Goodreading Magazine - News

Man Booker Shortlist Announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The shortlist for the 2010 Man Booker Prize has been announced, with one Australian making the cut. The Booker prize is considered one of the most prestigious of literary awards and the winner will be announced 12 October. The shortlisted authors are:

Parrot and Olivier in America, Peter Carey
Room, Emma Donoghue
In a Strange Room, Damon Galgut
The Finkler Question, Howard Jacobson
The Long Song, Andrea Levy
C, Tom McCarthy

The most notable absence is Christopher Tsiolkas for his novel The Slap which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin and widely expected to make the Booker list.

Victiorian Premier's Literary Award shortlist

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The 2010 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards shortlist has been announced with 34 books, performances and articles making the list. Books that have been nominated include:

The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction

Parrot and Olivier in America, Peter Carey
The Bath Fugues, Brian Castro
Summertime, J.M. Coetzee
Jasper Jones, Craig Silvey
Truth, Peter Temple

The Nettie Palmer Prize for Non-fiction
Popeye Never Told You: Childhood Memories of the War, Rodney Hall
A Swindler’s Progress: Nobles and Convicts in the Age of Liberty, Kirsten McKenzie
Captain Cook Was Here, Maria Nugent
Otherland: A Journey With My Daughter, Maria Tumarkin
Reading by Moonlight: How Books Saved a Life, Brenda Walker

The Young Adult Fiction Prize
Raw Blue, Kirsty Eagar
Swerve, Phillip Gwynne
Beatle Meets Destiny, Gabrielle Williams

Chris Womersley Q&A

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

We have a new Q&A on the website! This month we're featuring Australian author Chris Womersley, who won a 2008 Ned Kelly Award for his novel The Low Road. In the interview, Chris discusses his writing and researching processes as well as his latest book Bereft; a gothic tale of loss, love and revenge.

All of our author interviews can be found under the Online Features tab on the bookmark on left side of the screen.

Davitt Award Winners Announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Davitt Awards for best Australian women's crime writing. This years winners are:

Adult Fiction
Sharp Shooter Marianne Delacourt

True Crime
Lady Killer by Ellen Connolly and Candace Sutton

Childrens & Young Adult Fiction
Liar Justine Larbalestier

Reader's Choice
Forbidden Fruit Kerry Greenwood

Lovesong wins Age Book of the Year

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Alex Miller has won The Age's Book of the Year award, valued at $20 000, for his novel Lovesong. His bestselling novel also won the Fiction prize.

Kate Howarth's Ten Hail Mary's won the Non-Fiction prize, worth $10 000

Google: The Movie

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

A film about the founders of Google is in the works, with the movie to be based on the book Googled: The end of the world as we know it by Ken Auletta. The Google movie is following in the footsteps of The Social Network, a movie about the founder of Facebook, which was based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich.

A S Byatt wins James Tait Black Memorial Prize

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Congratulations to A S Byatt who has won the prestigious James Tait Black Memorial Prize, worth $17 000, for her novel The Children's Book.

The Children's Book was also shortlisted for the Booker prize in 2009.

A Stig Fight

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

In the UK, HarperCollins is being sued by the BBC , in an attempt to stop the publication of a memoir written by Top Gear's mysterious stunt driver The Stig.

Up until now, the identity of The Stig has been a well-kept secret and the BBC believes the memoir breaches contractual and confidentiality agreements.

UK tabloids are reporting that racing driver Ben Collins is The Stig, though no confirmation has been made.

