Back in 2019, the Canberra Writers Festival sent subscribers a report on the event. I don't think they've done so since, which is a shame, as I loved reading (and writing about) it. This year, thanks to Colin Steele, who runs the ANU/Meet-the-Author series, I was able to see a report on the Festival that … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Canberra Writers’ Festival 2025 recap
Australian literature
Teffi, The examination (#Review, #1925 Club)
Mostly for the Year Clubs, I read an Australian short story, usually from one of my anthologies. However, for 1925, I couldn't find anything in my anthologies, so turned to other newspaper-based sources, including Trove, but I mainly found romances or works that were difficult to access. And then, out of the blue, I found … Continue reading Teffi, The examination (#Review, #1925 Club)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 15, Tarella Daskein
I first came across Tarella Daskein back in 2021 when Bill (The Australian Legend) wrote a post about her as the result of her coming up in discussions and reading about Katharine Susannah Prichard. She then slipped my mind until a couple of months ago when I was searching around for a subject for my … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 15, Tarella Daskein
Sofie Laguna in conversation with Karen Viggers
I don't know how it has happened, but tonight's conversation between Sofie Laguna and Karen Viggers is the first ANU/Meet-the-Author event I've attended this year. I did book one featuring Omar Musa a month ago, but I came down with laryngitis, as did, I believe, his interlocutor. (The show went on, with Karen Viggers, in … Continue reading Sofie Laguna in conversation with Karen Viggers
Brian Castro, Chinese postman (#BookReview)
Serendipity is a lovely word, and is even lovelier when it touches my reading. Such was the case with my last two books, Olga Tokarczuk's House of day, house of night (my review) and Brian Castro's Chinese postman. The connections between them are simple and complex. Both focus more on ideas than narrative, are disjointed … Continue reading Brian Castro, Chinese postman (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1925: 2, fostering Australian sentiment
During 1925, two sets of articles appeared which discussed the issue of fostering "Australian sentiment". Australian literature and labour John Mckellar, 1929Herald (Melbourne), 27 November 1929, p 16 During the year, John McKellar (1881-1966) gave lectures on topics relating to literature and labour or the working class. On February 12, a newspaper titled Labor Call … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1925: 2, fostering Australian sentiment
Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 7, All things Austen: Jane Austen anniversary special
Susannah Fullerton, Devoney Looser and Emily Maguire with Jonty Claypole and Sophie Gee. The program described the session as follows: Celebrate all things Austen at this major event! Over 200 years after Jane Austen’s works first appeared, her insights on life, love, and society remain timeless. Join popular Secret Life of Books podcasters Sophie Gee … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 7, All things Austen: Jane Austen anniversary special
Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 6, Poems of love and rage
Evelyn Araluen, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Omar Musa with Jacqui Malins The program described the session as follows: An electrifying highlight of this year’s program, our poetry panel features some of Australia’s most acclaimed and innovative poets putting love and rage on the page. Overland Poetry Prize winner Evelyn Araluen (The Rot) joins Maxine Beneba … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 6, Poems of love and rage
Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 5, Our worlds, our way
Evelyn Araluen, Jasmin McGaughey and Lisa Fuller with Casey Mulder The program described the session as follows: Join this exciting First Nations panel including Evelyn Araluen, Jasmin McCaughey and Lisa Fuller to explore how culture and Country influence each author’s writing. Spanning poetry, YA and children’s novels, how do Indigenous worldviews emerge? As First Nations … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 5, Our worlds, our way
Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 4, Finding Elizabeth Harrower
Susan Wyndham with Julieanne Lamond The program described the session as follows: A literary biography can be a truly fascinating exploration of the life of an author beyond their pages, and so it is with Susan Wyndham's Elizabeth Harrower: The woman in the watch tower. Harrower wrote some of the most original and highly regarded psychological … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2025: 4, Finding Elizabeth Harrower
Whispering Gums 