Listen to a podcast with Holden Shepard – Content Warning – discusses mental health issues and suicide

ABOUT THE BOOK

In a small town, everyone thinks they know you: Charlie is a hardcore rocker, who’s not as tough as he looks. Hammer is a footy jock with big AFL dreams, and an even bigger ego. Zeke is a shy over-achiever, never macho enough for his family. But all three boys hide who they really are. When the truth is revealed, will it set them free or blow them apart?

The novel was awarded the 2019 WA Premier’s Prize for an Emerging Writer, the 2019 Kathleen Mitchell Award, and the 2018 City of Fremantle TAG Hungerford Award.

Read an extract

GOOD READING REVIEW

It’s difficult growing up in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else. It’s hard to keep personal secrets in that environment. It’s particularly difficult if a person doesn’t fit within the parameters of social acceptability. Everyone knows that Charlie is a wanna-be punk rocker, who is a bit of a rebel.

Zeke is the class genius; a nerd of the first order. Hammer is the football jock, whose whole ambition in life is to be drafted into the AFL. No-one would ever pick that all three of these boys have the same deep, dark secret: they’re gay.

Being gay is not acceptable in a small country town. When Charlie’s secret is exposed, this has a huge impact on his friends, his schoolmates and the other two lads. Shock waves ripple through the town; a precursor to an emotional and social tidal wave.

This is a confronting and challenging story which describes the pain of growing up gay in a small, conservative small-town community. It doesn’t matter whether the reader is straight or gay; it gives an important insight in what it’s like to grow up ‘different’. There are some explicit sex scenes, which might shock some readers and which pushes the book into the much older teenage category.

However, the characters are believable and one can’t help being moved by their tragic circumstances. Sheppard has given us a brave book which deserves attention.

Reviewed by Wendy Noble
Age Guide 16+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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The Australian Crime Writers Association says of the shortlists, that the Best Debut Crime Fiction entries this year were incredibly strong with a wide range of new Australian authors, of all ages and backgrounds, choosing the crime genre for their first books. As an industry association, it is heartening to see so many talented first time writers being introduced to readers.

The Best True Crime entries were totally compelling and not only showcased astounding storytelling but also dogged and professional investigative work. This year’s Best International Crime Fiction (published in Australia) was again a Who’s Who of global crime writing.

The flagship award, Best Crime Fiction, with 88 entries, was a treasure-trove of excellence. The shortlist of Aussie authors includes some of the highest selling and most popular authors on the global crime writing stage.

The 2023 winners are:

Best Debut Crime Fiction

Wake by Shelley Burr
Read a Book Review of Wake

Best Crime Fiction

Exiles by Jane Harper

Read a Book Review of Exiles

Best true crime

Betrayed by Sandi Logan

Best International Crime Fiction

The Lemon Man by Keith Bruton

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Over the course of a decade, this limited series interweaves the lives of Marie-Laure Leblanc, a blind French girl taking refuge with her uncle during World War II, and Werner Pfennig, an brilliant German teenager with an expertise in radio repair. Through a shared secret connection, they find faith in humanity and the possibility of hope.

From Director Shawn Levy, All the Light We Cannot See stars Louis Hofmann, Lars Eidinger, Marion Bailey, with Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo. And introducing newcomer Aria Mia Loberti.

Coming to Netflix, November 2nd, 2023.

Read an interview with Anthony Doerr about Cloud Cuckoo Land

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anthony Doerr was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.

He is the author of the story collections the novels About Grace, All the Light We Cannot See, which was awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.

Cloud Cuckoo Land, which was a finalist for the 2021 National Book Award, a finalist for Novel of the Year in the British Book Awards, and winner of the Grand prix de littérature américaine in France.

Doerr’s short stories and essays have won five O. Henry Prizes. His work has been translated into over forty different languages.

They have won the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, the Rome Prize, the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an NEA Fellowship, an Alex Award from the American Library Association, the National Magazine Award for Fiction, four Pushcart Prizes,

He has also won three Pacific Northwest Book Awards, five Ohioana Book Awards, the 2010 Story Prize,  and the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award.

All the Light We Cannot See was a #1 New York Times bestseller, remained on the New York Times Bestseller List for over 200 weeks.

Doerr lives in Boise, Idaho. Though he is often asked, as far as he knows he is not related to the late writer Harriet Doerr.

Visit Anthony Doerr’s website

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The story follows Margot, a college student who begins dating, Robert, an older man. When she realises that she finds him creepy, she attempts to ghost him. This leads to a torrent of abusive text messages from Robert and what follows is a story that many women are familiar with.

The film is directed by Susanna Fogel (The Spy Who Dumped Me) and the screen adaptation is written by Michelle Ashford (Masters of Sex). Emilia Jones (CODA) stars as Margot, and Nicholas Braun (Succession) plays Robert.

Watch the trailer below:

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The Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Shadow Judging Book of the Year Awards have been announced. Young voices from across Australia have joined the conversation on this year’s CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist and chosen their own winners.

Year Awards 2023 winners

The post Shadow Judging Book of the Year Awards Announced first appeared on Good Reading.

Entries across the six categories presented powerful, polished, and professionally produced books that enrich the imaginations of readers. Australian publishers also deserve this accolade.

In 2023 the CBCA judges acknowledge powerful new voices, literary forms and artists presenting challenging themes including immigration, illness, and concern for our environment.

This incredible array of talent ensures our quality award-winning books will create discussion and debate as much as it will be cause for celebration.

Here are the winners with the judges comments included.

The CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers

Neverlanders by Tom Taylor

A contemporary ‘found family’ tale embedded within the metatextuality of a Peter Pan narrative with a clever, action-oriented storyline and gloriously rich illustrations. Discerning readers will unpack the hints of the adults’ destruction of the world, parental failure, gun violence and domestic violence to add a more serious dimension to the fantasy plot.

