Peter Temple's winning this year's Miles Franklin award* with his crime novel Truth has caused a bit of a ruckus - and, consequently, there's been some interesting discussion about it on various blogs. The discussion mainly concerns the implications of a so-called genre novel winning this traditionally "literary fiction" award, but there is also some discussion … Continue reading Peter Temple’s Miles Franklin win, Ruckus
Author: Whispering Gums
Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad
This is the second time I have read Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad. Much as I enjoyed it the first time around, I probably wouldn't have read it again if it hadn't been scheduled for one of my online bookgroups. However, given that scheduling and the fact that I had recently listened to Simon Armitage's dramatisation … Continue reading Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad
Peter Temple’s Truth wins the 2010 Miles Franklin
So, the waiting is over and Peter Temple has won the 2010 Miles Franklin Award. I'm kicking myself that I haven't read it yet. I am not much of a crime-fiction reader - in fact I could probably count on one hand the crime novels I've read - but I did like his The broken … Continue reading Peter Temple’s Truth wins the 2010 Miles Franklin
ALS Gold Medal (and 2009 award shortlist)
My recent review of Herz Bergner's Between sky and sea reminded me of a rather ignored Australian literary award, the ALS Gold Medal, that I'd come across a few years ago but have let slip beneath my radar. It is time, methinks, to bring it to the fore. It was initially awarded by the Australian … Continue reading ALS Gold Medal (and 2009 award shortlist)
Herz Bergner, Between sky and sea
Book cover (Courtesy: Text Publishing) Do you read introductions to novels? And, if you do, do you read them before or after you read the novel itself? I read them, but always afterwards because I like to come to novels as objectively as I can. And so, this is what I did with Herz Bergner's … Continue reading Herz Bergner, Between sky and sea
Shirley Jackson, Charles
Before I start this review, I have a technical question. Does anyone know why advice to bloggers about maximising your site always say not to use something like "here" for a hyperlink but, rather, to add the link to the actual name of what is being linked to? In other words, to make the link … Continue reading Shirley Jackson, Charles
Who’s watching you read (and other readerly things)?
Recently I reviewed Andrea Goldsmith's Reunion. It was a less than stellar review, but the book did contain some fun observations about readers and reading. So, I thought I'd share a few with you. The first one is: With books a clearly signed shortcut to the soul, you would have to be either very stupid … Continue reading Who’s watching you read (and other readerly things)?
Gums have blossoms too
Red flowering gum blossom, "Wild fire" I thought it was time to show that Gums can have gorgeous flowers as well as interesting bark. Not all gums have dramatic flowers. The one in my garden doesn't, for example - as is clear from its name: Eucalyptus pauciflora! But some gums, like this hybrid of the … Continue reading Gums have blossoms too
Animal Kingdom (Movie)
If you thought No Country for Old Men was grim, take a look at the new Australian movie Animal Kingdom which won the World Cinema Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. While No Country for Old Men was chilling in its portrayal of – there’s no other way to say it – evil, Animal … Continue reading Animal Kingdom (Movie)
Edward Field, WWII (Poem)
Well, Library of America has surprised again. This week it is a poem (6 pages). I wasn't expecting that, but as I like to delve into poetry every now and then I was rather pleased. The poem, "WWII" by Edward Field, was first published in 1967 in a collection titled Poets of World War II. … Continue reading Edward Field, WWII (Poem)
Whispering Gums 