CBCA Book of the Year winners announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards. The winners are:

Older Readers Book of the Year
Jarvis 24 David Metzenthen

Younger Readers Book of the Year
Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool Odo Hirsch

Early Childhood Book of the Year
Bear and Chook by the Sea by Lisa Shanahan and illustrated by Emma Quay

Picture Book of the Year
The Hero of Little Street by Gregory Rogers

Eve Pownall Book of the Year
The Backyard Explorer by Peter Macinnis

Ned Kelly Awards shortlist announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The shortlist for the 2010 Ned Kelly Awards has been announced. The Ned Kelly Awards celebrate Australian crime writing and are presented annually during the Melbourne Writers' Festival. This year's shortlist includes:

True Crime
Peter Doyle, Crooks Like Us
Kathy Marks, Pitcairn: Paradise Lost
Robert M.Kaplan, Medical Murder

Best First Fiction
Andrew Croome, Document Z
Mark Dapin, King of the Cross
Robin Adair, Death and the Running Patterer

Best Fiction
Lenny Bartulin, The Black Russian
Michael Robotham, Bleed For Me
Garry Disher, Wyatt

Oxford Dictionary of English

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The third edition of the Oxford Dictionary of English (which is not the same as the Oxford English Dictionary) has been released in the UK with more than 2000 new entries. Some of the more interesting additions include 'bromance', 'chillax', 'interweb' and 'staycation'.

Shortlist for Ngaio Marsh Award announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The shortlist for New Zealand's inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime has been announced. The award is for the best crime, myster or thriller written by a New Zealand resident. The shortlisted titles are:

Cut and Run by Alex Bosco
Burial by Neil Cross
Containment by Vanda Symon

The winner will be announced 10 September.

Role of Lisbeth Salander finally cast

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Rooney Mara has been confirmed to play the lead character Lisbeth Salander in the Hollywood film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. A relatively unknown name, the 25-year-old actress will star alongside Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist and Robin Wright as Erika Berger.

Queensland Premiers Literary Awards shortlist announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The shortlist for the 2010 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards has been announced. The list includes:

Fiction:
Parrot and Olivier in America Peter Carey
The Bath Fugues Brian Castro
Summertime J M Coetzee
88 Lines About 44 Women Steven Lang
Lovesong Alex Miller

Non-Fiction:
Affection Krissy Kneen
The Birth Wars Mary-Rose MacColl
Grand Obsessions Alisdair McGregor
The Blue Plateau Mark Tredinnick
Reading by Moonlight Brenda Walker

Q&A with Jack Heath

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Check out our Q&A with young adult novelist Jack Heath. Born in Sydney and raised in Canberra, Jack is an ambitious Aussie that will inspire any budding author.

Our blog is a great place to find author interviews and other goodies and is located under the Community tab on our homepage.

Jonathan Franzen on the cover of Time

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Jonathan Franzen is on the cover of this week's Time magazine, making him the first living writer in ten years to do so. The last living author to grace the cover was Stephen King. Franzen has written several fiction and non-fiction books including The Corrections and The Discomfort Zone.

Babar the movie

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The bestselling childrens series 'Babar' by Jean de Brunhoff will soon be reaching the big screen. Film producers Temple Hill (who produced the 'Twilight Saga' films) have started production on the first film Babar: The Adventures of Badou. The series has been around since 1931 and has already been adapted into an animated tv series.

Lili Wilkinson wins the Ena Noel Award

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Lili Wilkinson has won this year's Ena Noel Award for her book Scatterheart. The Ena Noel Award is judged by the International Board on Books for Young People and is awarded to emerging authors or illustrators.

Leviathan to be adapted into stage production

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

John Birmingham's non-fiction book Leviathan: The unauthorised biography of Sydney is being adapted into a stage production by the Sydney Theatre Company. The story takes an in-depth and often dark look at Sydney's immigrant history.

The production, titled The Residents in Leviathan will premiere at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre on 18 September.

Meet the Author: Cassandra Clare

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Check out our interview with author Cassandra Clare. Her young adult series 'The Mortal Instruments' is an international bestseller and she talks to us about her latest book, Clockwork Angel.

Aussie actress lands lead role of Judy Moody movie

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Australian actress Jordana Beatty has landed the role of Judy Moody in the upcoming film Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer. Directing of the film, based on the popular children's series 'Judy Moody' by Megan McDonald, is due to begin in late August.

