This is the fourth year I've attended Sydney Writers Festival's Live and Local live-streamed events at the National Library of Australia. I nearly missed it this year because, somehow, I didn't see the usual advertising. However, I caught it just in time, and was able to attend an event that particularly interested me. For the … Continue reading Sydney Writers Festival 2022, Live and Local (Session 1, and only)
Author: Whispering Gums
Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1922: 2, Reviewers on Australianness
This is the second post in a series I plan to do this year inspired by articles in Trove from 1922, that is, from 100 years ago. My first post was on the NSW Bookstall Company, and I have several more 1922 post ideas. However, I thought a good choice for the second one would … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1922: 2, Reviewers on Australianness
Shelley Burr, Wake (#BookReview)
Regular readers here will know a few things about me. One is that I don't regularly read crime, and another is that for three years, before the pandemic struck, I was the litblogging mentor for an ACT Writers Centre program. One of the last two participants in that program was Shelley Burr, author of the … Continue reading Shelley Burr, Wake (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Young Australian Novelists (4)
The current winners of this year's Best Young Australian Novelists were announced recently. I haven't seen much publicity, so given I've reported on this award for the last two years, I thought I'd do it again this year. It's a worthwhile award, and one that has seen writers go on to develop good careers. Just … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Young Australian Novelists (4)
Six degrees of separation, FROM True history of the Kelly Gang TO …
Winter is icumen in! Can I say that? For many of you, it's not that cold here in Australia, but in Australia, my city of Canberra is the coldest capital city in the country. It's the only thing I don't like about living here. But, we will survive. Meanwhile, we have things like blogs and … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM True history of the Kelly Gang TO …
Nigel Featherstone on Christos Tsiolkas’ fearlessness
This week, Nigel Featherstone's latest novel, My heart is a little wild thing, was published, and I plan to attend the launch later this month. In the meantime, it seemed apposite to discuss his essay on Christos Tsiolkas in Reading like an Australian writer. Those of you who have read Nigel's blog will know that … Continue reading Nigel Featherstone on Christos Tsiolkas’ fearlessness
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Pocket Library (2)
Last Monday I introduced the Australian Pocket Library (APL) which was a series of cheap paperbacks produced under the auspices of the Commonwealth Literary Fund (CLF). Its initial purpose was to provide Australian reading matter to Australian POWs but, in its final form, was intended by the CLF to play a bigger role in promoting … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Pocket Library (2)
Mark McKenna, Return to Uluru (#BookReview)
Mark McKenna's engrossing history, Return to Uluru, takes as its starting point the arrival in Central Australia, in 1931, of 29-year-old police officer, Bill McKinnon. Of course, Uluru's true history reaches back into the almost-incomprehensible mists of geological time, and its human history back to the arrival of Indigenous Australians tens of thousands of years … Continue reading Mark McKenna, Return to Uluru (#BookReview)
Stella Prize 2022 Winner announced
The 2022 Stella Prize winner was announced tonight and it's not a surprise, as several of us in the blogosphere rather thought that Evelyn Araluen's Dropbear would be the winner. Indeed, I was so confident I took it with me to Melbourne this month, fully intending to read it. But, there was not much reading … Continue reading Stella Prize 2022 Winner announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Pocket Library (1)
Bill and Lisa have already posted today in recognition of ANZAC Day, Bill's titled ANZAC Day 2022, while Lisa's is about Martha Gething who is featured in the book, Australian women pilots: Amazing true stories of women in the air. My post, in fact, comes to you courtesy of Lisa who, last week, emailed me … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Pocket Library (1)
