Headhunters by Jo Nesbø


In most novels there is a good guy and a bad guy. You can easily distinguish who is who, their look, mannerisms, voice & actions all point to a good person/bad person. Not so in Headhunters. I found it hard to decide who I disliked more! 

Roger Brown is a short man (1.68m) constantly trying to compensate for his lack of physical stature by overplaying his successes. He is Oslo's leading Head hunter, has a gorgeous (and tall) wife Diana, a huge mansion in a prestigious suburb, a luxury car and really nice hair. 

Never the less, Roger still feels inadequate and constantly lives above his means, buying his wife an art gallery and expensive gifts, when all she really wants is a child - something he refuses to give her. To fund this lavish lifestyle Roger is also an art thief on the side, stealing from Oslo's rich to feed his own needs. When Roger hears about what could be the biggest haul of his professional and deviant life, he can't resist meeting Clas Greve, a handsome ex-soldier and former CEO of a GPS company. Roger works to line Greve up in a lucrative role that will pay big in finders fees, whilst at the same time stealing a priceless artwork from Clas. A piece that once sold will solve all his financial worries and set him and Diana up for life. 

Things start to unravel for Roger and he finds himself in a battle for his life against an opponent who in all ways is the person Roger wants to be. As Roger is thrown into all manner of disturbing and gruesome scenarios he can't help but look at his life and discover just what is most important - but will this epiphany come too late?

This is a fast, action-packed novel full of dizzying scenes that seriously take a long time to erase from the brain. It is well worth reading if you don't mind a bit of gross and you love a twisty, keep you guessing type of read.

Nesbø is the well known for his Harry Hole series of books which I also love. He has a way of creating flawed characters who you still manage to like. Even when they are bad, or damaged or make mistakes. Headhunters is well worth the read!

Jess

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Dream a little, or big dream in June


There is something common among humans: we all dream. 
Whether it is the strange and surreal happenings in our sleep, or our most lofty aspirations for the future, the human mind is an endless expanse of imagination and dreams. What better place than the library to explore the theme for June in the National Year of Reading: ‘Dream’? 

Discover the art of dream interpretation, what is your subconscious really trying to tell you when your teeth fall out in a dream? Or plan your future, with guides on how to find that dream job. 
At Menai Library we have created a Dream Tree installation, take a look at our photos, or – better yet – come along for a visit, and let us know what you think! Every item used in the installation has been recycled, proving that even the most unexpected objects can conjure new meanings. 
This month, read something unexpected, something inspiring, and ask: What’s my dream?


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Bedtime reading


Bedtime Stories
 Before  you go to sleep each night, do you read for at least ten minutes, usually a chapter or two, to enable you  to relax before drifting off to dreamland. For some,  it is an ingrained habit, and it can be hard to go to sleep without reading something first.
Imagine this nightmare scenario...
What would happen if you were up to the last few chapters of your current book, and had yet to find your next bedtime read.  What can you read next? You can't just pick out any book and start reading, as bedtime reading needs to be:


Not too scary, or you'll have nightmares.
Not too sad, as you don't want tears at bedtime, (or puffy eyes in the morning).
Not too deep, intense or political, as bedtime is the time to  relax, not toss and turn all night pondering over what you've read.
Not too complicated, as you don’t want to concentrate too hard, you're tired!
Not too riveting, (including those tempting page turners), or you'll be up to to 3am trying to finish it. However, it’s got to be interesting enough that you don’t fall asleep reading and lose your place in the book!
This is starting to sound like Goldilocks visit to the home of the three bears.  Do you generally have a stack of books at your bedside, enabling you  to select just the right book to relax and read before going to sleep, ensuring sweet dreams?
To ensure we can all get a good night's sleep (and have pleasant dreams), staff at Sutherland Shire Library Service will be participating in blogeverydayofJune, posting book reviews every day of June with the theme of "Dream reads". Hopefully you will find a book  (or two) to snuggle up with!

Monique
Photo credit: flickr user Sideways Sarah

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Literary Lunch in June

Relax in your lunch break with a good book - read aloud to you!
Will they live happily ever after? or Will there be a shocking conclusion?
You are welcome to bring your lunch to the Southern Lounge at 1pm on Wednesday 6 June, 2012 where Melinda will read you a short story to match the 2012 National Year of Reading theme of "Dream".
These stories read aloud on the first Wednesday of each month are for adults - moderate language may be used.
This is a free event, no bookings necessary.

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Prime Minister's Literary Awards, Shortlists, 2012

The Prime Minister's Literary Award Shortlist, 2012 has been announced.
The Prime Minister's Literary  Awards celebrate the contribution of Australian literature and history to the nation's cultural and intellectual life.

This year, there are six categories, including a new category for poetry.  Entries in each category were received from every State and Territory, and the awards attracted the highest number of entries since their inception.

Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors.

Fiction shortlist
All That I Am: a novel by Anna Funder
Sarah Thornhill by Kate Grenville
Foal's Bread by Gillian Mears
Autumn Laing by Alex Miller
Forecast: Turbulence by Janette Turner Hospital

Poetry shortlist
Ashes in the Air by Ali Alizadeh
Interferon Psalms by Luke Davies
Armour by John Kinsella
Southern Barbarians by John Mateer
New and Selected Poems by Gig Ryan

Non-fiction shortlist
A Short History of Christianity by Geoffrey Blainey
Kinglake-350 by Adrian Hyland

Prize for Australian History shortlist
Breaking the Sheep's Back by Charles Massy
Immigration Nation: The Secret History of Us by Renegade Films Australia Pty Ltd

Young adult fiction shortlist
Being Here by Barry Jonsberg
Pan’s Whisper by Sue Lawson
When We Were Two by Robert Newton
Alaska by Sue Saliba

Children’s fiction shortlist
Father's Day by Anne Brooksbank
Come Down, Cat! by Sonya Hartnett, illustrated by Lucia Masciullo
Goodnight, Mice! by Frances Watts, illustrated by Judy Watson

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Literary lunch

Relax in your lunch break with a good book - read aloud to you!
You are welcome to bring your lunch to the Southern Lounge at 1pm on Wednesday 6 June, 2012 where Melinda will read you a short story to match the 2012 National Year of Reading theme of "Dream".
These stories read aloud on the first Wednesday of each month are for adults - moderate language may be used.
This is a free event, no bookings necessary.
Will they live happily ever after? or will there be a shocking conclusion?

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Commonwealth Writers Regional Winners 2012

Commonwealth Writers has announced the regional winners for the 2012 Commonwealth Book Prize and Commonwealth Short Story Prize, representing Africa, Asia, Canada & Europe, Caribbean, and the Pacific regions.

 Congratulations to Cory Taylor, the Regional Winner for the Pacific, writer of  Me and Mr Booker (The Text Publishing Company).

 The other regional winners were as follows:
Regional Winner, Africa
Jacques Strauss, South Africa The Dubious Salvation of Jack V, Jonathan Cape
Regional Winner, Asia
Shehan Karunatilaka, Sri Lanka, Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, Random House
Regional Winner, Canada and Europe
Riel Nason, Canada, The Town that Drowned, Goose Lane Editions
Regional Winner, Caribbean
Alecia McKenzie, Jamaica, Sweetheart, Peepal Tree Press

Congratulations to all the winners, who will now compete for the overall winner award which will be announced at Hay Festival on 8 June.

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