Kathryn's Inbox

What does it mean to hope? That is the core theme of a series of conversations between naturalist Jane Goodall, and Douglas Abrams, author of The Book of Joy. The conversations cover Goodall's extraordinary career and her four reasons to hope-- The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People and The Indomitable Human Spirit. While Goodall has her concerns about climate change, she asserts that we still have reason to hope and, therefore, to keep taking steps to create a better future.  Short and powerful, this is a call to arms to find a way to keep moving, to find ways not to give up and to keep doing what one can to fight for our future. It is not a book of doom and gloom or political opinions delivered in the most inconvenient and obnoxious way possible. It is not about making fun of politicians or beliefs. It is about hope. It is about doing what we can with that hope. It is about the power that very hope holds. And the message feels so much tru

The third and, possibly, final volume of beloved Australian author Helen Garner's diaries spans from 1995 to 1998. These are the years following the publication of Garner's controversial work The First Stone and her move to Sydney with her husband, fellow Australian author Murray Bail, known in her diary entries as V. The diary entries are undated and often short, and chronicle the author's day to day life and musings. And what a life that is. It is a difficult time for Garner, both personally and professionally. The backlash against The First Stone is huge and she no longer feels welcome in her beloved hometown of Melbourne, hence the move to Sydney. After years of being Bail's mistress, she is now his wife, but the marriage is neither equal, nor happy, at least from the perspective of Garner's diary entries.  Although there is nothing new or unique about author's publishing their diaries--Anais Nin did so to great acclaim, with her diaries becoming more famo

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Best Foot Forward is a warm, clever and often funny memoir of a man who fulfilled his dreams of becoming a successful comedian. Adam Hills recounts how he grew up with a loving family--his parents and a younger brother--in the Sutherland Shire, which is in the southern suburbs of Sydney and how as a nineteen year old university student he made the decision that he was going to break in to comedy. Oh, and Hills was also born without a right foot, which, as fans will know, he doesn't shy away from or treat it like it's a source of shame. It is a part of his story and he treats it as such. (Hence the title of the book.)  I absolutely enjoyed reading this memoir, in particular his recollections was trying to break in to the tough stand up comedy circuit in Sydney and later in Edinburgh. Where this memoir really shines is in the level of warmth that Hills brings to each of his adventures. It was interesting, for example, to read about some of the stunts that he took part of while o

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Love means never having to say you're sorry ... or at least that is the most ridiculous line from an otherwise solidly written short novella that sold a phenomenal number of copies when it was first released in 1970. Based on a screenplay, the book was released at the same time as the film (staring a perfectly cast Ryan O'Neil and Ali McGraw,) and both saw an enormous amount of success thanks to the theme of star crossed lovers who conquer all ... with a heartbreaking twist. Oliver Barrett IV is a spoiled rich jock and Harvard student who wants for nothing except to be loved by his parents. Into his life comes Jenny, a music student from a neighbouring university who is his opposite in every way ... except for the fact that both are instantly drawn to one another. Against the wishes of Oliver's parents the pair marry, he gets disinherited and she has to give up her music career to support him through university. Then Jenny becomes gravely ill. And that's basically it. T

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