In This Issue (December/January 2005/06)
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Table of contents
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Letters to the editor
I have bought every edition since the magazine started and eagerly look forward to it each month, rushing to the newsagent a few days early, just in case it has come in. I use gr as a resource not only for my own reading, but to learn more about books we discuss at our club, the Portsea-Sorrento Book & Bottle Club (we are the BBC!). It is also good to have on hand at meetings in case we're trying to think of a book and can't remember the title or author. Our book group differs from most in that we don't set a text - we simply bring along the books we have read and talk about them. It's amazing the variety of books we learn about.
In the beginning, about four years ago, there were often only three of us at meetings - my friend Marilyn, CK and me. Books are my life (I am a writer) so it was wonderful to share my life's passion with my friends. The three of us would move mountains to get to meetings on the last Saturday afternoon of every month. We have deliberately kept the club small so the intimacy is not lost. Throughout her long illness, CK missed only one meeting - and that was because she was on holiday. She would always breeze in, looking stunning, with a bottle of champagne and a delicious plate of homemade chicken sandwiches or Thai crab nibbles. Whenever we said, 'How are you?' she'd always smile and say, 'I'm good, thank you!'
CK read widely and voraciously, and always had a wealth of intelligent and well-thought-out comments to make on all the books she read. What's more, she would give her full attention to others, never interrupting and always looking interested. She is much missed at book club - but we always save her a seat and pour a glass of champagne for her. She was posthumously awarded our inaugural Most Inspiring Reader trophy. We now raise money for breast cancer research with the help of CK's husband, Marty, who has become our patron.
Dear Editor
Thanks for your inspiring publication each month, I devour it upon purchase. In a future edition can you devote a page to books that have been made into a movie or vice versa? A common adage is 'always read the book before you see the movie' but I have been equally satisfied on occasion when it has been the reverse. I wonder how many of our youngsters - and oldsters - have been inspired to read the 'Harry Potter' series after seeing the movies? Any inspiration for the encouragement of reading must be commended.
Sincerely
Tracey Carmichael
Rainbow Flat, NSW
A good idea - we'll look into it. - Ed.
Dear Editor
It is with great regret that I will not be renewing my gr subscription. Now, at almost 77, I have macular distortion in my left eye and wear a patch over it to read. My husband is always saying that I must preserve my good eye by not doing so much reading. I do find this hard to do, but of course he is right. (I must have worn out my left eye with a lifetime of reading!)
I do love gr, but must not be tempted and will now experiment with talking books.
Best of luck as new editor.
Sincerely
Dorothy Clark
Sheldon, Queensland
Thank you for your good wishes. We all hope you enjoy many more years of letting your ears do the reading. - Ed.
Letter from the editor
I know it's the oldest cliché in the book, but this year has zapped by at such a rate of knots it's almost frightening. Despite the blur, a standout for me - apart, of course, from becoming editor of gr - was the trip to Canada in July. A final round-up of the vibrant Canadian literary scene begins on page 12. And don't forget to enter our wonderful competition to win a trip for two to Canada in November next year - if 2006 goes by as fast as 2005, the winners will be packing their winter woolies before they know it. As usual, our final issue for the year is packed with good reading for the summer holidays. There's a fascinating glimpse into the bookshelves of broadcaster, author and bat foster father Richard Morecroft on page 8; an interview with the delightful Frank McCourt, teacher man extraordinaire, by Belinda Castles on page 18; a survey of the most enduring journals and diaries, from Samuel Pepys to Alan Bennett, by Derek Parker on page 20; beautiful photographs of the magical old buildings and gardens of Oxford taken by Felicity Carter on page 22; and Stephen Martin's pick of the best non-fiction books about that most mysterious of continents, Antarctica, on page 24. There's also an intriguing inside look at how Gabrielle Lord researches her page-turning crime thrillers (page 34); an interview with successful young author Markus Zusak by writer Alan Gold (page 26); the story of 'Killer' Caldwell, Australia's most successful fighter pilot, by his biographer Jeff Watson (page 44); and a Last Word from Andy Griffiths (page 66) which explains the relevance of his 'Bumageddon' series to his recent book on body image.
Our Word of Mouth section is a bumper 28 pages and features, among all the usual categories of course, round-ups of sports biographies, popular science books, wine books and cookbooks - plus panels paying tribute to all the books awarded five stars by our reviewers in 2005. You're bound to find the perfect Christmas gift for the book lovers in your life this month! And for stocking stuffers, you couldn't do better than Cathy Wilcox's hilarious book of cartoons or the wicked Domestic Crime File, both of which we feature this issue.
And as a final Christmas bonus, you'll find one of the wonderful stories by Michel Faber from his collection The Fahrenheit Twins starting on page 59. Oh, and there's a crossword to pit your wits against, a lively reading group discussion of a modern classic, an explanation of MP3 players, audio reviews of books on CD and MP3 & we've tried very hard to make this magazine last you through until February next year!
Until then, the gr team wishes you all a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year, and we look forward to renewing our acquaintance in 2006.
If your letter is published, you will receive a MightyBright XtraFlex 2 LED Booklight vakued at $26.95! The wonderfully useful and stylish booklight has 2 LED lights on one head on a flexible arm. The manufaturer Arnott's of Australia (who's tagline is 'Not the biscuit co'), says the globes will never need replacing. |
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