My reading group's last meeting of the year took the form of a tribute to Marion Halligan, who died earlier this year and who had generously attended our meeting when we discussed her Valley of grace (my review). We have done this once before with Helen Garner (albeit she hadn't died) and it worked well. … Continue reading Marion Halligan, Wishbone (#BookReview)
Australian literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers in the news (1)
Australian writers have been capturing attention - here and overseas - in the last few months. I've been noting these stories as they've popped up, and kept planning to post on them, but somehow, time just slipped by and more stories kept coming. Consequently, most Aussie readers here will know most of these news items … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers in the news (1)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 8, Jessie Urquhart
While some of the forgotten writers I have shared in this series are in the category of interesting-to- know-about-but-not-necessarily-to-read, others probably are worth checking out again. Jessie Urquhart is one of these latter, though I've not read any of her novels, so don't quote me! However, there are articles for her in Wikipedia and the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 8, Jessie Urquhart
Monday musings on Australian literature: Ausmus Month
Image courtesy Clker.Com AKA Australian Music Month. The things you learn, thanks to other bloggers! It was kimbofo's post of last Monday that brought this month to my attention, though I now see that our ABC is celebrating it, along with other musical organisations. I should have been aware. Anyhow, as kimbofo wrote, it offers … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Ausmus Month
Monday musings on Australian literature: Final thoughts on Canberra Writers Festival 2024
In 2019, I wrote a detailed wrap-up of that year's Canberra Writers Festival, and I thought to do one this year, though I didn't have the fascinating stats I had in 2019. However, with this year's festival bumping up against November, which is a very busy month in the blogosphere, I've decided to scale down … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Final thoughts on Canberra Writers Festival 2024
Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Publishing Prize 2024 Winning Books Launch with Conversation
I mentioned the nonfiction winner of the 2024 Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Publishing Prize, in this week's Monday Musings, but saved the full winner announcement until after I attended the launch at a conversation with the winning authors this weekend. The participants This year, as publisher Julian Davies had hoped, there was a prize for fiction … Continue reading Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Publishing Prize 2024 Winning Books Launch with Conversation
Monday musings on Australian literature: Nonfiction awards 2024
It's been a very busy weekend, and I have a few posts waiting to do, plus a reading group book to finish for tomorrow, so this post is a quick one. Phew, you are probably saying if you stuck with me over the weekend! Today's topic recognises that our litblogosphere's annual Nonfiction November event, currently … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Nonfiction awards 2024
Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 6, The case for critics
Presented in partnership with Sydney Review of Books and Radio National’s The Bookshelf This was my final session of the festival, and it felt the perfect choice after five sessions focussing on authors and their novels. The program described it this way: Derided, disparaged and cursed to the heavens, book critics are depicted as literature’s … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 6, The case for critics
Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 5, Your favourites: Anita Heiss
In conversation with Astrid Edwards Astrid Edwards is a podcaster who conducted a "conversation" I attended at last year's Festival (my post), while Wiradyuri writer Anita Heiss (my posts) has made frequent appearances on my blog. This was my second (and final) "Your favourites" session at the Festival, though there were more in the program. … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 5, Your favourites: Anita Heiss
Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 4, Your favourites: Robbie Arnott
In conversation with Karen Viggers Karen Viggers is no stranger to this blog (my posts), and I have read Robbie Arnott's previous novel, Limberlost (my review). One of several "Your favourites" sessions with loved authors, this one was described as Robbie Arnott’s fiction is steeped in the wild: women return from the dead as walking … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 4, Your favourites: Robbie Arnott
Whispering Gums 