What I love about the Library of America is the variety of works it features in its Story of the Week program. Because of my interest in Japan and Japanese writers, I was particularly attracted to Toshio Mori's story, "Japanese Hamlet", that they published a couple of weeks ago. Toshio Mori was one of the first Japanese-American … Continue reading Toshio Mori, Japanese Hamlet (Review)
Author: Whispering Gums
Delicious descriptions: Brooke Davis on salmon gums
In my recent review of Brooke Davis' novel Lost & found I mentioned her descriptions but didn't really give any examples. I can't leave this book without giving you two that involve a rather interesting tree. It also gives me an opportunity to share my photographs of one! They are beautiful (though my photographs don't … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Brooke Davis on salmon gums
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian writers in England, 1911
I've devoted a few Monday Musings recently to Australian writers in the first few decades of the twentieth century. I expect to do a few more in coming months, as I'm enjoying the research. Today, I'm drawing from a report of a talk given by Barbara Baynton in Sydney in 1911 to the Writers and Artists Union. The article, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian writers in England, 1911
Brooke Davis, Lost & found (Review)
I must say that my antennae go up when I hear a book being touted as a publishing sensation even before it is published, as Brooke Davis' recently published debut novel Lost & found, was. What does that mean? That it was the subject of a mega-dollar bidding war like, say, Hannah Kent's Burial rites? Well, … Continue reading Brooke Davis, Lost & found (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian women writers, 1930s
In July I wrote two posts based on Nettie Palmer's 1920s assessment of great Australian novels. In 1935, another Australian novelist, Zora Cross, wrote an article about Australian women novelists and poets. I enjoy reading these contemporary perspectives, and I think some of you are interested too ... do let me know if you aren't. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian women writers, 1930s
Delicious descriptions: Some thoughts on Ouyang Yu’s language
I didn't get around, in my recent review of Ouyang Yu's novel Diary of a naked official, to discussing his language, so couldn't resist another post. As you would expect in an erotic novel, particularly one framed as a diary, the language is rife with obvious - and consciously so on the part of our … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Some thoughts on Ouyang Yu’s language
Ouyang Yu, Diary of a naked official (Review)
When I was offered Chinese-born Australian writer Ouyang Yu's latest novel Diary of a naked official to review, I was warned that it is rather graphic. And so it turned out to be, but, not having read Ouyang Yu before, I did want to give it a go. The accompanying publicity sheet describes it as … Continue reading Ouyang Yu, Diary of a naked official (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: National Biography Award
I have mentioned the National Biography Award before, but have never dedicated a post to it. Since this Monday musings coincides with the announcement of the 2014 award, I thought it would be a good time to write a little about this award. The National Biography Award was initially endowed by Geoffrey Cains, with support … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: National Biography Award
The meeting of art and literature, at the Singapore Art Museum
Mr Gums and I have had a busy few months, with, unusually for us, two overseas trips in less than four months. Both were family-inspired: Canada in April-May to visit our daughter, and then last week Koh Samui to help Mr Gums' sister and husband celebrate their 40th anniversary. We decided to spend a few days … Continue reading The meeting of art and literature, at the Singapore Art Museum
Monday musings on Australian literature: The novel in Australia, 1927-style, Part 2
Today's Monday Musings is Part 2 of my two post series discussing Nettie Palmer's article, "The novel in Australia", that was published in The Brisbane Courier, 15 October 1927. As I did in last week's post, I'll use her headings to share her view on Australia's great novels. A novelist abroad Here she discusses Australian writers who wrote … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The novel in Australia, 1927-style, Part 2
