The Nile's Books of the Month: May

The Nile's Book of the Month:
Non-Fiction

When Words Fail Us: Truth Beyond Time by Stan Grant

'I am out of words at home. I have grown bored with my language, bored with my voice, bored with my writing. My words labour under the weight of Australia’s history. The land itself, as much as I love it, bears down hard.

Now in another place, I am finding lighter words. At times, I may not need to speak at all. I smile; I nod. I seek permission to speak. Please, do you mind? Will you allow me?'

In an important book for our times, Stan Grant, one of Australia’s most prominent writers on identity, nationhood and belonging, reflects on how we struggle to speak to one another today, and the importance of listening, silence and philosophy, from Plato to Simone Weil to Radiohead.

The Nile's Book of the Month:
Fiction

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them.

Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn’t her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

As darkly funny as it is shocking and gripping, Yesteryear is an electrifying examination of tradition, fame, faith and the grand performance of womanhood, from a thrilling new talent in fiction.

The Nile's Book of the Month:
Young Adult

Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans by Zoe Gaetjens

A warm and funny Australian teen romance for readers who love Nina Kenwood, Jenny Han, Tobias Madden and Becky Albertalli.

Plan for the perfect summer before year 12:

• Do a life-drawing course at the Australian Art School. (Try not to freak out the first time you have to draw a naked man.)
• Find your friends. (Your real ones.)
• First kiss?! (Only if it’s with the right person.)
• Try not to wish your sister were still here. (Impossible!)

A warm and funny novel about finding yourself … in a room full of strangers, drawing naked people.

The Nile's Book of the Month:
Children's Book

Duck: Look Who's Talking! by Matt Stanton

Do you ever think about the animals we share our streets with?

Well, they think about us. And talk about us. Quite a lot, actually. And, boy, do they have opinions!

Duck, Mouse and Dog have decided that the fancy new coffee shop in town is bad news.

It’s time for the animals of Redhill to UNITE and RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS before it’s too late!

From the hilarious world of FUNNY KID comes DUCK, a brand-new series that will have you in hysterics!