Well, actually, it's not quite "and now" because booktubers have been around for a while - apparently. Or, so I read in an article, sent to me by occasional commenter here Neil. (Thanks Neil.) The article is from ABC RN's The Hub program: it contains a link to the segment on the radio program, as … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: And now it’s booktubers
Month: October 2018
Delicious descriptions: EM Forster and downsizing
My reading group's next book is EM Forster's Howard's end which I first read at university in 1973. (My lovely Penguin Modern Classics edition cost me all of $1.20.) It's a delicious read and I'm falling in love with Forster all over again. My full post on it will go up some time next week, … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: EM Forster and downsizing
Amanda Duthie (ed.), Margaret & David: 5 stars (#BookReview)
Margaret and David, the subjects of this delightful, eponymously named collection of reminiscences and essays, do not need last names here in Australia. They are just "margaretanddavid". But, since we have an international readership here, I should formally introduce them. Margaret and David are Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton, Australia's best-known and best-loved film critics … Continue reading Amanda Duthie (ed.), Margaret & David: 5 stars (#BookReview)
Queensland Literary Awards 2018 winners announced
Hot off tonight's twitter feed are this year's winners of the Queensland Literary Awards. They combine specific state awards and awards for which all Australian writers are eligible. Here is the whole suite of winners in the order they were announced: Queensland Premier’s Award for a work of State Significance: Jackie Ryan's Expo 88 Young Publishers … Continue reading Queensland Literary Awards 2018 winners announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Memorable homes in Aussie novels
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again" is a novel opener that many of us will recognise, I'm sure. It comes, of course, from Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. For some reason it popped into my head recently, and it got me thinking, not about first lines, but about famous fictional houses - and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Memorable homes in Aussie novels
Nadia Wheatley, Her mother’s daughter: A memoir (#BookReview)
In Her mother's daughter: A memoir, Australian writer Nadia Wheatley has written the sort of hybrid biography-memoir that I've reviewed a few times in this blog. All of them, as I mentioned in my recent Meet the Author post, have been mother-daughter stories, Susan Varga’s Heddy and me, Anna Rosner Blay’s Sister, sister, and Halina Rubin’s … Continue reading Nadia Wheatley, Her mother’s daughter: A memoir (#BookReview)
Dymphna Clark Lecture: Clare Wright and You daughters of freedom
According to the University of Melbourne website, the Dymphna Clark Lecture "is delivered annually by a lecturer who exemplifies the deep commitment Dymphna Clark showed to Australia's intellectual and cultural life." Strangely, I can't find a description of the lecture series on the Manning Clark House site which, I believe, is behind the lecture series. … Continue reading Dymphna Clark Lecture: Clare Wright and You daughters of freedom
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist, 2018, announced
I don't always announce all literary awards shortlists, but have decided to announce the Prime Minister's Literary Awards shortlist this year. The press release says that over 500 books were submitted across the 6 categories. Is that all? I guess I would have expected more, but it is somewhat expensive to submit, particularly for small publishers. … Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist, 2018, announced
Monday Musings on Australian literature: the Australasian Home Reading Union et al (2)
You may remember that a couple of weeks ago I wrote a Monday Musings post on the Australasian Home Reading Union - and said at the time that I'd probably write more because I'd like to see what happened to it. Well, here is the next instalment. Please note, though, that my research isn't as … Continue reading Monday Musings on Australian literature: the Australasian Home Reading Union et al (2)
Sue Williams, Live and let fry (#BookReview)
Well, 2018 is clearly "the year of the Mallee" here at Whispering Gums, with Sue Williams' Rusty Bore Mystery, Live and let fry, being my third Mallee-set book so far this year. The others are Jenny Ackland's Little gods (my review) and Charlie Archbold's Mallee boys (my review). By the time I visit the Mallee … Continue reading Sue Williams, Live and let fry (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 