Oliver Wendell Holmes is one of those wonderful names that, once you hear it, you can't really forget it - at least, I can't. But, the thing is, I often hear wonderful names of people who've "done things" without actually knowing what they've done. Oliver Wendell Holmes is one of these, and so when he … Continue reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, The deacon’s masterpiece: Or the wonderful “one-hoss-shay” (Review)
Author: Whispering Gums
Anna Spargo-Ryan, The paper house (Review)
I hadn't heard of Anna Spargo-Ryan's novel, The paper-house, when it was sent to me for review, which is not surprising given it's a debut novel. However, I loved the cover - designed by one of Australia's top book designers, Sandy Cull - and so was more than willing to give it a go. It traverses some … Continue reading Anna Spargo-Ryan, The paper house (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Patrick White (Literary) Award
I was thrilled to hear on the radio this morning that Carmel Bird had won this year's Patrick White (Literary) Award. Bird is such a worthy winner for this award, but more on that anon. The Patrick White Award* is named, obviously, for one of Australia's most significant writers and only, to date, Nobel Laureate in Literature. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Patrick White (Literary) Award
The Griffyns meet Red Note
Some Griffyn Ensemble concerts are intellectually challenging and some are educational, some are musically innovative and some are simply good fun, but some, like this week's Castles of Refuge, are just plain beautiful. Castles of Refuge was the third concert of this year's four-concert season and was presented in collaboration with Scottish new music group, … Continue reading The Griffyns meet Red Note
Willa Cather, The enchanted bluff (#Review)
I've reviewed a few Willa Cather stories on this blog now, as well as her gorgeous novel, My Antonia, but as I love her stories, I can't resist reviewing the latest to have been shared by the Library of America (LOA), albeit that was a couple of months ago now. The story is titled "The … Continue reading Willa Cather, The enchanted bluff (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 2016 awards season dragging to a close
As the year draws to a close, our final major literary awards are being announced. We've seen this month the winners of the Queensland Literary Awards and the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. The Barbara Jefferis Award has announced its shortlist, but we are still waiting for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards shortlist. All but one … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 2016 awards season dragging to a close
Leah A, Ten silly poems by a ten year old (Review)
PREFACE AND DISCLOSURE: As some of you know Son Gums is a primary school teacher. One of the programs he likes to run with his class is "the Passion Project". Part of the theory behind this project is that kids don't always get to do in class the things that really interest them so, over … Continue reading Leah A, Ten silly poems by a ten year old (Review)
Six degrees of separation, FROM Extremely loud and incredibly close TO The women’s pages
I have never played this #6Degrees "meme" before but when Kate (BookasAreMyFavouriteAndBest) announced that Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely loud and incredibly close (her response) would be the October starter, I knew I had to do it. Read on to see why ... I have read Extremely loud and incredibly close and as I recollect I enjoyed it. I don't … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Extremely loud and incredibly close TO The women’s pages
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Arts, mid-1960s style
Last week's Monday Musings discussed my high school history book, Nation and people, published in 1967. I don't plan to labour this book, but I would like to share its chapter on the Arts. The authors, Brian Hodge and Allen Whitehurst, dedicate 8 pages to "The Arts" which is pretty good, I think, for a school history book. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Arts, mid-1960s style
Mike Ladd, Invisible mending (Review)
I think ... how all our best art is free; as complex as that, as simple as that. (Gaudi and the light) I rather liked this statement from Mike Ladd's collection Invisible mending, even though I'm not totally sure what he means! Does he mean freely available, that is, we don't have to pay to access it? … Continue reading Mike Ladd, Invisible mending (Review)
