I've called this post "Vol. 3, redux", although it is my first post on volume 3. The reason is that for my Jane Austen group's 2011 slow read of Sense and sensibility, I wrote posts on volumes 1 and 2, but not on volume 3 as I missed the meeting, and never did write up … Continue reading Jane Austen, Sense and sensibility (Vol. 3, redux)
Author: Whispering Gums
Nigel Featherstone, My heart is a little wild thing (#BookReview)
In late May, I reported on the Canberra launch of Nigel Featherstone's latest novel, My heart is a little wild thing - and now I bring you my thoughts on this finely-observed book about a man's reaching for his own life. I'm going to start with a reflection on a question authors of books like … Continue reading Nigel Featherstone, My heart is a little wild thing (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Magabala Books
2022 National NAIDOC logo Lisa's (ANZLitLovers) 2022 First Nations Reading Week and this year's NAIDOC Week officially ended yesterday. However, as I've done before, I'm bookending those events with Monday Musings posts - with this week's topic being the pioneering publisher, Magabala Books. Magabala Books have been operating for over 40 years - as they share … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Magabala Books
Evelyn Araluen, Dropbear (#BookReview)
The final line of "Gather", the opening poem in Evelyn Araluen's collection Dropbear, announces her intention - "got something for you to swallow". Well, I can tell you now, if you haven't already read the book, she sure has. Dropbear, self-described by Araluen as a "strange little book", won this year's Stella Prize, the first … Continue reading Evelyn Araluen, Dropbear (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australian poets
2022 National NAIDOC logo Yesterday was the start of Lisa's (ANZLitLovers) 2022 First Nations Reading Week which coincides of course with NAIDOC Week. As has become my practice, I'm devoting this week's Monday Musings to the cause. NAIDOC Week's theme this year is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! Its focus is encouraging First Nations people … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australian poets
Six degrees of separation, FROM Wintering TO …
Why do I always start these posts with the weather or the seasons? This time I'll break with tradition and start with the fact that I've just got back from a lovely trip to Melbourne where we enjoyed some good family times, albeit interrupted in the middle by COVID isolation. How our lives have changed … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Wintering TO …
Monday musings on Australian literature: Frank Moorhouse (1938-2022)
Frank Moorhouse was one of the grand old men of Australian literature, so when I learned that he'd died yesterday, I knew I had to change my plan for this week's Monday Musings to feature him. Wikipedia's introduction to him gives you a sense why I've described him as I have: "He won major Australian … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Frank Moorhouse (1938-2022)
W.E.B. Du Bois, “Strivings of the Negro People” (#Review)
W.E.B. Du Bois by James E. Purdy, 1907, gelatin silver print, National Portrait Gallery, which has released this digital image under the CC0 license While I knew of W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963), it wasn't until I read Nella Larsen's Passing earlier this year that I was inspired to read something by him. Americans will probably … Continue reading W.E.B. Du Bois, “Strivings of the Negro People” (#Review)
Miles Franklin Award 2022 shortlist
I didn't post this year's longlist when it came out last month, and if any of you have been following the award you will know that controversy has, once again, hit it, with one of the longlisted books, John Hughes' The dogs, being withdrawn on the grounds of plagiarism. That's a shame for me, as … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2022 shortlist
Monday musings on Australian literature: Warm Winter Read
For several years now, Cathy of 746 books has been running a 20 Books of Summer challenge, which many Southern Hemisphere bloggers re-frame as "of Winter". It's a great initiative, and this year has over 120 participants. You go, Cathy! However, for something closer to home that's geared to this winter, I thought I'd share … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Warm Winter Read
