The passengers is Eleanor Limprecht's third novel, but the second I've read, that being Long Bay (my review) based on the life of early twentieth century abortionist Rebecca Sinclair. The passengers is also a work of historical fiction, though not specifically based on one person's experience. Instead, it's about the Australian war brides who married … Continue reading Eleanor Limprecht, The passengers (#BookReview)
Author: Whispering Gums
Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie “up lit”
Hands up if you've heard of a new genre (or literary trend is perhaps more accurate) called "up lit"? I hadn't, until I read a post recently on Kate's (booksaremyfavouriteandbest) blog. She pointed to an article about it at The Guardian. The writer, Danuta Kean, says: In contrast with the “grip lit” thrillers that were … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie “up lit”
Nick Earls, NoHo (#BookReview)
Nick Earls is a Queensland-based writer known mostly for humorous fiction about contemporary life. While I'd heard of him, I hadn't read any of his work when I attended a session involving him at the 2016 Canberra Writers Festival. The session was titled "Modern Masculinity" (my report). Earls was there because of the recent publication of … Continue reading Nick Earls, NoHo (#BookReview)
Sarah Krasnostein, The trauma cleaner (#BookReview)
I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't planned to read Sarah Krasnostein's biography The trauma cleaner. I feared it might be one of those sensationalised, voyeuristic stories, but how wrong I was. I thank Brother Gums and partner for this great birthday gift. I was wrong because ... no, let me start with why I thought … Continue reading Sarah Krasnostein, The trauma cleaner (#BookReview)
Sydney Writers Festival 2018, Live streaming (Session 3)
My final live-streamed session of the Festival was even more interesting than I expected. My friend and I chose it partly because it fit our respective busy time-tables, but partly also because, as people interested in language and literature, we are interested in translation. Emily Wilson: Translating the Odyssey, Sunday May 6, 4.30pm This event … Continue reading Sydney Writers Festival 2018, Live streaming (Session 3)
Monday musings on Australian literature: My reading group does Garner
You are never too old to try something new - and so it was that my 30-year-old reading group tried something new for our April meeting. The idea was that we would all read Garner, but our individual choice of Garner. We've discussed five Garners over the years, and many had read other Garners besides … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: My reading group does Garner
Sydney Writers Festival 2018, Live-streaming (Session 2)
I only managed one session a day at the SWF's live-streaming program at the National Library of Australia, and on day 2, I picked a doozy! It was such fun, I forgot to take a pic! Annabel Crabb's BooKwiz, Saturday 5 May, 4.30pm Panel: Leigh Sales, Richard Fidler, Julia Zemiro, Tim Minchin, Annabel Crabb (MC) Of … Continue reading Sydney Writers Festival 2018, Live-streaming (Session 2)
Sydney Writers Festival 2018, Live-streaming (Session 1)
May is such a busy month for birthdays and anniversaries in the Gums world that I hardly ever get to the Sydney Writers Festival, even though it is not much more than 3 hours drive away. I was consequently thrilled to discover that this year the National Library of Australia, Canberra, would be one of … Continue reading Sydney Writers Festival 2018, Live-streaming (Session 1)
Six degrees of separation, FROM The Poisonwood Bible TO …
May is the last month of autumn for us in the Southern hemisphere, and what an autumn it's been. So warm. I shouldn't be pleased, however, because the cause is worrying ... so, let's get on to something uncontroversial and non-worrying - our Six Degrees of Separation meme. It's currently hosted by Kate (booksaremyfavouriteandbest). Please … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM The Poisonwood Bible TO …
Helen Garner, The last days of chez nous, and Two friends (#BookReview)
Helen Garner must have loved prize-winning book designer WH Chong's cheeky cypress-dominated cover for the Text Classics edition of her two screenplays, The last days of chez nous and Two friends. You'd only realise this, though, after reading her Preface, in which she explains that she had incorporated cypresses into her screenplay for their "freight of … Continue reading Helen Garner, The last days of chez nous, and Two friends (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 