This year, as I like to do, I went to the National Folk Festival, albeit for only one day instead of my usual two. I love the music, but I also love the singer-songwriters for whom the lyrics are at least as important at the music. I came to folk through the protest songs of the … Continue reading Sparrow-Folk and Tara Moss want to Ruin Your Day
Australian literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: First winners of The Bulletin Novel Prize
"Once again women have proved that they can triumph over men"! So starts a 1928 newspaper article announcing the winners of the first Bulletin Novel Prize. Hmmm ... fascinating to read this the week we heard that eight of the ten books longlisted for the 2015 Miles Franklin Award are by women. I don't like to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: First winners of The Bulletin Novel Prize
Biff Ward, In my mother’s hands (Review)
"Profoundly moving", "a kind book", and "harrowing" could be blurb words for Biff Ward's memoir, In my mother's hands, but they're not. They are some of the words used by members of my reading group when we discussed the book this week with - lucky us - the author in attendance. It's quite coincidental that I happened to … Continue reading Biff Ward, In my mother’s hands (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Scattered thoughts on memoirs
I've titled this Monday Musings "scattered thoughts" because I don't want to raise expectations that I'm going to write a treatise on what is a fascinating but oh-so complex topic. I was inspired to write this post by author Annabel Smith's asking me to take part in her Friday Faves* post on favourite memoirs. For this post, Smith asked … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Scattered thoughts on memoirs
Charles Hall, Summer’s gone (Review)
When Western Australian writer Craig Silvey set his coming-of-age novel Jasper Jones in the 1960s I was a bit surprised, as Silvey himself did not grow up in that era. I'm not so surprised, though, about Charles Hall's debut novel Summer's gone as Hall did grow up in the 1960s. The novel is, from my … Continue reading Charles Hall, Summer’s gone (Review)
Miles Franklin, Brent of Bin Bin and the Great Australian Bight
In this week's Monday Musings I discussed the literary mystery concerning the identity of Brent of Bin Bin. I referred to an article written in 1954 after her death by Murray Tonkin in which he asked whether the truth that she is, or is a collaborator of, Brent of Bin Bin will now be revealed. I … Continue reading Miles Franklin, Brent of Bin Bin and the Great Australian Bight
Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin, and the mysterious Brent of Bin Bin
In last week's Monday Musings I discussed an article by Canadian-born author Aidan de Brune on the novelist Bernard Cronin in his West Australian series on Australian Authors. The now little-known Bernard Cronin was no. 3 in his series. Number 4, though, was one of the giants of Australian literature - then, and still now - … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin, and the mysterious Brent of Bin Bin
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bernard Cronin, an Old Derelict!
It's a bit cheeky, really, to write about a writer I've never read, but I do this occasionally, particularly in Monday Musings because I use them to educate myself as well as to share ideas and knowledge with you. I came across Bernard Cronin (1884-1968) when I was roving around Trove earlier this year. He's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bernard Cronin, an Old Derelict!
Jessica White, Entitlement (Review)
Entitlement is a powerful title for Australian author Jessica White's second novel, but then White wanted to explore some powerful themes - though they are, unfortunately, somewhat belied by the rural romance/saga looking cover. The author bio at the front of the book tells us that White grew up on a property in northwest New South Wales … Continue reading Jessica White, Entitlement (Review)
Stella Prize 2015 Shortlist
I rarely write longlist, shortlist and winner posts, but for the Stella Prize I don't mind making an exception. Last month, I posted on the longlist, and yesterday, the shortlist was announced. Maxine Beneba Clarke's Foreign Soil (Hachette): short story collection that I really must read, a debut book Emily Bitto's The Strays (Affirm Press): another debut … Continue reading Stella Prize 2015 Shortlist
