Title: The Feel of Steel
Author: Helen Garner
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
ISBN: 978-0-330-36289-4

If you’re looking for a touch of escapism on a rainy Sunday, you’ll be hard pressed to find it here.  Actually, you’ll be hard pressed to find a rainy Sunday in this city too, but this is a book review, not a weather report.
The Feel of Steel is a collection of Garner’s essays, previously published in various Australian newspapers and magazines, from The Age to the Woman’s Weekly.
It’s a little on the intellectual side for my liking.  The prose is sparse in some parts, gets bogged down in detail in others, and mostly leads to no where in particular.
Or maybe I’m just not looking deeply enough for the meaning.
Garner is not the writer to be reading if you’re tired, however if you have 20 minutes to spare and want something wholesome to read with a flat white in a trendy locale, this book will have you looking the part.
It is thoughtful, but perhaps a little too much for me.
– Lauren Mitchell

Title: Deception
Rated: MA15+
Genre: Action, Suspense/Thriller
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Maggie Q, Natasha Henstridge
Director: Marcel Langenegger
 
Deception promises a lot but doesn’t quite live up to the hype.
It has a magnificent cast including Ewan McGregor, our own Hugh Jackman and honorary Aussie, Michelle Williams.
The sound editing, direction and art department also step up to the line but are all let down by writer Mark Bomback.
There must have been problems with the script as Jason Keller is credited with a rewrite and Patrick Marber as a second rewrite.
I don’t pride myself at guessing straight away who did it in suspense dramas. I prefer to be taken for the ride and let the storyteller keep me on the edge of my seat until finally toying with me and dumping me for a six right there on my cinema seat.
Unfortunately Deception failed to deceive.
I “got it” way too early,
leaving the film to plod on
to its predicted conclusion.
Initially it had me but on reflection I think it was more due to the fine work of the rest of the crew and cast.
Perhaps a clever producer should give Jackman and McGregor a better project as they worked extremely well together with what they had on this project.
To set the scene, McGregor plays a geeky auditor accountant in New York who meets a high flying lawyer played by Jackman.
Through deception Jackman’s character seduces McGregor into his world and an unsuspecting crime that will potentially net a cool $21 million.
If you give it a go, I bet you get it early on.
5 out of 10

– Robert Gibson

Title: Tributary Author: Ross Wilson Genre: Rock Label: Liberation Blue THE old rocker is back, not that he’s ever been away. You know what to expect from this CD, and you will not be disappointed. Not to say this album is like a comfy pair of slippers, it’s strong and fresh. The album features reworks of Ross’s old favourites – this time in acoustic style. It’s great to hear the songs again with a new approach, certainly a better bet than just a greatest hits album. Ross is playing the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on Friday, May 16 so you’re guaranteed to hear all your favourites there as well. If you can’t make it, why not get hold of a copy of Tributary. It’s worth the effort. – STEVE KENDALL

The winners of last week’s book competition were Jeanette Brennan, Angela Gallagher and Judi Campbell.  All three picked themselves up a signed copy of Lauren Mitchell’s new book, pictured here.
Thanks to all who entered.  The book is now available from The Weekly, Dymocks, Collins, Book City and the Eaglehawk Post Office, just in time for Mother’s Day.