A Book I have heard about

[Lesley]

I am so excited that I seem to have 'cracked' the borrowing from the Qld State Library E-RESORCES systems. I can read on my pendo and can borrow 2 books for two weeks. I am LOVING the giant paperback A Doubter's Almanac as it's not yet available as an ebook, but my next borrow is Leap by Myfanwy Jones .

[Booknblues]

Lesley wrote: "I am so excited that I seem to have 'cracked' the borrowing from the Qld State Library E-RESORCES systems. I can read on my pendo and can borrow 2 books for two weeks. I am LOVING the giant paperba..."

Always great to have a new source for books.

[Denizen]

Lesley wrote: "I am so excited that I seem to have 'cracked' the borrowing from the Qld State Library E-RESORCES systems. I can read on my pendo and can borrow 2 books for two weeks. I am LOVING the giant paperba..."

I was able to renew my state library card recently giving me much better access to digital books - both audio and ebooks. Discovering all the books you can check out is almost as much fun as reading!

[Lesley]

Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am so excited that I seem to have 'cracked' the borrowing from the Qld State Library E-RESORCES systems. I can read on my pendo and can borrow 2 books for two weeks. I am LOVING th..."

I got to transfer the book to my pendo the it wouldn't open!!! GRRR I then had to figure out how I had been able to get the previous one.. Many missed steps, which I have now written down, and I too, think I am set.. Just have to finish this doorstop of A Doubter's Almanac... Leap is ready to read on my Pendo.. hope it earns it's place on the shortlist.

"2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist unveiled
Celebrating the haunting, shocking and heart-breakingly honest must read Australian novels for 2016"

[Denizen]

Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am so excited that I seem to have 'cracked' the borrowing from the Qld State Library E-RESORCES systems. I can read on my pendo and can borrow 2 books for two weeks..."

It's the first time I've seen parkour as part of a book. Fun stuff!

[Lesley]

Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am so excited that I seem to have 'cracked' the borrowing from the Qld State Library E-RESORCES systems. I can read on my pendo and can borrow 2 book..."

"It's the first time I've seen parkour as part of a book. Fun stuff! " not sure what this means, sorry.

[Denizen]

Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am so excited that I seem to have 'cracked' the borrowing from the Qld State Library E-RESORCES systems. I can read on my pendo and c..."

Well, let me share a video (and a defintion: parkour is the art of getting from one place to another, on foot, as creatively as humanly possible.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o3CM...

[Denizen]

Sorry, but parkour fascinates me. This one includes girls and dogs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMi0k...

I'll stop now.

[Jgrace]

Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am so excited that I seem to have 'cracked' the borrowing from the Qld State Library E-RESORCES systems. I can read on..."

Shall I tell you about the time my son gave himself a black eye and a possible concussion trying a stunt at school when he was in High School?
(The door came up and hit him. Yeah, right, Bud)

I ended up paying for open gym sessions with an expert gymnast so he could practice with tramps, padded floors and walls.

[Denizen]

Jgrace wrote: "Shall I tell you about the time my son gave himself a black eye and a possible concussion trying a stunt at school when he was in High School?
(The door came up and hit him. Yeah, right, Bud)
.."

I caught my son deliberately wrecking his bike, flying over the handlebars, flipping, and landing on his feet - all for the amusement of his friends. "It's no big deal, Mom, you just have to know how to land." Right.

[Lesley]

Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am so excited that I seem to have 'cracked' the borrowing from the Qld State Library E-RESORCES systems. I can read on..."

I was 3 pages into my EBOOK Leap (on my pendo, yuk yuk yuk..) when the description of the guy leaping around suddenly made me shout (to the cat) PARKOUR... How's that for a spooky co-incidence. I have seen several clips but didn't know the form's name. No need to look the 'root', up.. Thanks!!!

[Denizen]

Lesley wrote: "I was 3 pages into my EBOOK Leap (on my pendo, yuk yuk yuk..) when the description of the guy leaping around suddenly made me shout (to the cat) PARKOUR... How's that for a spooky co-incidence. I have seen several clips but didn't know the form's name. No need to look the 'root', up.. Thanks!!!"

Parkour may be the oddest reason I've ever had for putting a book on my TBR.

