia. Women of Note is an enjoyable and informative read and you don't need to be a music aficionado to understand it. The experience is further enhanced if accompanied by the fabulous selected listening list, located in the appendix at the back of the book.
Fire in My Head: Love Poetry 2012, Various contributors (Mulla Mulla Press, $5.00)
This ultra slim volume from Mulla Mulla Press is rich in celebrating love, published in conjunction with the recent St Valentine’s night poetry readings in South Perth. Included are 21 of WA’s finest living poets in a scant 30 pages. The cover illustration by Beba Hall is striking but the glittering prizes are within—in the love poems for lovers of poetry. Poets range from the venerable Andrew Burke (‘Apologia’) to Emeritus Professor Dennis Haskell (‘Counting the Days’) and through the whole panoply to Gail Williams (‘Once You Played Me’). In his Introduction, Shane McCauley reminds that love poets in particular wear their hearts on their sleeves.
February 2012
Baby Animal Farm Karen Blair (Walker Books $24.95)
Five bustling toddlers spend a blissful day feeding, cuddling and patting an array of irresistible baby animals in this beautifully designed picture book by first-time WA author-illustrator, Karen Blair. “Feed the lamb. Baa, baa, baa. Tickle the kid. Blee, blee, blee.” The lively, spare text, complemented by delicate watercolour and crayon illustrations, introduces each baby animal and gently insists we join the fun. Every feature of the book has the very young child in mind, from the comfortable square format to the generous use of white space on each double page spread to the delightful endpapers. An essential read-aloud for all animal-loving under fives.
Unaccountable Hours: three novellas, Stephen Scourfield, (UWA Publishing, $32.95)
Scourfield knows and writes about the diverse environments of Western Australia in ways that bring those locations alive, as alive as the characters who people them in these three very fine novellas. Each has a central male persona with different and fascinating professions and personalities. One is a maker of violins, one a sometime surfer and one a scientist. Each has a complex family background and their contemporary situations involve each facing a kind of test. Compelling both in their telling and their effects, these stories are wonderfully told, carry what is often quite esoteric knowledge lightly, and will reward many re-readings.
Fremantle's Italians, Susanna Iuliano & Maria Gorman, (ANFE Fremantle, $25.00)
To celebrate their 25th anniversary, and modern Italy's 150th birthday, the ANFE Fremantle has compiled this snapshot of the Italian migrant families who settled in and around Fremantle. The book is a photo album of marvellous memories full of familiar surnames such as Cicerello, D'Orsogna and Orifici. From the Sicilian fishermen who arrived in the 1880's, to waves of immigration in the early part of the twentieth century, the Italian families established successful businesses. From bars to coffee shops, fishing boats to market gardens, food is a common theme. Set against the background of important world events, the stories touch on the Great Depression and the internments of World War 2. Even if you are not of Italian descent, this is a fascinating glimpse into the personal stories and lives of families who have made an enduring influence on the character of Fremantle.
All Monkeys Love Bananas, Sean E Avery (Fremantle Press, $24.95)
Fussy eaters will empathise with blue polka-dotted Lou McGrew, a most unusual monkey, who announces to his unimpressed mother that he has eaten his last banana. “I’ll scream if I eat one, I will, I will!” His friend Sue’s inspired solution sets the scene for this comical picture book. Executed in a limited colour palette and loose, dynamic line-work, Avery’s illustrations with their subversive, Steadman-esque quality, are full of movement and humour. The playful rhyming text in variously sized font with bold accents provides useful cues for an energetic read aloud and encourages emerging readers to read along. The striking flocked cover with its tactile appeal is an added bonus for small hands.
Not Drowning, Reading, Andrew Relph, (Fremantle Press, $24.95)
From being a child who struggled with words and had enormous difficulty learning to read, a struggle which is ongoing for him, Andrew Relph grew to value and identify with a wide range of writers and their works. In this series of essays that loosely relate aspects of Relph’s life, his focus is largely through the ways his reading has informed that life and given it the creative extension that reading imaginative literature offers us. Relph’s profession as a psychotherapist is also significant, and what he identifies as the necessity of reading to his very existence will appeal to many readers.
