A little over three years ago, I wrote a Monday musings about the GAN (aka the Great Australian Novel) and the canon. I concluded with the questions: Do you think there is value to the idea of a canon? Or does it discourage wide and open-minded reading and coincidentally encourage a too narrow view of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Once more unto the breach
Month: June 2014
Delicious descriptions: Wallace Stegner on “what writers do”
In my recent review of Stegner's last novel, Crossing to safety, I talked a little about the nature of art (in its wider meaning). I wanted to include the following excerpt but it was a little long, and anyhow, I felt it deserved its own post. So, here it is ... About two-thirds through the … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Wallace Stegner on “what writers do”
Miles Franklin Award 2014
Well, the Miles Franklin Award judges have announced the winner of the 2014 award, and it is Evie Wyld's All the birds, singing - the only shortlisted book I've read! How lucky am I? Check my review, if you are interested. I loved All the birds, singing, and agree with the judges that it is “spare, yet … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2014
Wallace Stegner, Crossing to safety (Review)
Nearly two decades ago, I read Wallace Stegner's Angle of repose. I loved it. Indeed, for many years I had the following quote from it on my work whiteboard: "Civilisations grow by agreements and accommodations and accretions, not by repudiations". Not just civilisations, I thought, but marriages, teams, organisations. I like the way this man thinks. … Continue reading Wallace Stegner, Crossing to safety (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Red Room Poetry Object Competition 2014
Just a quick Monday Musings today but an interesting one I hope. Red Room Poetry Object is a poetry-writing competition for Australian students in Years 3-10. It was created by The Red Room Company, which is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in 2003. It apparently grew out of the Red Room Radio Show. The company's aim is … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Red Room Poetry Object Competition 2014
Winter Solstice: New Lights and Dark Chords
While Hobartians are enjoying a full-on festival - Dark Mofo - to celebrate the Winter Solstice, we here in the national capital have had our little celebration. Or, at least, Mr Gums and I attended one. There might be others going on that I know nothing about. Winter Solstice: New Lights and Dark Chords was, … Continue reading Winter Solstice: New Lights and Dark Chords
Australia’s first Arbor Day
At the National Arboretum, Canberra Do you ever wonder what a few generations hence will think about the way we do things? About how we put on our festivals and celebrations? Whether they will think how silly we look - and, I don't mean "silly" in the ways we may have intended but "silly" in … Continue reading Australia’s first Arbor Day
Monday musings on Australian literature: Barbara Baynton
It's a while since I've devoted a Monday Musings to an individual author - my last being, I think, Jessica Anderson back in February 2012 - and so I thought it was high time for another one, if only to mix the series up a bit! My choice for today is - well, you know who it … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Barbara Baynton
J. Sterling Morton, About trees (Review)
One of the first Library of America stories I wrote about here was John Muir's "A wind-storm in the forests", so when I saw one titled "About trees" pop up recently, I had to read it. By recently, I mean April - as the Library of America published it to coincide with Arbor Day in the … Continue reading J. Sterling Morton, About trees (Review)
On Howard Goldenberg writing about indigenous matters
It's funny how reviews go, at least how mine go anyhow. They sometimes head me off in a direction quite different to the one I started and I feel powerless* to change it. That happened with my recent review of Howard Goldenberg's novel, Carrots and Jaffas. I started by mentioning the issue of white writers … Continue reading On Howard Goldenberg writing about indigenous matters
Whispering Gums 