A stunning book with a potent message wrapped up in a ripping good yarn package.

The CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers

Runt by Craig Silvey

The plot and characters are presented simply, yet they are complex, strong, witty, and evoke a reflection on life’s meaning, purpose and what is truly important.

This book is about the struggles of country life but also about community. The use of language and humorously named villains have the reader cheering for Annie and Runt’s success.

This delightful story of human spirit, family love and communal support is perfect for the Younger Readers age group.

The CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood

Where the Lyrebird Lives written by Vikki Conley and illustrated by Max Hamilton

This book delights and entices from beginning to end. Lush green fills the pages, beautifully capturing the setting of cool climate forests. The sparse descriptive narrative sets a gentle pace and reads aloud well. Readers are encouraged to slow down, listen and look. Metaphors and similes add richness, and the enlarged text for action words and onomatopoeia increases engagement.

A well-crafted narrative that encourages children to read aloud themselves.

The CBCA Picture Book of the Year

My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder

This book is a celebration and fresh perspective on love and self-denial, which many children of immigrant families may recognise, and for other children should help build empathy.

Every part of this book has been crafted with enormous care. The artwork situates itself within an Eastern aesthetic, while still giving voice to a surreal reality of immigrant life. The metaphor of size is repeated in the images beautifully reflecting the sacrifices the parents have made so that their child can grow in a new place, with new opportunities.

The Eve Pownall Award

DEEP: Dive into Hidden Worlds by Jess McGeachin

This imaginatively presented hardback reference book seamlessly brings together a large variety of information about the unseen elements of Earth’s sea and land life, outer space and the human body. The integration of text and illustrations is very cleverly managed, and the layout of the content works both as a dip-in-dip-out resource, as well as a read-through narrative.

The front cover is incredibly appealing, and overall, this non-stereotypical information book is of a very high quality that will sustain readers’ interest throughout.

The CBCA Award for New Illustrator

Sally Soweol Han for her complimentary visual storytelling in Tiny Wonders.

MORE INFORMATION

For the full list of CBCA Book of the Year 2023 Award and Honour books, please visit the CBCA website (cbca.org.au/winners-2023). For details of the CBCA Awards Foundation and to make a donation, visit https://cbca.org.au/awards-foundation.

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The shortlist for one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious literary awards has been announced by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies.

The post Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award first appeared on Good Reading.

The winners are:

Romantic elements – The Library at Wagtail Ridge by Janet Gover

Romantic suspense – Jackson by Nyssa Kathryn

Historical romance – Under The Dark Moon by Susanne Bellamy

Contemporary short – Hometown Cowboy by Dakota Harrison

Contemporary long – Larapinta by Annie Seaton

Novella – The Portrait Sitting by Alivia Fleur

Speculative fiction – Kingdom of Chains by Tanya Bird

FIND MORE WINNERS HERE

The winners were announced at the RWA annual conference during the gala dinner on 12 August. The Ruby Awards are for novels and novellas published by Australian or New Zealand authors in the previous year.

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Adapted by playwright and screenwriter, Sue Smith, and directed by award winning director Sarah Goodes (The Sugar House), The Weekend showcases a talented ensemble of actors, including three formidable talents Belinda Giblin, Toni Scanlan and Melita Jurisic.

The play is about three elderly long-time friends Adele (Giblin), Jude (Scanlan) and Wendy (Jurisic) who reunite with one another after their beloved friend Sylvie dies. When the three women return to Sylvie’s beach house to pack up it up, they begin to reflect on their pasts and what it means to grow old.

Anchoring the three women is Wendy’s old dog Finn, who is a puppet performed by Keila Terncio. His movements are expertly manipulated by Keila and seem to echo both his decline and wisdom.

The set design remains simple but powerful, with much of the performance taking place on Sylvie’s deck, with a wooden table and chairs and a projection of the bush behind on a wall, immersing the audience in the environment.

I found that although the play looks at themes of death, secrets, unrealised dreams and grief, the performances were at times hilarious, easing the burden of these topics.

Giblin’s performance as Adele, a once-well-known actress is incredibly endearing and cements the trio’s friendship, Jurisic who plays Wendy, a high-profile academic, excellently captures her naivety and perceptiveness and finally, Scanlan’s performance as Jude, a restauranteur, is incredibly moving – embodying a strong woman who is gradually learning to open up.

This was an incredibly well executed adaptation, that will leave fans of Wood’s novel deeply satisfied. It’s a wonderful exploration of what it means to grow old in face of buried truths and unrealised hopes and dreams.

The Weekend will run from 5 August – 10 September at Belvoir St Theatre. Buy tickets HERE.

The post The Weekend stage production review first appeared on Good Reading.

The Award seeks original literary submissions that are digitally born – originating online or in electronic or multi media form.

Now in its seventh year, this national award supports innovation in Australian literature and publishing, encouraging writers producing work in a digital medium.

The award is open to all Australian Residents aged 16 years and over and their work published digitally in the first instance. The prize pool totals $7500.

Categories include:

• Fiction (for a novella or short story collection 3000-30 000 words), judged by Claudine Tinellis, writer and podcast host
• Non-Fiction (for a monograph, collection of essays or long essay 3000-30 000 words), judge to be announced in our DLA Newsletter very soon!
• Poetry (maximum 3000 words), judged by Ali Whitelock, poet and writer
• Digital Innovation (for any of the above categories or a hybrid of several), judged by Brett Osmond, digital agency director

Key dates:

• Entries close: Thursday 31 August 2023
• Shortlist announced: Friday 3 November 2023
• Winners announced: Thursday 23 November 2023

For more information on how to enter visit their website HERE 

 

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