Monday musings on Australian literature: Eight writers to look out for (2017)

Back in December 2017 The Guardian Australia ran an article titled "Eight new Australian writers you should read (according to those who know)". As the title implies, it lists eight emerging Australia writers to look out for. It's a serendipitous list compiled by their asking "industry insiders – publishers, editors, festival directors – for their pick of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Eight writers to look out for (2017)

Monday musings on Australian literature: 1950s prose-poets criticised

Serendipitously, while trawling Trove for something else recently, I came across a fascinating article in the Tribune about the winners of the first two Miles Franklin Awards. The article was written by Jack Beasley in July 1959, and the two winners were Patrick White's Voss (1957), and Randolph Stow's To the islands (1958), two books … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1950s prose-poets criticised

Monday musings on Australian literature: some Australian feminist “classics”

Tonight I went to an ANU/The Canberra Times Meet the Author event featuring author and journalist, Jane Caro, in conversation with local radio personality and booklover, Alex Sloan. It was of course inspired by Caro's new book, Accidental feminists. So, I thought it might be fun this Monday Musings to just list some of Australia's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: some Australian feminist “classics”

Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella judges on the zeitgeist in Australian fiction

Last week I reported on the longlist for this year's Stella Prize, and shared an excerpt from the judge's comments. For today's Monday Musings, I'm reiterating most of that - for us to think about and discuss: Reading for the Stella Prize … [is] a sample of the zeitgeist, a look at what is informing … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella judges on the zeitgeist in Australian fiction

Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading Victoria

The inspiration for these Monday Musings posts comes from all sorts of places, but mostly from online sources and print media. Today's, however, comes from a catch-up I had last week with my group of litblogger mentees (at which Angharad and Emma from 2017 met Amy from 2018.) It was delightful. You won't be surprised … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading Victoria

Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Media Hall of Fame

When I was a young twenty-something library student, I learnt a new word - serendipity. It, means, essentially, finding things by accident, and was apparently coined by Horace Walpole back in 1754. It's one of the best things about research I think - unless, of course, you are so focused you have no time for … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Media Hall of Fame

Monday musings on Australian literature: Older women protagonists

This post was inspired by Book Word's "older women in fiction" project, which involves her reading and posting reviews for books with older women protagonists as well as encouraging others to read these books and sharing them with her. She has quite a list on the page I've linked above, and is adding to it … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Older women protagonists

Monday musings on Australian literature: Capel Boake

This week Bill (The Australian Legend) is following up last January's Australian Women Writers Gen 1 Week with a Gen 2 Week, this one highlighting Australian women writers from 1890 to 1918. He takes his inspiration from HM Green's A history of Australian literature, which characterises 1890-1923 as a period of “Self-conscious Nationalism”, the time of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Capel Boake

Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2019

I've been doing this "new releases" post for three or four years now. As the post title says, it's about books that will be published this year, but I'll be selective, focusing on those most interesting to me. This doesn't mean that I expect to read them all, just that they interest me!! Last year … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2019

Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Women Writers Challenge 2018

As has become tradition, I'm devoting my last Monday Musings of the year to the Australian Women Writers Challenge* - but, this year it coincides with New Year's Eve. When this post goes live, who knows what revelry I'll be up to! Hmm ... I can but hope! Seriously, though, I wish all you wonderful Whispering Gums … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Women Writers Challenge 2018