Sutherland Shire Libraries News

If you went to one of our author evenings we'd love to hear what you thought. Were the authors interesting speakers? Did you have a good time? Would you like to see us doing more author talks? You can leave a comment on this post or email us.

Here are the thoughts of a couple of the staff who listened to Michael Robotham speak to get you started:

Michael was a most gracious speaker. He talked about his early life growing up in Gundagai and his career as a journalist working the night shift at the old Sun newspaper as well as some of his experiences working internationally. He discussed his early forays into 'ghost' writing a range of biographies before he began work on his own first novel. There were lots of interesting insights from him as to how publishing works and how 'lucky' he felt he had been to have a link with UK publishers who were interested in his first work. Lots of fascinating stuff about how he creates his characters and names them and even some clues as to how his approach differs from other popular authors of his acquaintance. He was more than happy to answer questions from the audience - a small but very interested group - and was very generous with his time signing copies of his current novel 'Lost'. It was thoroughly enjoyable.
Lyn.

Michael Robotham started his career as a cadet journalist on The Sun newspaper in Sydney. He worked the night shift so he was often called to accidents, murders and other unsavoury events. He became the favourite journalist of the imfamous Raymond John Denning. After he escaped from Golburn goal, Denning used to ring Michael regularly with tales of his exploits such as taping a note to the door of police headquarters during the middle of the night. After working as a journalist in Australian and around the world, Michael decided to try his hand at writing. He became a ghost writer, credited with writing the biographies of Gerri Halliwell, Lulu, Tony Bullimore, Ricky Thomlinson and more. Michael had been thinking about writing a fiction book for some time. He originally planned to write a romance but discussions with publishers pursuaded him to try his hand a crime fiction. His background as a journalist provided much insight into crime, the criminal mind and how offenders are eventually caught. Michael's break into the world of fiction writing came when he went to the London Book Fair with the partially written manuscript for Suspect. Suspect subsequently became a best seller. One of the characters from Suspect later became the central character in his next best seller Lost. His next novel Night Ferry is due out in early 2007. Michael was very entertaining and his appearance was well received by all those in attendance.
Angela.

Sounds like it was a very interesting evening. What did you think?

Collection Capers is a monthly newsletter of NEW interesting or unusual non fiction added to the Sutherland Shire Libraries collection.

Unknown soldier : a story of grief and the Great War by Jean-Yves Le Naour
The recreated life of an amnesic French soldier. An advertisement, placed in the hope of finding his lost family, found instead a bereaved multitude ready to claim him as the father, husband or brother who had never come home. Fills in some of the gaps as to what happens to the common soldier, the high price paid for fighting for one’s country.

House of war : the Pentagon and the disastrous rise of American power by James Carroll
This landmark work chronicles the most powerful institution in America, the people who created it, and the pathologies it has spawned. Argues that the Pentagon has, since its founding, operated beyond the control of government and society, and has changed the character of the United States more than any other institution.

Manhunt : the 12 day chase for Abraham Lincoln’s killer by James L. Swanson
Delivers an enthralling hour-by-hour account of the twelve days in 1865, between President Lincoln's assassination and the capture of his murderer. Forget all the parapsychological stories of Lincoln dying in the Kennedy room, and being followed as President by a man named Johnson. Here is a gripping story of planned murder and a police chase worthy of Bonnie and Clyde. Quick quiz, besides Lincoln and Kennedy who is the other US president to be assassinated?

Mobile mansions : taking Home sweet home on the road by Douglas Keister
Caravans are cool! OK, these recreational vehicles are a little more elaborate than your average caravan. Many people are embracing the motorhome as a luxurious and fun way to take a break, by taking home with them. A long way from the Kombi and the Merry Pranksters and perhaps a bit heavy on the juice.

Mere mortals by Jim Leavesley
A second look at medical peculiarities via historical figures including Michelangelo, Chopin, Picasso, Freud and many others. Filled with fascinating facts, enthralling events and a cast of eccentric, intriguing characters.

In search of the pangolin : the accidental eco-tourist by Satyadit Das and Jade Novakovic
Presents a potted travel narrative focused on eco-tourism, from the point of view of two eco-tourists, as they search for unusual animals around the globe. Combines wicked humour with insights into the natural world and the culture of conservation.

Dry : life without water by Ehsan Masood and Daniel Schaffer
Tells the diverse stories about people in very hot, very cold, or very high places, who spend their lives collecting, chasing, piping, and trapping water. Makes us realise that for most of the world’s population water is not easily available and that it doesn’t just come out of a tap.

The one percent doctrine : deep inside America’s pursuit of its enemies since 9/11 by Ron Suskind
Takes readers inside the defining conflict of our era: the war between the US and a growing shadowy army of terrorists, armed with weapons of alarming power. Relying on unique access to government officials, this book reveals how the US government is improvising to fight a new kind of war. A real life spy thriller.

