2007 NSW Premier's Literary Award winners announced

Listed below with Manly Library holdings information. The book may be on loan, but you can check and place holds through our online catalogue. Holdings information correct as of 30th May 2007.

Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
Peter Carey, Theft: a Love Story: F /CARE

Douglas Stewart Prize for Non Fiction
Robert Hughes, Things I Didn't Know: a Memoir: 920/HUG

Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry
John Tranter, Urban Myths: 210 Poems: 829.1/TRA

Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature
Narelle Oliver, Home: Held at Lanecove, Stanton.

Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature
Ursula Dubosarsky, The Red Shoe: YA /DUBO and YAPB /D

Play Award
Tommy Murphy, Holding the Man (adapted from the book by Timothy Conigrave): The book is held at Chatswood.

Script Award
Tony Ayres, The Home Song Stories: Not held.

Community Relations Commission Award
Shaun Tan, The Arrival: QJF /TAN

Gleebooks Prize for Critical Writing
Gideon Haigh, Asbestos House: the Secret History of James Hardie Industries: 338.76/HAI

UTS Award for New Writing
Tara June Winch, Swallow the Air: F /WINC

Book of the Year
Shaun Tan, The Arrival: QJF /TAN

Special Award
Gerald Murnane: Has written books such as Invisible yet enduring lilacs (A 824.3/MUR) and Velvet waters (F /MURN)

NSW Premier's Translation Prize & PEN Medallion
John Nieuwenhuizen: Translated The book of everything by Guus Kuijer (YAPB /K)

You can view judges comments on the award winners at the Arts NSW website.

Best of British: top 25 authors list announced

Waterstone's bookshop chain in the UK has named 25 British authors it believes will be the brightest stars for the next 25 years. Rather than a 'literary' list, Waterstone's wanted to name those authors that the 'ordinary reader' would choose. The list is reproduced on the Guardian website. It includes authors such as Jasper Fforde (The big over easy; The fourth bear), Julia Golding (Diamond of Drury Lane) and Louise Welsh (Tamburlaine must die; The bullet trick).

June library events

Whatever Club for teenagers
Tues 5th June: 3.30—5.30pm
Library Meeting room
Let’s take the Whatever Club on-line.
We need your in-put.
Enquries call Louise on 9976 1731

Baby Bounce and Rhyme
Wed 6th June: 10.30am – 11am
Especially for the 3 -18 month age group.
Join our very popular sessions to enjoy
sharing songs, rhymes and stories.
Parent participation essential.
Enquiries 9976 1727

Book Discussion Group
Wed 13th June: 6pm
Topic: Magic
Are you stuck for something to read?
Looking for a challenge?
Join us for a discussion about magical books.
RSVP 9976 1732

Meet the Author
Banafsheh (Bonnie) Serov
Wed 20th June: 6pm
More information here
RSVP 9976 1722
Refreshments served

Friendly Aliens of Manly Craft Exhibition
20 June—5 July

Author talk: Banafsheh (Bonnie) Serov

Banafsheh Serov was 8 when revolution erupted in Iran. Four years later, under threat of being caught by Khomeini’s revolutionary guards and in the midst of the Iran-Iraq war, her family set off across the mountains to Turkey.

Bonnie’s story tells of their journey from Iran to Sydney. She has published a book called Sorrow of my native land. Come and meet Bonnie and hear about their struggle to survive and their success here in Australia.

Wednesday 20 June at 6pm at Manly Library
RSVP 9976 1722

Light refreshments served.
There will also be a display of crafts by Friendly Aliens, Manly group.

MS Readathon 2007

This year's MS Readathon runs from the 1st-30th of June. Kids can register online with the help of their parents, and are encourage to read as much as they can for the month. Friends and family can sponsor the participants for either the number of books they read or blocks of time spent reading. Funds raised go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Pulitzer Prizes 2007

The winners have been announced. Visit the official site, or you can download a PDF of the 2007 winners with citations.

The winner for fiction this year was Cormac McCarthy for The Road.

The fiction prize is awarded to an American author who preferably deals with American issues.

Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist 2007

It's certainly awards season.

On April 19th the shortlist for the 2007 Miles Franklin Award was announced. The list can be viewed here with blurbs about the books, which are:

Careless: Deborah Robertson
Carpenteria: Alexis Wright
Dreams of Speaking: Gail Jones
Theft: A Love Story: Peter Carey