12-year-old Jordana has also been in Superman Returns and the tv show Legend of the Seeker.

Tea Tree Gully Readers' Festival on this weekend

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The City of Tea Tree Gully Library is launching its inaugural Readers' Festival from 6-7 August.

The Readers’ Festival is a celebration of the joy of reading. Featuring two full days of events for adults, families and young people, there will be live performances, workshops and craft activities. Parents and young children will love seeing Captain Crabclaw’s Crew by Frances Watts and David Legge brought to life, as well as a workshop on Reading Aloud to Children. Publishers and booksellers will also be showcasing their latest great reads and Australian authors.

Click here to see a full program of events.

Skippy Dies to be adapted into a film

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Paul Murray's novel Skippy Dies (longlisted for the 2010 Booker Prize) is being adapted into a film to be written and directed by Oscar award-winning director Neil Jordan. Jordan is also working with Neil Gaiman on a film adaptation of The Graveyard Book, which is due to start filming later this year.

The Age Book of the Year shortlist announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The shortlist for The Age's Book of the Year award has been announced. The prize for each category is $10 000 and the winners will be announced during the Melbourne Writers' Festival. The shortlist includes:

Fiction
•Lovesong by Alex Miller
•Summertime by J.M. Coetzee
•Come Inside by G.L. Osborne
•Parrot And Olivier In America by Peter Carey
•The World Beneath by Cate Kennedy

Non-Fiction
•The Lost Mother: A Story Of Art And Love by Anne Summers
•Listening To Country by Ros Moriarty
•Ten Hail Marys by Kate Howarth
•Flying with Paper Wings by Sandy Jeffs
•Otherland: A Journey With My Daughter by Maria Tumarkin

New on the website

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Check out our interview with Aussie author L A Larkin. She talks about her debut novel, The Genesis Flaw - a fast paced environmental thriller, life working for a climate change consultancy and what it's like to be a writer.

Puffin celebrates 70th birthday with exclusive special editions

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

In the UK, Puffin is publishing six exclusive special editions to celebrate it's 70th anniversary. The books that are being redesigned are James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. The special editions will be redesigned by cultural figures including sculptors, fashion designers and illustrators. Each edition will be worth £100 (AU$175) and only 1000 copies will be released.

CWA Dagger winners announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Swedish author John Theorin has won the 2010 CWA International Dagger for his novel The Darkest Room. The Dagger in the Library went to Arianna Franklin, and Ruth Dudley Edwards won the Non-Fiction Dagger for Aftermath.

Twilight sells over two million in the UK

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Stephenie Meyer's Twilight has sold over two million copies in the UK, making her only the fourth author in the 21st Century to do so. This is quite a feat considering before Twilightmania hit in 2008, only 27 000 copies of Twilight had been sold. J K Rowling, Dan Brown and Mark Haddon are the only other authors to have reached this landmark.

2010 Booker longlist announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The longlist for the 2010 Man Booker Prize has been announced. Two Australian authors, Peter Carey and Christos Tsiolkas, have made the list. The shortlist will be announced 7 September and the winner on 12 October.

Booker Longlist:
Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore
In a Strange Room by Damon Galgut
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
The Long Song by Andrea Levy
C by Tom McCarthy
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
February by Lisa Moore
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Trespass by Rose Tremain
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
The Stars in the Bright Sky by Alan Warner

Daniel Craig confirmed for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remake

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

James Bond star Daniel Craig is set to take on the character Mikael Blomkvist in the Hollywood remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The film, to be released in 2011, will be directed by Fight Club's David Fincher. Currently, there has been no confirmation on who will play Lisbeth Salander, though it's rumoured the role will go to Carey Mulligan.

List of unpublished Kafka work to be released

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

A list of previously unpublished work by Franz Kafka may soon be made public. The items are currently at the centre of a court case in Iran between the National Library of Iran and Eva Hoffe, who inherited the documents. The items are said to contain letters, journals and handwritten manuscripts by Kafka, who wrote many classics including Metamorphosis.

