Susan Whelan's Blog
Posted by Susan Whelan
I love lists, books and anything that promotes reading, so Books Alive appeals to me on several levels. Running from 26 August to 30 September 2009, the current campaign promotes “50 books you can’t put down” including both Australian and international titles from various genres and styles.
What is the Books Alive 2009 campaign?
Books Alive is an Australian Government initiative developed through the Australian Council for the Arts. Each year, a guide is available at bookstores and online recommending 50 books across a range of genres.
From self-help titles like Peter Walsh’s It’s All Too Much to the Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlisted title The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, the Books Alive 2009 booklist includes something to appeal to every reading preference.
Non-fiction fans will find a selection of biography and autobiography titles, including the story of aviatrix Nancy Bird (My God! It’s a Woman), surfer Mark Occhilupo (Occy), renowned celebrity interviewer Michael Parkinson (Parky) and British comedienne Dawn French (Dear Fatty). War, true crime and history titles are also included.
Fiction titles range from general fiction, YA, sci-fi/fantasy, crime and literary fiction and a small number of children’s titles including Neil Gaiman’s popular The Graveyard Book.
The Guide, a full list of books included in the Books Alive 2009 campaign can be found at The Guide link on the Books Alive website or printed copies are available at participating bookstores.
How can I get involved in Books Alive 2009?
Readers who purchase Books Alive titles at participating bookstores will receive one of two exclusive titles for free with their purchase.
10 Short Stories you Must Read this Year – short stories by ten of Australia’s best writers (I’ve included links to titles by these authors that I have already reviewed at Suite101): Robert Drewe
Anita Heiss
Toni Jordan
Tom Keneally (The Widow and Her Hero)
Kathy Lette
Monica McInerney
William McInnes
Melina Marchetta (Finnikin of the Rock – A Books Alive 2009 title)
Jack Marx
Peter Temple
Grug Learns to Read by Ted Prior – a brand new title in this much loved classic Australian children’s picture book series.
A range of author events are being also being held throughout Australia. Full details are available at the What’s On link at the Books Alive website.
A Books Alive 2009 Reading Challenge is being hosted by the Book Thingo blog. Running from 7 – 30 September, participants are encouraged to read as many of the 50 titles as they can during the Challenge. Full details are available from at Book Thingo Books Alive 2009 Reading Challenge.
Books Alive is also on Twitter (@Books_Alive) for those wanting to keep up with campaign news and connect with others promoting the campaign and completing the reading challenge.
Reading Great Books
I’m a big fan of anything that brings more great authors and titles to my attention. If you have read any of the Books Alive 2009 books, I’d love to know what you think. Feel free to leave a comment here if you have any titles you would particularly like to recommend. I've listed below Books Alive 2009 titles that I have read and can recommend and will update these as I read further titles, which I am hoping to do in the coming weeks as part of the Books Alive 2009 Reading Challenge.
Dear Fatty by Dawn French
Parky by Michael Parkinson
1788 - The Brutal Truth of the First Fleet by David Hill
The True Story of Butterfish by Nick Earls
A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Posted by Susan Whelan
Yesterday I published a review here at Suite101 of The G-Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of ABCs The View.
A few hours later I was sent a link to an article with details that Hasselbeck is being sued for libel by Susan Hassett, a Cape Cod author who claims that The G-Free Diet is based on her book, Living With Celiac Disease, which she self-published in 2008. She forwarded a copy of this book to Hasselbeck when she heard that the celebrity also suffered with celiac the disease.
Susan Hassett vs Elisabeth Hasselbeck
First time author Hassett has lived with debilitating symptoms from celiac disease for 20 years. She self-published a book about the disease and how she dealt with removing gluten from her own diet with the aim of helping others with celiac disease. Her book contains a large number of gluten-free recipes in addition to lifestyle tips and information about the disease itself.
Hassett is claiming that Hasselbeck’s book not only contains almost identical information in places, it also mirrors the format of her book.
For more information about the lawsuit and plagiarism allegations, visit these articles at Fox News, The View Report and Nutrition Unplugged.
For the record, I have not read Living with Celiac Disease. I have read The G-Free Diet, which I enjoyed with the one criticism that it did not contain adequate referencing, such as footnotes or a bibliography.
