[ebooktalk] Re: BOOKER BOOKS was Re: Re: Alison's books.
- From: "Elaine Harris \(Rivendell\)" <elaineharris@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 19:35:46 +1000
Yes, Steve, I think you're right except the obsession with Kelly and clan -
and especially him - preceded more modern books and films. I think he was
even the subject of the first or one of the first silent films here.
Even otherwise sensible academics are quite myopic about him.
And, yes, there is indeed a Kelly tourist experience in, I think, Beechworth
in Victoria where they lived. As for Kelly artefacts coming up for auction.
Sadly, there were some horrendous injustices and I daresay even they were
unfairly treated but they were also neither saintly nor kind and I am now
doubtlessly biased in the opposite direction.
I didn't know that about Ireland and the Titanic, though. Wonderful stuff.
I do recall a campaign to re-name a Canberra street Nelson Mandela Drive
after his release and the A.N.C. victory but suspect it wasn't successful.
Most of the Canberra suburbs are named after former prime ministers or other
politicians and there is a place in New South Wales called Byron Bay where
all the streets are named after prominent poets or literary figures. The sad
thing is that so many visitors don't realise it. Sigh!
Have a wonderful Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Elaine
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Steven Bingham
Sent: Wednesday, 5 June 2013 6:27 PM
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: BOOKER BOOKS was Re: Re: Alison's books.
Elaine
I was hearing about the Australian obsession and sanctification of the Kelly
Gang from an Australian friend. They, and particularly Kelly himself, seem
to have become almost national symbols of some kind. The subject came up
because I had been talking about my recent visit to Belfast and the way that
the city has become obsessed with the Titanic. They have even renamed the
rejuvenated shipbuilding area "The Titanic Quarter." I think it started as a
way to capitalise on the film and they started by exploiting the fact that
the ship was built in Belfast but now it has become more than money. I think
something similar may have gone on with the Kelly Gang. Following the film
people looked for ways to make a bit of extra cash but the events and
personalities have caught the imagination in a big way and an obsession is
born.
Warning to writers be careful about the subject you pick for your next book.
If it gets turned into a film it could become the next local obsession.
Steve
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Elaine Harris (Rivendell)
Sent: 05 June 2013 03:53
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: BOOKER BOOKS was Re: Re: Alison's books.
Must confess I could be had up in front of the House of UnAustralian
activities for this but am bored to death by the sanctification of the Kelly
Gang here; revered would be an understatement, so a book on them holds no
interest. Australian writer, Russell Braddon, endeared himself to me when he
described them as "A bunch of thugs".
Russell Braddon's novel, "Endplay", is a delicious little mystery and his
account of life in Changi and on the Thai-Burma Railway, "The Naked Island"
pulls no punches. He was captured by the Japanese on his 21st birthday.
Take care,
Elaine
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Trish Talbot
Sent: Wednesday, 5 June 2013 5:18 AM
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: BOOKER BOOKS was Re: Re: Alison's books.
Istarted "Oscar and Lucinda" many years ago. I think I was going on
holiday or something, and was finding it very slow anyway, so I gave up on
it. I had "The Kelly Gang" from the local library a while ago, but also
abandonned that, partly because I heard Peter Carey interviewed on the radio
and he admitted that Ned Kelly didn't have a daughter, and also because I
got bored with the style of his writing.
Trish.
----- Original Message -----
From: Shell <mailto:shell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 6:43 PM
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: BOOKER BOOKS was Re: Re: Alison's books.
Clare, I also had to give up on Jack Maggs and another one he wrote, which I
forget now. I did, however, really enjoy the Kelly Gang, which I borrowed
from Calibre many years ago on cassette.
I find him quite hard going though.
Shell.
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Clare Gailans" <cgailans@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 12:17 PM
To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: BOOKER BOOKS was Re: Re: Alison's books.
> Ian, I have been recommended before to read Oscar and Lucinda. The trouble
> is, I hated his Jack Maggs and couldn't bring myself to read the Kelly
Gang
> when the library sent it to Voldi in braille. I sometimes like Booker
books
> but sometimes loathe them, so I don't really make a point of reading them,
> not at the appropriate time anyway. Clare
>
>
>
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