[Lesley]

I wasn't that impressed for the first 20 pages, but the two streams are starting to make sense. The fast paced, sometimes jerky, rhythm of the young parkour guy's thread, now makes it more vivid. The mother's controlled, hurting, stealthy obsessive cat-like descriptions are so different, it also makes me see why this book is on the short-list of the 2016 Miles Franklin..

[Karin]

Do NOT let my middle daughter know about parkour! It looks cool, but some of this stuff is downright dangerous.

[Booknblues]

Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I was 3 pages into my EBOOK Leap (on my pendo, yuk yuk yuk..) when the description of the guy leaping around suddenly made me shout (to the cat) PARKOUR... How's that for a spooky co..."

I had to wait to respond until I had time to look this up! Amazing stuff. It could be addictive to watch.

[Lesley]

Booknblues wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I was 3 pages into my EBOOK Leap (on my pendo, yuk yuk yuk..) when the description of the guy leaping around suddenly made me shout (to the cat) PARKOUR... How's that..."

It was only then (as I've probably already said, somewhere) that I realised why the two main threads had such different paces and rhythms.. I can't stop thinking about it, and asked a puzzling question to the author; she replied, 'she wasn't sure, herself!!' but she liked to think it was....(spoiler)'...How generous to reply.

[Lesley]

Karin wrote: "Do NOT let my middle daughter know about parkour! It looks cool, but some of this stuff is downright dangerous."

I have a wild child who has not yet mellowed. She turns 37 in October... When she was in London, 10 years ago, she went to meet her father in Germany and they did a trip up the alps on hired GIANT BMW motorcycles.. (I almost lived under my bed for the 3 weeks.)

[Karin]

Lesley wrote: "Karin wrote: "Do NOT let my middle daughter know about parkour! It looks cool, but some of this stuff is downright dangerous."

I have a wild child who has not yet mellowed. She turns 37 in October..."

NOT what I want to hear, ;) !!!

My sister is a bit like this and her husband worse, although they are taming down now that they are both over 50. My dad took longer to mellow, though.

[Lesley]

Karin wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Karin wrote: "Do NOT let my middle daughter know about parkour! It looks cool, but some of this stuff is downright dangerous."

I have a wild child who has not yet mellowed. She turn..."

Such a worry; she has gone AWOL, again...sigh...

[Karin]

Lesley wrote: "Such a worry; she has gone AWOL, again...sigh... ."

You have my great empathy and sympathy and any other appropriate 'pathy!

[Lesley]

Karin wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Such a worry; she has gone AWOL, again...sigh... ."

You have my great empathy and sympathy and any other appropriate 'pathy!"

But according to FB photo, today, not very clear, she did in fact turn up to her estranged hubby's birthday dinner.. Thank's for the 'pathy'... it all helps...

[Karin]

Lesley wrote: "Karin wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Such a worry; she has gone AWOL, again...sigh... ."

You have my great empathy and sympathy and any other appropriate 'pathy!"

But according to FB photo, today, not ve..."

Phew!

[Lesley]

Karin wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Karin wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Such a worry; she has gone AWOL, again...sigh... ."

You have my great empathy and sympathy and any other appropriate 'pathy!"

But according to FB photo..."

Not sure if you saw the FB info (thank you for your concern), but Kate has accepted a VERY well paid job 1000klms west of Alice Springs at Warburton Western Australia as an assistant to a group, providing art, sports etc in several indigenous 'communities'. Grandkid's 3rd and her leaving party, all on Saturday....(Might live under my bed for a few days...) Got our NBN connected yesterday so will now be able to Skype both of them; Lynka will stay with her father.

[Karin]

Lesley wrote: "Karin wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Karin wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Such a worry; she has gone AWOL, again...sigh... ."

You have my great empathy and sympathy and any other appropriate 'pathy!"

But accordi..."

No, I didn't see; I go on FB sporadically. But great news!

[Booknblues]

Lesley wrote: "Kate has accepted a VERY well paid job 1000klms west of Alice Springs at Warburton Western Australia as an assistant to a group, providing art, sports etc in several indigenous 'communities'. Grandkid's 3rd and her leaving party, all on Saturday."

