Now I know many Australians see Canberra, their national capital, as a soulless, boring, sliced-white-bread sort of place but not so. There is life here. Art is happening - and it's fresh, vibrant and young. Not all our young people have left (yet!). Last night Mr Gums and I went to the opening of a … Continue reading Villainesses thriving in Canberra
Month: November 2013
Bianca Nogrady, The end: The human experience of death (Review)
Have you thought about your death? About how and where you want to die? These are the questions Australian science journalist Bianca Nogrady asks us to consider in her recent book, The end: the human experience of death. I'm not a morbid person, but when Nogrady contacted me to ask whether I'd consider reviewing her … Continue reading Bianca Nogrady, The end: The human experience of death (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Hazel Rowley Literary Fund
It seemed appropriate to talk about the Hazel Rowley Literary Fund this week given that several commenters on my review of Christina Stead's For love alone mentioned Rowley's well-regarded biography of Christina Stead. Quite coincidentally - amazing how often such coincidences occur isn't it - AustLit posted on their blog last week a piece titled … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Hazel Rowley Literary Fund
Thoughts on Christina Stead’s writing in For love alone
I can't resist writing another post on Christina Stead's For love alone, which I reviewed recently. Usually in my reviews I make some comments about the writing, but that review was getting so long that I decided to leave that discussion for another day. I'm embarrassed to admit that For love alone is my first … Continue reading Thoughts on Christina Stead’s writing in For love alone
Christina Stead, For love alone (Review)
In a recent communication with local author Nigel Featherstone about reviewing, he reminded me of Peter Rose's advice for new reviewers for the ABR. One of the points Rose makes is: with major books, ones that have been reviewed extensively in the newspapers, submit reviews that add to our understanding of the book, not just repetitious … Continue reading Christina Stead, For love alone (Review)
Whispering Gums 