There's been a little discussion going on during this Novella November month concerning nonfiction novellas. I contend - yes, I'm putting myself out there - that a "novella" is fiction, and that you can no more have a nonfiction novella than, well, fly. However, I am not going to get into this debate now, because, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Short Australian nonfiction
Month: November 2021
Omar Musa’s Killernova book launch, with Irma Gold
Local performance poet-novelist-artist Omar Musa's latest book, Killernova, had two launches in Canberra this weekend, one with Polly Hemming and the other with Irma Gold. Being Gold fans, Mr Gums and I booked her session, and it was both engaging and illuminating, but I have it on good authority that Polly Hemming's session, though different, … Continue reading Omar Musa’s Killernova book launch, with Irma Gold
Helen Meany, Every day is Gertie Day (#BookReview)
Helen Meany's Every day is Gertie Day is the third Viva La Novella winner that I've read and posted about on my blog, the other two being Julie Proudfoot's The neighbour (my review) and Mirandi Riwoe's The fish girl (my review). All are memorable reads, and do this award proud - and no, I am … Continue reading Helen Meany, Every day is Gertie Day (#BookReview)
Nonfiction November 2021: Stranger than fiction
Week 4 of Nonfiction November ... rolling right along ... Nonfiction November, as you surely know by now, is hosted by several bloggers, with week 4 hosted by Christopher at Plucked from the Stacks: This week we’re focusing on all the great nonfiction books that *almost* don’t seem real. A sports biography involving overcoming massive … Continue reading Nonfiction November 2021: Stranger than fiction
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 6: Novellas
Yes, I know, novellas aren't really a genre, but when I started this sub-series I couldn't find one word to cover all the types of literary works I thought I might end up covering, so we are all going to have to live with "genres". OK? Many of you will know why I've chosen novellas … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 6: Novellas
S-S-S Snake, Kate Jennings’ Snake, that is
I thoroughly enjoyed Tegan Bennett Daylight's essay on Helen Garner's Cosmo cosmolino (1992) in Reading like an Australian writer. Consequently, I plan, over time, to read and share other essays in this book - at least those discussing books I've reviewed here. As it happens, there is an essay by Debra Adelaide on Kate Jennings' … Continue reading S-S-S Snake, Kate Jennings’ Snake, that is
Nonfiction November 2021: Be the expert, etc
Week 3 of Nonfiction November ... a record, for me! Nonfiction November, as you know, is hosted by several bloggers, with Week 3: (November 15-19) – Be the expert/Ask the expert/Become the expert hosted by Veronica at The Thousand Book Project: Three ways to join in this week! You can either share 3 or more … Continue reading Nonfiction November 2021: Be the expert, etc
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 5: Crime
When I decided to write this sub-series, the genre that nearly stopped me before I started was crime, because I knew I'd have to do it! CRIME is so-o-o big that it's hard to know where to start ... so, I'm just going to dive in, share a select number of ideas, and let the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 5: Crime
Alf Taylor, God, the devil and me (#BookReview)
It was a complete coincidence that, as I was writing last week's Monday Musings post on diversity and memoir, I was also reading a First Nations memoir, but such is the reading life, eh? The memoir, Alf Taylor's God, the devil and me, is, however, both very much a memoir but also its own thing, … Continue reading Alf Taylor, God, the devil and me (#BookReview)
Nonfiction November 2021: Book pairings
Week 2 of Nonfiction November and I'm still here, playing along. Nonfiction November, as you know, is hosted by several bloggers, with Week 2: (November 8-12) – Book pairings, hosted by Katie at Doing Dewey. This week we need to "pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. It can be a “If you loved … Continue reading Nonfiction November 2021: Book pairings
Whispering Gums 