The Mark of the Wagarl, Lorna Little, illus. Janice Lyndon, (Magabala Books, $17.95)
This engaging and beautifully illustrated Nyoongar story of the Sacred Water Snake, guardian of rivers and fresh waterways, would be suitable for children from five and for older readers. It tells of a boy who disbelieves the elders’ warning to the children to respect the Wagarl. They must never disturb him or they will be eaten. When that boy, Baardi, disregards those teachings, dives into the river and discovers the Wagarl’s cave, he must negotiate for his life. In return for losing his voice he is released, carrying the mark of the Wagarl, which becomes his totem.
January 2012
Chefs of the Margaret River Region Sue-Lyn Aldrian-Moyle and Lisa Hanley (Margaret River Press, $55.00, 159pp)
Just like the dishes so beautifully presented within its pages, this book has clearly been prepared with a great deal of love and pride. Showcasing signature dishes by eighteen leading chefs in the region, and matching each dish to a recommended locally produced wine, “Chefs of the Margaret River Region” is cleverly designed to take you on a journey through a three-course meal. Between courses, you are invited to get to know your chef, and to take a moment to enjoy the spectacular scenery captured in Sue-Lyn Aldrian-Moyle’s photographs. If you can’t actually be in Margaret River, then having a copy of this book in your home is probably the next best thing.
The Eldritch Kid : Whisky & Hate Christian Read and Michael Maier (Gestalt, $11.95, 112 pp)
There’s a long history of the horror western, especially in comics. The Eldritch Kid : Whisky & Hate marks a fresh milestone in this iconic and macabre genre. Christian Read has done his research in folklore, mythology, and the Wild West, summoning demons, shamans and gunfighters to weave into a dark and bloody adventure. The core of this grim tale is the partnership of the so-called heroes that do battle with the dark forces. Who they are and where they are heading is as much asked in Michael Maier’s art as it is in Read’s tight writing. Maier’s fine penmanship captures these enigmatic characters amid the grit and desolation of the Western Plains on which they travel.
Sandfire Rose van Son, Flora Smith and Chris Konrad (Sunline Press, 2012, 137 pp, $25)
Three local poets, all prize-winning writers, have put together 97 poems between them in this recently launched collection. Christopher Konrad is a PhD student at ECU with Austrian origins whereas Rose van Son’s forbears are from southern Italy. Flora Smith is also a prize-winning poet and her 30 poems deal with people’s feelings, hopes and dreams. Rose writes in ‘Olive Season’ of typical Italian lifestyle events, whereas Konrad in his ‘Clock’ explores his childhood migrant identity. Flora’s poem ‘The Bruise of Loss’ is one of several to deal with personal challenges. The depth of talent in these WA writers is breathtaking.
Slave of Sondelle Bevan McGuiness (Harper Collins, 512pp, $22.99)
This is the first of a three part serial titled, The Eleven Kingdoms. McGuiness weaves a compelling tale using three threads focussed on four main characters. The overwhelming mood of the book is one of fighting unknown forces and the need to be constantly on guard. The main character, Slave, is driven through desperation to dig out of his long term prison and in doing so suffers a near fatal attack by an unknown foe. His recovery and rescue form the key to the trilogy together with the other characters of Myrrhini - the Eye of Varuun, Keshik - the Tulugma Swordmaster and his partner the beautiful Maida. The book holds the reader's attention easily as the tale works its way to completion, nothing is as it seems and the pages drip with blood, sweat and tears. A great holiday read!
Scarred Man Bevan McGuiness (Harper Collins, 512pp, $22.99)
This is the second of The Eleven Kingdoms trilogy. The tale picks up the pace as new characters are introduced and woven into the saga. Vengeance is a clear theme following on from the first book, but now the survival of the whole of the Eleven Kingdoms is at risk so old enmities must be resolved to allow uneasy alliances to be created to fight the threats. Again there is blood aplenty in the excellently described fight sequences, and just the right amount of secrecy, necromancy and desperation to keep the reader intrigued and involved throughout. The addition of animalistic allies adds even more interest and intrigue. It should be cautioned that reading the last quarter of the book will result in missed appointments and a neglected family until completed.
Revenant Bevan McGuiness (Harper Collins, 560pp, $22.99)
All that was missing from the other parts of the trilogy was an ocean going odyssey, and this the final part of The Eleven Kingdoms trilogy fills that gap. The journey to the sinister city of Apros sees the completion of the trilogy, and the denouement is all you could hope for. The future of the Scaren people and the future of the Mertian people seem doomed to be caught in constant battle however the strands of the story and the characters are brought together very satisfyingly. It is noted that the epilogue leaves the way clear for further tales of the Eleven Kingdoms.