Author: Whispering Gums

Delicious descriptions: Emma Ayres on music

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If the bicycle trip gives Emma Ayres' travel memoir Cadence its chronological spine, it is music which provides its skeleton. However, before I discuss music, I need to respond to those commenters on my review who noted that "cadence" is also a cycling term. As I'd heard the book rather than read it, I couldn't quite recollect … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Emma Ayres on music

Monday musings on Australian literature: June Wright, Crime novelist

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Regular readers here may be surprised to see this subject for a Monday Musings given I'm not known as a crime aficionado, but never let it be said that I'm not open-minded. I came across June Wright last year in my role as convener of the Literary and Classics area of the Australian Women Writers Challenge, and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: June Wright, Crime novelist

Delicious descriptions: Stephen Orr’s farm family

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When I reviewed Stephen Orr's farm-set novel, The hands, last week, I didn't share many quotes as the post was getting rather long. I decided I'd use my Delicious Descriptions series instead! So, here are three excerpts to show you more of what I so enjoyed about Orr's writing. One aspect I really enjoyed was his dialogue, but it's tricky choosing … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Stephen Orr’s farm family

Monday musings on Australian literature: Regional differences in Australian English

/ Whispering Gums / 37 Comments

While dining in Thredbo this weekend, we were served by a waiter who, when I asked for a certain ingredient to be excluded from my dish, repeated it back with the order, "and no to-mAY-to" she said. Her accent wasn't strong but this stood out, so when she returned to our table, we asked whether … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Regional differences in Australian English

Stephen Orr, The hands: An Australian pastoral (Review)

/ Whispering Gums / 24 Comments

As promised, here is my review of a farm novel, Adelaide-based Stephen Orr's The hands: An Australian pastoral. It is his sixth novel but the first that I've read. Where have I been? The hands is such a good read I wonder why I haven't read him before. Among the review excerpts for his previous novels provided at the beginning … Continue reading Stephen Orr, The hands: An Australian pastoral (Review)

Monday musings on Australian literature: Best books of 1975

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Given we're all looking at best reads, I thought it might be fun to look at best reads of a past time? My initial thought was 1965, a neat 50 years ago, but I couldn't find any appropriate lists. Google found a 1965 New York Times bestseller list on Wikipedia and a couple of 1965 lists in GoodReads, but they weren't quite what … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Best books of 1975