Today's Monday Musings post is the second of two on Christina Stead that I promised for Bill's (The Australian Legend) AWW Gen 3 Week. These two posts - last week's and this - focus on contemporary Australian responses to her four 1930s-published books, based primarily on my research of Trove. Last week's post looked at The Salzburg tales … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Christina Stead’s 1930s, Beauties and Bankers
Australian literature
Ruth Park and D’Arcy Niland, The drums go bang! (#BookReview)
Volume 1 of Ruth Park's autobiography, A fence around the cuckoo, covers the period of her life up to when she lands in Australia to marry D'Arcy Niland. Not being sure, perhaps, that there'd be a sequel, Park concludes with: We lived together for twenty-five years less five weeks. We had many fiery disagreements but … Continue reading Ruth Park and D’Arcy Niland, The drums go bang! (#BookReview)
John Clanchy, In whom we trust (#BookReview)
My first question when I read a book of historical fiction is why? And so it was for John Clanchy's latest novel In whom we trust, which is set in Victoria around World War 1, albeit is not about the war. It is, in fact, about a Catholic home for orphaned children, St Barnabas, and three … Continue reading John Clanchy, In whom we trust (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Christina Stead’s 1930s, Salzburg and Sydney
My first Monday musings on Christina Stead (my posts on Stead) was barely introductory, so I'm planning two more to coincide with Bill's (The Australian Legend) AWW Gen 3 Week. These two posts - this week's and next - focus contemporary Australian responses to the four books she published in the 1930s. I'm keeping this focus tight … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Christina Stead’s 1930s, Salzburg and Sydney
Chloe Hooper, The arsonist: A mind on fire (#BookReview)
It may not have been the most sensible decision to read Chloe Hooper's book, The arsonist, during Australia's worst-ever bushfire week, but in fact I picked it up a few days before the crisis became evident, and once I started I couldn't put it down. The arsonist tells the story of the man arrested and … Continue reading Chloe Hooper, The arsonist: A mind on fire (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2020
It seems from my stats that people like my "new releases" post, so here is the 2020 version. As in previous years, my list is mostly drawn from the Sydney Morning Herald, and as it is a Monday musings on Australian literature post, it will be limited to Australian authors (listed alphabetically.) Do click on the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some New Releases in 2020
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Women Writers Challenge 2019
For some years now, I have devoted my last Monday Musings of the year to the Australian Women Writers Challenge* - and this year I am continuing that tradition! Sorry, if you hoped for something else. With the New Year - I love the sound of 2020 - just two days away, I wish all you … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Women Writers Challenge 2019
Melanie Myers, Meet me at Lennon’s (#BookReview)
I was keen to read Melanie Myers' debut novel, Meet me at Lennon's, because it is set during the Brisbane of my mother's early teens, that is, wartime Brisbane when her school, Somerville House, was commandeered in 1942 by the Australian Military Forces and served as a US Army Headquarters for the rest of the … Continue reading Melanie Myers, Meet me at Lennon’s (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Author blogs on the publishing journey
Most readers, not to mention aspiring authors, love hearing about the writing and publishing process authors go through. What inspired their book? How did they go about writing it and were there any hiccoughs along the way? How hard was it to get an agent and/or publisher? What role did the publisher/editor have in shaping … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Author blogs on the publishing journey
Amanda O’Callaghan, This taste for silence (#BookReview)
Short story collections are rarely recognised in literary fiction awards, but Amanda O'Callaghan's debut collection, This taste for silence, was shortlisted for this year's Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction. The judges described it as "inventive in its themes and by an author unafraid to enfold her readers into unsettling reading experiences". I would agree. This … Continue reading Amanda O’Callaghan, This taste for silence (#BookReview)
