Stuck at home, wondering if you’ll get back to anything approaching high adventure and travelling further than 5km ever again (this week has been a debbie-downer for no particular reason hasn’t it)? Keen on some non-fiction reading? Always thought you might like to climb Mount Everest (ie. conquer the world)?

Today this post is just for you!

And, not just one book today, but two books to read together, because they are best read as a pair.

As a Good Reads reviewer wrote about them,

Apparently prosciutto without fat is like a kiss without a cuddle. I reckon reading ‘Into Thin Air’ without ‘The Climb’ would be like watching a David Attenborough documentary without the volume turned up … you won’t get the full gist of what went down on Mount Everest in 1996 unless you read both books.

So these books are about the story and circumstances that led to 8 climbers (a mix of guides and clients) dying whilst attempting to reach the summit of Mount Everest in May 1996. Not to spoil the story too much, here’s a teaser (from another Good Reads review),

In 1996, it seemed like almost anyone could climb Everest, as the guides had the whole thing down to a science. It was becoming little more than just another adventure tour. Then Mother Nature took a hand.

There was too much ambition and hubris. They forgot that Everest is a very dangerous place. They paid the price.

So, each book tells the story from the perspective of a different party. Jon Krakauer tells the story as a client of the Adventure Consultants climbing party. Anatoli Boukreev tells the same story as a guide with the Mountain Madness climbing party.

I recommend starting with Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air. He’s a great story teller and has you drawn in to the adventure (even if mountaineering isn’t your thing). THEN read Anatoli Boukreev’s reply, The Climb. Which although not as well written, gives you a different perspective that is super interesting, and makes you question a lot of what you read in the first book.

Escape the boring hum-drum of everyday Alphington and Fairfield (and grey skies and rain). Borrow them or buy them and embrace an adventurous life vicariously until you can get back to real life adventure first hand!

P.S. If you then get hooked on the climbing genre you can also read Joe Simpson’s classic story, Touching the Void - or check out the movie if you haven’t seen it already. It’s a cracker and you can watch it on YouTube here.

The Melbourne International Film Festival is now on. I went last year and saw a documentary about Leunig that was interesting (I think I saw an ad saying it was on telly recently ..,)

But this year MIFF is streaming to your lounge rooms. No need to go out! Over 100 (113 to be exact) films on offer from 6-23 August. Some are downloadable over the length of the festival. Others are only available to stream at a particular time.

Not sure what to watch?

Here is a top 10 from Concrete Playground. Here is a list of 15 recommendations from Time Out. There are packages to choose from, reviews and more on the website.

Here is where you can find the details and book. You’ll see that some films have sold out already. But there’s lots on … and if there is a film you miss out on, the website offers other suggestions for similar films (modern technology is great isn’t it) …

There’s also a free short film program you can watch. Enjoy.

Back in the good ol’ days … MIFF last year.

I am always looking for recommendations of what to watch; just like when friends share a good book they have enjoyed reading.

At our house, like most likely everyone in Victoria, our time at home has dramatically increased … along with our TV viewing. So I am going to share with you what I have been watching - hoping that you might enjoy it too.

The Letdown - Netflix

If you are new to parenting, or even just remember those days, then you will enjoy a great laugh at the main character Audrey’s struggle to adjust. It is filled with humour for all those moments you don’t know to expect. Alison Bell has written from her experience and is so genuinely funny. She is also the main character and is perfect.

Reprisal - SBS on Demand

A violent but oh so stylish story of revenge. This one had me hooked!

Little Fires Everywhere - Prime

A screen adaptation of the novel by Celeste Ng into a mini series starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. Like many people I read this book and found it engaging. The cast do the characters justice as the story addresses class and racial divides in America. Also what defines a family.

Parasite - Stan

This Oscar Award winning film is such a great one to watch. We talked about it together for days afterwards. The disparity of wealth, how characters reacted and why, the humour and the great direction by the film maker.

War Of The Worlds - SBS on Demand

An Anglo-French reworking of the classic H.G. Wells story. It is a great TV series. It follows several groups of survivors after the alien attack. Like the “Walking Dead” series it is filled with suspense.

I Am Not Your Negro - SBS on Demand and Stan

Raoul Peck’s amazing documentary exploring the thoughts of James Baldwin as he shares his unfinished novel about the murders of three important figures in the Black rights movement - Malcom X, Martin Luther King and Medgar Evers. It is a powerful film that is beautifully narrated. Relevant viewing for everyone. I was moved by the eloquence of James Baldwin. He was a playright, novelist, poet and activist. I will read his work and learn more about his fight to educate us after seeing this film.

Happy viewing!

Progress today. Books for week one are wrapped … and labelled!

We were recently the recipient of a placemaking grant from Darebin Council and I am personally pretty excited about this because it brings together my first professional job (urban planning) with my current role (community development).

Placemaking is both a process and a philosophy of urban design that capitalises on a local community's assets and potential. Placemaking involves deliberate interventions that enhance the urban experience at the pedestrian scale - to create public spaces that promote health, happiness, and well-being.

Exactly the sorts of lofty things we’re all seeking in these unsettling times right?

To understand what placemaking means in reality you could think about some of the physical changes we’ve made around ACC in the last few years … and how those changes impact on your perception of the space, your sense of belonging to it, and by extension to the organisation itself.

This new Council funded placemaking project that we’re embarking upon is a small scale portable venture - but not a solo undertaking. It is a collaboration with Darebin Libraries and also with Fairfield Bookshop.

And this week we (read Lee) got stuck into turning our idea into reality. By the end of next week phase one should be complete, and we hope to be ready to launch ‘it’ on the street … that street being Station Street in the first instance.

So keep your eyes peeled! We’ll keep you updated on the progress and we’ll provide more details soon.

Plywood, books and sticky notes … what will it all become?