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Good Reading : October 2010
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48 goodreading ı OCTOBER 2010 Crime-writing duo Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström talk about their latest novel, Three Seconds, and how they use their own experiences to add credibility to their novels. ‘My victims were faceless, soulless. I had never seen them, so I never knew them,’ says Hellström, a ex-criminal who uses his murky past as inspiration when writing. We also chat to Nebula- and Hugo Award–winning author Connie Willis about her time-travelling historical fiction novels, Blackout and All Clear, and take a look at Christopher Bevan’s inspiration for writing A Kinchela Boy. Check out our online calendar for dates of upcoming author tours, writing courses, festivals and other book-related events. www.goodreadingmagazine.com.au Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström Connie Willis FIRST CHAPTERS Blossoms and Shadows Lian Hearn The Red Queen Philippa Gregory Mice Gordon Reece DISCUSSION QUESTIONS A Kinchela Boy Christopher Bevan The Other Hand Chris Cleave Testimony Anita Shreve ALEXANDRA IRVING gives us the lowdown on some recently released poetry books. For some, reading poetry can be a daunting experience. It isn't made easier by the large tome-like anthologies available.The first thing that struck me about the recent Australian Poetry Centre publications is how small and accessible they are. Each book is no more than 30 pages long, and light enough to fit into your handbag and enjoy on a bus or on your lunchbreak. The Centre has produced four small colourful paperbacks as part of its 'New Poets' series, publishing the work of poets from the Varuna House poetry residency. Ann de Hugard's A Question of Translation is a series of poems contemplating cultural difference and understanding. It begins with a poem about a Chinese student who stayed with de Hugard, and who is difficult to fathom behind her 'little girl giggles'. The poems that follow include travels to Greece, India and Bavaria. De Hugard gives personal accounts of cross- cultural exchange, and also puts herself in the position of the 'other', which can be seen in her poem 'Why I Wear a Salwar Kameez', where she explores the advantages of one of India's traditional forms of dress. The Weeping Grass by Michelle Leber explores landscapes much closer to home. With beautiful detail, Leber writes about the flora and fauna of Australia. Many of the poems are dedicated to a specific place: Melbour ne, Undertow Bay, Sandringham. Other poems are dedicated to certain Australian birds and plants. At the same time, each poem delivers some for m of personal discovery or buried memory that the landscape or wildlife evokes. Sundecked by Rachael Petridis is a more literary collection of poems, focusing on language and emotion. For instance, one of her poems is a clever musing on the word 'mnemonic'. She considers the ound of the word, and how it relates to the act of remembering. There is a musical quality to Petridis's poems. Several of them reference music, and each has lovely lyrical tempo. Chloe Wilson's The Mer maid Problem drew me in straight away with the cartoon- like mer maid drawing on the front. The poems in this collection are longer than the other three books, and are generally quite personal. Wilson considers aspects of her past, such as her relationship with her grandmother. Some of her other poems speak directly to the reader and are quite funny. She tells us in the poem 'The Mer maid Problem': 'So I'm sure you'll understand/ I was not satisfied/ when I sank back into the ocean'. Published by the Australian Poetry Centre, r rp $10.00 each. pocket poetry The Weeping Grass Michelle Leber New Poets S eries 2 010 The Mermaid Problem Chloe Wilson New Po ets Se ries 20 10 poetry round-up
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