Worse Things Happen at Sea

Description

In William's first book A MAN'S GOT TO HAVE A HOBBY he wrote about family life in the 1960s with humour, affection and honesty. WORSE THINGS HAPPEN AT SEA does the same for family life in 2000s; written by William and Sarah in a way that many Australians can relate to and enjoy. This book celebrates the wonderful, messy, haphazard things in life - bringing home babies from hospital, being a friend, a parent, son or daughter, and dog obedience classes. It's about living for twenty years in the family home, raising children there, chasing angry rabbits around the backyard, renovations that never end. It is also about understanding that sometimes you have to say goodbye; that is part of life too. Illustrated throughout with Sarah Watt's photographs of family life and beautiful but everyday objects.

William McInnes is established in his ability both as a columnist and author in writing pieces that celebrate life whilst encompassing the wide emotions and situations being human can bring. His bestselling titles are 'A Man's Got To Have A Hobby', 'Cricket Kings', That'd Be Right', and 'The Making of Modern Australia'. Sarah Watt investigates the same themes in her films and writing. She studied fine art at the Phillip Institute, Melbourne, and is an AFI award-winning filmmaker who has been working as a writer, director and producer for over twenty years. Her films have won major international awards, including at the Venice, and Toronto film festivals. Her work is represented in the permanent collection at MOMA, New York. She has recently also completed the children s picture book, 'Clem Always Could'. William and Sarah collaborated on the acclaimed film Look Both Ways. They live in Melbourne with their two children.

In this quiet, gentle book, actor and writer William McInnes joins his wife, filmmaker Sarah Watt, to describe the unexceptional fabric of their suburban lives. The effect is remarkable. But even in the most ordinary of lives there are heartbreaking events that McInnes and Watt deal with in a way in which sensitivity is never overwhelmed by drama... This is more than a book about ordinariness. It is a subtle celebration of the simple, transcendental joys of love and family, set against the recurrence of Watt's cancer which, as she wrote, moved into her bones and the challenge of dealing with the stark reality that it was terminal. - The Sydney Morning Herald If you could use some inspiration to seize the day, this lovely book could be for you. - The Canberra Times What a beautiful and tactile book to have and to hold, to read through, to skip through, to enjoy the beauty of filmmaker Sarah Watt's photography and the excellence of the entire publication. It is a privilege to be a part of actor William McInnes and Watt's domain, sharing the laughter, sadness and simple pleasures and humility of their lives. - Ballarat Courier