After a great break over the festive season, our Book Club is back on the go!

There are plenty exciting plans for the year ahead, plenty great books on the way and plenty fantastic authors we’ll be introducing you to over the next few months.

To kick off 2008, please welcome our guest reviewer - Annie Grossman of Written Dimension Book Shop, Noosa Junction - who has been fortunate enough to get her hands on a copy of The God of Speed by Australian author, Luke Davies.

Deb Perry

The God of Speed

Luke Davies penned the award-winning modern day classic "Candy", which sold over 35,000 copies and was made into a brilliant and confronting film.

He also wrote the extremely underrated "Isabelle The Navigator" and the verse novel, "Totem".

I was very excited to receive an advance copy of Luke's new book "God of Speed" which is due for release in April this year.

"God of Speed" is again confronting, but beautifully written.

It is the story of Howard Hughes, and the final day or so of his life where he is laying in a bed, hopelessly addicted to drugs and protected from all visitors, but more importantly, the germs they carry.

As his power ebbs, he contemplates his life, a rollercoaster of drugs, oil, money, power, fame, women, aircraft, Hollywood and a lot more!

Luke has gathered information from Hughes' life, and I must say I wasn't aware that he had slept with so many of the most famous screen stars in cinematic history!

Luke doesn't spare the details of these encounters, so if you are easily unsettled by sexual detail, you may wish to avoid this one!

I personally found the details very much in context with the novel, not thrown in to titillate.

Luke Davies is one of Australia's secret treasures.

His writing, despite his tough subject matter, is lyrical and compelling.

I think Howard Hughes himself would have been pretty happy with this one!

The book will be available at Written Dimension in April, published by Allen and Unwin, RRP: $33.00.

Have you read any Luke Davies? What’s your favourite? Let us know!

About Annie Grossman and the Written Dimension Book Shop.

Annie Grossman is a legend in Noosa. A driving force in the Noosa Long Weekend and with a business card with the title ‘Book Detective’ one knows that your dealing with the real thing: a true bibliophile.

The Written Dimension is the longest running bookshop in Noosa. Manager Rachel has been there for over 12 years and both Annie and Nina have been there for over a decade. The Written Dimension is extremely community minded and staff take time encouraging kids to read and adults to rediscover the joys of books.

The Written Dimension incorporates an ABC Centre and stock a wide selection of DVD’s and an eclectic range of music.

The Written Dimension LOVE bringing exciting guests to Noosa and have brought literally hundreds! These include – Jeffrey Archer, Wilbur Smith, Jamie Oliver, Ian Rankin, Tim Winton, Gregory david Robert, Maggie Beer, Janet Turner Hospital, Minette Walters, Lynda LaPlante, Chrissie Amphlett, Wayne Bennett….and the list goes on and on…

And the most important thing, people just love coming into the shop. Pop in and say hello to Annie and the girls next time you’re in the Junction.

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