In her prose piece, "Ocean of story" (my post), Christina Stead wrote that It is only when the short story is written to a rigid plan, or done as an imitation, that it dies. It dies when it is pinned down, but not elsewhere. It is the million drops of water that are the looking-glasses … Continue reading Carmel Bird, Love letter to Lola (#BookReview)
Month: September 2023
Monday musings on Australian literature: Introducing Uninnocent landscapes
You heard it here first - or, first(ish) anyhow, as the webpage is up and orders are already coming in for a new, beautiful book, Uninnocent landscapes: Following George Augustus Robinson’s Big River Mission. Yes, I admit it isn't out yet so I haven't actually seen it, but I know it is beautiful because I've … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Introducing Uninnocent landscapes
Mary TallMountain, Snatched away (#Review)
Mary TallMountain's "Snatched away" is the ninth story of fourteen in the anthology, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers, that I've been working through this year. It, like the previous three, was published in the 1980s, in 1988 in this case. Mary TallMountain Anthology editor Bob Blaisdell provides minimal information about her. He … Continue reading Mary TallMountain, Snatched away (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Series or standalone?
I started my recent post on Shelley Burr's crime novel Ripper with a statement that crime novels are often written in series and that I am not a big series fan. Ripper looked at the start to be a standalone novel, but a few chapters in the protagonist from her first novel Wake appears. From … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Series or standalone?
Shelley Burr, Ripper (#BookReview)
When I started reading Ripper, Shelley Burr's follow-up novel to her bestselling award-winning debut novel Wake (my review), I thought about crime novels, about how they are often written in series and how I am not a big series fan. Ripper looked to me like a stand-alone novel - and it is, somewhat! I say … Continue reading Shelley Burr, Ripper (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Elizabeth Webby (1941-2023)
This might be a first for me, an obituary-style post for an academic/literary scholar rather than for an author. However, this post seemed appropriate as, Elizabeth Webby, who died last month, is someone whom I've mentioned several times in my blog due to her having written in areas that are of interest to me. Specifically, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Elizabeth Webby (1941-2023)
Pat Barker, The women of Troy (#BookReview)
I shocked my reading group last week when I announced during our discussion of Pat Barker's novel, The women of Troy, that I was tiring of feminist re-imaginings of historical women. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the novel, and it is definitely not to say that I am not interested in … Continue reading Pat Barker, The women of Troy (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
Occasionally, as you know, I use my Monday Musings post to make awards announcements, particularly if the announcement is made on Monday, as this award usually is. And so it happened again today, a Monday, that the shortlist for this award was announced. I have written about it before and so if you are interested … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
Six degrees of separation, FROM Wifedom TO …
Woo hoo, our house is sold (though not quite off our hands), and spring has sprung down under (just), so the Gums are feeling ready to begin the next stage of our lives. We are relieved, but, you know, it's acceptance that we are on the downward trajectory - to put it bluntly, so let's … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Wifedom TO …
Whispering Gums 