Madeleine (Courtesy: Text Publishing) I wanted to read Helen Trinca's biography Madeleine for several reasons. First, of course, being a reader, I'm interested in biographies and autobiographies of writers. Secondly, Madeleine St John belongs to that group of Australians, half a generation or so older than I am, that has made quite a mark on … Continue reading Helen Trinca, Madeleine: A life of Madeleine St John (Review)
Australian literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: The little Aussie battler
Australian public intellectual and ethicist, Clive Hamilton, wrote in his 2005 book Affluenza (excerpted in The invisible thread) that Politicians love to identify with the Aussie battler, that stoic, resilient character who has little and complains less. Fifty years ago Australia was full of battlers, people hardened by the rigours of depression and war and, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The little Aussie battler
If you like puns …
Puns make me laugh ... and living in Canberra, as I do, I'm regularly confronted by them. How, do you ask? Well, via a local lawn/turf business called Canturf, a family business which started in 1966. They have, for many years now, been promoting their product - even, and it must have been hard, throughout … Continue reading If you like puns …
Monday musings on Australian literature: Inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop
I had planned another topic for today's Monday Musings, but when I heard via AustLit News about the inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop to be held in May this year, I decided to write about it sooner rather than later ... The workshop aims to bring together established and emerging writers of Aboriginal and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop
The Stella Prize shortlist, 2013
Woo hoo ... The Stella Prize shortlist has been announced. I posted the longlist a few weeks ago before, but just to recap, the Stella Prize is a new award on the Australian literary scene. It is named for Miles Franklin and is “for the best work of literature (fiction and non-fiction) published in 2012 … Continue reading The Stella Prize shortlist, 2013
Christos Tsiolkas in Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue
I indicated in my recent review of Meanjin's special Canberra issue that I would write another post or two on the issue. This is one of those posts. It may, in fact, be the only one, for who knows where the spirit will lead me next? Right now though, I want to devote a post … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas in Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writing and Canberra
This is going to be a difficult post to write because, really, my knowledge is superficial, but I figure that if I put out some feelers, I just might learn something from those who read this and, hopefully, comment. I was inspired to write it by - yes, you've probably guessed it - Canberra's centenary, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writing and Canberra
Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue (Review)
Zora Sanders writes in her Editorial for Meanjin's Canberra Issue that Canberra has (or, is it had) a reputation for being The National Capital of Boredom. This is just one of the many less-than-flattering epithets regularly applied to Canberra: A Cemetery with Lights, Fat Cat City, and the pervasive, A City without a Soul. For me … Continue reading Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading about Canberra
If you're not already aware of it - through my blog or elsewhere - Canberra turns 100 this year. Tomorrow, Tuesday 12 March, is THE day. How does one date a city with such precision? Well, in Canberra's case it's pretty easy because it was (is) a planned city. I suppose a number of dates … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading about Canberra
Meanjin’s Tournament of Books 2012 (2013), Final, or the Winner is announced
Sorry folks, but I have been slack. Meanjin took a little while to post the final round but I've taken even longer to report back to you. February was not a good reading and blogging month for me as my Past Whisperings link shows. I am, however, back now and ready to post the winner … Continue reading Meanjin’s Tournament of Books 2012 (2013), Final, or the Winner is announced
