Griffin Theatre giveaway
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No Nukes!
As all book lovers know, it is almost impossible to divest oneself of unwanted books. Often, you can’t give them away and second-hand dealers need to be very selective in their buying, lest they end up with, oh I don't know - a large shed in the Blue Mountains chock-a-block with stock? In England a charity has been started called BookBank. It gives away books at food banks.
Now a registered charity, Bookbank’s founder, writer and critic, Emily Rhodes said,“Nobody should have to choose whether to ‘feed or read’...Books are a powerful tool not just to improve literacy, but also to build relationships and create communities.” Andrew O’Hagan (Caledonian Road) is a patron of the new charity. In Sydney we have the wonderful Footpath Library which gives free books to the homeless, but I think there’s room for a Bookbank at our food banks here. And of course, it would be another outlet for book donations from individuals as well as publishers and libraries.
In Britain, there’s a loose activist organisation called Fossil Free Books (FFB) which pressured Baillie Gifford, a company which has sponsored a major literary prize as well as the Hay and Edinburgh literary festivals to divest all their interests in fossil fuels (only 2% of it’s managed assets). With the pressure spearheaded by Greta Thunberg, the company responded by withdrawing all support for Literary festivals. Personally I think much needs to be done about sustainability in the publishing and book industry, but this is surely an own goal.
A recommendation to close on: If you're after an absorbing, intelligent, emotional, beautifully written historical novel, full of wisdom and keen observations, go no further than Claire Messud's This Strange Eventful History. Based on Messud's own family story, it follows three generations as they move around the world from Algeriaand Salonica to the US, Canada and Sydney. Stunning!
See you in the shop.
Morgan
Papunya Tula Artists Showcase #2
Visitors to the Glebe shop now have the opportunity to view the second artwork in our series featuring Papunya Tula Artists in the Gleebooks cafe courtesy of Utopia Art Sydney. In this work Adrian Jurra Tjungurrayi, son of the renowned artist Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri, employs a complex scheme of dotted lines and interlocking shapes to refer to Yunala, a creek and rockhole site, west of Kiwirrkura in Western Australia and the traditional lore associated with this area. More details about the artwork and contact details for the gallery are available in the cafe throughout June.
Griffin Theatre Company Double Pass Giveaway
The debut play of Mununjali poet Ellen van Neerven, swim is delicate and tough, honest and achingly beautiful—musing on everything from the sovereignty of water to gender identity and the binding strength of culture and family. Brought to life by some of Australia’s leading First Nations creatives, Griffin Theatre Company is proud to premiere this work on Gadigal Land at Carriageworks this July. To win one double pass to swim on Thursday 11 July, email winners@griffintheatre.com.au with SWIM x GLEEBOOKS in the subject line to be in with a chance!
June Events
Full events programme at gleebooks.com.au/events
Tess Scholfield-Peters – Dear Mutzi Wednesday 26th June - In conversation with Michaela Kalowski
Tess Scholfield-Peters tells the story of her grandfather. Harry Peters — known to his family as Mutzi — was born in Berlin in 1920. As a teenager, he fled Nazi Germany and landed in rural Australia. Harry’s parents, Max and Edith, stayed and perished in Nazi camps. This is a story, of forced migration, assimilation, loss, resilience and determination despite the odds.
Alice Robinson – If You Go Thursday 27th June – In conversation with James Bradley
When Esther wakes with a breathing tube down her throat, she has no idea where she is or how she got there. In terrible physical condition, Esther is tended to by Grace, the only other person in the building.
A moving, captivating and unforgettable novel about hope and grief and family, which explores what we inherit and what we pass down.
Meanjin 83.2 Winter 2024 FREE EVENT Wednesday 3rd July
Our free series of Meanjin launch conversations continue! This month join editor Esther Anatolitis in conversation with constitutional lawyers Elisa Arcioni and Emily Crawford to discuss ‘Not one constitution but three constitutions in a trench coat’: their essay in Meanjin 83.2 Winter 2024.
Jim Moginie – The Silver River -Wednesday 10th July - In conversation with Adam Gibson
Jim Moginie, a founding member of legendary band Midnight Oil, discusses his moving and inspiring memoir and performs some tunes.
The Silver River is at once a lyrical coming-of-age story, a heart-warming family chronicle and a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Australian music.
Launches and Free Events
tributaries: new writing from WSRC Monday 24th June
Hedgehogs, Killing and Kindness and After Eating Thursday 4th July – in conversation with Sophie Chao and Blanche Verlie, hosted by Jennifer Biddle
Alexandre Lefebvre – Liberalism as a Way of Life Thursday 11th July – in conversation with Vafa Ghazavi
