As has become tradition, I'm devoting my last Monday Musings of the year to the Australian Women Writers Challenge*. But, this time, my last Monday Musings also coincides with Christmas Day, so I wish a happy, peaceful holiday season to all my readers here who celebrate this time of year, however or whatever you celebrate. Now, on … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Women Writers Challenge 2017
Author: Whispering Gums
My reading group’s top picks for 2017
This year was my reading group's 30th year, and for the first time ever we decided to vote on our top picks for the year. Will it become a tradition? Who knows? Anyhow, in the spirit of end-of-year lists, I thought you might be interested to see the result, because you will know some of … Continue reading My reading group’s top picks for 2017
Reading Bingo 2017
Are you getting sick of memes and lists? If so, just ignore this post and come back when the silly season is over because it seems that we book bloggers can't help ourselves at this time of year. Today's meme is a bingo asking us to name books we've read this year that meet categories … Continue reading Reading Bingo 2017
Monday musings on Australian literature: Pulp fiction, 1940s to 1970s
This post was inspired by the Pulp Fiction exhibition* at the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery that ran from August to October this year. The exhibition used materials from two collectors, Graeme Flanagan (d. 2015) and James Doig, who also wrote the accompanying booklet. Doig says that Flanagan "amassed one of the most significant collections of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Pulp fiction, 1940s to 1970s
Amy Witting, Afterplay (#Review)
Amy Witting's first novel wasn't published until 1977, when she was 59 years old, which is why she appeared in my late bloomers post a few years ago. She went on to publish five more novels after that - two of which I read and enjoyed long before blogging - and she was an accomplished … Continue reading Amy Witting, Afterplay (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: ABC RN presenters name their 2017 summer picks
Well, folks, it's getting to the time of year when people start producing lists, and so, as last year, I'll be joining the fray, starting this week with books recommended by ABC Radio National's presenters - the bookworms amongst them, anyhow - for us to read over the coming summer. However, as last year, not … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: ABC RN presenters name their 2017 summer picks
A year in first lines, 2017
How is that I, a non-meme-doing blogger, suddenly find myself doing memes, like the Six Degrees one? I can't explain it exactly, but I think it happens when the meme encourages me to think about my reading or blogging. So, when Lisa (ANZLitLovers) reminded me of this end-of-year meme, that she was reminded of by Jane … Continue reading A year in first lines, 2017
Betty McLellan, Ann Hannah, my (un)remarkable grandmother: A psychological biography (#BookReview)
Betty McLellan's Ann Hannah, my (un)remarkable grandmother: A psychological biography disconcerted me at first. I'd never heard of a psychological biography (which, I presume, is the same as psychobiography) so I was intrigued by McLellan's discussion in the Introduction of her decision to use this approach. I did feel, for a chapter or two that she was … Continue reading Betty McLellan, Ann Hannah, my (un)remarkable grandmother: A psychological biography (#BookReview)
Helen Garner, Why she broke: The woman, her children and the lake (#Review)
Three years ago I reviewed Helen Garner's This house of grief about Robert Farquharson who drove his car into a dam in Victoria, resulting in the deaths of his three sons. It's a grim grim story, so you might wonder why I am now writing about her essay "Why she broke: The woman, her children and … Continue reading Helen Garner, Why she broke: The woman, her children and the lake (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Interviews with Aussie writers
Those of you who read my December Six Degrees meme will know that the starting book was Stephen King's It. Not surprisingly, a couple of bloggers - Kate (booksaremyfavouriteandbest) and Lisa (anzlitlovers) - made their first link Stephen King's On writing. Lisa then went on to link to an Australian book on writing, Kate Grenville's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Interviews with Aussie writers
Whispering Gums 