ONE FOOT ON THE PODIUM BY DON ELGIN

This is the story of a young Victorian country boy who finally put his one foot on the podium at the Sydney Paralympics.  He tells his story as if he is sitting talking to you, it is charming, funny and in some places sad, this is a self declared larrikin's story.  Well worth the reading time.  On our shelves now.

WRITERS FORUM - VIKKI PETRAITIS

Join best-selling author Vikki Petraitis for a ten week Novel Writing course catering for both beginning writers and those already working on developing a novel. Components include: plotting, character development, narrative structure, and description. This longer course will give writers the chance to refine a piece of work, and the opportunity to share their work with other people with the same goals – to write a novel.

Saturday October                 10, 17, 24, 31

Saturday November               7, 14, 21, 28

Saturday December                5, 12

11.30 – 1.30 pm

Beaumaris Library, 96 Reserve Road

$200 (all ten sessions). Bookings essential

www.trybooking.com/146422

ADULT COLOURING BOOKS - TINA JACOBSON

I've just discovered that local artist Tina Jacobson has recently published a colouring book that is suitable for adults as well as children.  Watch for it's appearance in our window.

 

CLIVE JAMES - LATEST READINGS

In 2010, Clive James was diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Deciding that "if you don't know the exact moment when the lights will go out, you might as well read until they do," James moved his library to his house in Cambridge, where he would "live, read, and perhaps even write." James is the award-winning author of dozens of works of literary criticism, poetry, and history, and this volume contains his reflections on what may well be his last reading list. A look at some of James's old favourites as well as some of his recent discoveries, this book also offers a revealing look at the author himself, sharing his evocative musings on literature and family, and on living and dying.

Opportunities to interview Clive are limited however an interview with ABC journalist Phil Williams has definitely been confirmed.  ABC is recording August 7^th with air date to be advised, this will be an interesting interview.

FOSTER'S LITTLE BOOKSHOP WEBSITE

If you don't get our newsletter from the website, you might like to see if you're missing anything.  Take a look......

 

BOOK SIGNING: MAGGIE JACKSON: A WOVEN CLOTH OF LIFE

Some months ago we stocked Maggie Jackson's book A Woven Cloth of Life which was the story of her family and the O'Dowd Family Band.  Maggie will be here on Saturday, August 22nd (from 11 am on) to talk about her book and to sign copies.  Come and say hello to her at the bookshop.

 

FATHER'S DAY SUGGESTIONS

Father's Day isn't all that far away, just a few weeks.  There have been a couple of recent posts with books that might be of interest as a gift, here are a few more.

Kingdom of the Strong by Tony Cavanaugh

Darian Richards is an ex-cop, a good one. He did whatever it took to solve a crime and stop the bad guy. Whatever it took! But after sixteen years as the head of Victoria's Homicide Squad, he'd had enough of promising victims' families he'd find the answers they needed. He had to walk away to save his sanity. Now Police Commissioner Copeland Walsh has tracked Darian down. He needs him to help clear an old case.

Darian Richards is Australia’s answer to Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch.  Harry fans take a risk and see if Darian fits the bill.  I will be….

 

Graeme Clark The man who invented the bionic ear by Mark Worthing

After watching his father struggle with hearing problems, Graeme knew he wanted to find a solution to deafness.Graeme became a surgeon, and his quiet persistence and methodical approach yielded results that fulfilled his childhood dream. Around the world, hundreds of thousands of people have now received the gift of hearing from the cochlear implant he developed.

 

MP Untold: The Lost Stories of an Australian Surfing Legend by Sean Doherty

In 2004 Sean Doherty wrote a bestselling biography of Australian surfing's cult hero, Michael Peterson. Over the years that followed, and especially after Peterson's death in 2012, hundreds of people – family, friends, surfing stars and complete strangers – contacted Doherty with stories and pictures of the iconic surfer that had never before been shared.

The tales range from the hilarious to the harrowing. There was MP's infamous road trip from the Gold Coast to Phillip Island. The time he discovered the truth about his father.  And his last ever surf, with brother Tommy in 1983, before schizophrenia and drug abuse saw him institutionalised for the next decade.

Now Doherty has compiled these stories, anecdotes and tributes, completing the picture of one of surfing's most talented but tragic figures. Also featuring the classic images of Peterson, along with photographs and letters from his family's private collection, MP Untold presents Australian surfing's cult hero in the words of those who knew him best.

 

Because We Say So by Chomsky Noam

In 1962, the eminent statesman Dean Acheson enunciated a principle that has dominated global politics ever since: that no legal issue arises when the United States responds to a challenge to its 'power, position, and prestige'. In short, whatever the world may think, U.S. actions are legitimate because they say so. Spanning the impact of Edward Snowden's whistle blowing and Palestinian-Israeli relations to deeper reflections on political philosophy and the importance of a commons to democracy, Because We Say So takes American imperialism head on.