It is currently summer down under and so, despite some unseasonably cold weather in various parts, the thoughts of many have turned to "beach reads". Most of us understand that to mean escapist, easy-to-read, non-demanding fiction, although we don't all define our own "beach reading" that way. But, do you know the history of the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Beach (or Summer) reads
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Digital Lending Right
Australia implemented a Public Lending Right (PLR) in 1975. It's a Federal Government program which makes payments to eligible creators and publishers, in recognition of income they lose (in other words, don't get!) through loans and other free uses of their books in public lending libraries. PLR schemes operate many countries around the world, including … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Digital Lending Right
Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1923: 2, The Platypus Series
My first post in my Monday Musings 1923 series featured an update on the 1880-established NSW Bookstall Company, which, you may remember, focused on supporting Australia's writers and readers by publishing Australian books and selling them for just one shilling each. In 1923, another publishing initiative appeared on the scene, Angus and Robertson's Platypus Series. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1923: 2, The Platypus Series
Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australia speculative fiction
This post is my first contribution to Bill's (The Australian Legend) Australian Women Writers Gen 5 Week 15-22 January. Gen 5 encompasses women who have been writing from the 1990s to now. Bill argues that two major trends characterise this era: "the rise and rise of Indigenous Lit" and "writing which in earlier days would … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australia speculative fiction
Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1923: 1, Bookstall Co. (update)
Last year I wrote a series of posts about 1922, drawing primarily from Trove. I enjoyed doing it, and have decided to repeat the exercise this year, and perhaps continue annually, to build up a picture of the times. My first 1922 post was about the NSW Bookstall Company which was established in 1880, but … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1923: 1, Bookstall Co. (update)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2023
Maintaining tradition, my first Monday Musings of the year once again focuses on "new releases". As before, it is primarily drawn from the Sydney Morning Herald. Jane Sullivan and the team do a wonderful job of surveying publishers large and small, but I have added a couple of my own! Also, as this is Monday musings … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2023
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Women Writers Challenge 2022
For around 10 years I devoted my last Monday Musings of the year to the Australian Women Writers Challenge, which most of you will remember was instigated by Elizabeth Lhuede in 2012 in response to concerns in Australian literary circles about the lack of recognition for women writers. As I explained last year, it would be … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Women Writers Challenge 2022
Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite books 2022, Part 2: Nonfiction and Poetry
Last week, as most of you will know, I shared the favourite Aussie fiction books named by writers in the Sydney Morning Herald's Best Reads of the Year 2022, Readings Bookshop's Best Fiction, and the ABC RN's Bookshelf Panel's Books of the Year 2022. This week, as promised, I'm sharing their nonfiction and poetry favourites … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite books 2022, Part 2: Nonfiction and Poetry
Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite books 2022, Part 1: Fiction
Over recent years, I've shared favourite Aussie reads of the year from various sources, with the specific sources varying a little from time to time. This year, my main sources are The Sydney Morning Herald's Best Reads of the Year chosen by writers, Readings bookshop's Best Australian fiction, and ABC RN's Bookshelf panel. As last … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite books 2022, Part 1: Fiction
Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Classics
Over the years I have written several posts on publishers who have made a commitment to publishing Australian classics, such as Text, Allen and Unwin and the Sydney University Press, to name a few. I was thrilled last week to come across another one, this time from UQP, the University of Queensland Press, which has … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Classics
