Contemporary is an odd word isn't it? I like using it, but worry about ambiguity, given it can mean either "living or occurring at the same time" or "belonging to or occurring in the present". So, when I say "contemporary thoughts on Elizabeth Harrower", how do you know which meaning I intend? Well, to put … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Contemporary thoughts on Elizabeth Harrower
Author: Whispering Gums
My literary week (4), or, not a page read
Would you believe that today is the first time in a week that I have opened my current novel? Terrible! But it's just been one of those weeks of being driven by other things, so much so that reading time has taken a big hit. There have, however, been a few literary moments which I … Continue reading My literary week (4), or, not a page read
Monday musings on Australian literature: Looking back, looking forward
As some of you know, I have been involved recently in looking after my aunt's estate. This weekend, my cousin and I checked out, again, the bookcase that contained old books, books that had belonged to my grandparents. One of the books that came to my attention was The golden treasury of Australian verse (e-version). … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Looking back, looking forward
Helen Garner on writers and writing (in Everywhere I look)
As I promised in my main review of Helen Garner's engaging book of essays and jottings, Everywhere I look, I am here doing a little follow-up post on her discussions of other writers. I enjoyed reading her thoughts about specific writers, but even more I liked that in talking about these writers she gave away her own writing preferences. So, what did I know … Continue reading Helen Garner on writers and writing (in Everywhere I look)
Helen Garner, Everywhere I look (Review)
I was very sad to come to the end of Helen Garner's latest essay collection, Everywhere I look. It was such a joy - such a joy - to read. Garner ranges across a wide variety of subjects from a kitchen table to Russell Crowe, from some of the darkest things humans do to each other to … Continue reading Helen Garner, Everywhere I look (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Annual anthologies
This post would possibly be better done at the end of the year given that its subject - annual anthologies - relates most commonly to end-of-year publishing. However, not all such anthologies are published at year's end, and, anyhow, I was inspired to write this post because my reading group is about to do one … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Annual anthologies
Edith Wharton, Writing a war story (Review)
"Writing a war story" is quite different to the Edith Whartons I've read to date, and it was clear from the opening sentence - "Miss Ivy Spang of Cornwall-on-Hudson had published a little volume of verse before the war". It was the comic tone that did it. All the previous works of hers I've read, several novels and … Continue reading Edith Wharton, Writing a war story (Review)
My literary week (3), mid-winter 2016
Today pretty much marks the middle of winter for us downunder, and what an unusually cold and wet winter it's been, at least in my city. We've had more rain than usual, and we've had snow, which is rare for us though not unheard of. Our average July maximum is around 12-13°C but this last … Continue reading My literary week (3), mid-winter 2016
Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award, the third decade (1978-1987)
Today's post is the third in my little sub-series of posts looking at the Miles Franklin Award by decade. As before, I don't plan to list all the decade's winners, as you can find them on the Award's official site. Instead, I'll share some interesting snippets, inspired by my Trove meanders. Women writers on the rise? The late 1970s and 1980s … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award, the third decade (1978-1987)
Larissa Behrendt, Under skin, in blood (Review)
In my last review - that for Ali Cobby Eckermann's Ruby Moonlight - I shared the following lines: Jack knows the remainder of the conversation before it was spoke ya see any blacks roaming best ya kill 'em disease spreading pests ("Visitor", from Ruby Moonlight) Quite coincidentally, this point I was making, that it was not … Continue reading Larissa Behrendt, Under skin, in blood (Review)
Whispering Gums 