Emily Maguire and Charlotte Wood with Kate Mildenhall I chose this session primarily because of Charlotte Wood, given I’d seen Emily Maguire the day before, but her presence was plus, as was having author Kate Mildenhall conduct the conversation. Here is the session's description in the program: Emily Maguire and Charlotte Wood have both written … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 3, Get thee to the nunnery
Australian literature
Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 2, History repeating
Another preamble What I didn't say in my first post on this year's festival is that the venue where I attended the sessions today is a favourite of mine - and not only because it's where I spent most of my working career. This year, some strands of the festival are being held at the … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 2, History repeating
Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 1, The most interesting man in OzLit
A preamble The Canberra Writers Festival is back in 2024, with last year's wonderful Artistic Director, the writer and critic Beejay Silcox. The Festival's theme continues to be "Power Politics Passion", although that tagline is not quite so visible on the website. This is good - to my mind at least. Last year, under Beejay … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 1, The most interesting man in OzLit
Monday musings on Australian literature: Fearless reviewing in 1970
I concluded last week's Monday Musings by saying that I wasn't finished with 1970. There are several posts I'm hoping to write, drawing from my 1970 research, but I'm starting with this one simply because it picks up on a comment I made last week. That comment referenced George Johnston, and a review by John … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Fearless reviewing in 1970
Michael Wilding, The man of slow feeling (#Review, #1970 Club)
Michael Wilding's short story, "The man of slow feeling", is hopefully the first of two reviews I post for the 1970 Club, but we'll see if I get the second one done. I have been making a practice of reading Australian short stories for the Year Clubs, so when the year is chosen I go … Continue reading Michael Wilding, The man of slow feeling (#Review, #1970 Club)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 1970 in fiction
Once again it's Karen's (Kaggsy's Bookish Rambling) and Simon's (Stuck in a Book) "Year Club" week. This week, it is 1970, and it runs from today, 14th to 20th October. As for the last 6 clubs, I am devoting my Monday Musings to the week. Despite the excitement and idealism of the 1960s, 1970 Australia … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1970 in fiction
Stephen Orr, Shining like the sun (#BookReview)
A question that confronts many young people as they reach adulthood - in western cultures at least - is, should I go or should I stay? This is particularly so for young people in small rural towns, and is the issue at the heart of Stephen Orr's latest novel, Shining like the sun. Wilf Healy, … Continue reading Stephen Orr, Shining like the sun (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie Booker Prize listees
In terms of the Booker Prize, it's been a long time between drinks for Aussie writers. By this I mean that Charlotte Wood's shortlisting for the 2024 prize with Stone Yard devotional, breaks the longest drought Australian writers have had in terms of being listed for the prize since its commencement in 1969. It has … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie Booker Prize listees
Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2024: Shortlist announced
And, the interesting literary awards keep coming. In November 2022, I announced the creation of the new 20/40 Publishing Prize by the local-to-my-region independent, non-profit publisher, Finlay Lloyd. A year later, in October 2023, I announced the inaugural shortlist, and soon after that, the winners, Rebecca Burton's Ravenous girls (my review) and Kim Kelly's Ladies’ … Continue reading Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2024: Shortlist announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: literary Magandjin/Brisbane
Last week I wrote a post on "literary outback Queensland", following the route of a trip we had just finished. That trip ended up in Magandjin (or Brisbane), which is very definitely not "outback" so I decided to hold over Brisbane fiction for another post. Concluding the Skylore drone show, 2024 Brisbane Festival Brisbane is … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: literary Magandjin/Brisbane
Whispering Gums 