Tamarind Book Club Newsletter ISSUE #4
for the love of books
APRIL 2016
The Lottery Winners By Courtney Masters Humanity had been aware that their planet could no longer sustain the misuse of natural resources. The atmospheric sphere around Earth had weakened and oxygen had become a valuable commodity. And so began the search for another planet to house mankind. ‘We will recruit only the best men for the mission,’ announced Carlos Slim from Sphere HQ. ‘We will engage the top scientists, businessmen, and other specialised personnel to board my purpose built spaceship The Viatori to find a new planet.’ The selected men were thrilled to be part of the mission and felt like the seafaring explorers of old. However, given the length of the expected journey, they insisted on entertainment. An international podcast announced a Random Lottery draw with the prize being the opportunity to join the mission. Winners of the lottery did not appear random. Most were girls, young and beautiful girls. The expedition started with much discussion about government on the new planet. ‘It would be ideal if the new planet would reward us for our hard work,’ the Captain said. ‘And, we deserve it,’ said the self-titled General. ‘After the work I did on Eve- the lottery girl last night. She should have been grateful instead of clawing at me like a wildcat.’ As The Viatori soared through space, the technology slowed and the tension grew. The engineers ignored the warning signs of engine trouble and soon the ship was stranded on a foreign blue planet. ‘At least we can breathe,’ the General said as he sneezed blue dust. ‘First, I will need an army to conquer the land.’ ‘You need an army to wipe your nose,’ the Captain replied. ‘I discovered the planet and I will lead the people.’ The General and Captain could not agree on who should be the leader, but they did agree to hold an election with recruited members only to vote. It was also agreed that until election day everyone was to remain on-board The Viatori. ‘Do your bit and you will eat,’ was the Captain’s chant as he promised to build farms and allocate plots and labourers to the recruits. ‘We are men; we hunt,’ the General responded. ‘The lottery winners will farm.’ The two men battled their campaign with words, and the lottery winners were left alone. Eve had seen enough of the General’s battles. She wanted to see this world before it was exploited. On the day of election she packed a water flask, her rationed biscuit and set off to explore. The surface felt like dried sponge as Eve walked. Each step lifted a thin layer of shimmering blue that swam around the sole of her standard issue boots. The moving ocean beneath her feet was both startling and soothing. Eve took off her shoes, embraced the softness on her sole, and ran as far and fast as she could go. Deep and perfect footprints were left behind. ‘This is home,’ she murmured as she sat on the ground and unscrewed her water-bottle lid. As she drank, precious drops landed on the planet’s surface and were quickly absorbed. Instantly fresh water gurgled up where the droplets soaked the ground. Eve gasped, tightening her grip on the biscuit. Crumbs fell to the ground and in its place a bigger biscuit grew. It was three times the original size. ‘This planet gives back what you give it,’ Eve realised. She ran her fingers along the dust. The blue planet returned her touch with a soft caress and a moulded imprint of her hand. Every action created a reaction. Continued on page 2..
ISSUE #4
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APRIL 2016
The lottery winner stood up, delighted to share her knowledge of the planet, and ran towards the ship. She saw the General give his speech, and from his triumphant smirk Eve understood he had won the election. Eve saw him raise his flag high above his head, arm stretched forward in conquest. He beckoned the voters to raise their flags in honour of the first General of the blue planet. He raised his arm in three victory salutes before ramming the flag pole hard into the ground. ‘No!’ Eve screamed. At that moment every voting member raised their flag poles in return salute, and speared them into the ground. The spears returned upwards, impaling the men in one swift movement. Their blood soaked into the earth, fusing with the dust to create a shimmering ball around the men. To Eve it was the colour of dawn and a new beginning.
Congratulations to Courtney Masters for having her story selected for this month’s newsletter. Courtney receives a $50 gift voucher from The Blue Orchid Thai Restaurant in Caloundra, which has generously supported our writers for the last 3 issues.
Thank you Blue Orchid Thai Thanks too to everyone who submitted a story. Please keep them coming. See the details below...
Be Part of the Magic, Write You are invited to submit a fast fiction piece for our next issue. Please send your story to fastfiction@tamarindbookclub.com Details: Maximum story length: 800 words Submissions close: 15th April 2016 Stories need to be in a word document to allow for minor editing and any formatting changes. Please provide a phone number too.
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Continued on page 3... Contact mary@tamarindbookclub.com or call 0404 266 665 now.
