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Good Reading : April 2004
Contents
wordofmouth – biography A Writer’s World: Travels 1950-2000 Jan Morris This is a treasure chest of reportage gems, created by a writer who has lived an incredible life. The book is divided into decades, then subdivided into places. So you can pick and choose whatever kindles your interest, or read from beginning to end and experience a sweeping review of the late 20th century. Each short piece is detailed and revealing, the work of an inquisitive and critical mind. Mor ris is far from being an objective observer, but this is what makes her writing so fascinating. Mor ris writes of the first ascent of Everest by wester ners, post-war Hiro - shima, the Eichmann trial, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Outstanding moments for me were the image of the black workers of Johannesburg in the 1950s, queuing for the buses that will return them to the only areas they are per mitted to live; Harold Macmillan’s conciliatory speech to the UN in the 1960s and Khrushchev’s inter ruptions; and Mor ris’ final transfor mation from Jim to Jan in Casablanca in the 1970s. Faber & Faber $49.95 Reviewed by Aimée Scott The Opposite of Fate Amy Tan Amy Tan was brought up with two pillars of beliefs: the Christian faith from her father and Chinese fate from her mother. (Her mother could only pronounce ‘th’ as ‘t’ so Tan was not always able to tell the difference between faith and fate.) By the end of the book she knows that the opposite of faith has three components: hope, winkling out the truth, and a strong deter mination to change what is not right. These ingredients make for great storytelling. Many of the stories are familiar because they have been used in The Joy Luck Club, The Bone Setter’s Daughter and other novels, and Tan cleverly reveals the motivation behind the parts borrowed from life and their skilful transfor mation into fiction. She also writes about the process of writing and the development of characters, about growing up in strange family circumstances, and, of course, about her extraordinary mother. She has the gift of being infor mative and entertaining at the same time. Her stories involve ghosts, dreams, omens, symbols and coincidences that have the flavour of the real and actual, and are great fun. Her tales of customs, etiquette and good behaviour ensure that you sit up and take notice and vow to behave better. Tan has a wicked sense of humour and a wonderful imag- ination. Some of her remarks are worth bor rowing forever: ‘I write stories about life as I have misunderstood it.’ ★ Flamingo $35.00 Reviewed by Frances Love Helmut Newton: Autobiography Helmut Newton’s autobiography takes on a particular poignancy after his sudden death in January this year, aged 83. He died as he lived, in flamboyant style – crashing his Cadillac into a wall on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Reading the life of this outrageous and self-confessed egoist is a romp through twentieth-century history – the Weimar Republic, Singapore in World War II, Paris in 1968. Bor n into a wealthy Jewish family, Newton fled Nazi Ger - many in 1938. From an early age he adored women and he candidly describes his sexual conquests. In the 1950s he settled in Australia, where he met June, his forgiving wife and muse. Once mar ried he used his camera like an extension of himself, tur ning his desire into an erotic, deca- dent and voyeuristic art for m. In the 1960s Newton redefined the world of fashion photography in French Vogue, and a decade later his pre- eminent position as an inter nationally famous photographer was established. The first part of the book chronicles this road to success; the second part focuses on his work and includes many of his sensuous prints. It’s a fast, pithy, entertaining read. Despite Newton’s acerbic tongue, tantrums and power obses - sions, you just can’t help being seduced by his creative genius, humour and charm. Gerald Duckworth $56.00 Reviewed by Claire Scobie Richmal Crompton – The Woman Behind Just William Mary Cadogan The outrageous, hilarious boyhood antics of William Brown and his gang of Outlaws have entertained generations of children in a series of books first published in the 1920s. What kind of person could concoct such a devilish and exciting character as William? Not even many fans know, and the answer is not exactly what you’d expect: Richmal Crompton was a spinster aunt who taught the Classics to high school girls. Crompton is portrayed as an energetic, intelligent woman dedicated to her work and family. She shunned publicity and lived a relatively quiet life. Not a biography in the strictest sense, this book celebrates Richmal Crompton’s writing: 38 William books, 41 adult novels and nine short stories. Cadogan uses this body of literary work as points of reference to Crompton’s life. Mary Cadogan is the editor of the Just William Society magazine. Although her research is commendable, some of her extensive facts, details and cross-references border on fanati- cism. While this is a moderately interesting read, it is aimed at those who loved and shared their childhood with William. Sutton $29.95 Reviewed by Silvana Giles 34 (GoodReading)
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