Around ten years ago, I wrote a post on National Arbor Day. It was inspired by a Library of America story. The thing is that then I didn't, and I still don't hear, about Arbor Day anymore. Indeed, Mr Gums and I reminisced that it was mainly through school that we heard about it at … Continue reading Monday musings of Australian literature: National Tree Day
Australian literature
Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie, Some people want to shoot me (#BookReview)
Having finally read Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie's Some people want to shoot me, I am not surprised that it has been shortlisted in the Nonfiction category of this year's Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. It is moving; it is clearly written; and it is informative about big issues. Wayne Bergmann is a Nyikina* man … Continue reading Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie, Some people want to shoot me (#BookReview)
Miles Franklin Award 2025 winner announced
The winner of the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award, worth AUD60,000, was announced this evening by Australian journalist Fran Kelly during her program, The Radio National Hour. And the winner is: Siang Lu's Ghost cities Kelly described the novel as being about an "epic conquest of ancient empires and tyrannical leaders", and also about "what … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2025 winner announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Factory novels
"I love a factory novel"! So wrote Buried-In-Print blogger Marcie on my post earlier this year on the Australasian Book Society. I do too, I replied, and noted to myself that this could be a topic for Monday Musings. I have not done as much research as I would have liked, but I figured I … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Factory novels
Monday musings on Australian literature: Prizes for Humour Writing
There are not, apparently, many prizes for humour writing around the world, but we have two here in Australia, the Russell Prize and the John Clarke Prize. Those from other countries include the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize (UK), the Thurber Prize for American Humour, and the Leacock Memorial Medal for Canadian Humour. Do you know … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Prizes for Humour Writing
Andrea Goldsmith, The buried life (#BookReview)
Titles are intriguing things, and we don't always pay them the attention they deserve, but the title of Australian writer Andrea Goldsmith's ninth novel, The buried life, is worth thinking about. It is the third novel I've read by Goldsmith, and, like the others, is a contemporary story focusing on relationships and the stresses her … Continue reading Andrea Goldsmith, The buried life (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Collaborative story-telling between First Nations Australian and white writers
National NAIDOC Logo (2025) NAIDOC Week 2025 started yesterday, and as I have done for many years now, I am devoting my NAIDOC Week Monday Musings to celebrating First Nations writers in some way. This year is a particularly special year because it marks NAIDOC Week's 50th anniversary, 50 years it says, "of honoring and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Collaborative story-telling between First Nations Australian and white writers
ACT Literary Awards 2025
Last night, I attended the presentation of the ACT Literary Awards (which I have attended for the last couple of years). These awards are made by Marion (previously, the ACT Writers Centre), and this year's event was MC'd again by Katy Mutton and Board Chair, Emma Batchelor. These awards were also framed as kicking off … Continue reading ACT Literary Awards 2025
Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1925: 1, Literary societies
As I've done in recent years, I decided to start a little Monday Musings sub-series drawing on researching Trove to get a picture of Australian literature a century ago, that is, in 1925. One of the things that popped up as I started this year's Trove trawl was the existence of an active community of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1925: 1, Literary societies
Miles Franklin Award 2025 shortlist
For some reason, I haven't posted on the Miles Franklin Award shortlist for a few years, probably partly due to timing because I often travel in the southern hemisphere winter. However, I have time to post on this year's shortlist that has just been announced, and, what's more, I have read or will read more … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2025 shortlist
Whispering Gums 