ISSUE #4
www.tamarindbookclub.com
APRIL 2016
All Your Tamarind Book Club News
Open for New Members Our newest book club, which meets on the 3rd Tues-
A Great Turn-Out for Coffee and Catch-up
day of each month, is now seeking new members.
On Monday 21st March 20 book clubbers and guests
This is a men and women’s group, so guys, don’t be
enjoyed a morning at the Caloundra Powerboat Club.
shy. The April meeting is on 19th.
After swapping books and news, we settled back to
There is no set book to read. Just bring along whatev-
hear new author Pam Parker talk about her book The
er you are reading, - a travel book, a thriller ,biography
Long Goodbye.
or something else and tell us about it.
This is a deeply moving and lyrical memoir of her par-
Enjoy a chat about what everyone’s reading. Get some
ents’ life in country Queensland. It’s a love story that
recommendations too.
asks difficult questions about life and death and how far you’d go for the person you love.
TIME: 10.30am –12.00
Pam Parker’s The Long Goodbye will be released this
LOCATION: Caloundra Powerboat Club,
month. Ask for it at your local book shop.
2 Lamerough Parade, Golden Beach
Our thanks to Pam for taking the time to share her
RSVP to Mary on 0404 266 665
book and her writing journey.
Visit www.tamarindbookclub.com for more news.
Stay posted for more book club events.
You’re Invited to …. Shut Up and Write in Buderim This is a new meetup group for writers and aspiring writers. The idea is to go along for a cuppa at 10.15am on a Thursday morning and then at 11am, it’s time to stop chatting and write for an hour. To find out more, go to the meetup page Shut Up and Write in Buderim The first meeting is on Thursday 14th April at 10.15 am. RSVPs are required so pop over to the meetup site.
Noosa Arts and Crafts Writing Competition IS NOW OPEN Short Story entries—maximum length 2500 words, cost $5 per story Poetry entries—maximum 40 lines, cost $5 per poem
Visit www.noosaartsandcrafts.org.au for an entry form and full details Entry forms are also available at Wallace House or Noosa Library, both on Wallace Drive, Noosaville, 4566
Email enquiries: create@noosaartsandcrafts.org.au
All entries must be received by noon on April 15th, 2016 ISSUE #4
www.tamarindbookclub.com
APRIL 2016
Floundering
Book Reviews
by Romy Ash Tom (10) and Jordy (11)
The Circle
have been living with
By Dave Eggers
their grandmother since being left on the doorstep
Mae is working in a secure
by their mother Loretta.
but dull job in her
When Loretta calls him
hometown. Not the life she imagined when she graduat-
to get in the car, Jordy
ed from college.
looks for an escape route
but there’s "nothing to
Things change when she
hold on to just letterboxes and fences!" He succumbs.
joins her college friend Annie at The Circle, the most prestigious advanced business
And thus from the start we suspect that this journey may not go so well. The trio head west, living on food
in California, well, the world. The Circle has integrated web users’ identities and passwords, bought internet shopping, web search and social networking all into one convenient bundle. They have outstripped competitors and the future
often stolen from service stations, ending up at a remote camp ground in a dilapidated caravan. This is a tale of extreme deprivation both physical and emotional with a constant sense of dangers lying ahead. Completely unsuited to her role as mother the
looks bright for Mae and Annie.
But there’s a scary downside to all this ‘integrated knowledge’. The book takes a few imaginative leaps but generally it’s an awful and awesome description of
unreliable and hopeless Loretta fails every test of motherhood. Told through Tom’s eyes, this award winning novel (Winner of the SMH Young Writers Award 2013) can-
one possible future for humankind. It’s 1984 meets hi tech with some humour thrown in.
not fail but to impact on you. Along with Tom, you can feel the dirt, heat, sand and sunburn.
Hold on for the ride.
My guess is that you will emotionally invest in the
Reviewed by Mary Barber The 1st Thursday Book Club
boys and, by the last few pages, will be overcome with anxiety as to their future.
PS This book would make an ideal read for book club. There are many themes and big questions that arise.
Authors,
A confronting novel.
Reviewed by Leon Clancy The 3rd Tuesday Book Club Ed’s Note: Floundering was also shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award in 2013.
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Book Reviews If you’d like to contribute a book review
Book Your Free No-Strings Attached Consultation Offer expires 20th April, 2016
here’s the guidelines:
Contact Mary Barber, journalist at
No spoilers
mary@tamarindbookclub.com
Word length: words can be short or long
Or call 0404 266 665
Number of words: between 100 to 200 words
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ISSUE #4
www.tamarindbookclub.com
APRIL 2016