Books, books, books

It seems like a good time to celebrate the joy of story in general, and the book in particular. Well, yes, it's true, we never stopped celebrating the joy of the book, but, you know, it's a bit like celebrating the joy of cake. Any excuse.

So here's a list of reasons to go out and get your hands on a good book, quicksmart.

1. The weekend is almost upon us and it looks as though many of us are in for a wet and woolly weekend - and the best thing about a wet, woolly weekend? It's a perfect excuse to curl up somewhere comfortable, listen to the rain on the roof, and read, read, read.

Thanks to BOM for keeping us in the loop.

2. Books in bookcases. You know what we mean. Especially those bookcases that line a whole wall. And if they have a ladder, well, they have us at hello. Even unread books have a place in the bookcase. And you know how when you go to someone's house for the very first time, it is almost impossible not check out their bookcases.

Of course, this can lead to awkward moments when you fail to follow the conversation because your eyes are roving the shelves and have lingered too long on that copy of the book you love, love, love and you thought no one else in the world cared about it, but there it is on the shelf and you can't look away, and it looks as though it has been well-loved, but perhaps it was purchased second-hand and was well-loved by someone else, perhaps it was even your copy that you lent to that friend you no longer keep in touch with, perhaps it has found its way back to you...

Oh, what were you saying? Oh, yes. Yes, I'm sorry, I was distracted by your wonderful books...

3. Effortless travel. No tickets to book. No packing. No passport. No airports. No foreign currency. No long-haul flights with scary strangers who want to talk all the way to your destination. No unfamiliar ablution facilities.

Novels or non-fiction. They can spirit us off to places familiar or unknown, anticipated or pined-for. So many opportunities for effortless and amazing overseas adventure - especially if you are a big chicken.



4. Being Here by Barry Jonsberg

What a thrill it was when we first read the manuscript of Barry Jonsberg's new novel Being Here - and now it's a very handsome book so everyone else can read it too. Hooray! Being Here is a wonderful novel about a girl who loves books, and seeks solace in story when the challenging reality of her own life overwhelms her - and her retreat into her imaginative life is well-rewarded. It's tender, clever, funny, a little heartbreaking, beautifully written, and ultimately a celebration of storytelling.


But don't just take our word for it. Here's a snippet of what the Australian Bookseller & Publisher said:

Along with Carly, the reader is drawn into the story of Leah's childhood - even as she points out the various narrative devices she is using (cliff-hangers, plot twists). Carly is kept interested with the promise of murder and betrayal. Jonsberg's writing is as beautiful as ever and Leah's love of language is perfectly conveyed to the reader - this book is in part a tribute to the art and power of a story.

Ah, yes, the power of story. Even better than a super-power.

Spotted in the House

I spy a lot of lovely things.

1)

Is this not just the most beautiful, the most sumptuous, the most mesmerising thing? Yesterday's arrival of the advance copies of Nicky Greenberg's extraordinary graphic adaptation of Hamlet was the cause of celebration, weeping, cheering and, we believe, a spot of mild inebriation.*

Hamlet is not out in the world until October, which is a criminally long time to wait. We suggest making a bee-line for Nicki's events at the Melbourne Writers Festival. It could be well worth your while. *cough* advance copies *cough*

2)

Noni the Pony** has galloped boldly into the House. We love Noni. She is so cute you just want to squeeze her.

So it's lucky we made a wee Noni toy, for petting and squeezing.

We know more about making books than making toys - so imagine our surprise when some of the production decisions that had to be made for the toy were quite familiar. Which leads us to write an uncomfortable letter:

Dear 806 pink, We still love you, but we have to confess that we have been dallying with another colour. PMS 158. PMS 158 is a beautiful orangey/brown. We hope you won't be too upset. You're still our go-to pink, but you just would have looked out of place on Noni's bum. With love and affection, Onions.

3)


A lemon and blueberry birthday bundt cake. Highly delicious.

4)

This is Mr Badger. Mr Badger ... on a badge.

But who is Mr Badger? Who is Mr Badger?

*Not actually in the House, that last one. There's never any mild inebriation in the House. *Double checks that the Friday wine is in the fridge.*

** FYI, it's rather fun to sing 'Noni the Pony' to the tune of 'Only the Lonely.' No really, try it.

Spotted in the House

Mr Chicken might be in Paris, but Lulu was in the House of Onion.

We love an office dog - even when we only get to borrow it very briefly. We're not sure what would happen if Lulu met Old Tom. It's probably for the best that Mr Hobbs is standing between them.


Mr Hobbs and Lulu weren't the only exciting things in the House yesterday. There were also...

MACARONS!

Chocolate and orange, and saffron and vanilla, and liquorice ones.

The Cake-maker Virtuoso is getting very accomplished at these, thanks to this lovely book and the benefactress who sent it along.

Magnifique!

Agent Report: Somerset Celebration of Literature

MISSION: Attend the Somerset Celebration of Literature. Soak up the atmosphere. Be nice to Onion authors (and any others you happen across).

STATUS: Accepted (with alacrity).

BACKGROUND INFO: This literary festival, organised by Somerset College on the Gold Coast, has been running for 17 years. Much beloved of authors, it is friendly, fun and extremely well-run.

OBSERVATIONS FROM NOTEBOOK OF AGENT IN THE FIELD

Ah, the Gold Coast - California crossed with Florida, and wherever you go there's a five-lane highway between you and the beach. [With thanks to Sean Williams.]

Green, green lawns and white marquees.

