The Bookshelf Catherine McKinnon's To Sing of War takes us to PNG during WW ll
Jun 28, 2024
Mark Mordue, a poet and rock journalist known for his works like 'Boy on Fire,' and Patrick Carey, a writer and digital producer, explore Catherine McKinnon's novel 'To Sing of War,' set in WWII Papua New Guinea. They discuss the book's immersive journey and emotional depth, highlighting the character complexities of nurses and soldiers. The duo also dives into two debut novels, 'Big Time' and 'Evenings and Weekends,' connecting dystopian themes with rock music, societal challenges, and personal struggles, offering a rich tapestry of human experience.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Immersive Journey Through Papua New Guinea in War
02:06 • 2min
Characters Amidst War
03:58 • 15min
Exploring the Intersection of Music and Theatre Adaptations
18:34 • 1min
Rock and Dystopia: A Literary Exploration
20:03 • 15min
Exploring 'Evenings and Weekends': A Contemporary Reflection
34:38 • 11min
The Vividness of Urban Narrative and Life's Uncertainties
45:54 • 2min
Explorations in Norwegian Literature and Engaging Reads
47:36 • 7min
Big Time
A Novel
Ben H. Winters
Evenings and Weekends
Oshin McKenna
Prophet Song
Paul Lynch
Prophet Song is a dystopian novel that depicts a terrifying and suspenseful vision of Ireland careening towards authoritarianism.
The story follows Eilish Stack, a scientist and mother of four, whose life is disrupted when her husband, a trade unionist, is taken by the newly formed secret police.
As Ireland descends into civil war and tyranny, Eilish must navigate the bureaucratic intricacies of the descending chaos to save her family.
The novel is a deeply human portrait of a mother’s struggle and serves as a warning about the potential for political and social breakdown in modern society.
American Prometheus
The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Kai Bird
Martin J. Sherwin
This biography, written over a period of 25 years, captures Oppenheimer’s life from his early career to his central role in the Cold War. It highlights his transformation into a charismatic leader at Los Alamos, the burdens of secrecy and surveillance, and the tumultuous events surrounding his security hearing.
The book is praised for its voluminous scholarship and lucid insight into Oppenheimer’s complex nature and his impact on American history.
1984
None
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism.
The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother.
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative.
He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination.
The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
Mrs. Dalloway
Virginia Woolf
Published in 1925, 'Mrs.
Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf explores the lives of its characters over a single day in post-World War I London.
The novel centers around Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class housewife, as she prepares to host a party.
Her day is punctuated by a visit from Peter Walsh, an old suitor, and her reflections on her past choices.
The narrative also follows Septimus Warren Smith, a veteran struggling with shell shock and mental illness, whose story parallels and contrasts with Clarissa's.
The novel delves into themes of time, identity, social class, and the psychological impacts of war.
Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style provides a deep insight into the characters' inner lives, highlighting the complexities of human experience and the societal norms of the time.
The flamethrowers
Rachel Kushner
Amelia Pérez de Villar Herranz
Bleak House
Charles Dickens
Bleak House, published in 1852-1853, is a novel by Charles Dickens that revolves around the Jarndyce family and their entanglement in the interminable lawsuit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce.
The story highlights the inefficiencies and injustices of the English Court of Chancery, as well as themes of family secrets, blackmail, murder, and social critique.
The novel follows Esther Summerson, who becomes the guardian of two other wards, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare, and their lives as they navigate the complexities of the lawsuit and personal secrets, particularly those surrounding Lady Dedlock and her past.
The novel is known for its vivid portrayal of Victorian England and its critique of various social and legal institutions of the time.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
The novel centers on the life of Dorian Gray, a young man who becomes infatuated with his own beauty and the hedonistic philosophies of Lord Henry Wotton.
After wishing that his portrait would age instead of himself, Dorian embarks on a life of sensual excess and moral decay, while his portrait reflects the true state of his soul.
The story delves into the duality of human nature, the allure of aestheticism, and the critique of Victorian society, highlighting the devastating effects of evil and debauchery on Dorian's life and those around him.
Dracula
Bram Stoker
The novel tells the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from Transylvania to England to spread terror and create more vampires.
The story begins with Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to finalize the sale of a property to Count Dracula.
Upon discovering Dracula's true nature, Harker barely escapes with his life.
Dracula then travels to England, where he targets Harker's fiancée, Mina, and her friend Lucy.
A group of characters, including Professor Van Helsing, Dr. John Seward, and Quincey Morris, band together to hunt down and destroy Dracula.
The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, modernity vs.
tradition, and the fears and anxieties of the Victorian era, including immigration, sexual desire, and the role of women in society.
Alice at the Fire
Alice at the Fire
Jon Fosse
To Sing of War
To Sing of War
Catherine McKinnon
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson
The novella tells the story of Dr. Henry Jekyll, a well-respected scientist, and his mysterious and malevolent alter ego, Mr. Edward Hyde.
Jekyll’s experiments with a potion lead to the physical and moral transformation into Hyde, an embodiment of his darker impulses.
The story explores the theme of the duality of human nature, the struggle between good and evil, and the consequences of tampering with the natural order.
The narrative unfolds through the investigations of Mr. Gabriel John Utterson, a London lawyer and friend of Dr. Jekyll, who uncovers the sinister relationship between Jekyll and Hyde.
The Young Nick Cave
The Young Nick Cave
Mark Mordue
Darlinghurst Funeral Rites
Darlinghurst Funeral Rites
Mark Mordue
The Wolves of Eternity
The Wolves of Eternity
Karl Ove Knausgaard
Storyland
Catherine McKinnon
Boy on Fire
Boy on Fire
Mark Mordue
Caledonian Road
Andrew O'Hagan
A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush
A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush
Eric Newby
Fieldwork
Mischa Berlinski
Bear
Marian Engel
Kate Evans is joined by guest host Richard Aedy to discuss Catherine McKinnon's To Sing of War, a novel of love, war and friendship. Plus, two debut novels... Big Time by Jordan Prosser, set in a not-too-distant future Australia where pop music is propaganda, and Evenings and Weekends by Oisin McKenna, set during a heatwave in London as tensions and secrets come to a head over one life-changing weekend.BOOKS
Catherine McKinnon, To Sing of War, Fourth Estate
Jordan Prosser, Big Time, UQP
Oisín McKenna, Evenings and Weekends, Fourth Estate
GUESTS
Mark Mordue, poet and music writer/ rock journalist. His books include Boy on Fire – the Young Nick Cave, and the poetry collection Darlinghurst Funeral Rites. He’s also co artistic director of the Addison Road Writers Festival in Sydney
Patrick Carey, writer and digital producer; manages content at the Sydney Theatre Company
OTHER BOOKS MENTIONEDPaul Lynch, Prophet SongCatherine McKinnon, StorylandKai Bird and Martin J Sherwin, American PrometheusGeorge Orwell, 1984Charles Dickens, Bleak HouseVirginia Woolf, Mrs DallowayAndrew O'Hagan, Caledonian RoadJon Fosse, Aliss at the Fire; SeptologyKarl Ove Knausgaard, The Wolves of Eternity J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the RyeMischa Berlinski, Fieldwork Rachel Kushner, The Flamethrowers; The Mars RoomEric Newby, A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush
CREDITS
- Presenter, Kate Evans + Richard Aedy
- Producer, Kate Evans + Sarah Corbett
- Sound engineer, Nathan Turnbull + Beth Stewart
- Executive producer, Rhiannon Brown