Amazon's e-book sales surpass hardcover sales

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Amazon has announced that sales for e-books have surpassed hardcover sales in the past three months. They say that Amazon customers now buy more Kindle books than hardcover books which is 'astonishing considering we've been selling hardcover books for 15 years and Kindle books for 33 months.'

Amplified Edition of The Pillars of the Earth

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

In the US, an 'Amplified Edition' of Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth is being released for iPads, coinciding with the premiere of a tv miniseries based on the book. The special edition of the e-book will include video clips, music and art from the miniseries. The extra content on the e-book will be updated after each episode of the miniseries to complement the reader's experience.

Doctor Zhivago musical to premiere in Sydney

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The classic book and film Doctor Zhivago is being adapted into a large-scale musical, with the world premiere occuring in Sydney. The musical will star Anthony Warlow and will play an exclusive eight-week engagement at the Lyric Theatre from 11 February.

Seth Grahame-Smith to work with Tim Burton on adaptation

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Seth Grahame-Smith, famous for his monster mash-up books Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, will be writing the script for a movie remake of the 60s tv show 'Dark Shadows'. The classic vampire tv show is being directed by Tim Burton and will star Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins.

Grahame-Smith and Burton are also working together, adapting Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter into a film.

Stephanie Alexander named Victorian of the year

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Australian cookery author Stephanie Alexander has been named Victiorian of the Year for her work with the Kitchen Garden Foundation, which encourages primary school students to create their own vegetable gardens. Her most recent cook book Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden Companion won the 2010 ABIA prize for illustrated book of the year.

2010 Prime Minister's Literary Awards shortlist

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The shortlist for the 2010 Prime Minister's Literary Awards has been announced.

Fiction shortlist
• Summertime, J.M. Coetzee
• The Book of Emmett, Deborah Forster
• The Lake Woman, Alan Gould
• Dog Boy, Eva Hornung
• Ransom, David Malouf
• Lovesong, Alex Miller
• As the Earth turns Silver, Alison Wong

Non-Fiction shortlist
• The Water Dreamers: The Remarkable History of Our Dry Continent, Michael Cathcart
• Strange Places: A Memoir of Mental Illness, Will Elliott
• The Colony: A History of Early Sydney, Grace Karskens
• The Life and Death of Democracy, John Keane
• The Blue Plateau: A Landscape Memoir, Mark Tredinnick
• The Ghost at the Wedding, Shirley Walker

Young Adult Fiction shortlist
• Stolen, Lucy Christopher
• The Winds of Heaven, Judith Clarke
• Confessions of a Liar, Thief and Failed Sex God, Bill Condon
• The Museum of Mary Child, Cassandra Golds
• Swerve, Phillip Gwynne
• Jarvis 24, David Metzenthen
• Beatle meets Destiny, Gabrielle Williams

Children’s Fiction shortlist
• Cicada Summer, Kate Constable
• The Terrible Plop, Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrated by Andrew Joyner
• Just Macbeth, Andy Griffiths and illustrated by Terry Denton
• Mr Chicken goes to Paris, Leigh Hobbs
• Running with the Horses, Alison Lester
• Star Jumps, Lorraine Marwood
• Mannie and the Long Brave Day, Martine Murray and illustrated by Sally Rippin
• Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children, Jen Storer
• Harry and Hopper, Margaret Wild and illustrated by Freya Blackwood

Kitty Kelley's book Oprah to be made into mini series

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Kitty Kelley's biography of Oprah Winfrey, titled Oprah is being made into a TV movie or mini series and will air late next year to coincide with Oprah's retirement after 25 years of hosting her show. Currently, there is no news about who will play the talk show queen.