Cocktail party - a balmy evening with gentle rain. [Note from HQ: agent did not notice it was raining due to balminess of evening, perhaps agent needs to work on observational skills on return to HQ.]

The Green Room - cake!! (authors only). [Note from HQ: restricting cake consumption to authors may be an illegal practice. Investigate under the Freedom of Cake (FoC) legalisation.]

Slight panic attack and flashback to schooldays at lunchtime as students start pouring out into the quad. When did schoolkids get so huge? [Note from HQ: In future, do not deploy shortest agent to deal with large students.]

Huge students actually all very friendly and welcoming, do a great job of looking after the authors, and seem genuinely keen and interested.

Speaking to the fiercely smart & witty student novella finalists is like being in a John Green novel.

Helpful staff and willing parents seem to be always on hand to ferry everyone around in buses & cars.

SPOTTED IN THE FIELD
John Danalis: sharing his beautiful possum skin cloak and lots of sniffles in the audience
Sofie Laguna: 'Okay, she chops them up and eats them!'
Craig Silvey: being asked to choose - is it Twilight or Harry Potter? Pirates or ninjas?
Kate Constable: snorting peas through her nose [Note from HQ: This sighting is in dispute.]
Leigh Hobbs: wrangling a tent full of littlies with no paper and no pencils. Impressive.

CORROBORATING EVIDENCE







SEE ALSO
Agent Constable's report.

CONCLUSION
Highly successful operation. Agent has asked to be deployed again. Consider her highly suited to mission if she can curb her fear of large school children and quadrangles.

Animal House!

1) In this short film by Inframe.tv, Nathan Jurevicius is at the zoo - talking about Scarygirl, being close to gorillas and orangutans, drawing on books and generally being interesting and thoughtful.




2) Mr Chicken Goes to Paris GOES TO PARIS!
Look, here he is in the window of the The Red Wheelbarrow at 22 Rue Saint Paul in the Marais. Lucky Mr Chicken!



3) And for no apparent reason other than it perfectly rounds out today's theme (and is hilarious) ...

Friday Stuff and Items

They're Making a List

Here is the Guardian's take on the books that have defined the decade. How many have you read?

Get a Grip

This is far and away the best/most hilarious thing to come out of the Tiger Woods scandal*. (Promise.) Now, how best for our marketing department to replicate this for one of our books, I wonder...

Huzzah!

Launched in very fine style last night by the incredibly dashing Bernard Caleo, was Tango squared. The Tango Collection and Tango 9 Love & War. We don't have any launch photos (yet) so you'll have to content yourselves with some sightings of The Tango Collection in the wild...

Free range

Speaking of 'in the wild'. Look, look who has escaped the printed page! At this time of year, Mr Chicken must be very glad he's not Mr Turkey.


Simultaneous Love**

A very special event is taking place in the House of Onion and the Mothership this afternoon. At the end of the working day, we are downing tools for a simultaneous screening of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Our film-tie in edition is out in the world (with the cute-as-Christmas Michael Cera gracing the cover), but most of us have never seen the movie. A situation that will be remedied in both Houses of Onion at 5pm today. CANNOT WAIT! (Just kicking myself that I didn't wear my Where's Fluffy t-shirt to work today. )

* Or, as Babel Fish translation would call it, le scandale de tigre bois

**But not the same kind that Chef from South Park sings about.

An Onion's best friend

What a lovely rainy day. A good day to be snuggled in your burrow or safe in your den.

Our ten favourite animal characters in children's fiction (in no particular order)

1. Wilbur (We could fill up all 10 spots with characters from Charlotte's Web, so Wilbur is standing also for Charlotte, Templeton and the rest of the inhabitants of the Zuckerman farm)
2. Buck from The Call of the Wild
3. Badger from Wind in the Willows (You may cry for Ratty, Mole, or Toad, but Badger is an Onion favourite)
4. Reepicheep from several of the Narnia books
5. Simpkin from The Tailor of Gloucester
6. Pooh and Piglet (There was also a vote for Owl, because he can spell his own name W.O.L.)
7. The Wombat from Diary of a Wombat
8. Mogget from the Old Kingdom trilogy
9. Tao from The Incredible Journey (and yes we love handsome Luath & dear old Bodger as well, but we are cat people)
10. Kapecki from Peka-boo the Smallest Bird in All the World

Honourable mentions to animals that are just animals. (No speaking, no anthropomorphism, just wonderful, faithful, brave animals)

1. Hedwig from the Potterverse
2. Jack from the Little House books
3. Fortinbras from the Wrinkle in Time series
4. Old Yeller
5. Willow from Sunny Side Up

And an extra extra extremely honourable shout-out to Mr Chicken - the most loveable cooked chicken ever to grace children's literature*.

Here is an EXCLUSIVE sneak preview of Mr Chicken's next excursion:

*Ahem... Sonya Hartnett thinks so too:

'The world's most beautiful city meets the world's most startling chicken ... Not since Quasimodo has Paris been host to a monster of such charm. In typical exuberant style, Hobbs takes us abroad with the gentlemanly Mr Chicken, who tours the magnifique sites of Paris unaware that his enormous top-hatted self is the most astonishing spectacle of all. Joyously colourful, brilliantly observed, hilariously wry, Mr Chicken Goes to Paris is Leigh Hobbs' masterpiece.' - Sonya Hartnett

You'll have to wait until August to get your own copy of Mr Chicken Goes to Paris, but keep your eyes peeled because we may not be able to resist letting him make an appearance here every now and then before that.



But back to the list... which beloved animals have we missed?