Reading synchronicities strike again - though on the surface it wouldn't seem to be so. That is, could there really be synchronicities between Geoff Dyer's Jeff in Venice, death in Varanasi and Andre Gide's The immoralist? I think there are. Besides some comments on art - its value and meaning - in The immoralist, there is … Continue reading André Gide, The immoralist (or, L’immoraliste)
Author: Whispering Gums
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian bildungsroman
I know the sad truth. About everything. (Craig Silvey, Jasper Jones) In past posts, I've talked of enjoying coming-of-age novels (aka bildungsroman) and so today I thought I'd share 5 (cos 5 seems like a manageable number for a list like this - and gives you an opportunity to contribute your own!) Australian novels in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian bildungsroman
Hate trees! Love bumpy roads!
I was a contrary child. When my family went on long car trips, a few decades ago now, I would, in my sunny way, announce to my parents, "I hate trees, love bumpy roads". Guess what my parents were talking about prior to this pronouncement from their co-operative first-born? This refrain, as you can imagine, … Continue reading Hate trees! Love bumpy roads!
Geoff Dyer, Jeff in Venice, death in Varanasi
What, a few moments earlier, had seemed such a persuasive notion - that ridiculousness might be the animating principle of life - seemed, in the face of this more pedestrian idea of progress, abruptly ... ridiculous. No sooner had I thought this, than I'd suddenly had enough of walking. ("Death in Varanasi") Hmm ... what … Continue reading Geoff Dyer, Jeff in Venice, death in Varanasi
Monday musings on Australian literature: West Coast Writers
For the non-Australians among you, Western Australia is our biggest state and, for many of us, is further away from where we live than New Zealand. Moreover, its main population areas are on the coast: there is a lot of desert between the eastern states and where most Western Australians live. Consequently, it would be … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: West Coast Writers
Jane Austen, Sense and sensibility (Vol. 2)
...and because they were fond of reading, she fancied them satirical... (Lady Middleton on the Dashwood sisters, Ch. 36) In January, I wrote about Volume 1 of Jane Austen's Sense and sensibility, which my local Jane Austen group is reading volume by volume this 200th anniversary year of its publication. Unfortunately I missed the February … Continue reading Jane Austen, Sense and sensibility (Vol. 2)
What you call Cult Fiction, I call …
Recently I wrote a post on why I love ABC's Radio National, giving The Book Show as one of the reasons. Now, I will talk about why I love ABC TV. Or, at least, about The First Tuesday Bookclub and its spin-off Jennifer Byrne Presents. Both programs involve a panel discussing books. The First Tuesday … Continue reading What you call Cult Fiction, I call …
Monday musings on Australian literature: Japan and Australia
I had another post partly drafted for today but, due to the events of last week in Japan, I've decided to postpone that idea for another time. Australia (and we are not the only country in this) has a close relationship with Japan - much of it positive, some of it negative (this latter to do … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Japan and Australia
David Foster Wallace, All that
I have not yet read anything by David Foster Wallace and so when I came across his short story*, "All that", in The New Yorker, I jumped at the chance of an introduction. It has a first person narrator, who is looking back on his childhood and recalling, in particular, his fascination with magic and … Continue reading David Foster Wallace, All that
Delicious descriptions from Down Under: Nam Le on a storm
Australia is not all surf, sand and sea, as much as the tourist industry likes to have it so. We actually do have "weather", as many quaintly call anything that is not fine, sunny and calm. It is, in fact, autumn here now ... after a rather unusual summer (in most parts of the country). … Continue reading Delicious descriptions from Down Under: Nam Le on a storm
Whispering Gums 