Dear Colleagues,

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As in the previous year, this year's calendar will form as we go through it month-by-month based on selections that are chosen at the meetings or suggested by various members. To that end, we begin 2025 in January with a book discussion. The book is Malice By Keigo Higashino. In this gripping and unconventional mystery, an acclaimed novelist Kunihiko Hidaka is found murdered in his locked office the night before moving abroad. Detective Kyoichiro Kaga is tasked with uncovering the truth, but the case quickly takes a surprising turn. Not the typical "whodunnit", Malice delves into the deeper questions of why and how, unravelling layers of motives and deceit. With well-paced storytelling and psychological insight, Keigo Higashino crafts a compelling tale that keeps readers questioning every detail until the final revelation. A thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche and the nature of malice.

  In February we explore the OpenAi text to video tool Sora. This will be an interactive "movie" session, where we try our hand at video making using Sora, based on prompts suggested by participants. There is a lot of material one can find on the internet, but I recommend a quick browse of the tutorial on this page.

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In March we read Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. The first novel of a trilogy, set in a distant future ruled by the vast Radch empire, Ancillary Justice follows Breq, the sole surviving fragment of a once-powerful starship AI, seeking vengeance for a devastating betrayal. As she navigates political intrigue and questions of identity, Breq must adapt to her new, limited human form while confronting the empire that created and destroyed her. Ann Leckie’s groundbreaking novel is a gripping tale of revenge, justice, and the nature of consciousness, challenging perceptions of gender and identity through the Radchaai language, which erases distinctions and forces readers to reconsider their assumptions about character and power. Ancillary Justice made history as the first novel to win all four of science fiction’s major awards - the Hugo, Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke, and Philip K. Dick - cementing Leckie’s place as a major voice in the genre.

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In April we have a movie session, where we discuss All We Imagine As Light by Payal Kapadia."All We Imagine as Light" is a 2024 drama directed by Payal Kapadia that intricately weaves the lives of three women—Prabha, Anu, and Parvati—working at a hospital in Mumbai. Prabha, a head nurse, faces the emotional void left by her estranged husband who moved to Germany; Anu, her younger roommate, navigates a concealed relationship with a Muslim man amidst societal prejudices; and Parvati, a cook, confronts eviction due to urban redevelopment. The narrative delves into themes of female friendship, desire, and the quest for personal freedom within a patriarchal society. Kapadia's portrayal of Mumbai juxtaposes the city's bustling chaos with moments of dreamlike tranquility, capturing the essence of urban life and the characters' inner worlds. The film's evocative storytelling and visual poetry earned it the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, marking a significant achievement for Indian cinema on the international stage.

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To learn more about our events please see the Past and Upcoming Events section below.

Kind regards,

Radhika Lahiri

Executive Director, WEN, Qld.

On behalf of the No Free Lunch Book and Movie Club