Celebrities Accused of Plagiarism
This situation brought to mind a similar accusation in late 2007 against Jessica Seinfeld, wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld and author of Deceptively Delicious, a cookbook containing recipes for hiding healthy foods in meals children enjoy.
Seinfeld was accused of plagiarism by Missy Chase Lepine, whose own book The Sneaky Chef was also released in 2007. In this case, plagiarism accusations centred on both the concept and the recipes. For example, both books included a recipe for chocolate brownies with spinach as an ingredient.
Plagiarism Claims
Plagiarism can be extremely difficult to prove. Criticisms about the quality of Susan Hassett’s writing have been made by some as evidence that Hasselbeck could not have copied her work, although this seems totally irrelevant to me. Others, who dislike the outspoken conservative opinions Hasselbeck expresses on The View, seem keen to assume that she is guilty based on personality alone.
The fact that Hassett has lodged a lawsuit against Hasselbeck may bring some resolution in this particular case, although that will no doubt rely on whether Hassett has the resources to pursue her claim.
When everyday people take on those in power, whether large corporations, celebrities or others with wealth and/or social standing on their side, it often seems unlikely that the less prominent and influential party will receive a fair hearing, particularly in the media.
Do you think it is possible to prove plagiarism? Many authors have faced similar accusations and claims, counterclaims and arguments often only serve to further promote sales for the more prominent individual with no definitive resolution.
Do you think Susan Hassett’s claims are reasonable or do you think that this situation is merely an unfortunate coincidence? I will be watching with interest to see how this lawsuit develops in coming months.
Posted by Susan Whelan
While some print media sources are cutting back on book reviews, the number of book blogs seems to be growing exponentially. What remains uncertain is whether the large number of book reviews and articles available online is having any significant influence on book sales.
Promoting Books Online
In addition to the advertising might of internet booksellers such as Amazon and major booksellers with an online presence such as Barnes & Noble, Borders and others, there are a significant number of book blogs reviewing and promoting books of all genres.
Follow the Reader bloggers Kat Meyer and Charlotte Abbott regularly post articles related to the internet, book promotion and the publishing industry. One recent post records the highlights of a Twitter discussion inspired by the question “Do Twitter and blogs really drive book sales?”
Bloggers Amy (of My Friend Amy) and Lenore (of Presenting Lenore) are currently running a blog sales drive for Beth Kephart’s latest book, Nothing but Ghosts. With prizes on offer for those who forward proof of purchase, they are hoping to boost sales through their online influence. The promotion is due to end on 24th July 2009.
The South by South West Interactive in March 2009 held a session titled New Think for Old Publishers with the intended purpose of discussing how the publishing community was failing and succeeding to embrace and interact with digital media. The success of this forum was the subject of much discussion on book blogs in the following days.
Publishers Active Online
Some publishers seem to have enthusiastically embraced the internet book community. Many publishers have blogs and a Twitter presence, regularly posting updates about new releases, literary prize winners and other topics related to their authors. Several authors also have blogs and Twitter accounts which they use to update and interact with readers.
As an example of online interaction, on the 9 – 10th July Penguin Books Australia (@PenguinBooksAus) ran a Twitter competition to celebrate their 2000th follower. The author of best tweet offering an answer to the question “Why did the penguin cross the road?” will be receive $2000 of Penguin titles. The winner will be announced on Twitter on Monday, 13th July 2009.
Other bookstores, book clubs and publishers hold scheduled Twitter conversations, where interested users can follow the discussion using a specific Twitter hashtag.
Personal Libraries Online
There are a large number of websites that allow users to enter details of their personal library online including reviews and ratings. LibraryThing, GoodReads, Shelfari, BookArmy and others offer a community atmosphere as readers link up with others with similar reading tastes and recommend their favourite books.
Book Lovers Online
While there currently seems to be no way to quantitatively measure the influence of book blogs and social media on book sales, the presence of book lovers and promoters cannot be denied. Personally, I enjoy being part of the online book blog community and regularly pick up books recommended by book bloggers.
Do you search for reviews online before purchasing a book or are your purchases influenced by online reviews or comments? Do you think publishers should be more or less active in online forums and social media networks such as Twitter? Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Posted by Susan Whelan
The book topic to beat all others over the Easter weekend has been the controversy surrounding Amazon’s apparent blocking of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender titles.
