Gift a book this Christmas

The best way to see happy faces this Christmas is to give books as presents. But how do you know which books to buy? The answer is.....ask a Librarian!

At Balwyn Library this 3rd December at 7.30pm library staff will talk about good books to give this Christmas. We will talk about the biggest and most beautiful books to buy, as well as buying for the difficult reader.

A large range of new titles will be available for lending or buying – Readings Bookshop will be in attendance and will be offering a 10% discount on all books purchased on the night.

Admission is free, however bookings are essential.

When: Wednesday 3 December at 7.30pm
Where: Balwyn Library, 336 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn
Phone: 9278 4666 or book online

Brilliant books get awards

David Malouf has won the Australia-Asia Literary prize for his book The Complete Stories. The 31 stories that make up this book are imaginative, evocative and are a fine example of good Australian writing. Short stories can restrict an author immensely but Malouf is an expert; part philosopher, part poet he snares you in his world in just a few pages.

Search the library catalogue for a copy today.

Christopher Koch's The Memory Room has won the Waverley Library Award for Literature. This award is often given to works of non-fiction, however Koch's deep research into espionage impressed the judges so much that he beat the other 165 entries. The memory room explores the development of a Australian spy called Vincent Austin from his orphaned childhood to a master secret-keeper.

Click here to find it on the library catalogue.

The boat by first time author Nam Le has won the Dylan Thomas Prize. This prize is given to a writer under 30 years of age and it was established to encourage encourage and celebrate young creative authors. The boat is another collection of short stories and one of the judges Peter Florence said it "demonstrated a rare brilliance that is breathtaking both in the scope of its subject matter and the quality of its writing."
Find it on the library catalogue today.

Final Booktalk for 2008

The final Booktalk for 2008 will be at Kew Library on the 26th November at 2pm.

Join the library staff as they review some exciting new books and look back on their treasured favourites. Featured books will be available for loan, and refreshments will be served.

This session is free and bookings are not required.

When: Wednesday 26 November at 2pm
Where: Kew Library, Cnr Cotham Road & Civic Drive, Kew
Phone: 9278 4666 for enquiries

Booktalks dates and times for 2009 are as follows:

Ashburton Library
Wednesdays at 11am
11 February
29 April
12 August
28 October

Balwyn Library
Mondays at 11am
23 February
18 May
20 July
12 October

Hawthorn Library
Thursdays at 2pm
12 March
4 June
27 August
12 November

Kew Library
Wednesdays at 2pm
25 March
24 June
16 September
25 November

Give a book for Christmas this year!

Do you struggle to get all your Christmas shopping done on time? Do you panic over buying appropriate gifts for a range of people? Are you making a list of things you want for Christmas?

Well, stop panicking. Just come along to Balwyn Library on the 3rd of December and hear library staff talk about books to give this Christmas.

A large range of new titles will be available for lending or buying – Readings Bookshop will be in attendance and will be offering a 10% discount on all books purchased on the night.

Admission is free, however bookings are essential.

When: Wednesday 3 December at 7.30pm
Where: Balwyn Library, 336 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn
Phone: 9278 4666 or book online

Walkleys Award

The Walkleys are awarded to Australian journalists across many different media including literature and this year some very good books have been short listed. The winner will be announced on the 27 November.


Vietnam: The Australian War by Paul Ham.

This is the story of the Australian troops in The Vietnam War which uses accounts from soldiers, politicians, aid workers, entertainers and Vietnamese people. Paul Ham has tried to shed light on the soldiers perspectives and how, on their return to Australia, their own country treated them indifferently.


The Tall Man by Chloe Hooper.

On Palm Island Cameron Doomadgee swore at a policeman and sometime later was dead in a prison cell with injuries consistent with a fall. The policeman was Christopher Hurley who, through a coronial inquest and an independent review, was acquitted of any crime. The Tall Man is the story of this controversial case and is a compelling read for anyone interested in Australian race politics.


American Journeys by Don Watson.

This book takes you closer to real America than any travel guide. Don Watson travels by train through America and informally chats with everyday people he meets. He discovers a nation of bravado and self-assurance but paradoxically also one of violence and insecurity. His writing is elegant and his journey is captivating.


Visit the Library Catalogue to reserve any of these titles.

Meet the author of Parentonomics

Joshua Gans is the author of Parentonomics: an Economist Dad's parenting experiences and you can meet him tonight at Kew Library. He is an economic Professor and therefore uses his economic knowledge as well as game theory to help with parenting. He will talk about how to cope with fussy eaters, toilet training and the tooth fairy.

By laying bare some of the hidden economies of parenting, his book may help you stay one step ahead of your children. Parenting will never be the same!

Admission is free, however bookings are essential.

When: Thursday 13 November 2008 at 7.30pm - that's tonight!
Where: Kew Library, Cnr Cotham Road & Civic Drive, Kew
Phone: 9278 4666 or book online

Books on Obama.

Do you want to get to know the next American president a little better? We have a couple of books you might be interested in.

Dreams from my father : a story of race and inheritance by Barack Obama is first book of memoirs and he talks about race issues, identity and community in America. This is a very personal book and Obama relates stories about his family and from his childhood. It's a good place to start some reading on Obama.

In The Audacity of Hope : thoughts on reclaiming the American dream, Obama explores the faith and values that have helped him to develop as a leader. He talks about the current political landscape and how politicians have lost touch with the people.

For a more balanced view you might read Obama : from promise to power by David Mendell. Mendell is a journalist and in this book he talks convincingly about Obama’s charisma, his passionate ambition as he headed towards the Whitehouse and his personal history.

Finally, Barack Obama : a biography by Joann F. Price is specifically written for high school students and those doing further research. It covers everything from Obama’s family history to his campaign for presidency. It is detailed but accessible and will be very handy for students and others wanting a in depth biography of Barack Obama.

To find these books just type Obama into the catalogue keyword search and you will get several hits.

Man Booker Prize Book Review

The White Tiger
by Aravind Adiga


The surprise winner of the 2008 Man Booker Prize is first-time novelist, Aravind Adiga.

At 33 he is the one of the youngest writers to win and also the fourth Indian-born winner, along with Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy and Kiran Desai.

He was born in Madras in 1974, raised partly in Australia, and now lives in Mumbai. A journalist, he was educated at the universities of Oxford and Columbia.

The White Tiger takes the form of seven letters written by a Bangalore businessman, Balram Halwai to Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Prime Minister. He wants to describe his country to Wen Jiabao who is soon to visit India.

Balram, the ‘white tiger’ of the title, is both antihero and a most entertaining narrator. Born the son of an impoverished rural rickshaw driver, by lying, betraying and using his sharp intelligence he claws his way from poverty to the heights of entrepreneurial success.

The book is a compelling story of modern India, an “India of Light and an India of Darkness”. In Balram’s own words “in the old days there were 1,000 castes in India. These days, there are just two castes: Men with Big Bellies, and Men with Small Bellies”.

Although Balram is a thoroughly unpleasant villain, it is impossible not to feel sympathy with him. He tells his story with wit and a sardonic humour.

Selecting a winner this year was a difficult task for the Man Booker judges, and The White Tiger was not a unanimous choice. Michael Portillo, chair of the judges, said that “here was a book on the cutting edge, dealing with a different aspect of India. What set it apart was its originality. The feeling was that this was new territory”.

I enjoyed this novel immensely; it’s a real page-turner, a book to read in one session. Adiga has a most original voice and brilliantly paints this unforgettable story.

This review was written by Julie Best from Acquisitions and Cataloguing at Hawthorn Library