Quaint title, eh? I really didn't know what to expect when I accepted this book for review, but accept I did because the publisher is a quality little press and because the author, Julie Thorndyke, although unknown to me, has a track record as a writer, particularly of tanka. Mrs Rickaby's lullaby, however, is her … Continue reading Julie Thorndyke, Mrs Rickaby’s lullaby (#BookReview)
Author: Whispering Gums
Stella Prize 2020 Winner announced
Well, a very different announcement "party" for the announcement of the 2020 Stella Prize winner but one that was exciting for those of us not in Melbourne, because we could attend! It was a beautifully conceived and smoothly produced program, with words from each of the shortlisted writers and each of the judges, plus a … Continue reading Stella Prize 2020 Winner announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Armchair travelling
Over at The Resident Judge of Port Phillip, Janine is publishing a series of travel posts on My non-trip in the year of coronavirus. You see, as she writes in her first post, published on April 3, she would, that day, have been "folding up the laptop, packing my case and taking up my passport all … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Armchair travelling
Living under COVID-19 (2)
Just checking in to see what's up with everyone in their neck of the woods. How are you coping with your COVID-19 restrictions? Are you getting stuck into those projects that have been hanging around forever? One of our friends is finally sewing clothes out of fabrics she bought on overseas trips years ago, another … Continue reading Living under COVID-19 (2)
Tara June Winch, The yield (#BookReview)
Tara June Winch's novel, The yield, follows her impressive - and David Unaipon award-winning - debut novel Swallow the air (my review). Ten years in the making, The yield could be described as her "passion project". It makes a powerful plea for Indigenous agency and culture. I wrote about The yield's genesis last year, but will repeat it … Continue reading Tara June Winch, The yield (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Spanish flu
COVID-19, history tells us, is a one in 100 year event, the last such event being the Spanish flu of 1918 to 1920. This week, I thought I'd share some references to the Spanish flu from Trove - not news reports about the course of the flu itself, but some random references that indicate the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Spanish flu
Six degrees of separation, FROM Stasiland TO …
It's April and finally the first starting book for 2020's Six Degrees of Separation that I've read. If you are new to blogging and don't know this meme and how it works, please check out meme host Kate's blog - booksaremyfavouriteandbest. Now to April's starting book, the critically acclaimed, multi-translated, award-winning nonfiction book by Australia's Anna Funder - … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Stasiland TO …
Rick Morton, One hundred years of dirt (#BookReview)
Way back in the early 1970s when I was an undergraduate university student, I did some sociology, and one of our set books was The myth of equality by Tom Roper. It, and the courses around it, have informed ever since my understanding of how our society operates. Morton's book One hundred years of dirt … Continue reading Rick Morton, One hundred years of dirt (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Authors respond to COVID-19
In last week's Monday Musings I wrote more generally about COVID-19 and its impact on the Arts. Like that post, this one is not aiming to be a formal comprehensive one either; news and ideas are coming far too quickly. And, anyhow, as I also said last week, most if not all of you are … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Authors respond to COVID-19
Living under COVID-19 (1)
This may be the first of a regular, irregular or occasional series of posts about living under COVID-19 , probably occasional because I suspect that, once we settle in for however long it's going to be, life will become same-same. Like many bloggers - see Nancy in the Netherlands' post, and Stargazer in London who … Continue reading Living under COVID-19 (1)
Whispering Gums 