Australia is the only country I have come across that divides its writers into residents and those who have dared to live elsewhere. Can one imagine Americans writing of Ernest Hemingway, or the Brits of Auden, thus? (Carmen Callil, Australian-born founder of Virago Press) That answers one of my questions: that is, whether other nations … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some Australian expat novelists
Month: August 2010
Arnold Jansen op de Haar, King of Tuzla
Translated works always represent a challenge. There is something slightly disconcerting about knowing that you are not reading the actual words of the author, but someone else's interpretation of them. There's been some discussion of this around the blogs and in the media this year, partly because of the publication of Why translation matters by award winning … Continue reading Arnold Jansen op de Haar, King of Tuzla
Dinaw Mengestu, An honest exit
There are, I suppose, two exits in Dinaw Mengestu's short story "An honest exit", which you can read at The New Yorker. One is the exit the father in the story made, when a young man, from his home in Ethiopia and the other is his final exit from life. (No spoiler here: we are … Continue reading Dinaw Mengestu, An honest exit
Kate Jennings, Trouble: Evolution of a radical
I'm not going to beat about the bush but tell it like it is: I absolutely gobbled up Kate Jennings' Trouble: Evolution of a radical: Selected writings 1970-2010. It took me a fortnight to read it, partly because I've been pretty busy but also because there was so much to savour and take in that … Continue reading Kate Jennings, Trouble: Evolution of a radical
Ah, sweet synchronicity of life!
Ok, I know that "synchronicity" doesn't really scan with "mystery" but it just felt right. Last night, wearing one of my hats, I attended the National Film and Sound Archive's event, Coo-ee: Sound Day: Sounds of Australia 2010. (Phew, that's a mouthful isn't it?). Sounds of Australia is an NFSA initiative aimed at creating a … Continue reading Ah, sweet synchronicity of life!
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writers
It's important I think that my third post be on our indigenous writers. Again it's going to be pretty idiosyncratic as my reading in this area has been scattered, not for lack of interest so much as the old "so many books" issue that we all know only too well. I was first introduced to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writers
A cliché by any other name…
In May I posted about Michelle Kern's list of book review clichés. But, of course, book reviewers are not the only ones - or even the worst, I might suggest - to use clichés. They are rife in politics (as those of us living through a Federal election downunder know better than we'd prefer) and … Continue reading A cliché by any other name…
William James, On some mental effects of the earthquake
There are a couple of reasons why I was intrigued to read this week's Library of America offering. The most obvious is that it's by William James. Not only is he a recognised American philosopher and psychologist, but he is also the brother of Henry James, and I have come across him several times in … Continue reading William James, On some mental effects of the earthquake
Monday musings on Australian literature: 5 to get you started
Among the responses to my first Monday Musings post was one from Ingrid of The Blue Bookcase suggesting I post my 5 favourite Australian novels. I had planned something else for this second post but that can wait, as this seems like a great idea. However, rather than post my 5 favourite novels, I've decided … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 5 to get you started
Edgar Allan Poe, Hop-Frog
I am loving the way Library of America is encouraging me to finally read authors I've been meaning to read for a long time. Yes, they are short works, but at least I am getting a sense of these authors - and that's a start. This week's offering is Edgar Allan Poe's "Hop-Frog". Like the … Continue reading Edgar Allan Poe, Hop-Frog
Whispering Gums 