The screening has been described by Amazon as a “glitch” in their attempt to screen titles with “adult” content, but it seems that titles that many might consider offensive due to sexual violence or extreme sexual practices have not been excluded. There are also titles, such as D H Lawrence's Lady Chatterley’s Lover that were excluded in one format and not another. The de-ranking of titles seems to have been limited to those featuring pro-GLBT themes and characters.
Book and marketing blogs throughout the blogosphere have featured a variety of theories on the objective and execution of the de-ranking, which prevents de-ranked titles from appearing in search listings and best seller rankings, thereby making it almost impossible for customers to access these books.
Censorship in Bookstores
There are several issues arising from this Amazon debacle. Naturally the first to consider is censorship.
Does a general bookstore, whether one with a shop front or a purely internet entity, have the right to covertly exclude titles in a particular genre? There are plenty of speciality bookstores that limit which genres they sell, and this seems more than reasonable. Is it also acceptable for a general bookstore to censor titles by making it excessively difficult for customers to find titles in a particular genre?
The Power of the Internet and Social Networking
Another significant issue to arise from the weekend is the power of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Twitter book enthusiasts have been particularly active since the news of Amazon’s de-ranking scheme broke on Sunday. For those on Twitter who have somehow managed to miss the buzz, check the #amazonfail tag.
Tweeters and bloggers have roundly condemned the actions of Amazon and it is mystifying to me that such an internet retail giant has remained all but mute. Not only has there been no substantive explanation from Amazon, but they have also remained noticeable by their absence from the discussions invading the internet in the past few days.
More Information on the Amazon De-Ranking Issue
For more detailed accounts of what Amazon has done and the internet community response, visit Jacket Copy, the LA Times book blog by Carolyn Kellogg, or any of a range of book blogs including Kat Meyer’s post at Follow the Reader.
I'd love to hear your comments on what the Amazon customer response should be to this situation and/or your views on retail censorship.
Posted by Susan Whelan
The author of numerous titles including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, Patterson is penning the first and final chapters of the 30 chapter online thriller AirBorne. The remaining chapters are to be written by 28 talented Border’s bookstore cutstomers.
James Patterson’s Free Online Thriller
Available online for free download as a pdf or e-book file, the first chapter of AirBorne is now available through the Airborne link on the Borders website. The initial chapter is available from the 20th March 2009 and the final chapter, also written by Patterson, will be published on the 18th April 2009.
The website includes a profile page for the authors collaborating with Patterson on the project. There is also a competition with a signed copy of the final novel as a prize. Entry to the competition requires recommending Airborne to friends through an online registration form.
Those interested in following the progress of the novel can register through the Airborne website for chapter alerts through RSS feeds and Facebook or Twitter updates.
Finding Writers to Contribute to the Project
The 28 winning writers were selected from Border’s customer entries. Each writer was required to complete, in 250 words or less, the following paragraph “The sky had turned grey as the four men walked nervously past the police car...”
The winning entries can be viewed at the Airborne website. In addition to contributing to the book, each author will receive a signed copy of the complete novel and one will be selected to take part in a “one on one master class” by phone with James Patterson.
James Patterson
Contemporary thriller author James Patterson is responsible for two of the best selling detective thriller series of the past decade – the Alex Cross series and the Women’s Murder Club series. He has received an Edgar award and has numerous number one bestselling titles to his name.
Patterson has several titles due for release in 2009 and information about past and future releases and other projects, including Airborne, can be found at his website.
Posted by Susan Whelan
I love reading books that are not only set somewhere other than my homeland (Australia) but which also share something about the people and culture of that country or place. The action of some novels could be set anywhere, while others capture something unique about the spirit or history of the place in which they are set.
Book Around the World
I have recently discovered the wonderful world of Reading Challenges and since I love a good list almost as much as I love a good book, I have had difficulty restraining myself from signing up to several 2009 challenges.
I was also excited to find a perpetual challenge at Bonnie Jacob’s Book Around the World blog. The format is quite flexible with no specific start or finish date and no rigid list of requirements. Quite simply, Bonnie is encouraging readers to find books set that somehow represent the country in which they are set and to try to read about as many different countries as possible.
