Sally Murphy's Blog, page 7

What I Read in February 2024

It’s the last day of February and I’m getting in early to post what I read this past month.  I read 10 books, one more than January but, very unusually, the majority of these were for adults. I don’t think I remember another month when I read only one book for children.  This is mainly a reflection of being deep into research for a historical fiction project.

Here’s what I managed to finish this month:

Children’s Books Countdown to Yesterday, by Shirley Marr (Penguin, 2024).Full disclosure: I love Shirley Marr as a just t wonderful human being so it is unlikely I would ever say anything not-positive about one of her books. Fortunately, that is not likely to be a problem, as she is a superb writer. I was lucky enough to be at the launch of this book and of course then had to come home and gobble it up. A beautiful story of a boy struggling with the change caused by his parents’ divorce, his struggles to fit in at school and his obsession with going back in time.Books for Adults How to ADHD: An Insider’s Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It), by Jessica McCabe (Rodale Books, 2024). This book isn’t out in Australia yet but, after hearing about it, I couldn’t wait, so listed to the audio version, which IS available. Then, when the Australian edition comes out (in March, I believe), I will be buying the hard copy and reading again. A really insightful guide into navigating the challenges of living with ADHD, from the creator of the Youtube channel of the same name, which has over 1.6 million subscribers – a testament to its value if, like me, you have ADHD.We Answered the Call, by Eileen (Reilly) Tucker (Eileen Tucker, 1991). I am deep in research for a historical fiction novel, and this has been a really useful read, but also is an interesting insight into the women who served in the Australian Women’s Army Service in World War 2. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, by Holly Ringland (Harper Collins, 2018). I picked this up from a little library shelf in my local shopping centre, ignoring my attempts to reduce the to-read pile I already have. Glad I did – this is a rich, compelling read that I couldn’t put down. I’ll be returning it to the little library too, in hopes someone else will get to love it, too. We Need Snowflakes: In defence of the sensitive, the angry and the offended, by Hannah Jewell (Coronet, 2022). Picked this up on the strength of the title and, while it wasn’t an easy read, it was a very insightful one, and I would love to see more right-minded people get the messages it contains, with its excellent exploration of whether cancel culture, political correctness and snowflakery are  really spiralling out of control. You’ll Be Sorry!: How World War II Changed Women’s Lives, by Ann Howard (Big Sky, 2016). An interesting complement to We Answered the Call (above), similarly tracing the contribution of women to World War 11, especially in the AWAS. This one also traces their lives after the war, highlighting the challenges of the post war years for the women who served. The Other Bridget, by Rachael Johns (Penguin, 2023). I was lucky enough to go an see Rachael Johns in conversation with Anthea Hogdson when they visited Bunbury this month, and, of course bought the book on the spot. I found myself glued to the couch, reading it over a few nights. Set in Fremantle,  I could picture the streets and the places, and enjoyed the combination of romance, family, friendship and other plots. Good stuff.Bunbury Civilians in Wartime, by the Bunbury Oral History Group (Milligan House, 2001).  Another title read as a research WW2. This one is a fascinating look at what life was like in Bunbury, where I live, during the war yearsLove, Faith and Numbers, by Raihanaty A. Jalil (Raihanaty, 2022). I picked up this little volume in the bookstore at the Perth Writer’s Festival last week. I didn’t get to hear the author speak, as I could only attend a few sessions, but I really enjoyed this which is a series of short stories which also works as novelette, following the love life of a Muslim woman named Zakia. I really enjoyed both the story and the opportunity to challenge my Western perspectives on Muslim relationships, something the blurb encourages readers to do. Innocents Abroad: The Story of British Child Evacuees in Australia, 1940-45, by Edward Stokes (Allen & Unwin, 1994). And yes, another read for research, although this one is tangential to the story I am researching. Fascinating, and thought provoking, to read the stories of of the child evacuees who were sent to Australia from Britain during WW2.

That brings my total for the year to 19, with lots more to come in 2024, a year not of fast reading, but of meaningful reading.

Right Way Down is Here!

Hooray! Hooray!

Right Way Down‘s on sale today!

And, fortunately, the poetry it contains is a wee bit better than my excited jingle!  With poems from  an array of West Australian poets (see the full list here) and fully illustrated by the award winning Briony Stewart, there is something for every reader.

