Eight new books to take you from rock ‘n' roll to the joy of nature
From The Hague to London's rock and roll scene in the '70s, to the journey we all face towards old age, there are all kinds of places to escape to among this week's new releases. Happy reading!
FICTION PICK OF THE WEEK
Out of the Woods
Gretchen Shirm
Transit Lounge, $34.99
The International Criminal Court has made headlines lately, with warrants issued for Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu, and the recent arrest of Rodrigo Duterte. Gretchen Shirm's Out of the Woods takes us to The Hague in 2000 (just before the court was set up) and follows an Australian woman, Jess, who travels there to serve as secretary to an Australian judge hearing a war crimes trial. As Jess bears witness to proceedings – a military man has been charged with participating in the genocide at Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1995 – the enormity of the crime is revealed, and Jess reflects on guilt and doubt, and the nature of tragedy itself. Meanwhile, she strikes up a friendship with a woman watching the trial from the gallery, and embarks on an awkward, tentative sort of romance with a man who works nearby. Told largely from Jess' perspective, the novel develops an almost dissociative narrative style and becomes a literary study in how we process inhumanity.
The second Martini Club novel from Tess Gerritsen resumes the eventful retirement of a former spy, Maggie Bird. Maggie has decamped to the tiny seaside town of Purity, Maine, where she's joined by others in the intelligence community who've been put out to pasture. They meet for a regular book club – cocktails included – but villains from the espionage game emerged in the first novel to cause havoc, and this time Maggie feels bound to help a neighbour who becomes the prime suspect when a super-rich teenager goes missing near the local lake. Purity police chief Jo Thibodeau isn't thrilled about the Martini Club's involvement, but can't deny their spycraft comes in handy and can crack a case. The Summer Guests is entertaining crime fiction featuring a motley cast of retirees, and I enjoyed the way the book throws off its cosy crime disguise, twisting into dark and deadly conspiracy.
An Invisible Tattoo
Suellen Dainty
Echo, $32.99
A fictional British musical icon, James Bennett, died more than 50 years ago at a midsummer party in 1972. Only one person remains alive who knows the truth of what happened that night – the elderly Ruth Henderson, in Sydney, and she's chosen the ambitious young Kate Griffin to tell her story. Ruth was childhood friends with Adela, James Bennett's wife, and the novel unfolds as a feminist counterpoint to the typical Dionysian rock novel focused on a male star. Shifting between rural Australia, the music scene in the early 1970s and the growing bond between Kate and Ruth as the latter unburdens herself of a secret history in her twilight years, An Invisible Tattoo swirls around the mystery of a celebrity death. It doesn't skimp on sex, drugs or rock 'n' roll, yet its chief appeal lies in the exploration of the sidelined role of women in the music industry, the contours of female friendship and the touching rapport between in-depth interviewer and subject.
Love on the Air
Ash London
Allen & Unwin, $32.99
Popular music journalist and podcaster Ash London has published her debut novel, Love on the Air – a fluffy enemies-to-lovers romance set in the world of prime-time radio. A heartbroken Alex York begins the novel throwing away her career as a radio superstar and retreating to a tropical island, but it isn't long before she's lured back to the airwaves, offered a plum gig as a breakfast radio presenter. She has sworn off dating again, until she meets her hot new boss Leo – and as their working relationship develops a more affectionate side, she must decide whether to be vulnerable enough to love again. This isn't a terribly well-written affair, and Alex is impossibly shallow and brattish at the beginning. She does grow into a slightly more Austen-like heroine, however, and the author hits her comic stride. Expect celebrity melodrama, gossipy anecdote and an insider's eye on eccentric characters from radioland.
NON-FICTION PICK OF THE WEEK
Bloomer
Carol Lefevre
Affirm, $34.99
Carol Lefevre is 70, has embraced grey hair and places herself within the Young Old age bracket. But like many Boomers, she rejects stereotypical assumptions about ageing. Embracing Henri Bergson's conception of an enduring life force that is constantly evolving, she proposes we see this phase as an opportunity to savour the inner life while looking forward to the next adventure made all the more precious by a keener sense of life's transience. Set over the period of one year, she muses on the changes in her garden and in her own life as she considers society's attitudes to ageing, older bodies, loneliness, grief, the meaning of home and the inescapable reality of death. A statistic for youngsters keep in mind: a survey of 300,000 adults found that happiness peaks between 65 and 79. Bloomer is a lyrical celebration of the riches of ageing as well as a reckoning with its confronting truths.
