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“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” At moments this week, the opening line of George Orwell’s 1984 felt shiveringly apt, as stock markets plunged and plagues of dead fish washed up on my favourite beach. So, it was sweet relief to immerse myself in Carol Lefevre’s life-affirming Friday essay, which prescribes gardens as an antidote to existential dread.
When filmmaker and artist Derek Jarman was diagnosed HIV positive, he responded by establishing a garden in inhospitable soil, near a nuclear power station. Irish writer Christine Breen, during her cancer treatment, found “safety” in the retreat of her garden. And as Penelope Lively wrote of gardening in her 80s: “You garden today for tomorrow.”
Once you're done with your garden, you may like to join Dennis Altman on his mission to understand the chaos. He's reviewed progressive sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild’s book on the “left behind” Trump voters of Pikesville, Kentucky, in America’s whitest, second-poorest congressional district. Hochschild’s earlier book on the emotions motivating poor white voters was named by the New York Times as one of six books to help explain Trump’s first win – this book sheds light on his second victory.
Sad news in the literary world this week, too: we lost Kerry Greenwood, creator of the much-loved Phryne Fisher, who she described as James Bond with “fewer product endorsements and a better class of lovers”. Sue Turnbull fondly farewells her friend, who leaves us a treasure trove of entertaining "cosy crime", imbued with her passion for social justice.
Until next time,
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Jo Case
Deputy editor, Books & Ideas
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Carol Lefevre, University of Adelaide
As cost-of-living soars, wars rage and stock markets fluctuate, we could all use a respite. The natural world has been proven to have a healing effect.
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Dennis Altman, La Trobe University
What is the gut-level appeal that saw Trump win two elections? One progressive researcher spent six years in America’s whitest, second-poorest district to find out.
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Sue Turnbull, University of Wollongong
Kerry Greenwood’s novels are provocations to care about social justice. Her legacy is a wealth of entertainment with a heart.
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Ned Curthoys, The University of Western Australia
Israeli-Jewish historian Ilan Pappe, an advocate of Palestinian rights, looks at the pro-Israel lobby in the US and UK – and its influence on the war in Gaza.
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Chris Murray, Monash University
Twist is a richly allusive novel, with echoes of Herman Melville, Joseph Conrad and Philip Roth.
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Derya Iner, Charles Sturt University
Global tensions have put pressure on universities to adopt politicised definitions of antisemitism and Islamophobia. Dehumanisation is a more inclusive alternative.
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More great reading
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Rachel Stevens, Australian Catholic University
If we are willing to adapt and innovate – and build new houses – high immigration and housing affordability can co-exist.
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Emily Rowe, King's College London
The show’s satire of super-wealth is framed through many of Sheakeapre’s great tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear.
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Charles Kemp, The University of Melbourne; Ekaterina Vylomova, The University of Melbourne; Temuulen Khishigsuren, The University of Melbourne; Terry Regier, University of California, Berkeley
Can you guess which languages score the highest for terms relating to ‘love’, ‘death’, ‘canoe’ or ‘sheep’? We made a tool to help you explore our extensive dataset.
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Emily Hauser, University of Exeter
Odysseus has returned home but his biggest challenge is still ahead of him, winning back the woman he loves.
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