You can find Right Way Down in a brick and mortar bookstore in Australia from today, or you can order it online.

Salmon Bay Ray

I was lucky enough to spend time on the beautiful Rottnest/Wadjemup last week. In between writing, researching and reading, I spent lots of time in the water, including this marvellous encounter with an eagle ray.

It may not look like writing or research, but I am sure this ray is going to turn up in a story or poem when I can find a way to capture its beauty and the awe I felt to be alone with it for so long.   In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the video.

CBCA Notables Announcement

The annual announcement of the CBCA  Children’s Book of the Year Notables list is just days away, and I make a tiny appearance in this video to celebrate the announcement.

I won’t comment on how difficult it is to get a kitten to cooperate for the taking of a photo, especially when there is no one else available to take the picture! Perhaps the magic is that we got there in the end

Poetry Friday: My Beach is a Poem

It’s Poetry Friday and, if you’ve read my last few posts, you’ll know I’ve been thinking a lot about what poetry is – with some surprising results, including last week’s comparison of poetry to chicken cacciatore.

Yesterday, as I took my morning walk on ‘my’ beach (I do share it with other locals, but sometimes it really does feel like it is there just for meeeeee). I thought for perhaps the millionth time how very beautiful it is, in all it’s different faces. The line ‘My beach is a poem’ came to me and, at home, this is what came out:

My beach is a poem:

laying out her

glories each morning;

welcoming me

to her sand.

 

My beach is a poem:

her  salty air

medicine

to soothe

my troubled mind.

 

My beach is a poem:

water like sparking jewels

spilling from

a sandy treasure chest.

 

My beach is a poem:

whispering waves

singing and crooning

their morning tune.

 

My beach is a poem.

(Sally Murphy, 2024)

As a first draft, I like it, and could see it being a useful mentor text, with each verse using a different poetic technique. and the repeated line ‘My ______ is a poem.’

Speaking of beaches, I am lucky enough to be heading off for the next week to visit the beautiful Rottnest Island (also known by its traditional name, Wadjemup) , for some snorkelling, some beach walking and, importantly some research and writing time. Feel sorry for me? You shouldn’t! I’d take you with me if I could.

Before I head off, I’m off to checkout the other Poetry Friday goodness. Margaret is hosting the weekly roundup.

Poetry Friday: What do poetry and chicken cacciatore have in common?

Last week I posted about trying to define poetry. With Right Way Down coming out at the end of the month, I am putting lots of time into pondering how to spread the poetry word.

So when it came time to post today, I thought I’d continue the theme, and perhaps look at how else I could write about poetry. I thought I would write a found poem, or back out poem, and headed to dictonary.com to see what the definition of poetry might offer.

What  it offered was a surprising twist.  There were three possible definitions. The first two were fairly straightforward. But the third reminded me that we sometimes call things poetry when they have  ‘ qualities that are suggestive of or likened to those of poetry’.  And there, in italics, was an example: Marcel, that chicken cacciatore was an absolute poem.

Hmm. Not only did I instantly want to eat chicken cacciatore (it’s been a loooong time) but also, my brain wanted to make that cacciatore into an actual poem.  So, instead of a poem about poetry, I ended up sitting down and writing a poem about cacciatore.

Chicken Cacciatore

Rich aroma

fills my nose

my mouth

my heart.

Onions

and herbs

chicken

and tomatoes

and all that rich rich goodness

simmering

on the stove.

Mamma has a recipe

but

when I looked

it was missing

the one key ingredient

I know she uses every time:

Love.

(Sally Murphy, 2024)

So what do cacciatore and poetry have in common? Everything! Carefully put together, with love, to fill up the senses – and, if  they’re well made, leaving you wanting more, whether it’s right now, or tomorrow, or next week.

Me? I want more poetry right now, so I am off to check out the love-filled Poetry Friday roundup, which is hosted by the wonderful Carol. Afterwards, I just might be digging out my recipe book!

Poetry Friday: What is poetry?

It’s Poetry Friday and I am excited, because it’s also February, and that means in just four weeks the poetry anthology I co-edited, Right Way Down, will be released and head out into the world.

As a result, in between grinning in wild anticipation, I am going to be thinking and writing and talking about poetry A LOT from now until then (and beyond).

