Finding Soutbek (Courtesy: Holland Park Press) I don't, as a rule, accept review copies of books by non-Australian authors, but when New Holland Press offered me Finding Soutbek by South African writer, Karen Jennings, I was intrigued. Intrigued because of connections in our countries' respective histories, and because I've read several books set in South … Continue reading Karen Jennings, Finding Soutbek (Review)
Author: Whispering Gums
Monday musings on Australian literature: Martin Boyd, Writer or Potter?
Last week my reading group discussed Martin Boyd's A difficult young man, which I read and reviewed a couple of years ago. This weekend, Mr Gums and I went, with another couple, to the Grand Opening and River Music Fair at Australian Pottery at Bemboka. Why do I mention this? Because, in another one of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Martin Boyd, Writer or Potter?
Ruby Sparks (Movie)
Because I am a litblogger not a film blogger, I don't review all the movies I see. When I do review a movie it is usually an Australian one. However, because of a certain synchronicity and because of its subject matter, I can't resist writing a little about Ruby Sparks. The synchronicity comes from Anita … Continue reading Ruby Sparks (Movie)
Monday musings on Australian Literature: Australian Literary Festivals
I've been thinking for some time about writing a Monday Musings on Australia's Literary Festivals but I have finally been spurred to do it after attending the Canberra Readers' Festival last weekend. This is partly because I actually managed to attend a festival and partly because the last speaker was Australian literary doyen, Frank Moorhouse, who caught … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian Literature: Australian Literary Festivals
Canberra Readers’ Festival 2012: For the love of reading
You could all be looking at tulips ... said Kate Grenville, the first speaker at today's Canberra Readers' Festival. She was referring to Floriade, Canberra's popular, crowd-drawing annual spring festival, and the fact that today was a glorious day. Just right, in fact, for tiptoeing through the festival's stunning tulip beds. But instead, we keen readers … Continue reading Canberra Readers’ Festival 2012: For the love of reading
Dorothea Mackellar, Elena Kats-Chernin and the Vienna Boys Choir
I'm guessing most of you have heard of the Vienna Boys Choir, but you may not, particularly if you're not Australian, have heard of Dorothea Mackellar and Elena Kats-Chernin. Mackellar (1885-1968) was an Australian writer, best known for her poem "My country". Kats-Chernin (b. 1957) is an Australian composer who was born in Tashkent (in what was … Continue reading Dorothea Mackellar, Elena Kats-Chernin and the Vienna Boys Choir
Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie Lit and Facebook
In writing this week's Monday Musings I will be venturing a little into my discomfort zone. It's not that I don't use Facebook because I do, having been a member since 2007, but that I'm not an expert in how to make the most of it. I figure though that this post might encourage some … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie Lit and Facebook
How many ways can you ask Google a question?
Just over a year ago I wrote a review of the film (and book) Red Dog. In it I avoided talking about how the film ends, but that hasn't stopped people asking. My Red Dog post is one of my top five posts and it's there largely because of the following searches: does red dog … Continue reading How many ways can you ask Google a question?
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia’s pioneer novelists
One of the reasons I started this Monday Musings series was to encourage me to read, think and/or learn about my country's literature, but in doing so I mostly write about books and authors I know and have read. Occasionally though I explore authors and works that are not so familiar to me. Today's post … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia’s pioneer novelists
Toni Jordan, Nine days (Review)
Toni Jordan's latest novel, Nine days, is somewhat of a departure from her first two novels which are more in the chicklit vein, albeit chicklit with a difference. The thing is, I don't generally read chicklit, but I did enjoy Addition and Fall girl, so I was more than willing to read Jordan's next offering. I … Continue reading Toni Jordan, Nine days (Review)
