As many of you know by now, Karen (Kaggsy's Bookish Rambling) and Simon (Stuck in a Book) run "reading weeks" in which they nominate a year from which "everyone reads, enjoys, posts and shares wonderful books and discoveries from the year in question". The current year is 1929, and it runs from today, 24 October … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1929 in fiction
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bush Book Club (2)
Last week, I introduced the Bush Book Club. Established in Sydney in 1909, its aim was to get books out to remote areas of New South Wales not supported by other services like Schools of Arts and Mechanics Institutes. In my post I focused on its establishment and aims, but I found it so interesting … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bush Book Club (2)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bush Book Club (1)
I came across a reference to the Bush Book Club during my research for those 1922 posts I've been doing this year. I flagged it for a post in the series - but then discovered that the Club was founded in 1910. It's a fascinating project, and I haven't reached the end of it yet, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bush Book Club (1)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Community novels
Recently, I came across a blogger discussing what she described as "community novels". The blogger is Liz Dexter at Adventures in reading, running and working from home, and the book she was discussing was an English novel, Small miracles by Anne Booth. It got me thinking, because I love community. Community, however, is a word … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Community novels
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Miles Franklin Rights Project
Some months ago, I became aware of The Miles Franklin Rights Project, and of course, it piqued my interest, so I flagged it for a future Monday Musings. The project apparently commenced in early 2021, and is still continuing. Before I describe the project, though, I need to explain for non-Aussie readers here that the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Miles Franklin Rights Project
Monday musings on Australian literature: Fremantle Press
Given I am currently in Fremantle, I felt it appropriate to give a little shout out to one of the first independent presses I became aware of, back in the 1980s, the Fremantle Press. Then it was called the Fremantle Arts Centre Press, and it published one of my favourite authors at the time, Elizabeth … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Fremantle Press
Monday musings on Australian literature: Introducing Rachel Henning
If you are an Aussie who was sentient in the 1950s and/or 60s, you have probably heard of Rachel Henning. If not, she may be new to you, though she does have something of a classic status in Australia. Let me explain. Rachel Henning (1826-1914) was an Englishwoman who came to Australia in 1854 with … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Introducing Rachel Henning
Monday musings on Australian literature: Local colour, 1920-style
Back in June I wrote a post on the Australian Literature Society's Women's Night that they held in 1922. This Society, which was formed in Melbourne in 1899, has played an important role in supporting and promoting Australian literature for well over a century - first as itself, and then as part of the Association … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Local colour, 1920-style
Monday musings on Australian literature: The new AWW, six months on
In February, a new AWW (Australian Women Writers blog) team, comprising its founder, Elizabeth Lhuede, Bill Holloway (The Australian Legend) and me, published our first post in our revamped blog. Six months on we have settled into a nice little routine which I'd like to share with you, but first ... Let me recap what … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The new AWW, six months on
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian girl’s annual
Some time ago I posted on an old School friend annual that I found during my decluttering. Today, I bring you a much older annual for girls, The Australian girl's annual. It came not from my childhood, but from my aunt's house when I was working on her estate, and it is undated. As far … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian girl’s annual
Whispering Gums 