Tidy is a four-letter word

A timely follow on to last week’s post as Nella decides that following Marie Kondo’s advice to limit her book collection to the bare minimum does not suit her (and I think many readers) love of books. In response, Nella has identified some of the titles recently added to her To Be Read (TBR) pile and no doubt the best of these will remain firmly planted on her shelves.

 I read and dismissed Marie Kondo’s comments on books over 3 years ago. I have more than 30 books by my bedside – not 30 in the entire house!  Now that she is a Netflix celebrity, her initial comments have drawn condemnation from book lovers all over the world, she has moderated and provided a context for her views.

Two reports for you to look at if you wish to investigate decluttering:

Marie Kondo to Bibliophiles: No, You Don’t Need to ThrowAway Your Books (Nguyen, 2019, January 16).

and now her change of tune….

Marie Kondo is proud of your tidying up, and wants toclarify that part about books (Villarreal, 2019, January 24)

Just as well Ms Kondo, as my 2019 TBR bedside pile will soon include these new Australian junior fiction titles.

Melody Trumpet by Gabrielle Tozer (Harper Collins) January  

As the daughter of global music superstars, Melody Trumpet was supposed to be extraordinary - a melodic genius to carry on the Trumpet legacy. But, as was discovered when Melody screamed her first out-of-tune note as a baby, this wasn't to be…
Ms Tozer has written 3 YA novels; this is her first junior fiction title.

47 Degrees by Justin D’Ath (Puffin) January  

A fast-paced and poignant novel of survival by Justin D’Ath that draws on his own experience of escaping the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Find out more on Justin D'Ath's website.

Mr Bambuckle's Remarkables on the Lookout by Tim Harris (Puffin) February

The fourth title about Australia's favourite teacher. If you haven't met Mr Bambuckle find out about his adventures on Tim Harris' website.

The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble (Allen & Unwin) February

Ella and her brother Emery are alone in a city that’s starving to death. If they are going to survive, they must get away, upcountry, to find Emery’s mum. But how can two kids travel such big distances across a dry, barren, and dangerous landscape?

If the previews are correct, this will be just as moving as her award-winning How to Bee.  (PS She has written a YA title In the dark spaces under the name Cally Black – a CBCA honour book.)

Scorch Dragons: Elementals #2 by Amie Kaufman (HarperCollins) March release of the sequel to Ice Wolves, an epic middle-grade fantasy series about a world where powerful magical shapeshifters are locked in a conflict that has spanned generations.

And last but not least . . .

One Careless Night by Christina Booth (Walker Books) April 

The hauntingly beautiful story of Australia's last thylacine (Tasmanian tiger).

FYI: There is a preview launch at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery on February 17. You do need toprebook. Read about this on Christina’s news page at https://www.christinabooth.com/news.html and watch the breathtaking trailer.

Nella Pickup - reader