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)
Australian literature
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)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Diversity and memoir
Hands up if you've read memoirs by First Nations writers, Immigrant writers, Gay writers, Transgender writers, Writers with a disability, and so on? I sure have, and have reviewed several on this blog - including ones by Archie Roach, Marie Munkara, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Alice Pung, Maxine Beneba Clarke, and Jessica White. Black Inc has … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Diversity and memoir
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian campus novels
Two recent articles in The Conversation inspired today's post, Lucas Thompson's "Liked Netflix’s The Chair? Here are 4 moving, funny novels set in English departments" (published 26 October) and Catharine Coleborne's "Beyond Oxbridge and Yale: popular stories bring universities to life — we need more of them in Australia" (published 5 October). Defining the term Wikipedia describes campus … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian campus novels
Consider Helen Garner’s Cosmo cosmolino
Commenting on my post on Helen Garner's One day I'll remember this, Bill (The Australian Legend) wrote that he'd hoped I'd mention Cosmo cosmolino (1992). It's one of the novels Garner was writing during the period covered by these diaries, and Bill had struggled with it. I don't blame him because, while I loved reading … Continue reading Consider Helen Garner’s Cosmo cosmolino
Sofie Laguna, Infinite splendours (#BookReview)
Those of you who know the subject matter of Sofie Laguna's latest novel, Infinite splendours, will not be surprised to hear that it drew a mixed reaction from my reading group, particularly coming on the heels of recent reads like Nardi Simpson's Song of the crocodile (my review) and Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain (my review). … Continue reading Sofie Laguna, Infinite splendours (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: The stories we want or, is it, need?
Back in 2019, I wrote a Monday Musings on the Stella judges' call for more "narratives from outside Australia". I teased out a little what that might mean, but, a couple of years down the track, I think it worth further exploring the questions it opens up. Commenting on that post, Lisa (ANZLitLovers) wrote: What … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The stories we want or, is it, need?
