After finishing the day job early yesterday i was straight into the car for a quick trip up to Avid Book Reader bookshop located in West End, Brisbane. After a couple of reds we were entertained by John Birmingham and Tony Maniaty in conversation, with the crew of ABC filming.
Tony Maniaty is the author of a number of works but he talked to us last night about his book Shooting Balibo and the experiences that he went through that motivated the story that he has told.
I must admit I’m not a real fan of the geo-political type of writing, however Tony did keep me interested talking about the experiences that led to the murder of his peers in Timor and his timely escape from the country and the evasion of his own execution.
All to often it is easy to view in hindsight how different actions could have altered the way things happen in life, but i guess thats why they say hindsight is 20/20. I was surprised in some ways to learn that the journalist and crew that were murdered could have avoided thier fate by heeding Tony’s simple words to stay out of the sector. I guess these journalist were following their passion which was to write and report cutting edge news, i cannot hold that against them, but i do wonder in general why we sometimes make these decisions in life.
I intendt to get a copy of Shooting Balibo and do a complete book review of it, but would also appreciate any feedback on this story from anybody else that has had the opportunity to read it. Im interested to see what thoughts it has provoked in everybody else.
Thanks again to the Avid Bookreader for making available these meet the author sessions - it is about supporting the Art and not the profit margin so it is well appreaciated - if you are in West End please make time to drop in the shop and buy a book to help support the arts yourself.
David Hibbins - Bookblog