I'm not a crime reader as most of you know, and in fact most of the crime novels I've read here have been review copies sent to me. Caroline de Costa's Double madness is one of these. I accepted it for a couple of reasons. It's a debut novel by a doctor, indeed a professor … Continue reading Caroline de Costa, Double madness (Review)
Author: Whispering Gums
And so another great Musica Viva year ends
Musica Viva has done it again: it has produced another year of splendiferous, inspiring concerts. Mr Gums and I have been subscribing to Musica Viva (or its predecessor here in Canberra, the Canberra Chamber Music Society*) for nearly four decades - albeit with a gap in the middle for child-rearing and overseas posting. We love … Continue reading And so another great Musica Viva year ends
Monday musings on Australian literature: Fiction about death and dying
Today's Monday Musings is more personal than these posts usually are. Ten days ago, the last aunt of my aunts and uncles died. She'd been failing for some time, really, but she fought death to the end. Indeed, when we were in her house last week starting that awful job of clearing a house, we were told we needed … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Fiction about death and dying
Delicious descriptions: Emily Bitto’s The strays
In my recent post on Emily Bitto's The strays I commented on the quality of the writing but didn't really exemplify it - so I'm doing so now. But just sharing without in-depth commentary, as I've been tied up this week with family matters. Here is a description of Evan Trentham, the leading artist in the … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Emily Bitto’s The strays
Monday musings on Australian literature: Little books
Christmas is coming and those stockings are wanting inspiration. I know I'm jumping the gun a little in terms of the traditional round of Christmas book talk, but it's never too early to think of book gifts, and I've been wanting to write about little book initiatives for a while now. I can't wait any longer! … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Little books
Emily Bitto, The strays (Review)
Let me start by saying I really enjoyed reading Emily Bitto's The strays. It was scheduled for my reading group the day after my return from Tasmania, and I suddenly found myself in the last day of my Tasmanian holiday without having started the book. Wah! I read it in two days, helped by several … Continue reading Emily Bitto, The strays (Review)
Don Miller, Will to win: The West at play (Review)
Sport is probably not the first subject you expect to find here, but it is in fact the focus of my latest read, Don Miller's Will to win: The West at play. Published by independent Melbourne press, Hybrid Publishers, it was offered to me after my Monday Musings post a few months ago on Australian Rules in literature. … Continue reading Don Miller, Will to win: The West at play (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Serendipitous finds in Tasmania
Well folks, I've not posted here for a week. As I wrote last Monday, I've been travelling in Tasmania, and have only returned home this afternoon. I have some ideas for future Monday Musings, and could have researched one for today, but I can't resist sharing a few more of my Tasmanian literary experiences. Tasmania is home … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Serendipitous finds in Tasmania
Monday musings on Australian literature: A Tasmanian interlude
You may have noticed that it's been fairly quiet here at the Gums over the last week or so. This is because I've been travelling for nearly two weeks now in Australia's island state of Tasmania. I scheduled last week's Monday Musings in advance and had planned to also schedule a Tasmanian "Let's get physical" … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: A Tasmanian interlude
Prison post: Letters of support for Peter Greste
If you're Australian, you'll know who Peter Greste is. If you're not, you may know. He was one of three Al Jazeera English journalists* who were arrested in Cairo in late 2013 for "spreading false news, belonging to a terrorist organisation and operating without a permit". It was a ridiculous charge and we all thought … Continue reading Prison post: Letters of support for Peter Greste
