I was uncertain about whether to title this post The Australasian or "Bush Sketcher", but have decided on the latter. However, I will start by introducing The Australasian! The Australasian was a weekly newspaper established in 1864 by the merger of three Melbourne weeklies, and later incorporating a couple of other publications, including, in 1889, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bush Sketcher (Intro)
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: University of Canberra Book of the Year 2019
I have written about the University of Canberra's Book of the Year initiative, twice - in 2012 when it was initiated, and again in 2014, when I checked to see whether the program was continuing. I am thrilled to say that earlier this month I heard the announcement of 2019's book, so the program continues … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: University of Canberra Book of the Year 2019
Monday musings on Australian literature: Barbara Jefferis Award and negative depictions of women
A month ago, blogger Kim Forrester (Reading Matters) tweeted "I’ve stopped reading books where a woman being murdered is the plot point. Let’s change the story." I thought this was interesting, but didn't think a lot about it at the time because I read very little crime (though I do watch some). However, I was … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Barbara Jefferis Award and negative depictions of women
Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading for Reconciliation
Funny sometimes how Monday Musings topics suddenly appear to me. I was researching for a future post, when I came across a site called Reading for Reconciliation - and couldn't go past it for today's post. However, the site's Home Page needs a bit of unpicking. It has a heading, "Finalists in 2012 Queensland Reconciliation Awards", … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading for Reconciliation
Monday musings on Australian literature: And now it’s booktubers
Well, actually, it's not quite "and now" because booktubers have been around for a while - apparently. Or, so I read in an article, sent to me by occasional commenter here Neil. (Thanks Neil.) The article is from ABC RN's The Hub program: it contains a link to the segment on the radio program, as … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: And now it’s booktubers
Monday musings on Australian literature: Memorable homes in Aussie novels
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again" is a novel opener that many of us will recognise, I'm sure. It comes, of course, from Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. For some reason it popped into my head recently, and it got me thinking, not about first lines, but about famous fictional houses - and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Memorable homes in Aussie novels
Monday Musings on Australian literature: the Australasian Home Reading Union et al (2)
You may remember that a couple of weeks ago I wrote a Monday Musings post on the Australasian Home Reading Union - and said at the time that I'd probably write more because I'd like to see what happened to it. Well, here is the next instalment. Please note, though, that my research isn't as … Continue reading Monday Musings on Australian literature: the Australasian Home Reading Union et al (2)
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Next Chapter
Two weeks ago I wrote a Monday Musings post on HarperCollins' new prize for unpublished manuscripts, the Banjo Prize - and this week I saw the announcement of the winners of another new "prize", the Wheeler Centre's Next Chapter initiative. It's a very different kettle of fish but is another program offering opportunities to writers … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Next Chapter
Monday Musings on Australian literature: the Australasian Home Reading Union (1)
Reading Groups, U3A branches, Probus clubs, etc. These are just a few of groups around today in which people come together, formally or informally, to further their intellectual interests. What did people with such interests do in, say, late nineteenth century Australia? Well, one option was to join or form an AHR circle. Have you … Continue reading Monday Musings on Australian literature: the Australasian Home Reading Union (1)
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Banjo Prize
I have just caught up with a new literary prize - the Banjo Prize - which is not to be confused with the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards I guess it's to be expected that one of Australia's favourite bush poets might be honoured by more than one award being named for him. Before I get … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Banjo Prize
