IN SHORT
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday February 13, 2010
TERRABy Richard HamblynPicador, 267pp, $49.99There have been, according to environmental writer Richard Hamblyn, several natural events so catastrophic they have profoundly affected the way human beings deal with the planet. The earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 led to a set of rules being established for international humanitarian aid and helped establish seismology as a science.In 1783, Europe experienced a summer of dramatic and unusual weather. This led to the development of the science of climatology and presaged the role of mass media in the circulation of disaster information.In 1883, Krakatoa erupted with such force that, with the recent advent of telegraphy, the impact of the eruption and its effects on the atmosphere around the world were monitored, ushering in an era of global awareness of natural disasters.Hamblyn places each disaster in a larger historic context, uses contemporary accounts to dramatise the events and explains how each catastrophe changed the way humanity dealt with the natural world.If you feel the need for an antidote to the rabid anti-Muslim rhetoric that has been far too common in recent times, this biography of great Canterbury-Bankstown winger and goal kicker Hazem El Masri is a timely reminder that racial stereotypes are ugly generalisations worthy only of disdainful dismissal.El Masri grew up in Lebanon at a time when the country was convulsed by war. His parents tried to emigrate to Canada, failed in their application and, through family connections, got residency in Australia. El Masri's first love was soccer but he abandoned it after experiencing racism and violence.Before he left school he was playing rugby league. He worked his way through the ranks at Canterbury-Bankstown, never deviated from his faith, married a Muslim girl and evolved into one of rugby league's finest players. In an age of large salaries and celebrity players, he remained true to Canterbury-Bankstown and, when rugby league was getting a "bad boy" reputation, he remained true to his religion and his strong moral beliefs.EL MAGICBy Bill WoodsHarperSports, 404pp, $35For those who believe much of rock music is high farce, notable for its adolescent excess and stupidity, you'll love this book.John Harris belongs to that grand tradition of British rock writers who love the music and are fascinated by the stupidity. They balance their enthusiasm with a world-weary ennui at the warm glow of craziness that seems to smother everything. Think only of Bob Dylan's born-again Christian phase ("The real truth is that Jesus is coming back already. And you just watch your newspapers"), Keith Richards on drugs ("I must say, in fairness to the poppy, that never once did I have a cold"), the ongoing slanging match of high abuse between Noel and Liam Gallagher, the religious thoughts of Little Richard, The Sun's accusation that Elton John had his dogs operated on to remove their bark (Elton won 1 million when he sued) and the demented thoughts of Kurt Cobain's ex-partner, Courtney Love.Few books provide as much fun and, as a bonus, it is well researched and, amazingly, avoids the predictable urban myths that abound in the music industry.HAIL! HAIL! ROCK'N'ROLLBy John HarrisSphere, 208pp, $39.99
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