The myth of the Great Depression by David Potts
We are all familiar with images of the Great Depression, long food queues, men lining up and hoping for work, families turned out on the street. Historian, David Potts postulates that the Great Depression, as a time of great suffering, is often untrue or exaggerated. He discovered through interviews and research of original documents that perhaps times were possibly better we have thought. Of course this wouldn’t apply to the swaggies with no shoes who came to the door for a bit of food.

The war of the world by Niall Ferguson
The 20th century proved to be violent, frightening and brutalized with fanatical, often genocidal warfare engulfing most societies between the outbreak of the First World War and the end of the Cold War. What went wrong? How did we do this to ourselves? This book provides answers for these questions. It’s ironic that when we have international bodies for peace and Geneva conventions we also have the most devastating weapons and the most horrible massacres the world has ever seen.

Bizarro and other strange manifestations of the art of Dan Piraro by Dan Piraro
Like a good songwriter or poet, cartoonists can often capture that elusive essence which can define a feeling or a point of view that expresses what we can’t do ourselves. Piraro is one of those people along with perhaps Leunig and Gary Larson. He discusses his life, from a poor religious upbringing to life with a well-paid job in New York, leading up to his present fulfilling life as a cartoonist. Bizarro is full of edgy and poignant cartoons.

Dogs of war : Columbus, the Inquisition and the defeat of the Moors by James Reston
Set against the fury and strife that arose from the cinders of medieval Europe, this book examines the Spanish Inquisition (which no one expects). Spain embarked on a campaign of extreme religious intolerance expelling Jews and Muslims from its world. This book brings the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition into focus.

Have you recently seen an interesting book that we don’t have? Visit our web site to Suggest an Item for the Library's collection.

Michael Robothom has been and gone but there is still time to book in to the author evening with Judy Nunn at Caringbah Library on the 16th August at 7pm. There will be plenty to talk about with Judy's history in theatre, television and more recently her books. Read more in this post.

Contact Jenny Miller on 9710 0245 to reserve your place.

In addition to the Online Databases available to Sutherland Shire Libraries members, the State Library of NSW has commenced a trial, from July to October, providing access from home for registered New South Wales residents to search the following eight databases:

• Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO)
  Nearly 150,000 English-language titles and editions published between 1701 and 1800.
• Early English Books Online (EEBO)
  An ongoing project of the full text of publications in the English language produced by printing presses in England and its colonies between 1473-1700.
• Film Indexes Online
  Brings together Film Index International and the AFI (American Film Institute) Catalog, providing full international coverage of films and film personalities from over 170 countries.
• Health and Wellness Resource Centre
  Fulltext medical encyclopaedia, alternative health encyclopaedia, medical dictionary and drug and herb information. Also includes fulltext magazines, journals and pamphlets from a wide variety of authoritative medical sources.
• INFORMIT Online
  Provides online access to a wide range of Australian, Asia and Pacific research and information resources covering social sciences, education, law, criminology, film studies, health, medicine, accounting and economics, business, management, drug information, and sport.
• Literature Resource Center
  An online collection of traditional literary reference works, contemporary literary criticism on authors and their works, current journal articles plus other resources.
• ProQuest 5000
  (Includes: Australia and New Zealand Newsstand and US Historical Newspapers)
  A multidisciplinary collection of 19 separate databases indexing the contents of 7,900 journals and the full text of articles from 3,900 journals. The subject coverage is from the humanities to the pure and applied sciences, and the geographic coverage is international
• Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
  The London Times newspaper including all articles, advertisements and illustrations/photos and divided into categories to facilitate searching.

To use this service from home individuals will need to register for a State Library readers card. You can register online. Once you have received your readers' card, which may take up to 10 days, you can access the databases from home.

Register now, try them out and let the State Library know what you think.

These are the July additions to our collection of Web Resources, web sites and online resources selected by our librarians. We are always adding interesting sites to our collection and the list is constantly updated on the New Sites page of our site.

State of the Arts
News and reviews from the Australian arts scene including theatre, music, dance, design, books, film and art.
Date added: 20 July, 2006. Page: Arts.

Fuel 4 Arts
Fuel 4 Arts is an online community and knowledge base designed to assist the arts community to improve its audience development and arts marketing capability.
Date added: 20 July, 2006. Page: Arts.

Justin's Drama and Theatre links
This collection includes links to drama and theatre web sites about history, practitioners, stagecraft, genres and styles.
Date added: 11 July, 2006. Page: Drama.

National Film and Sound Archive
The National Film and Sound Archive, part of the Australian Film Commission, is Australia's audiovisual archive, collecting, preserving and sharing the nation's moving image and recorded sound heritage.
Date added: 3 July, 2006. Page: Film.

Australian Film Commission
The Australian Film Commission (AFC) is responsible for ensuring the creation, availability and preservation of Australian screen content. The National Film and Sound Archive has been part of the AFC since 1 July 2003.
Date added: 3 July, 2006. Page: Film.