I thought I would start this series of posts with some thoughts on what poetry is. I discovered back when I was completing my Doctoral thesis, that while most people have opinions about poetry, few people can neatly define what it is. So, I decided, the easiest way for me to define it was with this poem:

A Poem

A poem

is a whole lot of words

a plethora of words

a smattering, a scattering

a shattering of words

thrown on a page

in carefully created

chaos

to make you wonder.

(Copyright Sally Murphy 2016).

 

Later, when I wrote Poetry for Pleasure and Purpose, I  still couldn’t find a better definition, so I put the poem in there as well, along with a shape poem about how poetry makes me feel. This poem had first appeared here on my blog way back in 2014, looking like this:

 

Poetree

has lots of branches

goes out on limbs

takes lots of chances.

Leaves you breathless

when you twig

the poet’s skill

(it’s quite a gig!)

It boughs to nature

oftentimes

leaves you marvelling

at its rhymes.

Grows on you

after a while.

Poetree

you make me smile

(Copyright Sally Murphy 2014).

(You’ll be pleased to know that the amateur drawing I did was replaced in the book by a professionally made one).

While these two poems are different, I think they highlight the two things which, for me, are key in good poetry – the ability to make the reader marvel or wonder at something, and the ability to make the reader feel something.  I  can’t wait to share this book with the world. It will make you marvel at the cleverness of the many poets whose work is featured. It will make you feel all kinds of things, too – you might laugh out loud, you might cry or you might sigh at the perfect way a moment is captured.

I almost can’t wait for it to be released, but because I HAVE to wait, I plan to spend the month sharing lots of poetry related goodness. First, I am off to see what my Poetry Friday friends are up to. The Roundup is hosted by  Mary Lee.

 

What I Read in January 2024

The first month of 2024 has flown by and it’s time for my round up of what I read in January. I feel like I spent most of the month reading, so was surprised to realise I only finished 9 books – but that’s because a lot of my reading has been research – bits of books, war diaries, journal articles, archives and the like.  I have been researching for the book I am hoping to write during my current academic study leave. But, in between that fun, but sometimes heavy, reading, I have also managed the following nine books – an eclectic mix as always

Children’s Books

Duck Boy , by Christobel Mattingley (Angus & Robertson, 1983). I hadn’t read a lot Mattingley’s work until last year, when I picked up several of her books at second hand book sales. It was almost like the universe kept putting her books in front of me to ensure I plugged this gap in my reading. I loved this one – with Adam, the youngest of three siblings staying on a farm, who proves to be not just resourceful but also compassionate and brave in helping a duckling family, the owner of the farm, Mrs perry, and even his older siblings.The Jetty, by Christobel Mattingley (Hodder & Staughton, 1978).  Another of Mattingley’s works, a gentle story of a boy who, amidst the grief of losing his fisherman father, has a complicated relationship with the jetty his town revolves around. Jack’s Island, by Norman Jorgensen (Fremantle Press, 2008). Not my first read of this adventures, social commentary and all round good story, but I enjoyed getting reacquainted with ack and his friends. Coincidentally, a new edition of this book with a stunning new cover is coming next month. Poetry Speaks to Children , edited by Elise Paschen (Sourcebooks, 2015). This absolute treasure became mine when I happened upon a free street library. It seems to be in brand new condition which is a shame because it suggests it wasn’t loved by its previous owner – but, rest assured, it will be long treasured by me. With poems from 95 poets, and an accompanying CD offering the opportunity to hear many of them read aloud by the poets, as well as sumptuous illustrations, this is amazing. Almost There and Almost Not, by Linda Urban (Atheneum, 2021). I know I am not the only person who buys books sometimes just because of their covers. This divine cover is visually sumptuous and I had to pick it up, stroke it, hug it and then buy it. It’s a hard cover book with a dust jacket that is silky to touch and shimmery, with an amazing illustration by Charles Sentoso. And, because the designer deserves a mention, I went looking fin the credits and found that the designer was Debra Sfetsios-Conover. The story didn’t disappoint either – a beautiful tale of the friendship between California Poppy and the two ghosts she meets at her Great-Aunt’s house. As they help her heal, she, in turn, helps them.