That is great news for you Lesley!

[Lesley]

Anyone interested in Aboriginal Memory and/or Stonehenge Origins might be interested in this The Memory Code Lynne Kelly.

More info : http://www.news.com.au/technology/sci...

[Story]

BnB, did you see there's a sequel to The Wake coming out?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

[Story]

Storyheart wrote: "BnB, did you see there's a sequel to The Wake coming out?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..."

(And if it's not out in the US till 2022, please don't kill the messenger!)

[Booknblues]

Storyheart wrote: "Storyheart wrote: "BnB, did you see there's a sequel to The Wake coming out?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..."

(And if it's not out in the US till 202..."

It was a rather difficult book to read. I could wait until 2022 to tackle the sequel :P

[Denizen]

Storyheart wrote: "Storyheart wrote: "BnB, did you see there's a sequel to The Wake coming out?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..."

(And if it's not out in the US till 202..."

I bought The Wake as a Daily Deal and periodically toy with the idea of tackling it. I've been thinking about borrowing the audio and following along with the text. I thought it might help me develop an ear for the language and then I could decide what worked best for me, audio or text.

[Booknblues]

Denizen wrote: "Storyheart wrote: "Storyheart wrote: "BnB, did you see there's a sequel to The Wake coming out?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..."

(And if it's not out..."

I think reading it with and listening to it at the same time might help.
I would probably have an easier time with the sequel than I did with The Wake.

[Booknblues]

A list of best books of June 2016:

http://www.bookishbuzz.com/2016/07/10...

[Denizen]

Booknblues wrote: "A list of best books of June 2016:

http://www.bookishbuzz.com/2016/07/10..."

Yay! I love lists. I was just thinking this morning that I haven't seen many beach reads lists and the ones I saw were disappointing.

I know a couple people reading The Girls but hadn't really looked at it closely. Sounds like it could be interesting so I'll put it on my watch list and wait for the reviews. I definitely want to read Homegoing. I might read Age of Myth. I've read one book by Sullivan and found it average but read the first book in a series chronologically instead of by publication date. I thought the character building was poor, but they were established characters from earlier books so it was hard to judge.

[Lesley]

Just back from a wonderful weekend at The Cairns Tropical Writers Festival. One of the sessions was with Magda Szubanski who's book Reckoning: A Memoir is currently the best selling non fiction book in Australia, ever. Remember her from the films Babe ? What a fantastic , entertaining, speaker she was, too.

[Story]

Lesley wrote: "Just back from a wonderful weekend at The Cairns Tropical Writers Festival. One of the sessions was with Magda Szubanski who's book Reckoning: A Memoir is currently..."

Oh that sounds like fun! I do remember her from Babe. Did you discover any other new authors?

[Lesley]

Storyheart wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Just back from a wonderful weekend at The Cairns Tropical Writers Festival. One of the sessions was with Magda Szubanski who's book [book:Reckoning: A Memoir|2963370..."

more soon as my car repairs are sorted... absolutely fab weekend ...

[Lesley]

Listening to Louise Doughty Louise Doughtyon the radio, and her new book sound wonderful. I used to manufacture in Bali, and it's clear that she has done her research well. Book is called Black Water.Black Water

[Lesley]

Another fantastic 'session', was listening to Stan Grant... He has been very outspoken about the automatic racism in Australia. (Not often acknowledged) and if his book is as eloquent as his speech, should be very Talking to My Country passionate and informative.

[Lesley]

For any others like me, who hadn't heard of this list. :

This is the first longlist ever to have been announced for the Man Booker International Prize, which has joined forces with the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and is now awarded annually on the basis of a single book. The £50,000 prize will be divided equally between the author of the winning book and its translator. The judges considered 155 books.

