Poet Peter Steele is next Summer Read author blogging from 15 – 19 February.

Peter Steele is a Jesuit priest who lives in Melbourne, and a Professor Emeritus at the
University of Melbourne. He has been a visiting professor at universities in Chicago, New York and Washington DC. He has also published homilies, criticisms on modern poetry and the art of autobiography.
His Poetry book White Knight with Beebox is one of the books on the Summer Read shortlist.

White Knight with Beebox is an inspired collection of poems showcasing Peter’s delicate and precise touch in traditional poetic form, his striking emotional range and moving lyricism. With 82 pages worth of new poems, and a rich collection of his earlier work, this compilation outlines a lifetime of passionate thinking.

As part of the free Summer Read events across Victoria, Peter will be appearing at:

Watsonia Library, Ibbotson Street Watsonia on Tuesday 17 February 2009, 6.30 – 8.00 pm
This event is co-hosted with The Australian Poetry Centre and also features the
Launch of Watsonia Bookgrove
For more information phone Watsonia Library 9435 2397 or book online at http://summerread25.eventbrite.com

St Kilda Library, 50 Carlisle Street St Kilda on Thursday 19 February 2009, 6.30 – 8.00 pm
This event is co-hosted with The Australian Poetry Centre
For more information phone St Kilda Library 9209 6655 or book online at http://summerread29.eventbrite.com

What Peter says about summer reading

“About 45 years ago I found myself marooned in Melbourne for a good deal of one summer.  Taking a deep and greedy breath, I made my way through Proust’s great work in the English translation which was my only access.  I followed this up with most of Kafka and with a stiff dose of Thomas Mann.  I was probably too grave a young man for my own good, and heaven knows how much of this banquet of prose may have stayed with me.  But at least the exercise must have been good for me:  almost the whole affair was conducted walking up and down on grassy slopes in Kew.”

Port Phillip Library Service held their launch of the Summer Read 2008 program at St Kilda Library earlier in December.

Champagne and light refreshments were followed by a two hour piece of hilarious theatre with comedian, Monica Dullard, an expert reading consultant, who engaged the audience in an interactive book chat that was full of love and absurdity.

It would not be exaggerating to say that lives were changed by the experience. Using her inherent wisdom, intuition and impressive psychic abilities Maura was able to give reading guidance that will in many instances give new life directions to the recipients.

Also impressive was her knowledge of the 20 titles on the Summer Read List and the ease with which she knew which title would suit each individual. Her state of the art reading match machine was a miracle to behold.

The atmosphere after two hours of interactive fun with Maura was so friendly that I believe the entire audience is off with her on a cruise as soon as it can be organised.

St Kilda Library will be co hosting, with the Australian Poetry Centre, poet Peter Steele author of White Knight with Beebox one of the books on the Summer Read shortlist on Thursday 19 February, 6.30 - 8.00pm. For more information, or to visit the state of the art reading machine, phone 9209 6655 or book online at http://summerread29.eventbrite.com.