In last week's Monday musings I said that this series would resume in the New Year. But then the thought occurred to me: this is an Australian focused litblog, so why don't I divide my top reads of the year into those by Australian writers, and the rest? That decision made, it seemed logical to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: My top Australian reads of 2010
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Christmas imagery
As a 50-something Australian, I grew up with a big disconnect regarding Christmas. Our Christmas occurs in summer but the cards we received (and could buy) and the carols we sang (and still do) tended to be winter-focused. And then we discovered the carols by Wheeler and James. John Wheeler (lyricist) and William G James (composer) … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Christmas imagery
Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie writers and Jane Austen
Funnily enough, I'm not the only Australian who loves Jane Austen - and so we too have our very own Jane Austen juggernaut. We see the films and miniseries, we have the Jane Austen Society of Australia - and we have academics and others researching and writing on all sorts of topics relating to her. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie writers and Jane Austen
Monday musings on Australian literature: Silly names for the silly season
It's nearing Christmas, and I'm getting busy, so today's Monday musings will be short ... Ever since I started this blog series, I have wanted to write about Australian place names. We are not, I know, the only country to have interesting or fun place names - and I'd love it if you shared your … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Silly names for the silly season
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Victorian Literary Map
This week's Monday Musings will be a brief one, partly because my time is tight (I really must finish Parrot and Olivier in America by tomorrow) and partly because I'm primarily going to post a link to a map: the online interactive Victorian Literary Map. As you might have guessed from my various Literary Road postings, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Victorian Literary Map
Monday musings on Australian literature: The future of Australian literature
'If their [Australian writers'] work is so interesting,' comes the query, 'why isn't it known here [London]?' This query was put to Australian novelist and literary figure, Vance Palmer, in 1935! When I read it, I couldn't help thinking plus ça change. A few months ago I wrote on Hilary McPhee's concern about the continued low profile … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The future of Australian literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post by Lisa from ANZLitLovers
When I started this Monday musings series, I said that I'd have the occasional guest post. The first one, I decided then, had to be Lisa at ANZLitLovers. Not only did she give me a lot of encouragement when I started blogging (thanks Lisa!) but she is one of our most committed bloggers on Australian literature. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post by Lisa from ANZLitLovers
Monday musings on Australian literature: Some Australian travel writing
At luggage carousels one can question travelling (Donald Horne, The intelligent tourist) Having just returned from our trip to Hong Kong, I thought this would be a good opportunity to post about some Australian travel writing. Hmm ... good idea, but where to start? The first problem is that while I usually enjoy travel literature … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some Australian travel writing
Monday musings on Australian literature: My literary home, more or less
Once again Mr Gums and I have left daughter and dog at home in order to hit the road - well, in this case, the skies as by the time this is published we will be in Hong Kong. My posting and commenting will consequently somewhat sporadic for the next week...and so I decided to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: My literary home, more or less
Monday musings on Australian literature: Dear Sir, or The cult of ugliness
As I was researching Ruth Park for last week's Monday musings, I came across some "Letters to the editor" in The Sydney Morning Herald and thought they were worth sharing. (As you read them do note how some of the letter writers sign themselves.) I'll start with a couple of letters criticising Park's novels: Sir, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Dear Sir, or The cult of ugliness
