When my reading group started back in 1988, most of us were time-poor mothers so we had a rule-of-thumb that our books could not be longer than 350 pages. Those days, however, are long gone, and some time ago we agreed that our January (aka summer) read could be a BIG book. Last year, for … Continue reading Andrew O’Hagan, Caledonian Road (#BookReview)
Month: January 2025
Monday musings on Australian literature: Historical fiction by First Nations writers
With this weekend in Australia being a long weekend for Australia Day (or, Invasion Day), I decided that the best thing I could do would be to write a post promoting historical fiction by First Nations Australian writers. While there are First Nations historians writing histories, I figure more people read historical fiction, given I'd … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Historical fiction by First Nations writers
Alice Ruth Moore, A carnival jangle (#Review)
Over the last two years I worked my way through the anthology Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers that was sent to me by my American friend Carolyn. It introduced me to many writers I hadn't read before, and, valuably, to the issues and concerns facing some of America's first peoples. Many of … Continue reading Alice Ruth Moore, A carnival jangle (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale SPN or?
Late last year I went looking for the 2024 winner of the Small Press Network’s Book of the Year (BOTY) Award, originally called the MUBA (Most Underrated Book Award). It is/was an annual award highlighting ‘authorial and publishing excellence by small and independent publishers’, and is/was open to any book released by an SPN member … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale SPN or?
Gavin Casey, Dust (#Review)
I have had to put aside the novel I was reading for Bill's Gen 1-3 Aussie male writers week, as my reading group book called. I will get back to it, and post on it later, but in the meantime, I wanted to post something in the actual week. So, I turned, as I have for other … Continue reading Gavin Casey, Dust (#Review)
Gideon Haigh, My brother Jaz (#Review)
When I posted my first review of the year - for Marion Halligan's Words for Lucy - I apologised for starting the year with a book about grief and loss. What I didn't admit then was that my next review would also be for a work about grief and loss, Gideon Haigh's extended essay, My … Continue reading Gideon Haigh, My brother Jaz (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bill’s Australian White Men Gen 1-3
For several years now, Bill (The Australian Legend blog) has run a week dedicated to "generations" in Australian literature, focusing until this year on Australian Women Writers. This year, however, he has changed tack, and decided to look at Australia's early male writers - who were, of course, in that colonial landscape, mostly white. He … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bill’s Australian White Men Gen 1-3
Marion Halligan, Words for Lucy (#BookReview)
For my reading group's tribute to Marion Halligan last year, I had planned to read one of her older novels, Wishbone, which I did (my review), and her last book, the memoir Words for Lucy, which I didn't. But, I have now. I guess a book born of a mother's grief for a daughter who … Continue reading Marion Halligan, Words for Lucy (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2025
For some years now, my first Monday Musings of the year has comprised a selected list of new Australian book releases for the coming year. And, for many years, the bulk of this post came from a comprehensive list prepared by Jane Sullivan for the Sydney Morning Herald. However, this year's SMH's list, prepared by … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2025
Six degrees of separation, FROM Orbital TO …
Woo hoo, a new year - and a Happy New Year to you all - but our old-faithful Six Degrees meme continues on. I'd like to thank Kate for keeping on with this meme as it's the only one I like to do, and I do like being part of the Six Degrees community. Now … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Orbital TO …
Whispering Gums 