Hawthorn Booktalk. 12 November

ROS

FRENCH, Tana
The likeness
FIC FRENC

MORRISON, Toni
A mercy
FIC MORRI


THEORIN, Johan
Echoes from the dead
FIC THEOR

GOWDIE, Cathy
Foxey’s hangout: the story of one family’s vineyard dream
926.3 GOW

ANDREW

LANAGAN, Margo
Tender morsels
FIC LANAG

GWYNNE, Phillip
The build up
FIC GWYNN

PUNG, Alice (ed)
Growing up Asian in Australia
305.895094 GRO

CRAIG

LIVINGSTON, Gordon
Too soon old, too late smart : thirty true things you need to know now
158 LIV

LIVINGSTON, Gordon
And never stop dancing : thirty more true things you need to know now
158 LIV

ANDREWS, Peter
Back from the brink : how Australia's landscape can be saved
631.64 AND

Mao's Last Dancer - the movie

Mao's Last Dancer, the movie

I loved the book and couldn't wait to see the movie and it was fantastic!

I was a little worried about the sheer amount of information from the book which must be left out of a 2 hour film, however Bruce Beresford did a masterful job and although certain aspects of Li Cunxin's biography were either skimmed over or left out, the majority of the story was told beautifully and movingly.

I did feel that the breakup of Li's first marriage was dealt with a little too quickly, and certain aspects of his childhood and his family were skipped entirely, however film can capture a lot more in one picture than could be said in words and the film was wonderful.

The dancing was marvellous, the cinematography beautiful and the actors were brilliant also!

I would definately recommend this movie, it is not just about ballet, but about a mans' desire for freedom of choice. Even though Li Cunxin was forced to defect from China, i never got the sense that he stopped loving his country, simply that he wished for something more which, at that time, could not be found there.

I love that Li Cunxin now makes Melbourne his home and is a stockbroker of all things!!!

I would also suggest taking tissues as I cried in the end, but they were tears of happiness.

Definitely go see this movie!

Reviewed by Justine.

Click here to reserve the book.

CLick here to visit the Mao's Last Dancer website.

Review: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I was very keen to read this book as i thoroughly enjoyed the first two, however i must admit to some slight disappointment.

The Lost Symbol is a slow book, not much seems to happen for some time. The Da Vinci Code was similar but had a much more interesting storyline, in this book i felt like we had gone over this ground one too many times.

However, the history and themes running through the book were fairly interesting, the Freemasons and their (supposed) current actions and beliefs as well as the ever-present symbology kept me interested enough to finish the story.

I must say that the ending was not quite what i had expected, although there was the twist which is a matter of course for Dan Brown, the actual Lost Symbol, whilst i appreciate the subtelty, was a bit of a let down.

Fans will like it i am sure, and i did like it, but i didn't think it up to scratch and i won't be in a hurry to read it again.

Reviewed by Justine

Click here to access the library catalogue.

Click here to visit Dan Brown's website.