Name 

Kane Casson 

Chapter: 

Gladstone 

What’s your story? 

I'm Kane, grew up in CQ, but back when I was 17 and finished school, I could not wait the GTFO. I went to Brissie for uni and got drunk and hurt myself more often than I studied. After graduating Uni my only plan for the future was to go to South America and party and meet girls there. So, while saving for that I got quite involved (perhaps passively) with the Brisbane music scene and community radio and even briefly hosted a Monday breakfast show called "The People's Republic of Rock and Roll" (appropriated pinched from a Pynchon book). After wearily returning from several years of a post 'revolution' and slightly post-apocalyptic Venezuela I studied again to get a "real job" and ended up travelling a bit around Australia for around 5 years pursuing said career. I did struggle socially each time I uprooted myself to a new location and I was looking for a way to engage with blokes, but also, I was a keen reader from my youth. When I was in Warwick, I thought to give TGBC Toowoomba a shot and loved the discussion and camaraderie with the goons there. Later, when I moved to Gladstone, I initially had been driving to Rockhampton to attend but later put my hand up to pull the trigger to try open a Gladstone chapter, which after a slow start has been going great guns since :) 

How long have you been with TGBC? First Book? 

Since Mid-2021, I drove from Warwick to Toowoomba to discuss The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. Since then, I have participated in 3 chapters and have been fortunate enough to be able to make the pilgrimage to Victoria twice for the annual camp where I met a lot of great guys just having fun, being authentic and themselves, and occasionally discussing books, or life in general. 

How did you end up coming to TGBC? 

I was living in a small town and looking for social options, especially some which I could spend time with blokes (I work in a very female dominated field), and I had a recently torn meniscus, so I needed something that wasn't physical like sport. It must have been through an online search I somehow came across TGBC and borrowed the book from the library and drove out to Toowoomba one evening on the first Wednesday of the month. 

What is your favourite TGBC book? 

Station Eleven by Emily St Mandel. Written about a worldwide pandemic killing most people (written pre-covid) and humanity trying to stay human, kind, and creative. The book also has a timeline which jumps around like Pulp Fiction and little by little the reader weaves and links all the common denominators of the pre, peri and post pandemic times. A great read! There is a longer review also on TGBC Website. 

Why are you a member of TGBC? 

It means a lot to me to be connected with blokes from around the country and the globe who are interested in discussing great (and not so great) ideas, life and occasionally getting out of their comfort zone. There is a wealth of knowledge and experiences abundant. Since being involved with TGBC I have been challenged to try books or experiences I wouldn't have otherwise, and oh the banter, shit-talking and just plain old belly laughs. And it gratifies the soul when I get to observe goons from the chapter over time come out of their shells, let themselves into the lives of the others and absolutely get into the ethos of read more, talk more, be more connected. 

What do you think a "Tough Guy" is? 

Someone who steps up when something uncomfortable needs to be done. Mind you it does even have to be physical (but that by all means is included). This could range from hard necessary sweaty labour, long journeys, showing up to work, awkward conversations, reading a book you're not quite into to discuss with a bunch of awesome goons, changing a disgusting nappy or anything in between. 

What is your favourite library?  

I've found most small towns have a pretty kick-ass library but the Gladstone one is also great, elevated on a hill overlooking the marina and views of sunsets behind Mt Larcom. Good books and media available too. 

What book have we not read that you'd like to do at TGBC? 

Shantaram. It's long and full of flowery poetic philosophic prose, but also violence, regret shame, grief, redemption and a mountain range of highs and lows. 

What is something people wouldn't know about you if they judged you by your cover? 

I'm introverted, shy, a long history of insecurity and fear of being rejected. I sometimes act in a devil may care cocky manner in public but that may be overcompensation to try push away from that younger me who never felt like I was good enough. I speak Spanish after 5 years in South America which is uncommon in small town Central Queensland. Also when people meet me they are often surprised I am involved in a men's book club in an industrial town. Kinda fit, moustachioed, tattooed dudes usually have different interests around here!