A propos of nothing really, but our lovely afternoon has just been made more lovely by the arrival across the road of: I could write now about the role of kangaroos in Australian culture ... but I think I'll just leave it at this. (PS For those interested in such things, it's an Eastern Grey … Continue reading Kangaroo in the suburbs
Author: Whispering Gums
Library for a fiver!
In May 1940, Professor Walter Murdoch (of the University of Western Australia) wrote three articles in The ABC Weekly arguing that, with £5, you could give yourself "a liberal education in so far as books can give it". It takes three articles for him to list and justify his selections which are grouped under categories: Fiction, History, … Continue reading Library for a fiver!
Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything is illuminated
He invented stories so fantastic she had to believe. It's hard to know where to start writing about Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is illuminated, so I'll just start with a brief description of the plot. It concerns a search in the Ukraine by "the hero" (aka Jonathan Safran Foer) for the woman (Augustine?) who, he … Continue reading Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything is illuminated
Booker Prize 2009
I received a voucher a couple of weeks ago for 25% off a 2009 Booker Prize shortlist book. What to buy? Hard choice as I hadn't read any of them - I know, I know, how can I call myself a reader but, really, I am not driven to read shortlists per se. Awards are … Continue reading Booker Prize 2009
Marion on Marion (Halligan)
A few days ago I posted a review of Marion Halligan's latest book, Valley of Grace, and mentioned that Halligan had attended my bookgroup meeting at which we discussed the book. I didn't, however, share in that post all of the things that Halligan told us - and I won't in this post either. Some … Continue reading Marion on Marion (Halligan)
Challenge of the biopic, Redux
Back in July I posted about biopics and about the tensions inherent between fact and fiction in what is, essentially, a dramatisation. Despite this - despite the fact that I know I can't rely on them for the facts - I like biopics. Of course, I don't like all biopics, and there are some I … Continue reading Challenge of the biopic, Redux
Indie Book Award, 2009
The winner of this year's Indie Book of the Year Award was announced last week - and it is Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, which I reviewed here recently. The Indie Book Awards are made by Australian independent booksellers, and this is their second year. The winners in the four sections are chosen by a … Continue reading Indie Book Award, 2009
This of course doesn’t make any sense
Lisa, over at ANZLitLovers, has produced a list of some of the main features of postmodernism. It just so happens that I am also reading a postmodernist book, Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is illuminated (from which the title of this post comes). I've only just started the book but it is exhibiting those features of … Continue reading This of course doesn’t make any sense
The value of the imprimatur
In the October issue of Limelight, conductor-composer Guy Noble has written about that Washington Post experiment in which renowned violinist, Joshua Bell, busked in downtown Washington. Only one person recognised him. No-one else showed much interest and he ended with the princely sum of a little over $30, $20 of which came from the person … Continue reading The value of the imprimatur
Marion Halligan, Valley of grace
Delicious but sly are the first words that come to mind when I think about Marion Halligan's latest novel, Valley of Grace. Take this for example: You know, people think flowers are pretty. Sentimental. Frivolous even. But the fact is, everything begins in the garden. Humans. Society. Civilisation. Evil. Things bud, bloom, weather, age, die. … Continue reading Marion Halligan, Valley of grace
Whispering Gums 