I say "in a sense" because my reading has been slow this week as Mr Gums and I have been getting back up to speed after our Lake Eyre trip. However, in terms of the literary world, much has been happening and I thought I'd share some with you, documenting it at the same time for … Continue reading My literary week (1), in a sense
Australian literature
Francis Keany, Follow the leaders: How to survive a modern-day election campaign (Review)
I had a little laugh when I picked up Francis Keany's book, Follow the leaders, about his experience as a journalist on the 2013 election campaign, because that very day our current leader Malcolm Turnbull formally announced the 2016 election. It's all a game of course because we already knew when it was to be - the budget … Continue reading Francis Keany, Follow the leaders: How to survive a modern-day election campaign (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Let’s get physical – Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre
Last week I wrote my fifth "Let's get physical" post, and chose Adelaide because visiting there was bookending our trip last week to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. You'll understand, therefore, why I've chosen the subject I have for this week! Lake Eyre was named for explorer Edward John Eyre, the first European to see it in 1840, but in 2012 its official name … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Let’s get physical – Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre
Edition de luxe: A collection of short stories
Last October, I wrote a Monday Musings post on writers-in-residence programs. The first one I listed, because I listed them alphabetically, was Accor Hotels MGallery Literary Collection. This is (or was?) a collaborative program with Melbourne’s The Wheeler Centre. Quoting what I wrote then, 'it involved providing eight award-winning Australian writers with a short residence … Continue reading Edition de luxe: A collection of short stories
Monday musings on Australian literature: Let’s get physical – Adelaide
This will be the fifth in my occasional "Let's get physical" series, and I've chosen Adelaide because this week I'm spending a few days in this city, the state capital of South Australia, bookending a trip to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. Adelaide, which was proclaimed as a British colony in 1836, is located in the country of the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Let’s get physical – Adelaide
Jane Jose, Places women make (Review)
"Places", Jane Jose writes in her book Places women make, "can lift our spirits and be inclusive, and add surprise, excitement, wonder or some beauty to day-to-day life in the city." These sorts of places, which are essential to making our cities liveable, rarely just happen. They take planning, and who does this planning? Men. At … Continue reading Jane Jose, Places women make (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Ideal books for newcomers, 1965-style
Another treasure from Trove! Just over 50 years ago, on 1 January, 1965, an article appeared in a journal titled The Good Neighbour, which was published from 1950 to 1969 by the then Department of Immigration. The article is called "Ideal books for newcomers" and opens with: Following Mary Durack's articles on "The Old Australia" which appeared … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Ideal books for newcomers, 1965-style
Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award, the second decade (1968-1977)
Three weeks ago, I published a post on the first decade of the Miles Franklin Award. That seemed to interest some of my readers, so I'm back again with the next decade. I hope it's equally interesting. Again, I won't be describing all the decade's winners. You can check the Award's official site to see a complete list of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award, the second decade (1968-1977)
Sarah Kanake and Down syndrome in literature
In the media release accompanying my copy of Sarah Kanake's Sing fox to me (my review), we are told not only that Kanake's brother has Down syndrome but that she has a PhD in creative writing from the Queensland University of Technology "on the representations of Down syndrome in Australian literature". As far as I know her … Continue reading Sarah Kanake and Down syndrome in literature
Sarah Kanake, Sing fox to me (Review)
Back in late 2011, I wrote a Monday Musings post on 19th century Australian Gothic. I've always intended to post more on the topic, including one on Tasmanian Gothic. Well, here's a start, because Sarah Kanake's debut novel, Sing fox to me, is a good example of modern Tasmanian Gothic. I wrote in my first post that … Continue reading Sarah Kanake, Sing fox to me (Review)
