Yesterday saw the release of three non-fiction titles at Spinifex. Covering hefty, not to mention controversial topics, including sexuality, war and masculinity, and 'the good life':

Unmaking War, Remaking Men explores soldiers’ experiences through a politics of empathy. By revealing how men’s lives are made expendable for combat, Kathleen Barry shows how military training drives them to kill without thinking and without remorse, only to suffer both trauma and loss of their own souls.

Pornland takes an unflinching look at pornography and its effect on our lives, showing that today's pornography is strikingly different—and far more insidious—than yesterday's Playboy. 

The Village & The World: My Life, Our Times packs in seventy years of author and activist Maria Mies' life, as well as tracing the major social movements of the time. Offering personal and historical perspectives, as well as insight into 'the good life' that many are now hoping to achieve. 

News

We are excited to announce that Earth’s Breath by Susan Hawthorne has been short-listed for the Judith Wright Prize in the 2010 ACT Poetry Prize. The winner will be announced in November through artsACT. Jordie Albiston, who was previously published by Spinifex, has also been nominated for her work, sonnets according to 'm'.

To hear more about Pornland, check out these two interviews with Gail Dines on Lateline and ABC RN The World Today. The Herald Sun also wrote a great article about the portrayal of pregnant women as porn stars linking in with the dominant cultural message Gail Dine’s promotes.

To read a review of My Sister Chaos, click on the link to a book a day till I can stay. Lara Fergus will talk with Triple RRR’s Aural Text next Wednesday 13 October, as will Gail Dines talking about Pornland.

Radio National Late Night Live featured Kathleen Barry talking about Unmaking War, Remaking Men last night (podcast downloadable at the LNL site) and will run a profile on Maria Mies next Wednesday night, 10pm.

Last month, activist and memoirist Fethiye Çetin was visiting as a special guest of the Melbourne Writers Festival and our partners Melbourne PEN and Victorian Women’s Trust. The Victorian Women’s Trust hosted a successful event with Fethiye. Go to our facebook page to see photos from the night.

Events

Reclaim The Night organisers are holding a fundraising Bingo and Trivia night Thursday 7 October. The annual rally and march held in Melbourne and other cities around the world will be held on the last Thursday in October. Click on the links for more details.

Lara Fergus will read at ‘Debut Mondays’ on October 25. See the Wheeler Centre site for booking information. In November, Robyn Arianrhod, author of Einstein’s Heroes will launch My Sister Chaos at Readings, Carlton, Friday 12 November, 6pm. Both events are free.

In November, Vandana Shiva will be visiting Australia to accept the 2010 Sydney Peace Prize. Her one-off Melbourne engagement is at the Wheeler Centre on November 5. Free, but bookings essential.

SPINIFEX BLOG

Here is what has been happening last month on the Spinifex blog:

Melinda Tankard Reist writes an urgent piece on the illusory liberated Western democracy and the need for an overhaul: sexism is alive in the 21^st century.

Jackie Mansourian, secretary of  Melbourne PEN reflects on Fethiye Çetin's recent visit.

The Spinifex blog can be found at the ‘News & Events’ link at the top of our website. You can also find our news page and the newsletter archive there.

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