As regular readers here know, my "literary week" posts are irregular affairs, usually inspired by something I really want to share (or document for my own benefit!) And so it is this week … Reading Boochani in public ... and related thoughts I was especially pleased, given the events in Christchurch last Friday week, that … Continue reading My literary week (15), readings and readers
Author: Whispering Gums
Melissa Lucashenko, Too much lip (#BookReview)
Melissa Lucashenko's title for her latest novel Too much lip conveys a lot about what she is trying to do here. Superficially, the title refers to protagonist Kerry's refusal (or inability) "to swallow her opinions", but there are layers to the title which reflect the layers in the novel. Kerry is female and Indigenous, and … Continue reading Melissa Lucashenko, Too much lip (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: NSW Premier’s Translation Prize
Don't worry. I know this is the second Monday Musings post in a row inspired by the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, but when I wrote last week's post, I felt that one on the Translation Prize in this suite of awards would be an appropriate follow-up. It's not the start of a Monday Musings trend! … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: NSW Premier’s Translation Prize
Rudyard Kipling, The Janeites (#Commentary)
The topic for my local Jane Austen group's March meeting was "Jane Austen in the trenches" which, I realise, sounds a bit anachronistic, given she died in 1817, nearly a century before the trenches we're talking about. But, you see, Jane's fame didn't start in 1995 with Colin Firth and that wet shirt. No, her … Continue reading Rudyard Kipling, The Janeites (#Commentary)
Us Mob Writing, Too deadly (#BookReview)
Too deadly is an anthology of writings by the Canberra-based writing group Us Mob Writing. Comprising Australian First Nations writers, this group was formed in the late 1990s and is, apparently, one of our capital's longest running writers' groups. I saw advertising for the book's launch back in late 2017, but was unable to attend. I … Continue reading Us Mob Writing, Too deadly (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Multicultural NSW Award
Synchronicity strikes again, this time concerning the idea of multiculturalism. In the last week or so, it has popped up several times - in Lisa's post on the NSW Premier's Literary Awards shortlist, in the conversation I attended last Thursday featuring historian Michelle Arrow on her book The Seventies, and then in the Festival Muse … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Multicultural NSW Award
Festival Muse 2019: Alice Pung in conversation with Sam Vincent
Festival Muse, a literary festival run by one of our favourite places in town, Muse, now seems to be a fixture on the Canberra Day long weekend calendar. For the last two years Mr Gums and I have attended the Opening event, which this year was titled Moments of Wonder. As Opening Night was also International Women's Day, … Continue reading Festival Muse 2019: Alice Pung in conversation with Sam Vincent
Michelle Arrow in conversation with Frank Bongiorno
A few days ago, Mr Gums and I attended another ANU/The Canberra Times Meet the Author event, this one featuring Australian historian Michelle Arrow in conversation with Australian historian Frank Bongiorno. It was an especially interesting pairing because Arrow's book, which she is currently touring, is titled The seventies: The personal, the political and the … Continue reading Michelle Arrow in conversation with Frank Bongiorno
Stella Prize 2019 Shortlist announced
As you probably know, the Stella Prize is the award I particularly like to follow, though I don't always post on the Longlist and the Shortlist as I am this year. The Longlist was announced on 7 February (my post), and the shortlist was announced, today, International Women's Day, as has, appropriately, become tradition. Here … Continue reading Stella Prize 2019 Shortlist announced
Maria Edgeworth, Leonora (#BookReview)
My Jane Austen group decided to start the year by discussing one of Austen's precursors, not to mention favourite writers, Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849). Edgeworth was born eight years before Austen and lived much longer than Austen's not quite 42 years - lucky her! She was also prolific, so we had plenty to choose from. According … Continue reading Maria Edgeworth, Leonora (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 