Deborah Frances-White knows a thing or two about the 'us' and 'them' mentality that pervades contemporary culture. As a teenager, her parents joined the cult of the Jehovah's Witnesses and she learnt to regard 'worldly people' as dangerous. Now a comedian and host of The Guilty Feminist podcast, her professional life is spent navigating the minefield of the public square. This thoughtful book examines how these mines might be defused through respectful engagement, critical thinking and self-scrutiny. The current flashpoints she focuses on include how we regard history and historical figures now considered to be repugnant, comedy and free speech, gender non-conformity and cancel culture. 'Let us not get stuck in our 'rightness', or we will be left behind. Let us learn to change minds, starting with our own because then we have at least a chance of changing our world.'
Human/Nature
Jane Rawson
NewSouth, $34.99
Most of her life, Jane Rawson held certain staunch beliefs about nature. Humans are ruining the environment. Introduced species are bad. Biodiversity matters. Wilderness is the real nature. We are on the brink of apocalypse. Writing this book, she says, has made her challenge all these assumptions, especially the division between nature and not-nature. She comes to no neat conclusions, but her informed and probing questions about why we lament the extinction of some species but not others, or how we justify killing for conservation, are like the ripples from a stone tossed into the water. They unsettle, but in a good way, inspiring unexpected hopefulness. The more complex the picture became for Rawson, the wider her circle of compassion. 'I thought discovering more about the natural world would break my heart, but instead I keep finding myself in a state of transcendent joy.'
There are no simple solutions to the rise of misinformation and the erosion of trust in institutions, the media and society as a whole. In these essays, ethicists, journalists, scientists, business leaders and other thinkers offer diverse perspectives on how we might regain community cohesion and the ability to agree to disagree. Instead of the curated truths of 'extreme individualism', says Anglican bishop Michael Stead, we need an acceptance of something larger than ourselves whether it is God or a social compact. The importance of strengthening civil society is a recurring theme, as is learning from the example of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and of being attuned to our own biases and preconceptions, rather than simply defending them. Above all, the message is that doubt can be constructive as well as corrosive, an opportunity to rethink the very foundations of society.
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Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I shouldn't have driven': Ezra Mam reflects on that crash, Leniu, and the lessons learned
'Definitely. We've had a chat, and we're comfortable with each other now,' Mam says. 'The biggest thing is that we addressed it. I feel for Spencer, too, it would not have been an easy thing to deal with, either. 'I really respect him for coming up to me and we can move on from that. If we are ever in the same team, I wouldn't have a problem.' Footage of that Leniu embrace sparked a fresh slew of headlines. Mam has been no stranger to them in his young career. Not all of them have been positive. Few figures in Australian sport have ridden a rollercoaster quite like Mam's past 24 months. In the 2023 grand final, for all but the last 20 minutes, the Brisbane playmaker was the best on ground. However, a late Nathan Cleary masterclass wrenched away not only a premiership ring, but also a Clive Churchill medal. Then there was the Leniu incident, and the media storm that ensued. Yet nothing could prepare him for what was to come. On October 18, 2024, Mam was behind the wheel of his ute when it collided with an Uber at Bardon. A child and a woman suffered minor injuries and while Mam tested positive to cocaine at a roadside drug test, he passed the breathalyser test with no alcohol involved in the incident. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to one count of driving while relevant drug is present in blood, and driving without a licence. He left court with a suspended license and $850 lighter, but without a conviction. The NRL and the Broncos then applied sanctions of their own, totalling fines of $120,000, as well as a nine-game ban. When asked about what he has learnt from the incident, he offered: 'In hindsight, I didn't think about how my actions can impact others. 'Obviously I'm trying my best to learn from that now, I'm here to make better decisions for myself. 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything. I feel very remorseful for everything that happened. 'For me, I was dealing with stuff in the wrong way. I need to learn from that. That's how I grow as a person. Experiences like this, you can take a lot away from it and I feel like I've taken a lot away from this situation to improve myself in many different ways.' In handing down his sentence, Magistrate Mark Nolan chided Mam for taking 'a cocktail of cocaine and other matters that were found in your blood'. It is a comment that has been seized upon in much of the subsequent reporting, and prompted some commentators to conclude the penalties were insufficient. While Mam makes no excuses for his behaviour, he clarified that the only substances detected in his blood outside of cocaine were 'Paracetamol and Ibuprofen', which were administered to him at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. 'I shouldn't have driven,' he says. 