At a time when politics have dominated the national conversation in a way that can often feel overwhelming, the best books of 2016 so far have provided escapism and comfort. They’ve shown us that empathy is a great virtue, and that art can transcend the unhappiness of the everyday. These 25 books are all highly recommended.
From Rugby League players trying to improve their game, to Hollywood superstars and the depressed sons of media moguls, Scientology has recruited its share of famous Australians. Less known is that Australia was the first place to ban Scientology, or that Scientology spies helped expose the Chelmsford Deep Sleep Scandal. Numerous Australians have held senior posts in the organisation only to fall foul of the top brass and lose their families as a result.
Based on years of interviews and research, Walkley Award-winning journalist Steve Cannane tells for the first time the fascinating story of Australia’s vital involvement with this powerful, secretive and punitive cult.
Click here to book this Event at Balmain Library-Bookings
10 books to read that became a movie:
Carol Patricia Highsmith
The Revenant Michael Punke
The Martian Andy Weir
The Dressmaker Rosalie Ham
Room Emma Donahue
The Danish Girl David Ebershoff
Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien
The Book Thief Markus Zusak
My Own Story Emmaline Pankhurst
How to be Single Liz Tuccillo
Click here to reserve the book or to check the Catalogue for availability.
Well known and award winning Canadian author Margaret Atwood’s latest book The Heart Goes Last is set in a near future dystopia at a time of complete financial collapse.
A story full of dark truths and touching on serious themes, The Heart Goes Last began in serial form for an online website. It shows Margaret Atwood is still writing provocative and thought provoking work.
Charmaine and Stan are a married couple living in their car, trying to stay afloat financially. They answer an advertisement for people to take part in a “social experiment” where they give up their freedom every second month.
Atwood is the author of more than 35 volumes including fiction, poetry and children’s books.
Sydney based astrologer, writer and artist will be visiting Leichhardt Library Wednesday March 9, 2016 to discuss her 2016 Moon Calendar with its original artwork and mapping your emotions with the Moon.
Cecilia Lugo-Anderson will share her learning associated with planetary energies and the connection between celestial activity and earth events.
Her talk will look at the constant change of the Moon through its Lunar phases, the Zodiac and its relation to our emotions.
This is a free event and everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be provided.
Robyn Williams from ABC Radio National’s The Science Show is visiting Balmain Town Hall on Monday 7 March 2016 at 6:30pm.
Come along to hear the founder, producer and presenter of The Science Show discuss his latest book “In Love with Betty the Crow” as he reflects on why science matters and the long running success of his program which has been broadcast for over 40 years.
Join us and engage in Robyn William’s ongoing passion for science, hear insights into the latest scientific research and the fun and games of broadcasting every week. The evening promises to be entertaining and fun.
This is a free event, everyone is welcome and refreshments will be served.
Book online or call 9367 9211
Sensitive people get a bad rap. Research suggests that genes are responsible for the 15–20% of people who qualify as “highly sensitive.” Psychologist Elain Aron has studied this phenomenon extensively, and using MRI scans of highly sensitive people’s brains, she’s found that they experience sounds, feelings, and even the presence of other people much more intensely than the average person.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships. The good news is that highly sensitive people aren’t more or less emotionally intelligent than others.
Highly sensitive people experience things more intensely. Their strong emotions are easier to identify (and potentially use to their benefit) than the average person. This also helps them to communicate effectively because they don’t just hear the words coming out of other people’s mouths, but they also catch on to subtleties in gesture and tone.
There are trade-offs, however, as strong emotions that are left unchecked can have disastrous consequences. Highly sensitive people can use EQ to their benefit only once they understand that they are highly sensitive. This awareness ensures they reap the benefits of their heightened emotional awareness while spotting and defeating their negative tendencies. Dr. Travis Bradberry co-author Emotional Intelligence 2.0
Rudyard Kipling’s Kim: a zam-zammer wonder-house of wordplay
Often regarded as an early YA novel, Kim appears to be a simple coming-of age story, until you begin to notice the unobtrusive brilliance of the craftsmanship
Many of the pleasures of Kim are straightforward, direct and easily absorbed – much like Rudyard Kipling’s prose. Indeed, his writing is probably chief among those joys. It’s a book where moving through the sentences is its own reward. Few novels have such beguiling rhythm, imagery and vocabulary.
The very words are fun to read, fun to say out loud: “Wonder-House”, “Zam-Zammah”, “Kimball O’Hara”, “Sind, Punjab and Delhi railway” – and those are just from the first page. But it’s what Kipling does with them that really counts, in prose so perfect you barely notice how clever it is when you first read through. It’s only when you stop to analyse that you notice how well everything is constructed:
As he drummed his heels against Zam-Zammah he turned now and again from his king-of-the-castle game with little Chota Lal and Abdullah the sweetmeat seller’s on to make a rude remark to a native policeman on guard over rows of shoes at the museum door.”
Sam Jordison Guardian 20 January 2016
Melissa Ambrosini is an entrepreneur, author, success speaker, self love teacher and inspires women all over the world to master their inner Mean Girl!
Source: Melissa Ambrosini | HEALTH. WEALTH. LOVE
Join Melissa to hear about her new book—an inspiring, upbeat guide on how to master your Mean Girl (inner critic), and live the life you’ve always wanted. Melissa’s toolkit covers the truth about why we let our Mean Girl sabotage our life and rule our decisions—and why positive thinking alone isn’t enough to disarm her.
Melissa is an author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and qualified Holistic Health and Life Coach and is known for her inspirational live events.
Book online for her Talk at Balmain Library Monday 1st February 2016 6:30pm
Free event Refreshments provided.
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