Reading matters

Celebrating the late Roald Dahl's birthday

Has anyone noticed today's Google icon? How cute.

I was always partial to James and the Giant Peach, but my favourite was Danny, The Champion of the World.

What's your favourite Roald Dahl book?

A post in which kimbofo gets her grubby little mitts on the latest Chuck P. book

So Chuck Palahniuk's latest book Rant thudded through my front door yesterday morning courtesy of the publishers Jonathan Cape.

I am a Chuck P. fan, so this is one of those rare occasions in which the review copy I have been sent is by an author I know and love. Usually the review copies I am offered are by unknowns -- not that I am complaining because I love discovering new literary voices. But it's refreshing to receive something by a known quantity, in as much as Chuck P. can be described as a known quantity. Quite frankly the guy is a genius -- he could scribble something on the back of an envelope and it'd be brilliant.

His latest offering looks typically dark, surreal and very funny. And the promotional website is worth a look, if only to play the game in which the aim is to create the "most monumental car crash possible"!

If you've not read anything by Chuck P. before, you might like to check out the following books reviewed on this site:

• Survivor
• Invisible Monsters
• Diary
• Choke

Ian McEwan: news, reviews and extracts

The Times Online has an Ian McEwan page.

Just in case you wanted to know that.

MJ Hyland on law and depression

As an alumni of the University of Melbourne I get sent a copy of the Melbourne University Magazine every quarter. Most of the time I find it exceedingly dull, if only because I work in an industry that is far from academic, so the magazine's content is of little relevance to me.

But the latest issue, which arrived by post today, features an intriguing article by Silvia Dropulich that caught my attention. The one-page piece is about M.J. Hyland, author of last year's Booker Prize nominated Carry Me Down, who is a University of Melbourne law and English graduate.

Hyland believes that studying law was good for her brain, and that anything good for her brain is also good for her work. "I have no interest in returning to work as a lawyer -- I hated being a lawyer," she said. "Not because there is anything particularly unpleasant or objectionable, but mostly because I was lousy at it. I didn't care for it; I wanted always to write -- it's not possible to be a good lawyer with half a mind; the other half of one's mind confused, stupid and distracted."

Hyland says she sometimes suffers from depression, but that the blues she meets are not nearly as bad as they once were. Depression has never stood in her way when it comes to writing fiction. "Most of the time I am not depressed," she said. "I write every day in a sane, disciplined, healthy and clear way. I write six hours per day, six days a week and usually without psychiatric incident. In any case, experience has shown me that depression always thickens, holds fastest, when I don't write -- depression loves a person who stews in her own juices."

You can download a free PDF version of the magazine via the magazine's website. The article is on page 19.

Ian McEwan on the Blair years

I am a firm fan of Channel 4 News, which, in this home, is commonly referred to as the "clever news". We rarely miss a bulletin.

Tonight's broadcast was no exception. Name another news bulletin that would do an extended interview with a novelist about an important issue, the impending resignation of British Prime Minister Tony Blair? Hmm, I thought not.

Jon Snow (my favourite journo -- he's a cyclist too!) spoke with Ian McEwan about the legacy of the Blair years. You can watch the broadcast here. It's definitely worth a look -- and further cements my opinion that McEwan is Britain's greatest living writer.

Lionel Shriver in conversation

I've just bought myself a ticket to see Lionel Shriver in conversation with psychoanalyst Angela Joyce on June 15 as part of the Rowan Arts Project "connecting conversations" series. According to the official website:

Connecting Conversations is a series of conversations between psychoanalysts and leading writers and practitioners from other disciplines, including literature, dance, visual art, history, sociology, anthropology, social policy etc. It has two primary aims: firstly to create an ongoing series of 'events' where ideas can be explored and new connections developed, both between ideas and disciplines, as well as between people. The series would attempt to acknowledge the local and the global aspects to much of contemporary life. Secondly, to make this level of debate and dialogue easily accessible to a wider audience.

The event was originally scheduled to be held at the Bloomsbury Theatre in North London but due to overwhelming demand it's now being held at a bigger venue at the Metropolitan University. Tickets are £12 and include a glass of wine! You can book here.

If Lionel Shriver is not your thing, there are similar conversations with crime writer Minette Walters, biographer Brenda Maddox and novelist Barry Unsworth. You can find out more here.

[Thanks to BookMooch friend Lianne for tipping me off about this.]

What the Dickens?

The BBC reports that the opening of Dickens World in Chatham, Kent, will be delayed by six weeks.

Dickens World?

Apparantly it's an indoor themed attraction based on the life, books and times of Charles Dickens. According to the park's official website:

The in-house attraction will reproduce the architecture of the period with picturesque archways, cobbled stoned streets and decorative features, together with specialised lighting and appropriate euphonics as well as a host of costumed characters, shop keepers and street entertainers. [...]

The experience will feature a Dickensian Shopping Mall, together with a multitude of attractions and rides, including a mix of themed restaurants, bars and a multiplex cinema.

Dickens World will also have facilities for seasonal variations, particularly over the Christmas period in which the attraction will convert into a Dickensian winter wonderland, replete with snow and other characteristics of a bygone era, complemented by a magnificent water feature which over the festive season changes into a spectacular 'ice fantasia' dominated by 'The Spirit of Christmas', 'JackFrost', 'Scrooge' and a host of other delightful characters who magically come to life. This and other seasonal events throughout the year an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.

A series of 'burlesque' evening dinner shows are being especially created to provide a nightly menu of 'naughty delights' in the 'Free and Easy' Victorian Music Hall.

Why do the words 'tacky', 'money-making exercise' and 'dumbed down culture' spring to mind? I bet the poor man is rolling in his grave.

There's nothing like an author's death to boost the sale of their back catalogue

[Click to enlarge]

This is part of a screenshot of the Amazon.co.uk website taken at 9.15pm.

You'd never know Kurt Vonnegut died today, would you? His sales figures probably haven't looked this healthy in quite some time!

Kurt Vonnegut dies aged 84

American literary idol Kurt Vonnegut, best known for such classic novels as Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat's Cradle, has died in Manhattan.

Click to read -- and watch -- a report from Channel 4 News.

I think this is what you called a "delayed" obituary

[Click to enlarge]

Australian author Elizabeth Jolley died in February. The New York Times published her obituary in April. You'd think in this day and age that it might take slightly less than two months for news of her death to reach the USA from Australia, wouldn't you? Perhaps the staff at The New York Times are still relying on carrier pigeons...

(They're certainly not reading the Australian news media, such as The Australian or The Age, so it's complete nonsense to state that "Ms Jolley's family did not publicise her death" as some kind of excuse for not reporting this sooner.)