Books from MUP this May!
May picks from MUP!
This May at MUP, we have a collection of short fiction, finely curated by Meanjin's Editor Jonathan Green; a treatise and celebration in the single life; and, a celebration of motherhood contemplated by one of Australia's most respected journalists.
One: Valuing the Single Life by Clare Payne
In One, Clare Payne invites you to relish in the status of One.
More adults than ever before are now living alone — one quarter of all households in Australia are currently single-person households. They are forging new ways of having contented and connected lives.
One gives insight to the once maligned and now increasingly chosen status of being single. It is an inspiring call to politicians, business leaders and individuals, challenging us all to recognise the worth and standing of One.
Read an extract from One:
Throughout Lean In there’s little acknowledgement that a woman might not have nor want a partner. In fact, I found few references to single women in the book, even though this demographic would arguably form a significant portion of Sandberg’s readership, as it does the workforce. One reference to single mothers that came well into the book read: ‘Being a single working parent can be even more difficult’.
A later reference explained that ‘People without children are also overworked, maybe to an even greater extent’. Sandberg, who has been open about her pursuit of the ‘right’ husband, certainly doesn’t demonstrate much understanding of single life. The single woman is not just forgotten, however— according to Sandberg’s advice, she’s disadvantaged by not having partnered.
On Mother, by Sarah Ferguson
ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson (The Killing Season; Hitting Home) reflects on motherhood in On Mother, celebrating a love that spans continents and decades. The sudden death of Sarah Ferguson's mother reveals their relationship with poignant clarity and shows her the individual who existed beyond motherhood. A reflection on mothers and daughters.
For those of you attending Sydney Writers' Festival this year, you may be interested in the (close-to-sold-out!) In Conversation: On Mother, with Sarah and our Publisher and CEO, Louise Adler. You'll stop avoiding those calls from mum, we promise.
Or, for Melbourne folks: Hosted by Readings Bookshops Carlton and held at Cinema Nova, Sarah will be joined in conversation by Virginia Trioli. Tickets will include a signed copy of On Mother, afternoon tea from Brunetti and a glass of champagne. Book tickets now.
Meanjin A–Z: Fine Fiction, edited by Jonathan Green
Think of an Australian writer and chances are that at some time or another they've had short fiction published in Meanjin. For the first time a treasure trove of this writing leaps from the pages of Meanjin into a book of fine fiction, Meanjin A–Z.
You'll read Tim Winton, David Malouf and recent work by Jennifer Mills. In between, you'll find John Kinsella, Eliot Perlman, Nicholas Jose, Bruce Pascoe, Melissa Lucashenko, A.S. Patric and many more.
Related posts
- Spreading the Word: A Celebration of James Jeffrey's My Family and Other Animus
#Toastface brought together booklovers, booksellers and the beautiful ode to family from James Jeffrey. Here's a toast to my family and other animus! Here's a toast to all those who helped us launch the book!
- Sydney Writers' Festival 2018, with Leigh Sales, Sarah Ferguson, Louise Adler and more!
Leigh Sales on doubt, Sarah Ferguson on mothers, Joëlle Gergis on climate change ... a great selection of MUP authors will be speaking at Sydney Writers Festival this year, 30 April – 6 May.