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)
Australian literature
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
Favel Parrett, There was still love (#BookReview)
Favel Parrett's third novel, There was still love, is one of those novels in which not a lot happens but has a lot going on. Just the sort of novel, really, that I tend to like. (It all started with Jane Austen!) The novel revolves around the lives of two Czech sisters, one who ends … Continue reading Favel Parrett, There was still love (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Kate on anxiety, COVID and Aussie lit
Today, I present another Monday Musings guest post coordinated for me by Bill (The Australian Legend), this one from Kate (booksaremyfavouriteand best), she of Six Degrees of Separation fame. Bill suggested a topic to Kate - one applicable to her professional interests and to what we are currently experiencing - and it seems she ran with … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Kate on anxiety, COVID and Aussie lit
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Lisa on national library book culls
As I noted in last week's Monday Musings, Bill (The Australian Legend) has organised a few Monday Musings guests posts for me. Of course, given we comment closely on each other's posts, he turned to Lisa (ANZLitLovers) for the second one. Bill did suggest an idea to Lisa, in case she needed it, but she … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Lisa on national library book culls
Christos Tsiolkas, Damascus (#BookReview)
I have reviewed (and enjoyed) two of Christos Tsiolkas' books since blogging - The slap and Barracuda - so I was of course interested when Allen & Unwin sent me his most recent release, until, that is, I saw its subject matter. Biblical history, or historical fiction set in biblical times, are not really big … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas, Damascus (#BookReview)