'There was cocaine in my system, 0.01mg in my blood, which was from days earlier. That's my biggest regret, I wish I had not done that in the first place.' 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything.' Ezra Mam on the crash incident On legal advice, Mam has not been able to reach out directly to the victims of the accident. 'To be honest, I was more worried about everyone else than myself,' he says when asked if he feared his Broncos contract would be torn up. 'I just wanted to care for others in the accident, how they were first and foremost … 'For me now it's about getting back to who the real Ezra is. Doing the little things on and off the field the right way, continually working on myself to be a better person on and off the field. 'For me, I want that final goal, which is the grand final premiership. And to be a role model, for kids to look up to.' The last comment resonates. The personal growth Mam has undertaken since the incident hasn't been lost on Michael Maguire. The Brisbane coach believes a leader is emerging after witnessing the transformation Mam has undertaken after stints in rehab and on a job site. 'He's found a higher appreciation of what he does, what he's fortunate to do,' Maguire says. 'That's where I've seen him grow, he's actually a really good fella. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island. 'And then there's the community of young men navigating life. He will be able to tell the story of how he has had to deal with adversity in a big way. 'The way he communicates and does things, he has an opportunity to influence many. Influence is the big word I always talk about.' During his sabbatical, Mam undertook labouring work. The experience of concreting, carpentry and Queensland Cup – Mam initially returned to football via Souths Logan – was a humbling one. 'It was a really good experience for myself,' he says. 'I'd wake up at 4:30am to train at 5am and then shoot over to work. I'd work from 6:30-7am to about 3:30-4pm and then be back to the gym. 'For me it was a big couple of months. A bit of carpentry, concreting, bit of everything. I learnt a lot of skills on the way. Coming back into Q Cup, working every day, I'm privileged to be doing what I love doing. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island.' Broncos coach Michael Maguire 'That's what I've been doing since I was a young kid, I'm very fortunate to be back playing and doing what I love to do.' Just four NRL games into Mam's return, Queensland coach Billy Slater called him into his wider squad for Origin II. The decision hasn't gone down well with everyone, particularly those who believe he should have paid a greater penance. Loading 'I'm really self-focused on the moment, looking to better myself,' he says. 'I appreciate that others may be upset. I can't control other people's thoughts, all I can do is hopefully start to rebuild some integrity over time with my actions. If I'm allowed to play, obviously I'll play. 'I was very surprised and grateful for the [Maroons] opportunity and took it with both hands. 'When [Slater] calls, it's hard to deny a chance to go into the Origin squad, you always say yes. It was a good experience for me.' During a career that has spanned just 60 games, Mam has already endured a bumpy ride. The destination remains unknown, but he is excited about what comes next.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘We have no choice': Bar owners drive a levy to make sure the music won't die
In a move that its owners claim is an Australian first, Sooki Lounge in Belgrave will begin charging customers a $1 levy to help cover the costs of public liability insurance the bar has identified as a threat to its ongoing operation as a live music venue. 'We have no choice,' says Stephen Crombie, who runs the venue in the foothills of Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges with his partner, Suzana Pozvek. 'But I don't want to just whack up the booking fee because it needs to be educational. 'I need the customer to understand that's where it's going, and that Oztix [the venue's online ticketing partner] is not gouging and Sooki Lounge is not gouging here.' To that end, he plans to share a video explaining the move on social media in the next two weeks, including his latest premium, a copy of which is already on public display at the bar. 'Insurance' is probably not the first word that springs to mind when you think live music (the words 'sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll', on the other hand …) But for many venue operators who have been struggling to stay afloat since the disruptions wrought by COVID and ongoing cost-of-living pressures, the issue is an absolute chart topper. Loading Multiple inquiries into the state of live music and the festival scene have heard that the soaring cost of public liability insurance is a key factor in a crisis that has plagued the sector for more than four years. The increase for cover on Sooki's 330-capacity venue – which is open four nights a week and is only occasionally sold out – has been massive. Pre-COVID, it cost about $15,000 annually. The latest bill, issued less than a fortnight ago, came in at $61,035. To pay it, Crombie and Pozvek need finance, and that increases the total to about $65,000. It's little wonder then that so many venues have simply given up. According to an industry survey released in late 2023, more than 1300 had closed doors or stopped hosting live music since the pandemic, which is about one-quarter of all the sector's venues in Australia. More recent figures are not available, but anecdotal evidence suggests the situation has not improved, as higher living costs and the trend to lower alcohol consumption on premises continue to blow holes in the business model.
