I'm very late with my traditional completion post for the Australian Women Writer's Challenge - it's been a weird and difficult year all round. As always, I will continue to contribute until the year's end, and do a final round-up then, but I do like to get the completion admin done! I signed up, of course, … Continue reading Australian Women Writers 2020 Challenge completed
Australian literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bookprint, Australian-style
Have you heard of the term or concept of bookprint? I came across it in a December 2019 article in The Conversation titled "5 Australian books that can help young people understand their place in the world". The Conversation credits the term to African-American educator Alfred Tatum who, according to the University of Illinois' Today website, coined … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bookprint, Australian-style
Monday musings on Australian literature: Libraries and librarians in Australian fiction
I only have myself to blame! I asked for readers to suggest topics they'd like to see in Monday Musings and two suggestions came back, one from novelist Angela Savage asking for a post on libraries and librarians in Australian fiction. Her request was inspired by her recent appointment as the CEO of Public Libraries … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Libraries and librarians in Australian fiction
National Biography Award Winners, 2020
I've not posted on many awards this year, but have decided to post on the 2020 National Biography Award, partly because I attended events last year involving each of the winners. This Award was endowed in 1996 by Geoffrey Cains, and supported for many years by Michael Crouch, who died in 2018. It is now … Continue reading National Biography Award Winners, 2020
Griffith Review 68: Getting on (#BookReview)
I love reading the Griffith Review, though have mostly only reviewed individual articles on this blog. It's a meaty quarterly, with each edition being devoted to a particular theme. Edition 68's theme, Getting on, seemed apposite for my reading group and so was our August selection. Although it was confronting at times, it was a … Continue reading Griffith Review 68: Getting on (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian literary dynasties
Some years ago I wrote a Monday Musings post on Australia's literary couples. However, it recently occurred to me that we also have some literary dynasties, which could be fun to explore. This post, like many of its ilk, is a bit of a fishing exercise. I will share a few that came to me, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian literary dynasties
Thea Astley, An item from the late news (#BookReview)
Set in the satirically named town of Allbut, whose nearest large town is the equally satirically named Mainchance, Thea Astley's An item from the late news is framed by the story of a man who comes to the town, fearful of "the atom bomb", and wanting to live a quiet - sheltered, you might say … Continue reading Thea Astley, An item from the late news (#BookReview)
Desley Deacon, Judith Anderson: Australian star, First Lady of the American stage (#BookReview)
When historian Desley Deacon offered me her biography of Dame Judith Anderson for review, I was a little reticent because my review copies were getting out of hand. Little did I know then what was in store for me, and just how much more behind I would become. However, finally, its turn came, and here … Continue reading Desley Deacon, Judith Anderson: Australian star, First Lady of the American stage (#BookReview)
Ten Year Monday Musings Giveaway Winners
And so, as promised, I drew the two winners of my ten year Monday Musings giveaway this evening, August 17. There were fewer entries than for last year's blogiversary draw, but that just gives the entrants a higher chance of winning! There were 7 entries in the Australian draw and 4 in the non-Australian draw. … Continue reading Ten Year Monday Musings Giveaway Winners
Melbourne Writers Festival 2020: Navigating our future
I didn't think I'd get to this session, but when my regular Thursday evening commitment was cancelled, I knew exactly what to do ... Navigating our future (Thursday 13 August 6-7pm) This intriguingly titled session was described as follows: Australian literature provides a means through which we might better understand ourselves, and our relationships with … Continue reading Melbourne Writers Festival 2020: Navigating our future
