CMIS Evaluation Fiction Focus

Esther Hautzig, best known for her wartime survival story The Endless Steppe, has died at the age of 79.

The New York Times obituary is here.

Yea, two more of our own on the winners’ lists of the World Fantasy Awards, announced overnight.

Best novel – Margo Lanagan (Tender Morsels) was in a dead heat with Jeffrey Ford for The Shadow Year.

Best artist – yes, you’ve guessed correctly – the inimitable Shaun Tan.

Congratulations to both.

All winners here.

The Outsiders. Catch 22. My Brother Jack. Three very different books but with a commonality: all were titles given to Markus Zusak at some stage in his reading life, which on reflection, he treasures as great gifts.

The Old Hospital at Fremantle Prison* has probably never been so full** as last night when Markus Zusak gave the annual Leslie Rees Memorial Lecture for Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre. Many celebrated authors and illustrators were among those who came to hear Markus speak about the transforming power of books and his journey as a writer.

At the age of 14, Markus realised for the first time, through the character of Ponyboy, that ‘aloneness’ was OK, that there were others who thought like him, who enjoyed the solitary pursuits of reading and watching films, and that it was possible to be transported to another place and totally believe in the magic of a novel. The Outsiders came into his hands via his school library.

A little later, an English teacher took the risk of exposing his students to great writing, knowing that they were not yet ready, but that some would be later. At 16, Markus was no way near ready for Catch 22, but a few years later he revisited Heller’s novel and saw its genius. He still turns to its brilliance and absurdity after a tough day. Markus paid tribute to teachers and teacher librarians who expose their charges to such excellence, in full knowledge that not all will appreciate it. If not exposed now, when?

Later again, a man as close to Markus as a brother gave him a copy of My Brother Jack, and it was this novel that crystallised for him that it was possible to be a writer. Never discouraged by his own parents, he was horrified that David, the narrator, could be thrown out of the house for bringing a typewriter into the family home, although like David, he was a secret scribbler and a loner.

Three stories. Three gifts.

The Book Thief has now been published in 30 countries. More gifts have been the stories of his own parents’ European childhood that gave him the impetus for the time and place at the core of this novel.  There’s been talk of a film, but nothing firm, and ever-philosophical Markus won’t even mind if it’s a bad one if it does get made. He figures people will say that ‘the book was better’ and therefore buy it, and if it’s a good film, they’ll still read the book. How can he lose?

But there’s a dark side to success. Pressure. Expectations. He’s finding the next novel tough going but if the first pages we were privileged to hear are indicative of what follows, there is another masterful piece of writing on its way.

One of our most personable young writers, Markus charmed the large audience last night with his humour and honesty. And at the end, there was yet another gift, as Jenni Woodruffe, Vice-President of IBBY Australia, presented Markus with his Ena Noel Award for Encouragement.

Markus has spent time this week around the state encouraging young writers as part of the Centre’s Youth Literature Day Programme. And he’ll be back at the Centre on Sunday as part of the Family Open Day, along with Narelle Oliver, Matt Ottley, Jan Ramage, Ellen Hickman and their artwork.

The Leslie Rees Lecture honours the WA writer who won the CBCA’s first award (and only category) in 1946. Deborah Lisson started the evening with a reading from Panic in the Cattle Country and Katy Watson-Kell followed with an extract from Quokka Island.

* The entire prison complex is now a heritage space, with the FCLC housed in the Old Prison Hospital. No ghosts, as the power of literature has created a warm and welcoming space for readers, writers and illustrators to share the joy of reading and writing.

** Too crowded and definitely not the right circumstances to tweet!

The Guardian comments on the phenomenon of tweets to story, as is being used by Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself), Melvin Burgess (@MelvinBurgess) and Philippa Gregory (@elizwoodville):

“I thought I’d start with a line and see where it went,” said Burgess, whose controversial novels have tackled subjects from teenage sex to heroin addiction in the Carnegie medal-winning Junk. “It’s more just to be able to write something under no pressure – for fun – and let it go where it will, rather than worry if it will be acceptable or published.”

It’s WA Week – a time to celebrate all the good things about the West. So let’s tip our hats to our many talented authors and illustrators, whether they still live here or not.

Sandgropers we love to read include Tim Winton and we’ll unapologetically claim Shaun Tan and Anthony Eaton, even though they no longer live on this side of the country. Happily, Matt Ottley has now made the move west.

There’s a great list over at the CBCA WA website.  Too many to name you all, but we thank you for the richness you bring to our young readers – and to us.

Image of kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos manglesii) used under Creative Commons licence.

Sources on the ChildLit listserv who are close to the family have advised that YA author Norma Fox Mazer has passed away following a short illness. Her most recent novel was Missing Girl (2008), but she also collaborated with illustrator Christine Davenier on the delightful picture book Has Anyone Seen My Emily Greene? (2007)

If you are in the vicinity on Tuesday 27 October, don’t miss the opportunity to hear Markus Zusak give the 2009 Leslie Rees Lecture at Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre.

The lecture honours Leslie Rees, who died in 2000, after a lifetime of  journalism, travel writing, drama and children’s literature. He won the  first Children’s Book Council Book of the Year award in 1946 with the picture book, The Story of Karrawingi the Emu, illustrated by Walter Cunningham.

Markus will speak on issues he believes to be important in youth literature.

The first lecture in 2000 was given by Libby Hathorn. Last year’s lecture was delivered by Matt Ottley.

Where: Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre, Old Prison Hospital: cnr Knutsford Street and Hampton Road, Fremantle WA

When: Tuesday 27 October, 7.30pm (drinks on the veranda at 7pm)

RSVP: 20 October 08 9430 6869 or email: freoclc@iinet.net.au

Free, but reservations essential for seating and catering purposes

News is just through from the publisher that Patrick Ness will be touring Australia in 2010. Apart from dates, details are scant but there’s plenty of time and we’ll keep you informed.

Dates

Western Australia:  25^th February – 1^st March

Victoria:  3^rd – 5^th March

Tasmania: 5^th – 6^th March

NSW: 8^th – 10^th March

New Zealand:  11^th – 13^th March

Queensland: 16^th – 19^th March

Listen to what Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie (Half of a Yellow Sun) has to say about growing up with English and American children’s books.

Thought-provoking, indeed. Who is being excluded from our literature?

What better on a long journey, walk or stint on the treadmill than to catch up with informed opinion on the latest in books and reading? The advent of the podcast has revitalised our listening skills – the spoken word is cool again.

Here are some of our favourites. Subscribing is easy (particularly if you use iTunes, which has most of these available) but setting up a feed is also straightforward. It’s hard to go past ABC Radio National’s advice on getting started if you are new to this.

Some podcasts on books, reading and the spoken word

• BBC Radio Book Reviews
• Book Lust with Nancy Pearl
• The Book Show (ABC Radio National)
• Books and Authors (ABC  Fora TV)
• Edinburgh International Book Festival podcast archive
• Garrison Keilor’s The Writer’s Almanac
• The Guardian Books Podcast
• Horn Book Podcast
• Mornings with Margaret Throsby (authors often interviewed) (ABC Radio National)
• The Moth
• NY Times Book Review
• New Yorker Fiction
• The Penguin Podcast
• World Book Club

If there are others you would like to suggest, your comments are welcome.

Image from wikimedia used under Creative Commons licence