Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga's This mournable body was my reading group's February book. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, it is Dangarembga's third novel, and is a sequel to Nervous conditions (1988) and The book of not (2006), neither of which I've read. These novels are written in English, the language of Dangarembga's schooling, though she … Continue reading Tsitsi Dangarembga, This mournable body (#BookReview)
Month: February 2021
Bill’s literary tour of the Mallee
I love road-tripping around different parts of Australia, and for some time now have had a hankering to explore the Mallee-Wimmera region of western Victoria. This hankering has been enthusiastically supported by Bill (The Australian Legend) for whom this part of Australia was his youthful stomping ground. We have discussed the region and what might … Continue reading Bill’s literary tour of the Mallee
Monday musings on Australian literature: Mining in Australian fiction
I was inspired to write this post by Bill's (The Australian Legend) post on Catherine Helen Spence's novel Clara Morison whose subtitle is "a tale of South Australia during the gold fever". Mining is one of Australia's biggest industries. Iron, copper, coal, silver, gold, zinc, bauxite and opals have all played significant roles in Australia's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Mining in Australian fiction
Bill curates: Charles Dickens and Australia
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue’s vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. I'm such a fan of Monday Musings - I guess we wouldn't be here if we didn't all enjoy talking about books, and writing, and authors, and translators, and publishers - … Continue reading Bill curates: Charles Dickens and Australia
Elizabeth Harrower, The long prospect (#BookReview)
Oppression and tyranny, power and manipulation in human relationships are the stuff of Elizabeth Harrower's writing, at least in my experience of it, and so I found it again in her second novel The long prospect. Unlike The watch tower (my review), however, which explores the more traditional domination of women by a man, The … Continue reading Elizabeth Harrower, The long prospect (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: World Radio Day
2021 marks the tenth anniversary of World Radio Day. Hands up if you knew that? I didn't, even though I like listening to the radio, and do in fact listen to it most days. Some background An initiative, apparently, of the Spanish Radio Academy, World Radio Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2011, and was … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: World Radio Day
Bill curates: Some Australian expat novelists
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue’s vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. I'm a bit over seeing my name up the top here, but Sue has asked me to keep going for a little longer, and how could I possibly say no. This … Continue reading Bill curates: Some Australian expat novelists
Monday musings on Australian literature: FAW Activities (1)
FAW, or, the Fellowship of Australian Writers, was established in Sydney in 1928. Its exact origins are uncertain but the Oxford Companion of Australian Literature believes that the poet Dame Mary Gilmore was encouraged by another poet Roderic Quinn, to hold a meeting of writers. Poet, critic and professor of literature John Le Gay Brereton became the president. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: FAW Activities (1)
Six degrees of separation, FROM Redhead by the side of the road TO …
What a strange summer we've had. Last year it was fires and smoke, and this year, lower temperatures and rain. I rather like the heat, but it has been good to have a calmer time. Now though to that thing that stayed with us unchanged all through 2020, come hail or shine, come fire or … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Redhead by the side of the road TO …
Vale my dear old Dad (1920-2021)
If it was my Mum who introduced me to Jane Austen and the classics of English literature, together with a love of language (and thus Scrabble and cryptic crosswords), it was my Dad who introduced me to Australiana, starting in my youth with the verse (as the poet himself called it) of Banjo Paterson. The … Continue reading Vale my dear old Dad (1920-2021)
Whispering Gums 