That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott

In his memoir, Kayang and Me, written with Aboriginal elder Hazel Brown, Kim Scott says,

“… ‘Indigenous writing’ may not even be a sub-category of Australian literature, and I don’t say that because many of its practitioners are working with narratives and forms which predate Australian literature. No, I say it because I have looked in bookshops for my own books and, failing to find them in the Australian Literature section, finally located them under ‘Australiana’.”

Thankfully, the divide between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australian writing has been giving way to an appreciation of good Australian writing, without labels. This has happened in no small part due to writers like Scott whose novel That Deadman Dance has won the Miles Franklin Award 2011. This is the second time Scott has won the award after tying with Thea Astley for the coveted prize in 2000 with Benang: From the Heart.

That Deadman Dance explores first contact between the English settlers, American whalers and Noongar people in south Western Australia, mostly through the eyes of the charismatic boy Bobby Wabalanginy. Bobby’s experiences with the ‘friendly frontier’ are one of many that show the brutality and deception, but also the loyalty, respect and love that existed in the varied relationships between and within communities of that time.

Scott challenges our perceived notions of Australian identity and history, especially drawing attention to how language and story can shape our understanding of one another. As Scott says, ‘I’d hope that [the novel] helps us recast relationships and rethink the way we relate to one another’. In this sense, That Deadman Dance is not only a story about the past, but how to see our way forward for the future.
That Deadman Dance has a distinctive voice and perspective that perhaps a lot of Australian readers have not come across before. As Scott’s memoir says, many Aboriginal writers work with forms that predate Australian literature, and in this novel the oral tradition of story and the fluidity of time play out wonderfully under the skill of Scott’s written words.

There were only three books shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award this year, however the calibre of writing was not any less. That Deadman Dance has confirmed Scott as one of the most important voices of our time and there is no doubt his latest novel will become an Australian classic.

Written by Natalie 

That Deadman Dance is available from Shearer's Bookshop

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

I came across this new horror novel when our Macmillan rep handed me a copy. He knew I enjoyed genre fiction and the previous month I had gone gaga when he handed me a proof of Embassytown. My initial action was to add it to my 'to be read' pile, which is extensive. I knew I would get to it one day but put it off for some time because there was always something else grabbing my attention. Then I was struck down with a bad cold.

I spent two days on my couch feeling sorry for myself and I needed something escapist to take me out of my misery. I discovered this book in the pile and read the first line:

"And on the third day things did not get better."

Great opening. I had to keep reading. And as I read, becoming increasingly more absorbed I realised that this was a gem.

The story follows a group of four men who were friends at school and have recently reconnected. They're on a hiking trip in Sweden and take a shortcut through an old part of the forest. As usual with shortcuts in the horror genre, this is a big mistake - there is something ancient and terrifying waiting in that part of the forest. I can't really say more without spoiling the element of surprise, which really hooked me in and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Adam Nevill is a great writer, his sense of place is impeccable. He really sets a dark and haunting tone very early on, simply through his description of the forest and the way it affects the characters. I was there with them as they trudged on through their ordeal. The second element to make this novel so strong is the characters and their relationships. They are men who were friends. Trapped out in the forest they realise how little they now have in common, how much has changed since they were young and the petty politics of the group threatens to consume them. The protagonist is flawed, full of anger, regret and jealousy, both loathing and loving himself. The final element is the surprising nature of the narrative. The novel is written in such a tense and engrossing way that there are plenty of surprises - escpecially in the third act.

The third act of this book shouldn't work but it does. That's all I can say without giving away what happens. I found myself trying to anticipate what the end would be, and I felt it drawing nearer even though there were still well over 150 pages to go.

This book is well worth a look. Tense, genuinely scary, dark and menacing with some wonderful evocation of place and brilliantly flawed characters. I haven't had a better experience with a horror novel in years.

The Ritual is released in July and is available to preorder now at Shearer's Bookshop

A Sense of Shelf

I recently moved all the furniture in my apartment around because I was bored, and that's just how I roll (in reality we have a 6 month old daughter and are desperate for more space). Something amazing happened when I moved my bookshelves.

Having worked as a bookseller for some time now, I'm quite traditional when it comes to shelving. It's always alpha by genre, with the literary books first. But that always meant that my sci-fi collection was at the bottom and not at eye-level, where I would prefer it.

A bookseller's bookshelf at home should be a source of pride and identity. After all, we are meant to be the people who KNOW. We know what to read because we read it ourselves. We know the difference between what's cool and what's simply popular. We know what we like, we know what you like and we know what your uncle who you have to buy a birthday present for who doesn't read much wants. So our bookshelves should be full of prestige, fantastic authors, books that mere mortals haven't heard of and plenty of proofs that we somehow forgot to return to the communal pile at work.

So since I had pulled everything off I reflected on what my bookshelf said about me and decided to reorganise. What to do? Put my sci-fi at eye level? But then my literary books would be down the bottom and visitors wouldn't think that I was smart. Keep the status quo? No. The answer was simple. Annihilate the boundaries. Smash it together and live with the consequences.

Book snobs now recoil from my shelves in horror and run, screaming from my apartment when they see Blue Mars next to The Satanic Verses or The Finkler Question next to It. Personally, I find it quite liberating and have been telling everyone about it. And I have been completely forbidden from doing the same thing at work.