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
‘I shouldn't have driven': Ezra Mam reflects on that crash, Leniu, and the lessons learned
'Definitely. We've had a chat, and we're comfortable with each other now,' Mam says. 'The biggest thing is that we addressed it. I feel for Spencer, too, it would not have been an easy thing to deal with, either. 'I really respect him for coming up to me and we can move on from that. If we are ever in the same team, I wouldn't have a problem.' Footage of that Leniu embrace sparked a fresh slew of headlines. Mam has been no stranger to them in his young career. Not all of them have been positive. Few figures in Australian sport have ridden a rollercoaster quite like Mam's past 24 months. In the 2023 grand final, for all but the last 20 minutes, the Brisbane playmaker was the best on ground. However, a late Nathan Cleary masterclass wrenched away not only a premiership ring, but also a Clive Churchill medal. Then there was the Leniu incident, and the media storm that ensued. Yet nothing could prepare him for what was to come. On October 18, 2024, Mam was behind the wheel of his ute when it collided with an Uber at Bardon. A child and a woman suffered minor injuries and while Mam tested positive to cocaine at a roadside drug test, he passed the breathalyser test with no alcohol involved in the incident. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to one count of driving while relevant drug is present in blood, and driving without a licence. He left court with a suspended license and $850 lighter, but without a conviction. The NRL and the Broncos then applied sanctions of their own, totalling fines of $120,000, as well as a nine-game ban. When asked about what he has learnt from the incident, he offered: 'In hindsight, I didn't think about how my actions can impact others. 'Obviously I'm trying my best to learn from that now, I'm here to make better decisions for myself. 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything. I feel very remorseful for everything that happened. 'For me, I was dealing with stuff in the wrong way. I need to learn from that. That's how I grow as a person. Experiences like this, you can take a lot away from it and I feel like I've taken a lot away from this situation to improve myself in many different ways.' In handing down his sentence, Magistrate Mark Nolan chided Mam for taking 'a cocktail of cocaine and other matters that were found in your blood'. It is a comment that has been seized upon in much of the subsequent reporting, and prompted some commentators to conclude the penalties were insufficient. While Mam makes no excuses for his behaviour, he clarified that the only substances detected in his blood outside of cocaine were 'Paracetamol and Ibuprofen', which were administered to him at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. 'I shouldn't have driven,' he says. 'There was cocaine in my system, 0.01mg in my blood, which was from days earlier. That's my biggest regret, I wish I had not done that in the first place.' 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything.' Ezra Mam on the crash incident On legal advice, Mam has not been able to reach out directly to the victims of the accident. 'To be honest, I was more worried about everyone else than myself,' he says when asked if he feared his Broncos contract would be torn up. 'I just wanted to care for others in the accident, how they were first and foremost … 'For me now it's about getting back to who the real Ezra is. Doing the little things on and off the field the right way, continually working on myself to be a better person on and off the field. 'For me, I want that final goal, which is the grand final premiership. And to be a role model, for kids to look up to.' The last comment resonates. The personal growth Mam has undertaken since the incident hasn't been lost on Michael Maguire. The Brisbane coach believes a leader is emerging after witnessing the transformation Mam has undertaken after stints in rehab and on a job site. 'He's found a higher appreciation of what he does, what he's fortunate to do,' Maguire says. 'That's where I've seen him grow, he's actually a really good fella. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island. 'And then there's the community of young men navigating life. He will be able to tell the story of how he has had to deal with adversity in a big way. 'The way he communicates and does things, he has an opportunity to influence many. Influence is the big word I always talk about.' During his sabbatical, Mam undertook labouring work. The experience of concreting, carpentry and Queensland Cup – Mam initially returned to football via Souths Logan – was a humbling one. 'It was a really good experience for myself,' he says. 'I'd wake up at 4:30am to train at 5am and then shoot over to work. I'd work from 6:30-7am to about 3:30-4pm and then be back to the gym. 'For me it was a big couple of months. A bit of carpentry, concreting, bit of everything. I learnt a lot of skills on the way. Coming back into Q Cup, working every day, I'm privileged to be doing what I love doing. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island.' Broncos coach Michael Maguire 'That's what I've been doing since I was a young kid, I'm very fortunate to be back playing and doing what I love to do.' Just four NRL games into Mam's return, Queensland coach Billy Slater called him into his wider squad for Origin II. The decision hasn't gone down well with everyone, particularly those who believe he should have paid a greater penance. Loading 'I'm really self-focused on the moment, looking to better myself,' he says. 'I appreciate that others may be upset. I can't control other people's thoughts, all I can do is hopefully start to rebuild some integrity over time with my actions. If I'm allowed to play, obviously I'll play. 'I was very surprised and grateful for the [Maroons] opportunity and took it with both hands. 'When [Slater] calls, it's hard to deny a chance to go into the Origin squad, you always say yes. It was a good experience for me.' During a career that has spanned just 60 games, Mam has already endured a bumpy ride. The destination remains unknown, but he is excited about what comes next.
