Shirley Hazzard's novella, The bay of noon, has been in my sights for a long time, but finally, this Novellas-in-November year, I managed to get it out of my sights and into my hands. It's the first of two novellas I read for the month, but the second to review. Such was my November (and … Continue reading Shirley Hazzard, The bay of noon (#BookReview)
Author: Whispering Gums
My reading group’s favourites for 2024
Once again, I am sharing my reading group's top picks for the year, because I know I'm not the only one who enjoys hearing about other reading groups. I'll start by sharing what we read in the order we read them (with links on titles to my reviews): Barbara Kingsolver, Demon copperhead: novel, American author Richard … Continue reading My reading group’s favourites for 2024
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia’s bestsellers, Black Friday week 2024
With thanks to Colin Steele - Canberra’s wonderful Meet The Author convenor, who is also one of my major sources of literary news - I have another list for you, this one of the top selling books in this year's Black Friday sales. Black Friday is a post-Thanksgiving Day sales event with a long and complicated … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia’s bestsellers, Black Friday week 2024
Six degrees of separation, FROM Sandwich TO …
And here we are again at the last Six Degrees of the year. I'm not going to say the obvious about time, as you are all thinking it anyhow, I'm sure. Instead, I will just wish you the best of the season. I hope it's a contented and peaceful one for you all. Now, on … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Sandwich TO …
Novellas in November 2024, Part 2 (New to my TBR)
November is over and, as I expected, I didn't get to post much for Novellas in November. However, I did read a couple of novellas and started another short form work (ie nonfiction), and, more to the point, I did read some participants' posts which resulted in my noting some "New to my TBR" options. … Continue reading Novellas in November 2024, Part 2 (New to my TBR)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Books set at the beach
Summer has formally started here in the Southern Hemisphere, and in Australia that means (for most people), the beach. We have gorgeous beaches here - not that they are my go-to place - so I thought to share some books set at the beach, by the sea. Some of these may also be "beach reads" … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Books set at the beach
PS Cottier and NG Hartland, The thirty-one legs of Vladimir Putin (#BookReview)
Earlier this month, I posted on a conversation with the winners of the 2024 Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Publishing Prize, P S Cottier and N G Hartland, who wrote The thirty-one legs of Vladimir Putin, and Sonya Voumard, who wrote Tremor. On the surface, these books look very different, but conversation facilitator, Sally Pryor, found some … Continue reading PS Cottier and NG Hartland, The thirty-one legs of Vladimir Putin (#BookReview)
Marion Halligan, Wishbone (#BookReview)
My reading group's last meeting of the year took the form of a tribute to Marion Halligan, who died earlier this year and who had generously attended our meeting when we discussed her Valley of grace (my review). We have done this once before with Helen Garner (albeit she hadn't died) and it worked well. … Continue reading Marion Halligan, Wishbone (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers in the news (1)
Australian writers have been capturing attention - here and overseas - in the last few months. I've been noting these stories as they've popped up, and kept planning to post on them, but somehow, time just slipped by and more stories kept coming. Consequently, most Aussie readers here will know most of these news items … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers in the news (1)
Nonfiction November 2024, Weeks 1-3
My participation in Nonfiction November tends to be sporadic. Last year, I wrote some weekly and some combined posts, but I did address the weekly questions conscientiously. However, the prompt questions are, I think, much the same this year and my answers would be very similar, so I'm not going to be as thorough this … Continue reading Nonfiction November 2024, Weeks 1-3
Whispering Gums 