For a few years now, I've shared favourite Aussie reads of the year, from the ABC and, last year, other sources. This year I'm doing it a bit differently. I'm focusing on the Sydney Morning Herald's Books we loved in 2021 and ABR's Books of the Year 2021. Both these contain favourites from a large … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite books 2021, Part 1: Fiction
Australian literature
Sarah Krasnostein, The believer (#BookReview)
One of the reasons I love reading fiction is to be introduced to lives and cultures I know nothing about. This is less so in nonfiction, but Sarah Krasnostein's latest book, The believer, fits the brief. In it she explores questions concerning what people believe and why through six different people (or groups of people), … Continue reading Sarah Krasnostein, The believer (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Greek-Australian literature
In a Sydney Writers Festival conversation with Michelle de Kretser, Andrew Pippos, winner of the 2021 Readings Prize for his debut novel, Lucky's, said "the fact that we can talk about a Greek-Australian literary tradition is a sign that Australian literature is developing". It made me think about Greek-Australian literature and what I know about … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Greek-Australian literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: Short Australian nonfiction
There's been a little discussion going on during this Novella November month concerning nonfiction novellas. I contend - yes, I'm putting myself out there - that a "novella" is fiction, and that you can no more have a nonfiction novella than, well, fly. However, I am not going to get into this debate now, because, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Short Australian nonfiction
Omar Musa’s Killernova book launch, with Irma Gold
Local performance poet-novelist-artist Omar Musa's latest book, Killernova, had two launches in Canberra this weekend, one with Polly Hemming and the other with Irma Gold. Being Gold fans, Mr Gums and I booked her session, and it was both engaging and illuminating, but I have it on good authority that Polly Hemming's session, though different, … Continue reading Omar Musa’s Killernova book launch, with Irma Gold
Helen Meany, Every day is Gertie Day (#BookReview)
Helen Meany's Every day is Gertie Day is the third Viva La Novella winner that I've read and posted about on my blog, the other two being Julie Proudfoot's The neighbour (my review) and Mirandi Riwoe's The fish girl (my review). All are memorable reads, and do this award proud - and no, I am … Continue reading Helen Meany, Every day is Gertie Day (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 6: Novellas
Yes, I know, novellas aren't really a genre, but when I started this sub-series I couldn't find one word to cover all the types of literary works I thought I might end up covering, so we are all going to have to live with "genres". OK? Many of you will know why I've chosen novellas … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 6: Novellas
S-S-S Snake, Kate Jennings’ Snake, that is
I thoroughly enjoyed Tegan Bennett Daylight's essay on Helen Garner's Cosmo cosmolino (1992) in Reading like an Australian writer. Consequently, I plan, over time, to read and share other essays in this book - at least those discussing books I've reviewed here. As it happens, there is an essay by Debra Adelaide on Kate Jennings' … Continue reading S-S-S Snake, Kate Jennings’ Snake, that is
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 5: Crime
When I decided to write this sub-series, the genre that nearly stopped me before I started was crime, because I knew I'd have to do it! CRIME is so-o-o big that it's hard to know where to start ... so, I'm just going to dive in, share a select number of ideas, and let the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 5: Crime
Alf Taylor, God, the devil and me (#BookReview)
It was a complete coincidence that, as I was writing last week's Monday Musings post on diversity and memoir, I was also reading a First Nations memoir, but such is the reading life, eh? The memoir, Alf Taylor's God, the devil and me, is, however, both very much a memoir but also its own thing, … Continue reading Alf Taylor, God, the devil and me (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 