Being a Type A personality, I have gone to extremes with this challenge. I found a list of Countries of the World at a CIA fact book site and have loaded the list onto my personal blog. As I read a book for a particular country, I link a review of that book to the list. I am also including suggested titles next to countries as I come across them for future reference.
Read Books and Travel the World
Bonnie’s challenge is a great incentive to try some new authors and learn something about different cultures and people. For me, it is a particularly great challenge as I will be able to recommend any great books that I come across in World Literatures here at Suite.
I would love to receive any recommendations for titles, especially for some of the more obscure locations. Please add a comment onto this blog if you have any suggestions.
Bonnie has a list of recommended books with reviews on the challenge page at her blog. She also hosts a Book around the States challenge for those who want to have some fun with a literary road trip in the US.
Posted by Susan Whelan
For me, bookstores are dangerous places. I wander in to buy one book and come out with an armful. I have absolutely no impulse control when surrounded by books. I honestly could move in to my local Borders store.
To avoid sending my bank account into cardiac arrest, I tend to shop for books online where I can avoid some of the more serious temptations a real-life bookstore offers.
Visiting Second Hand Bookstores
I also love to visit my local second hand bookshops. All those shelves crowded with books. You just never know what you might find hidden on a top shelf or behind a stack of discarded cheap paperbacks. I love holding a book and knowing that it has a history and I love the musty smell of second hand bookstores. Yep, booklovers are strange, strange people.
Buying Second Hand Books on the Internet
While nothing can replace the serendipitous thrill of finding the book you’ve always wanted after an hour of rummaging at a second hand bookstore, sometimes it can be frustrating to spend hours searching for a particular title.
While many online bookstores, including Amazon and Fishpond, have the option of listing second hand books, there are two hub sites that allow booksellers to list their inventory in a communal registry. Readers can then compare the price, condition and shipping costs of a book they are interested in to get the best possible price.
AbeBooks
Abebooks has long been a central marketplace for anyone looking for used books. The search function is comprehensive with four primary search fields (title, author, keyword and ISBN) and several additional search refinements including location, features and bookseller rating. Results can be organised in a variety of ways including by price.
There is a currency converter included with each entry and shipping costs are clearly listed next to the purchase price. Listings are from second hand bookstores around the globe, ensuring that no matter what title you are searching for, the chances of finding it are extremely high.
Half
Half is an eBay company listing books, textbooks, music, movies, games and game systems. Purchases are outright, rather than by auction, and sellers have the same ratings system as for general eBay sellers.
Bargain Book Buys
Whether purchased online or in store, second hand books offer value for money and a way of indulging in buying books without breaking the bank. A visit to a local used books store can be a fun way of spending a rainy Saturday afternoon. Don’t forget that most stores are also interested in purchasing second hand books, so take along any books that you no longer need and trade them in.
Posted by Susan Whelan
I enjoy reading both historical fiction and fictionalised accounts of historical events. Recently, I have been reading a number of works of fiction set during the First or Second World War.
The Reader
I have had The Reader by Bernhard Schlink on my “To Read” list for quite some time and the movie release was the perfect incentive to get started. If I am planning to see a movie based on a book, I much prefer to read the book first.
I enjoyed The Reader and found it a surprisingly approachable and easy read, despite the more serious themes.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
While not yet released in Australia, this film has already screened overseas. Fortunately, I have already read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, so I will be able to see this one at the movies once it finally arrives here Down Under.
The Book Thief
Another novel headed for the big screen, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, has been released as youth and adult fiction in different countries. The movie release is currently targeted for 2010 with fans of this amazing novel avidly waiting announcements of which actors will play the leading roles.
Classic War Fiction
The Diary of Anne Frank or The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank - undoubtedly one of the best known works of war literature for teens and adults.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr - another touching story of a young Jewish girl who is forced to flee Germany during the early 1930s.
