Did you hear last week that the Man Group is, after the current award, withdrawing its support for the Man Asian Literary Prize? I heard it via a tweet from a member of our prize team for the 2011 prize. This, in the same year that the Queensland premier cancelled the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some thoughts on specialised literary awards
Author: Whispering Gums
The Most Underrated Book Award 2012
A short post! I have just read on the SPUNC site that Kobo is sponsoring an award to highlight books that were released by independent publishers and members of the Small Press Network (SPUNC) and that did not receive wide recognition. The shortlist for the inaugural award was announced this week, and the titles are: The Dark … Continue reading The Most Underrated Book Award 2012
Sefi Atta, A bit of difference (Review)
Nigerian writer Sefi Atta was once an accountant. Interesting switch that, accountant to writer, but Atta seems to have made it with great success. Her first novel, Everything good will come, won the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, and received an Honourable Mention in the Aidoo-Snyder Book Prize. Her short story collection, News … Continue reading Sefi Atta, A bit of difference (Review)
The Griffyns go Behind Bars
Before the concert The Griffyn Ensemble has done it again. They've presented a concert that moved, challenged, educated and entertained us. Behind Bars, which was performed last week in Melbourne, Bendigo and Canberra, was the third and final concert of their 2012 season. Like all their concerts it had a theme, this one being, obviously, … Continue reading The Griffyns go Behind Bars
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Marilyn of Me, You and Books
I first "met" Marilyn earlier this year when she decided to take part in the Australian Women Writers Challenge 2012. There aren't many non-Australians who have signed up for this challenge so Texas-resident Marilyn stood out. She is a retired professor of a small liberal arts school in the USA, where she taught women’s history, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Marilyn of Me, You and Books
Zane Lovitt, The midnight promise (Review)
Zane Lovitt's debut book, The midnight promise, is one of those books for which I can't decide how to start my review. I could go with the point, previously made in this blog, that I'm not a reader of crime and so cannot speak with authority on the subject. Or, I could write about the … Continue reading Zane Lovitt, The midnight promise (Review)
Paddy O’Reilly, The salesman (Review)
I've been wanting to read Paddy O'Reilly for the longest time but somehow haven't managed to get to her so, as is my wont, I decided to read a short story of hers in the Griffith Review. She made her name, I think, with her short stories, but has also written novels/novellas and a screenplay, … Continue reading Paddy O’Reilly, The salesman (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian women’s non-fiction writing
Today's Monday Musings was inspired by a post last month in Overland literary journal's blog. The topic - Women and non-fiction writing - is a big one, bigger really than I have time for now, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to make a start. In the Overland post, which comprised an interview with writer, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian women’s non-fiction writing
Whispering Gums has a new URL – and some news
It's time I did it and so I did. I have, through WordPress, bought my own domain name. This means that the URL for Whispering Gums is now http://whisperinggums.com My old address - https://whisperinggums.wordpress.com - will be automatically redirected by the wonderful WordPress to this new one . However, you may find it more efficient to … Continue reading Whispering Gums has a new URL – and some news
Nancy Cato, All the rivers run, Book 1 (Review)
It's been a long time since I reviewed an audiobook or, more accurately, reviewed a book via its audiobook version. As I've said before, I don't listen often to audiobooks, but last month Mr Gums and I did a long drive and so decided to listen to Nancy Cato's All the rivers run. I referred … Continue reading Nancy Cato, All the rivers run, Book 1 (Review)
