Tonight I am in Kalkadoon (Kalkatunga) country. The Kalkadoons were the first Indigenous Australian people I became aware of as a young pre-pubescent girl living in Mount Isa in the 1960s. What I remember being told is that they were "fierce warriors", but nothing much else, because we didn't learn this history of Australia back … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: A little note on the Kalkadoon (or Kalkatungu)
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Nettie Palmer on Australian novels
Nettie Palmer has appeared a few times before on this blog, and is likely to appear again, because she was such an active member of Australia's early to mid-twentieth century literary community, and she was a keen supporter and promoter of Australian writing and writers. Three years ago, I wrote about an article she'd written … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Nettie Palmer on Australian novels
Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Australian books, 21st century (to date)
I do think it's jumping the gun, rather, to be listing best books of a century when that century is barely a quarter through! However, it seems that critics and reviewers around the world are giving it a go, including the esteemed New York Times, so who am I to quibble? Certainly Readings Bookshop and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Australian books, 21st century (to date)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Short stories, revisited
I love short stories but, as Jason Steger, Literary Editor of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, wrote in one of his recent weekly emails, not everyone does. Indeed, he writes: I know quite a lot of people – people I would consider good readers of fiction – who find them unsatisfactory. Not enough … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Short stories, revisited
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 7, Grace Ethel Martyr
The forgotten writers I have been writing about vary greatly, and most will stay forgotten because, to be honest, their time has past and not all writing remains relevant. This is not to say, however, that they are not worth revisiting. They are, after all, part of our literary culture, and they paved ways, whether … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 7, Grace Ethel Martyr
Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2024
National Poetry Month - in Australia - is now four years old, and once again it is spearheaded by Red Room Poetry, which is described by ArtsHub as "Australia’s leading organisation that commissions poets and produces live poetry events nationally". ArtsHub adds that this Month is "a festival that celebrates emerging and established writers, as … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2024
Monday musings on Australian literature: Et toi, France!
With a certain event happening in Paris, and other parts of France at the moment, I thought it would be fun to briefly explore, some literary connections between Australia and France. I say "some" because there's no way I could know, let alone list, all the ways in which our countries have connected over the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Et toi, France!
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 6, Constance Clyde
"Forgotten" is a subjective thing, as I suggested with my fifth post in this series on Lillian Pyke whose reputation as a children's writer has survived in niche circles at least. My next subject, Constance Clyde, like Lillian Pyke, has entries in both AustLit and Wikipedia suggesting some notability, but I had not heard of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 6, Constance Clyde
Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australian short story collections
NAIDOC Week 2024 National Logo NAIDOC Week 2024 finished yesterday, but, as I often do, I am bookending the week with Monday Musings posts. Last week, I posted on First Nations Australian Stella listees. This week I'd like to highlight some recent (meaning 21st century) short story collections. In my admittedly limited experience, First Nations … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australian short story collections
Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australian Stella listees
NAIDOC Week 2024 National Logo Yesterday was the start of NAIDOC Week 2024. As has been my practice since 2013, I'm devoting this week's Monday Musings to the cause. NAIDOC Week's theme this year is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud. Without specifically stating it, this theme responds, I'm sure, to the devastating … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australian Stella listees
Whispering Gums 