I have written a few posts over the years on the publishing of Australian classics, including one in 2014 in which I mentioned Allen & Unwin's Australian Classics series. That series seems to have disappeared, but the publisher does have another initiative, House of Books. Here is what Allen & Unwin say about this series … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Allen & Unwin’s House of Books
Australian literature
Archie Roach, Tell me why: The story of my life and my music (#BookReview)
Good things come to those who wait! At least, I hope so, because Lisa has had to wait a long time for a review from me for this year's Indigenous Literature Week. Finally, though, I finished the main book I chose for this year's challenge, Archie Roach's memoir, Tell me why: The story of my life … Continue reading Archie Roach, Tell me why: The story of my life and my music (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian writers and the Miles Franklin Award
This is not going to be a treatise on the Miles Franklin Award and diversity. We all know literary awards have not been as diverse as they could have been (and that they still have a way to go). We know, too, that this is not only due to judging, but also reflects the fact … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian writers and the Miles Franklin Award
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian literature, 1970s
Although Lisa's (ANZLitLovers) annual Indigenous Literature Week is officially over for 2020, I thought I'd bookend it with a second Monday Musings, this one on how Indigenous Australian literature looked around 50 years ago. Who was writing then, and what were they writing? My main sources were Trove, of course, and the Macquarie Pen anthology of Aboriginal … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian literature, 1970s
Helen Garner, Yellow notebook: Diaries, Volume 1, 1978-1987 (#BookReview)
The opening session of last November's inaugural Broadside Festival featured Helen Garner in conversation with Sarah Krasnostein about her recently published Yellow notebook, the first volume of her edited diaries. It was an excellent, intelligent conversation. Garner came across as the forthright writer she is, one who fearlessly exposes difficult and unpleasant things, alongside joys and triumphs. … Continue reading Helen Garner, Yellow notebook: Diaries, Volume 1, 1978-1987 (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian biographies
Yesterday was the start of Lisa's (ANZLitLovers) 2020 Indigenous Literature Week, and, as I have done for a few years now, I've decided to devote my Monday Musings to an Indigenous Australian literature topic. This year's topic is Indigenous Australian biography. I have previously written Monday Musings on Indigenous Australian autobiographies and memoirs. These have flourished in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian biographies
Monday musings on Australian literature: Older men protagonists
Early last year, I wrote a Monday Musings on Older women protagonists. With my father having turned 100 last month, I figured it was time I explored older men protagonists in Australian literature. It proved a bit harder than I expected, but gradually books started to make themselves known to me. As in my older … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Older men protagonists
Bill curates: Tim Winton’s Breath
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. Tim Winton is not my favourite novelist but as a Western Australian I feel obliged to read those of his books that I come across, and mostly they're OK … Continue reading Bill curates: Tim Winton’s Breath
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Michelle on our Brave New (online) World
Today, I present another Monday Musings guest post coordinated for me by Bill (The Australian Legend), this one from Michelle Scott Tucker, author of the wonderful Elizabeth Macarthur: A life at the edge of the world (my review). Thanks so much again to Bill and to Michelle for helping me out with my Monday Musings. Read on … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Michelle on our Brave New (online) World
Bill curates: Christos Tsiolkas’ The slap
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. Tsiolkas is an author I admire and enjoy and yet I have not read The Slap. I remember that it caused quite a stir when it came out and … Continue reading Bill curates: Christos Tsiolkas’ The slap
Whispering Gums 