Folk tales of West Bengal (Swapna Dutta 2009)

A fourth book by Swapna Dutta, in yet another mode.

The Arakiel Diamond (Suchitra Bhattacharya, tr. Swapna Dutta 2011)

A YA detective story translated from from Bengali.

The Sun Fairies (Swapna Dutta & Geeta Vadhera 1994)

A picture book from India: cute fairies in a 'where clouds come from' story.

Plays from India (Swapna Dutta 2003)

Plays for children by Swapna Dutta, erstwhile contributor to The School Magazine.

The Kingfisher's Soul (Robert Adamson 2009)

Bob Adamson read at Sappho's on Tuesday, much of it from this book. He introduced the title poem saying it was a love poem he wrote because Juno complained that he hadn't written any. I imagine she was very satisfied with the result.

Asia Literary Review 20, Summer 2011

This issue has a focus on Japan.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 (David Yates 2011)

I saw this with an auduence that cheered and clapped, especially for Neville and Mrs Weasley, and laughed at times from sheer pleasure. At one moment, when Professor McGonagal raised her wand to cast a spell, the women in the seat in front of me raised her hand in sympathy. Who could not enjoy?

DVD: December Boys (Rod Hardy 2007)

I watched this with a young man who has to write about it for a HSC assignment, and who was watching it unhappily for the third time. Despite the unauspicious circumstances, I believe I found the film profoundly uninspiring in its own right.

DVD: The Trip (Michael Winterbottom 2010)

We're watching the TV series of this rather than the movie. It's like Sideways meets My Dinner with André, only English. And still funny. From the man who gave us The Road to Guantanamo Bay!

Asia Literary Review 19, Spring 2011

This has been beside my bed for a very long time. I think I was put off by the editorial which begins with an uncertainly sarcastic riff on the current profusion of literary festivals. The journal itself looks substantial and interesting.

Overland 203

In spite of the cover this issue deals mainly with Australian concerns.

Beyond White Guilt (Sarah Maddison 2011)

Sarah Maddison's Black Politics is marvellous. She and Jeff McMullen spoke very interestingly about this at Gleebooks a while back. I look forward to engaging with it

TV: Annie Hall (Woody Allen 1977)

I think of this as vintage Woody Allen, dating fromlomg before I resolved not to go to any more of his filme, a resolve which I've broken and wished I'd kept with almost every new film.this one isn't as satisfying as I remember, but full of brilliant stuff that I've quoted often.