 

Books for Adults

Swallow the Air, by Tara June Winch (UQP, 2006). How to describe this book? Breathtaking is the closest I can get to a book that is tender, shocking, sad, and beautiful, all in one very accessible tale of  a Koori girl’s quest to find identity and belonging following her mother’s death, and a childhood impacted by violence, poverty and lack. Melissa Lucashenko’s  discussion of the book here is really excellent.Frank, by Jordie Albiston (NLA Publishing, 2023). Although labelled a collection rather than a verse novel, this has the feel of the latter – and I adored it. Written using the redacted and reorganised journal entries of Frank Hurley, the photographic pioneer who travelled to Antarctica with both Mawson and Shackleton.  Sadly Albiston’s last work, as she passed away before it was published.Illuminate, by Margaret Gibson Simon & John Gibson (Border press, 2013). More poetry, this a delightful little collection that was a gift from the poet as part of the Poetry Friday Holiday Poetry Swap. I love the combination here – Margaret has responded in poetry to the beautiful pointillism images of her father. Year I Met My Brain: A travel companion for adults who have just found out they have ADHD, by Matilda Boseley (Penguin, 2023). This was recommended to me by a fellow ADHD-er and, since it is a subject  pretty close to my heart I got the audio version and listened to it over my next two trips up and down to Perth. A really honest look at the author’s own experiences with ADHD both before and after diagnosis,  plus a look at the research and strategies for working with both the strengths and challenges of having an ADHD brain.

So, my total for 2024 so far is 9, with lots more reading ahead on my quest to read allll the books in the world (or maybe even all the books in my to-be-read cupboard).  I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.

Parents: The BEST thing you can do to help your child’s literacy

School is back! School is back!

I can hear the relieved sighs of parents across the country as the summer  holidays end  and the school year begins.

Or maybe, you are genuinely sad to see your babies head back to school, after a wonderful six weeks of togetherness.

More likely you are somewhere in between.  That was me when my own children were at school. Happy that a routine could be established, but also a little sad that the end of long unstructured days of playing, or swimming, or not doing much at all had come. And, of course, the mixed feelings about seeing my babies growing up – another school grade higher, and the hope that they would be happy in their new classes, with their new teachers and friends.

All of this is a longish introduction to what I really want to talk about today. Because, as you may realise, I am passionate about reading, writing and all things literacy, and I know that many many parents spend a lot of time thinking about how best to support their children  in their development of literacy.

Maybe you worry about what reading level your child is. Maybe your child is due to take a NAPLAN test this year, and you worry they won’t do well. Maybe your child struggled with writing (or reading, or spelling, or all three) last year, and you want to help them improve this year. Or, perhaps, your child did well last year and you want to ensure this continues.

There is a lot of advice online, and elsewhere, and a lot of programs, books, tutor services and more you can buy. But, while I am not here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t spend your money on, I do want to tell you the one thing you can do  for free to help your child’s literacy development. Are you ready? Here it is:

MAKE READING FUN.

Reading should be pleasurable. Like a chocolate milkshake, a dive in a pool on a hot day, or the sight of a kitten playing with a piece of string, reading should make you smile, or sigh with contentment, or just feel better after a long day.

Easy huh?  If you’ve ever battled with your child to do their homework reading, or even just to pick up a book at all, you might be rolling your eyes right now, I know. In a moment I’ll offer some ways to make reading fun. First, though, I want to tell you WHY it matters.

Reading for pleasure is not just a good thing – its is THE number one way to ensure success in reading, writing, and, in fact, academic achievement in general. How do I know this? Because there is research to prove it.

In the UK the  British Cohort Study found that children who read for pleasure  improved more in reading, writing and even mathematics than those who didn’t. There was a stronger correlation between reading for pleasure than multiple other factors, including the parents’ education or household income. You can read more about this study and its findings here.  Even more important than academic success, however, these studies have also shown that children who read for pleasure also have stronger empathy, understanding of other cultures and decision making skills (you can read a longer report here .

Not convinced yet? Australia Reads has done the research for you (and me!) having audited 134 research reports and articles from around the world, with key findings summarised here.

In short, reading for pleasure (fun!) will help your child get better at the three R’s: reading, writing, and arithmetic (or, if you are worried abouts cores, the three strands of NAPLAN) , but also help them socially, and emotionally. People who read for pleasure are nicer!

But how do you, parents/carers/grandparents/significant role models help make this happen? Here are five simple things you can do.

