Nettie Palmer was one of Australia's leading literary critics, not to mention essayist and poet, through the 1920s to 1940s. I have mentioned her several times in this blog, including in my post on Australia's literary couples. She also mentored younger women writers such as Marjorie Barnard and Flora Eldershaw. However, what I want to discuss today … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The novel in Australia, 1927-style, Part 1
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writers recommend …
Last week, to commemorate the beginning of NAIDOC Week, I devoted Monday Musings to Anita Heiss's series of interviews with indigenous Australian writers, In conversation with BlackWords. I said then that this week's post would also draw from the series - and so here it is. I'm not 100% sure of Heiss's process, but I … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writers recommend …
Monday musings on Australian literature: In conversation with Black Words
Today* marks the first day of NAIDOC Week 2014, which will run through to July 13. In honour of this, and of Lisa's Indigenous Literature Week at ANZLitLovers, I thought I'd devote this week's Monday Musings to indigenous Australian writers - and specifically to Anita Heiss's "In conversation with Blackwords" series. This series is described … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: In conversation with Black Words
Monday musings on Australian literature: Once more unto the breach
A little over three years ago, I wrote a Monday musings about the GAN (aka the Great Australian Novel) and the canon. I concluded with the questions: Do you think there is value to the idea of a canon? Or does it discourage wide and open-minded reading and coincidentally encourage a too narrow view of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Once more unto the breach
Monday musings on Australian literature: Red Room Poetry Object Competition 2014
Just a quick Monday Musings today but an interesting one I hope. Red Room Poetry Object is a poetry-writing competition for Australian students in Years 3-10. It was created by The Red Room Company, which is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in 2003. It apparently grew out of the Red Room Radio Show. The company's aim is … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Red Room Poetry Object Competition 2014
Monday musings on Australian literature: Barbara Baynton
It's a while since I've devoted a Monday Musings to an individual author - my last being, I think, Jessica Anderson back in February 2012 - and so I thought it was high time for another one, if only to mix the series up a bit! My choice for today is - well, you know who it … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Barbara Baynton
Monday musings on Australian literature: Specialist literary festivals
Are you a reader of crime or science fiction or fantasy? Or, perhaps of poetry? A few weeks ago I wrote a post on regional literary festivals in Australia. I focused then on festivals for general and/or literary fiction. But, if you have specialist reading inclinations, there are also likely to be festivals for you. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Specialist literary festivals
Monday musings on Australian literature: ABR’s first laureate
While I was gallivanting in the northern hemisphere in April, ABR (the Australian Book Review) announced its first ever laureate. I missed it at the time, but heard of it soon after my return, and am now sharing it with you. For most Aussie readers, though, it's probably a bit old hat! ABR's concept of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: ABR’s first laureate
Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading Matters’ ANZLitMonth
This is the third year that expat journalist Kim has hosted an Australian Literature month on her blog Reading Matters - except that this year, for the first time, she has included New Zealand literature in her scope. As she writes in her introductory post, her aim is to celebrate and "raise awareness of the amazing range of literature … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading Matters’ ANZLitMonth
Monday musings on Australian literature: Regional literary festivals
With the Sydney Writers' Festival kicking off today, I thought it might be interesting to turn our thoughts briefly to the regions. We (well, Aussie readers anyhow) know the big well-established city festivals, in particular Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, but there are also many smaller festivals, some rural, some suburban. In this post I plan to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Regional literary festivals