If there are people I admire more than any others, it's those who are able to empathise with, and forgive, someone who has done them great wrong. This complex question of forgiveness - of self and of others - is one of the issues explored in Enza Gandolfo's Stella Prize short-listed novel, The bridge. However, it's … Continue reading Enza Gandolfo, The bridge (#Bookreview)
Author: Whispering Gums
Amanda Duthie (ed.), Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family (#BookReview)
Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family is the second tribute book I've reviewed in Wakefield Press's Don Dunstan Award series. The first, Margaret & David: 5 stars, was also edited by Amanda Duthie. Like that book, Kin contains short reflections and essays on the contribution made to Australia's film industry and culture by Freda Glynn, her children Erica … Continue reading Amanda Duthie (ed.), Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family (#BookReview)
Miles Franklin Award 2019 Longlist
Woo hoo! Last year I had only read and reviewed one book on the Miles Franklin longlist, but this year I've read three! It's a record (for me, anyhow!) Here is the list: Michael Mohammed Ahmad's The Lebs (Nancy's review) (Hachette) Robbie Arnott's Flames (Lisa's review) (Text) Trent Dalton's Boy swallows universe (my review) (Fourth Estate) Gregory … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2019 Longlist
Monday musings on Australian literature: Two Aussie writers in 1965
Continuing last week's 1965 theme, this post discusses two articles on two Aussie writers who published books that year. I chose them because I think they are instructive examples of book reviewing. Thomas Keneally Thomas Keneally, born in 1935, is a prolific Australian author with a long (and still continuing) career. He was shortlisted for … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Two Aussie writers in 1965
Stan Grant in conversation with Mark Kenny
Who could resist a conversation involving Australian journalist, author and academic, Stan Grant? Not many, it seems, which is why this ANU/The Canberra Times conversation event was held in a bigger venue than usual, Llewellyn Hall, and just as well, because the audience was indeed bigger than usual. Such is the drawcard of Stan Grant … Continue reading Stan Grant in conversation with Mark Kenny
Janet Lee, The killing of Louisa (#BookReview)
I started reading Janet Lee's historical fiction The killing of Louisa straight after reading Amor Towles' A gentleman in Moscow (my review), which is also a work of historical fiction. They couldn't be more different. Not only is one about a real historical figure in late 19th century Australia, while the other is about a … Continue reading Janet Lee, The killing of Louisa (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Literary visitors in 1965
Last week's Monday musings surveyed Australian literature in 1965. As I researched that post in Trove, I came across some fascinating newspaper articles from the year, which I thought worth sharing in separate posts. I've divided them into two groups - one on overseas visitors (today's post) and the other local writers (next week's, probably!) … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Literary visitors in 1965
Ten Year Blogiversary Giveaway Winners
And so, as promised, I drew the two winners of my one year blogiverary giveaway yesterday, May 10, but I was out of town, so decided to way until I returned home to my proper computing facilities, to write the announcement post. There were 11 entries in the non-Australian draw and 16 in the Australian … Continue reading Ten Year Blogiversary Giveaway Winners
Amor Towles, A gentleman in Moscow (#BookReview)
American writer Amor Towles' third novel, the best-selling A gentleman in Moscow, generated a surprisingly lively discussion at my reading group last week, because beneath its engaging, accessible exterior are some puzzles. These puzzles relate primarily to Towles' intentions. What were they? Why did an American investment banker write an historical fiction novel about a Count in … Continue reading Amor Towles, A gentleman in Moscow (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 1965 in fiction
1965 as a topic? What the?! Those familiar with the lit-blogosphere will probably guess what inspired this post, but for everyone else, I'll explain. Over the last week of April, bloggers Kaggsy (Kaggsy's Book Ramblings) and Simon (Stuck in a Book) ran a 1965 Reading Week, the latest in their series of reading weeks focusing … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1965 in fiction
Whispering Gums 