Don't forget, Blockers - the submissions deadline for Block 9 is Friday, September 18th. That's this Friday! We'd love to see some more creative work sent in; give us your short fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, and art! See the submissions link above for details and guidelines.So, the other point of this post is to talk about what I've been reading, since you asked so nicely.
Well, I've been reading some good short story collections. This form of prose is great for just before bed when you're too tired to focus on a novel, or on the bus, or in the bath - anywhere, really.
Nam Le's The Boat was published last year to high critical acclaim, winning numerous literary prizes. If you love Australian fiction, or even if you haven't had much exposure to it, I'd highly recommend reading this book. Each of Le's stories are connected subtly through themes such as belonging and family, but each tells an insightful and individual story in itself.
I found The Sleepers almanac No. 5 (2009) in a Sydney bookshop a few months ago, blatantly judging it by, and picking it up because of, its beautiful cover. But inside this collection of Australian work is even more delightful - there are cartoons and comics and poetry scattered between stories of varied subject matter and form. (Not unlike Block, really!!) Some of the stories, like Jo Case's Hell is Other Parents, are outrageously funny; others, like Daniel Ducrou's The Etymology of Love, are a little bit sad and sentimental. You're sure to find something in this eclectic collection to (cliche alert!) tickle your funny bone, or touch a raw nerve.
Lastly, and most importantly, the book of stories I'd most highly recommend is Miranda July's No one belongs here more than you (2007). You may have come across Miranda July's quirky 2005 film, Me and You and Everyone we know. I love this film a lot , but its quirkiness tends to divide audiences. July's collection of stories could be the same, but so far the people who I've lent it to have loved it. Again, this collection is a good mix of comic and tragic, often in the same story. This is essentially a book about people; about human relationships; whether a burgeoning romance between two old male factory workers, or the dynamics of women in a community sewing class. The best, and one of the shortest, stories in the book is 'The Swim Team', which is absurd but so very entertaining. As the stories progress, the themes tend to get darker and the relationships more complicated, and this is also where July's writing thrives.
Okay, so there are my three recommendations. I hope I've not bored you too much, and I hope we hear from you very soon with some more creative submissions for Block 9!
Emma.