Written by Mark

Prizes at the Art Gallery

Last night Tony and I were invited by Michael Moynahan CEO of HarperCollins to a private viewing of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman paintings and sculptures on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

We were greeted at the Gallery entrance with a glass of champagne and a very informative and entertaining off the cuff chat from Edmund Capon explaining the history of the three prizes.

$50,000 is awarded to the winner of the Archibald Prize for portrait painting, $25,000 to the Wynne Prize winner for landscape painting or figurative sculpture and $20,000 to the Sulman Prize winner for subject, genre or mural painting.

I loved Ben Quilty’s award winning portrait of the amazing Margaret Olley. Margaret’s wonderfully quirky character just flew off the canvas.

The Packing Room Prize winner Vincent Fantauzzo’s portrait of Chef Matt Moran was posed in Matt’s cool room and was amazing.  It must have been uncomfortable for Matt and Vincent to work and pose in the cold suroundings.

The people’s choice of award winning author J M Coetzee by Adam Chang certainly showed the aura around this very private man.

I had a lump in my throat observing Angus McDonald’s portrait of the late Dr Ann Lewis. Her face was etched with pain and stoicism and was most poignant.

The Wynne Prize of a sculpture of an upside down motorcycle resting in what I think was a rickshaw was interesting and I know has perplexed many people. Richard Goodwin’s title for the work 'Co-isolated Slave' had me giving it a lingering look to work out why he came up with this title. I’m still in the dark.

Edmund told the audience that the main controversy for the year was the Sulman Prize judge Peter Bell's admission that he choose the winner by the toss of a coin. Peter Smeeth was the fortunate winner for his painting 'The Artist’s Fate'.

The amount of bright primary colours in the paintings did lift my spirits and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Written by Barbara

A Brief Chat With Charlie Carter

What was the last book you read and what are you currently reading?
The Return of the Word Spy by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Toby Riddle was the last book I read. Right now I am reading The Innocents by Nette Hilton and loving every word. It is simply a beautiful book, written with delicate skill.

Which book from your bookshelf at home is your favourite and why?
Difficult question. There are many favourites for many reasons, and the list changes regularly. But I keep coming back to The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. It is superbly witty, and written with a firm grasp on the economy of the English language.

What's the best thing about being a writer?
Having your mind constantly engaged. There's never a dull moment. 

How would you describe the Battle Boy series to someone who has never read it?
It's all about Time and Energy capture. Most people think that when something is in the past it is over, finished, done with. Not so. Great battles never really die. They live on as bubbles of pure energy, floating in the stratosphere. Capture those bubbles and you capture those battles; you can revisit them, relive them over and over. It may seem paradoxical, but in fact our future lies in the past. That's really exciting! 

What's next for Battle Boy?
Napoleon Augustus Smythe (aka Battle Boy 005) has made many discoveries, faced many challenges, and solved many mysteries of history. But he's never really tackled the ultimate challenge - he has never really come face to face with himself. How would he handle such a meeting? How would any of us?

You can catch up with the adventures of Battle Boy at Shearer's Bookshop

A Brief Chat With Peter Rix

Peter Rix has just released his debut novel, Water Under Water.

What was the last book you read and what are you currently reading?
A re-read (4th or 5th time) of The Sun Also Rises. Currently, The Tiger's Wife.

Which book from your bookshelf at home is your most treasured and why?
In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje. His writing in this story inspires more than any other - for its poetry, the word choices & sentence construction.

Which fictional character do you most identify with?
10 minutes later... I have failed this test. Perhaps I have too little preparedness to relinquish enough reality to see myself as fictional.

What are you working on next?
A book that exposes the meanings and rituals of ownership and possessed objects and another about how male sexuality explodes, matures, decays and explodes again. 

Autographed copies of Water Under Water are available now at Shearer's Bookshop

The Life by Malcolm Knox - Book Launch

Last night Tony and I were privileged to be invited to the home of Jane Palfreyman, publisher of Malcolm Knox for the launch of Malcolm’s outstanding new novel The Life.

Christos Tsiolkas launched Malcom’s novel and began by apologizing for not speaking “off the cuff” as he felt more secure to read from his notes. Within a few minutes he firmly shut his notebook and launched into a great speech straight from the heart. Christos told the audience that he regarded Malcolm as his mentor and that he felt Malcolm was one of the best novelists writing today. In his eyes The Life was alternately evocative and lacerating, tender and unflinching. It was a gloriously honest, brutal and moving story of a man who was at the top of his game and then pissed it all away. These sentiments are also printed on the back of the novel for all to read.

Malcolm was completely overwhelmed with Christos’ launch speech. He began by thanking Christos for his friendship and support and also acknowledging the support he receives from Wenona his wife.  Wenona’s grandmother recently passed away and Malcolm reflected that the words she never wanted uttered in her presence were “shut up”.  Malcolm told the audience who included the cream of Sydney writers that these two words were often on the mind of all authors when they were in the zone of their latest work. Any comment made by family or friends could be acknowledged in an author's mind as “shut up” don’t mess up my zone of thinking. 

On a cold Sydney night the warmth of comradeship and positiveness encircled the house and we all wished Malcolm’s fourth novel the success it deserves.

Written by Barbara  

 Jane Palfreyman, Malcolm Knox and Christos Tsiolkas. Photo taken by Jane Gleeson-White

Autographed copies of The Life are available from Shearer's Bookshop