By accident, really, I came across an article from the 1930s in Trove about war novels. However, with Anzac Day coming up here in Australia next weekend, it seemed apposite to follow up. So, I did - and was somewhat surprised by what I found. Not surprisingly, World War 1 was still fresh in people's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing about the war between the wars
Australian literature
Arthur Gask, The passion years (#Review, #1936Club)
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a Monday Musings in support of Karen (Kaggsy's Bookish Rambling) and Simon (Stuck in a Book) #1936 Club, which involves participants reading, posting and sharing books from the chosen year.The #1936 Club has been running, 12-18 April, which means it is about to finish. In my post I … Continue reading Arthur Gask, The passion years (#Review, #1936Club)
Trevor Shearston, Hare’s fur (#BookReview)
While I want to, I often don't manage to follow up books recommended by Lisa but Trevor Shearston's Hare's fur particularly caught my attention. He was an Australian author I didn't know; the novel is set in the Blue Mountains; and the protagonist is a potter, which sounded intriguing. So, I bought it - over … Continue reading Trevor Shearston, Hare’s fur (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 1, Helen Simpson
Do you often wonder how many of the writers we love now will still be read a few decades on? How good are we at identifying those who will continue to be read? So-so, I think you'll agree if you've noticed the many unfamiliar, but well-regarded-at-the time, names amongst the authors mentioned in my various … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 1, Helen Simpson
Margaret Hickey, Rural dreams (#BookReview)
Rural dreams is another collection of short stories from small independent publisher MidnightSun, and it's another good one. I hadn't heard of Margaret Hickey before, but her website says that she's won a number of awards and is a performed playwright. Relevant to this book is that Hickey grew up in small country towns in … Continue reading Margaret Hickey, Rural dreams (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 1936 in fiction
As some of you will know Karen (Kaggsy's Bookish Rambling) and Simon (Stuck in a Book) have been running for some time "reading weeks, which involves their choosing, somewhat randomly, a year from which "everyone reads, enjoys, posts and shares wonderful books and discoveries from the year in question". The next one is 1936, and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1936 in fiction
Monday musings on Australian literature: Expressing the zeitgeist
At the end of last week's Monday Musings, I asked whether "saying something" was important to you, meaning, really, is it a top criterion when you choose what to read or when you talk about what you've read? For me, it is, as you can probably tell from the sorts of reviews I write. So, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Expressing the zeitgeist
Stella Prize and Christina Stead Prize for Fiction 2021 Shortlists announced
With two shortlists being announced on the heels of each other, I thought I would combine them into one post, so here goes ... Stella Prize Shortlist The Stella Prize shortlist was announced this morning and is, I suppose, a bit of a surprise for me - though I haven't read the books so I … Continue reading Stella Prize and Christina Stead Prize for Fiction 2021 Shortlists announced
Leah Swann, Sheerwater (#BookReview)
I've been wanting to read Leah Swann's Sheerwater, having read and enjoyed, a few years ago, her short story collection, Bearings (my review). However, I didn't get around to buying a copy, so was pleased to see it available as an audio book when I was looking for listening matter for our recent Melbourne trip. … Continue reading Leah Swann, Sheerwater (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Peril, and Asian Australian literature
A decade ago, I wrote a Monday Musings post on Asian-Australian literature, in which I named, as I often do in such posts, 5 Asian Australian writers. Given the increasing problems of discrimination faced by Asian communities in western countries alongside, perhaps paradoxically, the increased visibility of Asian Australian writing here, I thought an update … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Peril, and Asian Australian literature
Whispering Gums 