Suite Francais and All Our Worldly Goods by Irene Nemirovsky – Nemirovsky died at the age of 39 in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Modern Novels set in World War 1 or 2
Heroes of Tobruk and Angels of Kokoda by David Mulligan
A Rose for the Anzac Boys by Jackie French
A Lucky Child by Thomas Buergenthal
War’s End by Victoria Bowen
The Widow and Her Hero by Thomas Kenneally
The Piano Teacher – Janice Y K Lee
Other Non-Fiction War Books of Interest
Sacred Places by K S Inglis
War Behind the Wire edited by Michael Caulfield
Hitler’s Private Library – Timothy W Ryback
Dambusters by Max Arthur
A Stout Pair of Boots by Peter Stanley
Cruel Conflict by Kathryn Spurling
Posted by Susan Whelan
Recently I’ve been interested in reading more about Australian history and I’ve found some great books about the early convict settlers and the European settlement of Australia.
I just finished reading 1788: The Brutal Truth of the First Fleet (William Heineman, 2008) by David Hill. I was particularly keen to read this, as I enjoyed reading Hill’s The Forgotten Children (Random House, 2007) last year.
1788 gives an account of the preparation, sailing and arrival of the First Fleet carrying convicts from England to Australia. There are lots of details, including the size and capacity of the ships in the fleet, the number of convicts, military and private citizens on the trip, information about the provisions and so on. It is ideal for anyone interested in the background of the fleet and the struggles of the first years of settlement.
For a fiction-style account of the early Australian settlers, Carol Baxter’s Breaking the Bank (Allen & Unwin, 2008) is a well-researched, based on fact narrative about the biggest bank robbery in Australian history. In September 1828, thieves tunnelled through the floor of the Sydney’s Bank of Australia and stole £14,000 (the equivalent of $20 million in today’s currency). The story is very detailed, but is presented as fiction.
The Story of Australia (Five Mile Press, 2008) is ideal for Australian history buffs, as it includes removable replicas of documents such as the official programme to mark the celebrations of the declaration of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1st January 1901, an extract of the list of convicts on the First Fleet and Lord Sydney’s plans for establishing a colony in Australia, and documents and drawings by Matthew Flinders, William Bligh, Eddie Mabo and Joseph Banks.
Out of the three books above, only the last features significant information about the conflict between European settlers and the original indigenous inhabitants of Australia. I would be very interested in receiving recommendations for titles that offer the Aboriginal point of view. I missed seeing the SBS program First Australians and would be interested in hearing opinions of both the show and the accompanying book.
Posted by Susan Whelan
Despite my fondness for searching for recipes online, I admit that I have a few favourite cookbooks that I refer to again and again. There are quite a few others on the shelf that get looked at occasionally, but I recently had a cookbook cleanout and I’ve tried to limit my collection.
I have kept cookbooks I use regularly, those with sentimental value and one or two that I keep for entertainment value only, such as a 1970s book on recipes for entertaining (oh, the decor!) and a gripping cookbook by Audra and Jack Hendrickson called Broccoli & Company: Over 100 Healthy Recipes for broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauifower, collards, kale kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabaga and turnips. (Garden Way Publishing, 1989).
Cookbooks for Australian Cooks
Here are my recommendations for cookbooks that should be in every Australian kitchen:
Fast, Fresh and Fabulous by Janelle Bloom (Random House, 2008). Janelle is a host chef on the TV program Ready, Steady, Cook and her cookbook is full of practical, tasty recipes that are easy to prepare. I have used the book at least weekly since I received it and can highly recommend the cheat’s lasagne, Bailey’s fudge, frozen Cosmopolitan and chocolate fudge brownies amongst others.
New Zealand author Sophie Gray’s destitute gourmet cookbooks, such as Everyday Smart Food for the Family (David Bateman, 2003) and Stunning Food from Small Change (Random House, 2000), are full of inexpensive, easy to prepare meals that look good and taste great.
The Commonsense Cookery Book. This classic Australian cookbook was first published by Angus & Robertson in 1914 and was re-released last year by HarperCollins in a retro-style gift book edition. Full of everyday meal ideas and all the basic recipes you’re too embarrassed to admit that you don’t know how to cook, it’s a great gift for someone moving out of home for the first time or a beginner cook.
Women’s Weekly and Family Circle offer a range of cookbooks covering every possible ingredient and dish including casseroles, cakes and biscuits, low-fat, kids recipes and birthday cakes. These are generally a great place to look for practical recipes that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Keep it Simple and Local
One of the best ways to keep grocery bills down is to be buy local ingredients in season. No matter where you live, buying cookbooks with easy to prepare meals that specifically target your country or area are a great way to not only make meal preparation easier but also cheaper.