What we're reading: Lucashenko, Penelope & Boynton
Each week our amazing staff bring you a sample of the books or music they're immersed in.
Rosalind McClintock is reading Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
I was lucky enough to see Melissa Lucashenko in conversation with David Marr at the BookPeople conference. Lucashenko came across as fiercely intelligent, generous and funny, that along with the passages she read aloud from her new book Edenglassie prompted me to hunt down a copy. It did not disappoint, it is all these things and more.
Set across two time periods of 1854–5 and 2024, in Magandjin-Brisbane, it is a story of love, loss and fighting for independence. It starts with the hope that the Dagai (white people) are leaving, but it is soon apparent that they are not. The characters, are so well developed their actions and words feel like that of a loved one. Having grown up in the area, I learned a lot more about the history both of the place and the people.
Katey Bellew is reading The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope
I've been on an historical fantasy kick lately and this has to be my favourite book in the genre yet. Set in 1920s Washington, it evokes all the Roaring Twenties atmosphere you'd expect, with a wonderfully dynamic cast of characters I've fallen head over heels in love with.
The blend of fantasy with a heist plot is so rompy I just couldn't put this book down! It's magical and mysterious in all the best ways. An underrated gem.
Dani Solomon is reading Woo Hoo! You're Doing Great! by Sandra Boynton
I was so excited to see that one of my top 10 favourite authors of all time has released a new book. I made the mistake of reading it at work behind the front counter when I was feeling a bit emotionally vulnerable and underconfident in my ability to do my job and I teared up a bit. Which is quite a thing when you're reading a bright and cheerful book with a simply drawn picture of a chicken emphatically shouting out 'Woo hoo! You're doing great!' on the cover.
This wonderful chicken continues this level of enthusiastic encouragement all throughout the book, but his enthusiasm is a little too much for one bear who is awoken from his nap and is understandably a little grumpy. Our lovely chicken is very sad that he made a mistake in how he tried to help his friend, but a little mouse assures him mistakes are ok, and reminds him that while encouraging your friends and cheering them on and up is very nice, its also just as important to remember to say these things to yourself as well.
I would strongly encourage people to consider this book for their kids, but also for any of their grown up friends who, like our overenthusiastic chicken's friends, might be feeling a little underprepared, overextended and like everything is just 'Too Much'. I can confirm from experience that gifting Sandra Boynton to such a person, no matter how big and serious their work may be really does cheer them up.
