Al Campbell's debut novel, The keepers, is a complex and ambitious novel about parenting, specifically about parenting children who are deemed too difficult by society, leaving their mothers, or carers, to survive, or not, as best they can. It's confronting but, unfortunately, all too real. That this is its theme is obvious from the novel's … Continue reading Al Campbell, The keepers (#BookReview)
Australian literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: My favourite (Australian) fictional character(s)
Over the last twelve months or so, The Conversation has published occasional articles titled "My favourite fictional character". In each article the writer names a character and justifies their choice. As far as I can tell, there have been six so far, and most have chosen non-Australian characters. The choosers and their choices have been: … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: My favourite (Australian) fictional character(s)
Monday musings on Australian Literature: the Story Factory
In last week's Monday Musings on Parramatta's inaugural Laureate for Literature, I mentioned that Parramatta had been chosen as the second location for the non-profit organisation, the Story Factory. I said I'd do a separate Monday Musings on it, and have decided it might as well be now. So, who or what is the Story … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian Literature: the Story Factory
Monday musings on Australian Literature: Parramatta’s inaugural Laureate for Literature
This week's Monday Musings is one I've been waiting to post ever since I saw the announcement a month ago. This time of year is so busy and I have my traditional little suite of posts that I wanted to keep to, so this post had to wait. The announcement, as you have guessed from … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian Literature: Parramatta’s inaugural Laureate for Literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2024
This year we start with my first Monday Musings post appearing on Tuesday! This is due to conflicting new year traditions - my Blogging Highlights post on 1 January, and my first Monday Musings being New Releases for the coming year. When 1 January is a Monday, I'm in trouble! I could have left this … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2024
Monday musings on Australian literature: Some little recaps
It's Christmas Day, so the the question was, do I do a Monday Musings post or not? Will anyone be looking at blogs. If you take part in this holiday season, I hope you are enjoying it in the way you most enjoy - with family, on your own, at the beach or in front … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some little recaps
Ian Terry, Uninnocent landscapes (#BookReview)
This is my third post on my brother's beautiful book, Uninnocent landscapes: Following George Augustus Robinson's Big River Mission. My first post announced its publication, and my second was on the book's launch and the opening of the accompanying exhibition. Finally, I come to my review post. Yes, you could call me biased, but this … Continue reading Ian Terry, Uninnocent landscapes (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite books 2023
Over recent years, I've shared favourite Aussie reads of the year from various sources, with the specific sources varying a little from time to time. This year, a significant source - The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age - is unavailable to me as it is behind a paywall, and at this time of year I just … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite books 2023
Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Summer Reading List, 2023
December is when I start my round of regular end-of-year posts, and a new one I'm adding to the fold is the The Grattan Institute's annual Prime Minister's Summer Reading List. The institute is an Australian non-aligned, public policy think tank, which produces readable, reasoned reports on significant issues, like, most recently, the role of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Summer Reading List, 2023
Monday musings on Australian literature: Henry Mayer Book Prize
This last week I have become aware, via two different paths, of the Henry Mayer Book Prize. I feel I've seen it referenced before, but it hasn't fully registered. I certainly haven't written about it before, so, now's the time. I'll start by introducing the person for whom the prize is named, Henry Mayer (1919-1991). … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Henry Mayer Book Prize
Whispering Gums 