There were many ideas I wanted to discuss or share in my review of Helen Trinca's biography, Madeleine: A life of Madeleine St John, but it was starting to get too long ... so I thought I'd save some points for another post or two. Madeleine St John it seems had some very strong ideas … Continue reading Madeleine St John and the right thing
Author: Whispering Gums
Monday musings on Australian literature: AWW Challenge 2013 First Quarter Progress Report
Regular readers here know that while I generally do not do challenges I am taking part in the Australian Women Writers' Challenge - because it's what I like to read anyhow. The challenge, which began last year, was so successful that the initiator Elizabeth Lhuede, decided to continue it this year - and called on … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: AWW Challenge 2013 First Quarter Progress Report
Helen Trinca, Madeleine: A life of Madeleine St John (Review)
Madeleine (Courtesy: Text Publishing) I wanted to read Helen Trinca's biography Madeleine for several reasons. First, of course, being a reader, I'm interested in biographies and autobiographies of writers. Secondly, Madeleine St John belongs to that group of Australians, half a generation or so older than I am, that has made quite a mark on … Continue reading Helen Trinca, Madeleine: A life of Madeleine St John (Review)
The Griffyn Ensemble explores Water with the Swïne
Before the concert, at the Belconnen Arts Centre Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink (from The rime of the ancient mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge) I suppose it could be seen as clichéd to hear these words in a concert called "Water" but when the performers are the Griffyn Ensemble, cliché would … Continue reading The Griffyn Ensemble explores Water with the Swïne
Monday musings on Australian literature: The little Aussie battler
Australian public intellectual and ethicist, Clive Hamilton, wrote in his 2005 book Affluenza (excerpted in The invisible thread) that Politicians love to identify with the Aussie battler, that stoic, resilient character who has little and complains less. Fifty years ago Australia was full of battlers, people hardened by the rigours of depression and war and, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The little Aussie battler
If you like puns …
Puns make me laugh ... and living in Canberra, as I do, I'm regularly confronted by them. How, do you ask? Well, via a local lawn/turf business called Canturf, a family business which started in 1966. They have, for many years now, been promoting their product - even, and it must have been hard, throughout … Continue reading If you like puns …
Irma Gold (ed), The invisible thread (Review)
I even get nervous when I open a book, you know, for the first time. It's the same thing, isn't it. You never know what you'll find, do you? Each person, each book, is like a new world ... (from Mark Henshaw's Out of the line of fire, in The invisible thread) At last, you … Continue reading Irma Gold (ed), The invisible thread (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop
I had planned another topic for today's Monday Musings, but when I heard via AustLit News about the inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop to be held in May this year, I decided to write about it sooner rather than later ... The workshop aims to bring together established and emerging writers of Aboriginal and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop
Goddess (Movie review)
Will I, won't I, will I, won't I, has been running around my head over the last week since I saw the recent Australian movie Goddess. In the end I've decided, obviously, that I will - will, that is, write a post on it because I do like to raise a little awareness about Australia's … Continue reading Goddess (Movie review)
The Stella Prize shortlist, 2013
Woo hoo ... The Stella Prize shortlist has been announced. I posted the longlist a few weeks ago before, but just to recap, the Stella Prize is a new award on the Australian literary scene. It is named for Miles Franklin and is “for the best work of literature (fiction and non-fiction) published in 2012 … Continue reading The Stella Prize shortlist, 2013
Whispering Gums 