Frank O'Connor award shortlist announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The shortlist for the Frank O'Connor Award for a collection of short stories has been announced. American authors dominate the list, with only one British author, David Constantine, being nominated. The books that have been shortlisted are: What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us by Laura van den Berg, Burning Bright by Ron Rash, If I Loved You I Would Tell You This by Robin Black, Mattaponi Queen by Belle Boggs, Wild Child by T.C. Boyle and The Shieling by David Constantine

Death of Bunny Munro to be adapted

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Nick Cave's latest novel The Death of Bunny Munro is being adapted into a TV mini-series with actor Ray Winstone keen to play the lead role. The novel originally began as a screenplay that was never made.

There is currently no date on when the mini-series will air.

Vampire Academy to be made into movie

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Richelle Mead's bestselling young adult series 'Vampire Academy' will soon be reaching the big screen. Producers Michael Preger and Don Murphy plan to make the film more accessible for both sexes and not just for the girls.

There are currently five novels in the series: Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise and Spirit Bound.

Production Begins on The Invention of Hugo Cabret

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Production has begun in London on a film adaptation of Brian Selznick's bestselling children's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The film is being directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Academy Award winning actor Ben Kingsley as well as Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield and Chloe Moretz.

The film is scheduled for release in Australia in January 2012.

Beryl Bainbridge dies

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Acclaimed British author Beryl Bainbridge has died at the age of 75. Bainbridge has written over 20 novels, has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize five times and has won the Whitbread Literary Prize twice. Her works include A Quiet Life, Master Georgie, According to Queenie and A Winter Garden.

Barbara Demick wins Samuel Johnson Prize

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Congratulations to Barbara Demick who has won the 2010 Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction. Her book Nothing to Envy explores the lives of six North Korean citizens and gives insight into what it's like to live in a totalitarian country. The prize is worth AU$36 000.

I Kill released in Australia

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

The internationally bestselling novel I Kill by Giorgio Faletti has been released in Australia. I Kill is a suspenseful and harrowing thriller about an enigmatic killer on the loose in Monte Carlo and has sold over five million copies worldwide.

2010 ABIA winners announced

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Last night the 2010 Australian Book Industry Awards were held in Sydney. Here is a list of some of the winners:

Book of the Year: Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey.

Biography of the Year: Bart: My Life by Bart Cummings.

Newcomer of the Year: Anna Goldsworthy for Paino Lessons.

Book of the Year for Younger Children: Baby Wombat's Week by Jacki French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley.

General Fiction Book of the Year: Truth by Peter Temple.

General Non-Fiction Book of the Year: Australians: Origins to Eureka by Thomas Kenneally.

Illustrated Book of the Year: Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden Companion by Stephanie Alexander.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows preview released

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Dust off your Gryffindor scarves and polish your wands because the first full-length trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has been released. The movie has been split into two parts with the first to be released later this year and the second mid 2011.

Click here to see the preview.

The Social Network trailer now available

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

A teaser trailer has just been released for the film The Social Network which is based on the book The Accidental Billionares by Ben Mezrich. Click here to watch the trailer.

The film and book are about the rise of Facebook and its founders Mark Zuckerberg and Sean Parker. Mezrich's previous book Bringing Down the House, about a group of college students who scam casinos in Las Vegas, has also been made into a film.

John Barrowman turns his talents to children's writing

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

John Barrowman, an actor famous for playing Captain Jack Harkness in sci fi shows Torchwood and Doctor Who, has announced he is writing a children's book. The novel will be sci-fi/fantasy and about a 13-year-old boy and his twin sister.

The book will be co-written with his sister Carole who also helped him write his autobiographies Anything Goes andI Am What I Am.

Gaiman wins Carnegie Medal, Blackwood wins Greenaway Medal

2010-09-08T23:47:17+10:00

Neil Gaiman has won the 2010 Carnegie Medal for The Graveyard Book. The Carnegie Medal is considered to be one of the world's most prestigious awards for childrens writing.

Also, Australian Freya Blackwood has won the 2010 Kate Greenaway Medal for illustrating Harry and Hopper by Margaret Wild.