The full 2016 longlist is as follows:

Author (nationality) Translator Title (imprint)

José Eduardo Agualusa (Angola) Daniel Hahn, A General Theory of Oblivion (Harvill Secker)
Elena Ferrante (Italy) Ann Goldstein, The Story of the Lost Child (Europa Editions)

Han Kang (South Korea) Deborah Smith, The Vegetarian (Portobello Books) ( The one I have just read)

Maylis de Kerangal (France) Jessica Moore, Mend the Living (Maclehose Press)
Eka Kurniawan (Indonesia) Labodalih Sembiring, Man Tiger (Verso Books)
Yan Lianke (China) Carlos Rojas, The Four Books (Chatto & Windus)
Fiston Mwanza Mujila (Democratic Republic of Congo/Austria) Roland Glasser, Tram 83 (Jacaranda)
Raduan Nassar (Brazil) Stefan Tobler, A Cup of Rage (Penguin Modern Classics)
Marie NDiaye (France) Jordan Stump, Ladivine (Maclehose Press)
Kenzaburō Ōe (Japan) Deborah Boliver Boehm, Death by Water (Atlantic Books)
Aki Ollikainen (Finland) Emily Jeremiah & Fleur Jeremiah, White Hunger (Peirene Press)
Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) Ekin Oklap, A Strangeness in My Mind (Faber & Faber)
Robert Seethaler (Austria) Charlotte Collins, A Whole Life (Picador)

[Story]

The Golden Age by Joan London sounds promising.

"Joan London is one of Australia’s most acclaimed authors, and thanks to Europa Editions (yes, the same publishers who brought Elena Ferrante to North American readers!) her latest novel is available here as well. The story charts the lives of a family of Hungarian refugees who land in Australia during the exodus of WWII. The focal point is Frank, an almost 13 year old boy recovering from polio in a hospital for convalescents, who falls in love with fellow patient Elsa. London also thoroughly fleshes out the surrounding characters in the narrative, weaving a complex, rich portrayal of people struggling with the aftermath of war and displacement."

Lesley, have you read anything by her?

[Denizen]

Lesley wrote: "For any others like me, who hadn't heard of this list. :

This is the first longlist ever to have been announced for the Man Booker International Prize, which has joined forces with the Independent..."

Interesting list but thankfully a few were already on my TBR. The Augualasa looked interesting but I think I'll stick with trying The Book of Chameleons by him instead. I'm taking a break from Ferrante but am sure I'll finish the series before the year is out. Eka Kurniawan is definitely an author I want to read but not sure if I'll try Man Tiger or Beauty Is a Wound.

A Strangeness in My Mind is also on the TBR. I set a personal goal of reading 6 authors for the first time this year and Pamuk is one of the authors. The SeethalerA Whole Life is the final one that interests me on the list.

[Lesley]

Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "For any others like me, who hadn't heard of this list. :

This is the first longlist ever to have been announced for the Man Booker International Prize, which has joined forces with ..."

Thanks for these insights. I couldn't get into either 'Chameleon' or Ferrante..

Had a laugh at the CTWF : Two older publishers who ran a session, said of 'her' ; spitefully : "when that old (air quotes) Italian queen gets defrocked, I'll laugh my bollocks off" . (I thought, sour grapes because you missed it, pot to kettle)

[Denizen]

I think this book looks intriguing

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/27/boo...

[Booknblues]

Denizen wrote: "I think this book looks intriguing

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/27/boo......"

Dang, I'm reading too many NYT articles. :(

I've been keeping The Nix on my radar. Is it just me or does 2016 seem like a year with a lot of good books?

[Denizen]

I don't know but I certainly had trouble resisting hold, hold, hold this morning. Some days descriptions are harder to resist than others.

[Jgrace]

Denizen wrote: "I don't know but I certainly had trouble resisting hold, hold, hold this morning. Some days descriptions are harder to resist than others."

I'm waiting for the two of you to read The Nix before I hit the hold button.

[Lesley]

Oh wow such lovely dulcet tones;
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/p...

Carlson Whitehead : The Underground Railroad.The Underground Railroad Colson Whitehead..

[Booknblues]

Lesley wrote: "Oh wow such lovely dulcet tones;
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/p...

Carlson Whitehead : The Underground Railroad.[bo..."

I'm wondering if you will like it. I did, but it is very different.

[Lesley]

Booknblues wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Oh wow such lovely dulcet tones;
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/p...

Carlson Whitehead : The Undergrou..."

Have ordered for purchase, this and many other EBOOKs, but none have arrived yet. Not sure how long this takes.

[Denizen]

For me. buying and receiving an ebook takes no more than 10 minutes.