Let your child choose their reading materials. Have books at home, but also join your local library and take your child there. If this is difficult, encourage your child to visit the school library outside of class borrowing times.  Note that I say ‘reading materials’. I LOVE books. But if your child wants to read magazines, comics, graphic novels, the back of a cereal packet, nonfiction, ebooks – LET THEM. This includes things you think are ‘too easy’ or that they have already read a billion times before.Talk about books. Don’t make it a test – don’t quiz them on what they have read, but have organic conversations about what they are reading. Express an interest. One way to do this is to actually read the same books your child is reading, but if you are time-poor, get them to tell you about it, and then relate it to something you have read.Don’t focus on reading levels, reading ages, scores and NAPLAN results. In the bad-old days, a lot of children would have had no idea of testing results. Test results were for teachers’ use, and even parents did not always know the results. I’m not advocating for a return to this. Knowing how your child is doing is helpful. And children do know if they are on level 11 and their best friend is level 15. But when the focus becomes numbers and scores, then reading (and writing) becomes a competition, and children can easily feel that reading is something you are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ at. Level 11 might be an amazing achievement for your child, given where they were at a year ago. And , because children develop and learn at different paces, they be at one level for a long time, then jump through several levels in quick succession. But pushing for them to see  literacy as a number takes away the pleasure and, as we learnt earlier, pleasure is key.YOU, the parent/grandparent/rolemodel need to read. Back to the research (which you will find here: children whose parents read for pleasure and who have books in their homes are themselves better readers.  Actually, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but think of it like this: from a very young age, children want to be like their role models, they want to be ‘big’, to mimic what they see older people doing. When you read, you are showing that it is a good thing to do. It is pleasurable.  Instead of saying ‘do this, it is good for you’,  you are showing ‘do this, it is fun.’ Like force feeding vegetables, force feeding reading, when you yourself don’t do it, is counterintuitive. The good news is, if you are time poor (like me!), there are lots of shorter books you can read in the time it has taken you to read this blog post. Read your child’s books!  This will help you with point 2 above. Taking some time each day to read instead of scrolling on your phone, or watching reality TV,  or ironing (seriously! Reading is much more fun) is an investment in your child’s future – but will also make YOU a nicer person, too.Make reading social. As well as talking to your child about their reading, encourage them to talk about it, too. Lots of libraries and bookshops have free book clubs for children to join, where they can talk to other kids about their reading. If there isn’t one in your local area, suggest it at your local library. Some bookstores also love to have customer reviews for their shelves or websites. If your child loves a book, help them to find a place to share their review. If this isn’t happening local, maybe you can post their review to your social media accounts, and then let them see the likes and attention it gets. If none of this appeals, encourage family members to ask your child what they have been reading, and sharing what they have been reading in return.

There are lots of other ways to make reading fun – if you have a suggestion , leave a comment.  But mostly, thank you for reading this far, and for caring about the importance of reading for pleasure. It’s hard work being a parent. You’re doing great! Have a wonderful school year

 

Poetry Friday: An Illuminating Gift

One of the lovely quirks of participating in a holiday gift swap with people on the other side of the world is that things can show up just as you think the holidays are over. In this year’s swap, I paired with two people, so Tabatha’s gift (which I’ve already posted on) appeared before Christmas, but this week my second gift, from Margaret Simon, appeared in my letter box. How lovely!

Margaret sent me the most delightful card, with art by her father, John Gibson. Margaret couldn’t have known when she selected this card that my word for this year would be ‘Pause’, which is why I shivered when I read the verse inside the card: ‘Bring silence and stillness to this season of joy.’ A perfect reminder for me to pause.

Also in the package was a copy of Margaret’s poetry collection, Illuminate which she wrote in response to her father’s annual Christmas cards. John’s art uses pointillism – thousands of tiny dots make up each image. And Margaret has lovingly written a poem in response to each artwork. What a treasure to receive. I am digesting the poems, and the arts, slowly, savouring each as I pause to ponder their wonder.

Margaret also very kindly wrote a poem just for me:

For Sally

I found you under a book avalanche
Where you were happily absorbing
Word upon words
Story upon stories
Filling your cupboard
With timeless treasures.
(Margaret Simon, 2023)

I love that Margaret was inspired (I think) by this Instagram post:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sally Murphy (@sallymurphyauthor)

 

Thank you so much Margaret! And thank you for your illuminating gift. Thanks to to Susan, who is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup. I’m heading over there to see what other poetry goodness is on offer this week.