Finally, I have found something to thank COVID for - Carmel Bird's Telltale. Best described as a bibliomemoir, Telltale may never have been written if Bird had not been locked down with her extensive library. What is a lively mind to do in such a situation? I can think of a few options, but what … Continue reading Carmel Bird, Telltale: Reading writing remembering (#BookReview)
Australian literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bush Book Club (2)
Last week, I introduced the Bush Book Club. Established in Sydney in 1909, its aim was to get books out to remote areas of New South Wales not supported by other services like Schools of Arts and Mechanics Institutes. In my post I focused on its establishment and aims, but I found it so interesting … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bush Book Club (2)
In conversation with Craig Silvey
I understand that literary conversation events in Canberra go best when the subject is political. I guess it's the nature of the beast - that is, of living in the national capital. But for me, it's the fiction writers that I want to see, and we do get some interspersed amongst the run of historians … Continue reading In conversation with Craig Silvey
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bush Book Club (1)
I came across a reference to the Bush Book Club during my research for those 1922 posts I've been doing this year. I flagged it for a post in the series - but then discovered that the Club was founded in 1910. It's a fascinating project, and I haven't reached the end of it yet, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bush Book Club (1)
Kim Vanessa Scott, Growing up … Katherine style (#BookReview)
Growing up .. Katherine style is the second self-published book I have reviewed from this Katherine-based artist and writer, the first being her book about some of Katherine's historical housing, Katherine's tropical housing precinct 1946-1956. There are a few reasons why I have broken my no-self-published-books rule. One is that both books had some Northern … Continue reading Kim Vanessa Scott, Growing up … Katherine style (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Community novels
Recently, I came across a blogger discussing what she described as "community novels". The blogger is Liz Dexter at Adventures in reading, running and working from home, and the book she was discussing was an English novel, Small miracles by Anne Booth. It got me thinking, because I love community. Community, however, is a word … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Community novels
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Miles Franklin Rights Project
Some months ago, I became aware of The Miles Franklin Rights Project, and of course, it piqued my interest, so I flagged it for a future Monday Musings. The project apparently commenced in early 2021, and is still continuing. Before I describe the project, though, I need to explain for non-Aussie readers here that the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Miles Franklin Rights Project
Monday musings on Australian literature: Fremantle Press
Given I am currently in Fremantle, I felt it appropriate to give a little shout out to one of the first independent presses I became aware of, back in the 1980s, the Fremantle Press. Then it was called the Fremantle Arts Centre Press, and it published one of my favourite authors at the time, Elizabeth … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Fremantle Press
Monday musings on Australian literature: Introducing Rachel Henning
If you are an Aussie who was sentient in the 1950s and/or 60s, you have probably heard of Rachel Henning. If not, she may be new to you, though she does have something of a classic status in Australia. Let me explain. Rachel Henning (1826-1914) was an Englishwoman who came to Australia in 1854 with … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Introducing Rachel Henning
Jacqueline Kent’s Seymour Biography Lecture
Last Thursday night we went to our fifth Seymour Biography Lecture at the National Library of Australia. We missed the last one in 2019 because we were travelling. Little did we know then that it would be three years before another one could be held. The Seymour Biography Lecture, which is one of the highlights on … Continue reading Jacqueline Kent’s Seymour Biography Lecture
Whispering Gums 