I have just caught up with a new literary prize - the Banjo Prize - which is not to be confused with the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards I guess it's to be expected that one of Australia's favourite bush poets might be honoured by more than one award being named for him. Before I get … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Banjo Prize
Australian literature
Robyn Cadwallader, Book of colours (#BookReview)
What makes historical fiction worth reading for me is the exploration of universal ''truths". Fortunately, Robyn Cadwallader's second novel, Book of colours, does this, albeit I wish that some of the universals - gender inequity, class (meaning social and economic inequity), and fear of foreigners - were no longer universal! The book explores other more general universals, … Continue reading Robyn Cadwallader, Book of colours (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing NSW
Today's Monday Musings is the fifth in my little series on Australia's writers centres, and it's New South Wales' turn. Originally called the NSW Writers Centre, it was renamed this year as Writing NSW. Writing NSW was founded (under its original name) in 1991, as a not-for-profit organisation providing services to writers. On its Our … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing NSW
Vance Palmer, Battle (#Review)
Vance Palmer's short piece "Battle" is the first piece in this special Meanjin anthology. Meanjin is one of Australia's longest lasting literary journals. It was founded by Clem Christesen in 1940. As publisher Melbourne University Press says, it has, since then, "documented both the changing concerns of Australians and the achievements of many of the … Continue reading Vance Palmer, Battle (#Review)
Delicious descriptions: Laurie Steed’s divorced mum
I don't do many Delicious Descriptions these days, but I did want to share another quote from Laurie Steed's You belong here which I reviewed recently. The book concerns a marriage break-up and its impact on the family. This quote comes from the point-of-view of the daughter, Emily, who's around 19 at the time, thinking … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Laurie Steed’s divorced mum
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund
Australia's Copyright Agency has been referenced here several times in this blog, mostly regarding the work it does via its Cultural Fund, but I wonder how many of us (besides artists) know just how much it does to support Australian writing and writers? The Copyright Agency is a non-profit organisation (company) which describes its mission … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund
Monday musings on Australian literature: National Child Protection Week 2018
If you are an Australian, you will be aware of our recent Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. That Commission only looked into one aspect of child sexual abuse in Australia. Arguably the bigger issue lies in the sexual abuse of children outside institutions - abuse of children by family members, by … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: National Child Protection Week 2018
Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 2, Pt 2: Words (Last ones) and Music
My last Canberra Writers Festival event was, in a way, a little left field, because it primarily comprised a musical performance - but one with a strong literary element ... Turning Last Words into Music I chose this one, for a couple of reasons, but mainly because it involved music and was at a time … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 2, Pt 2: Words (Last ones) and Music
Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 2, Pt 1: Art, Books and Politics
For my last day of the Canberra Writers Festival I chose two quite different sessions, as you will see! This post is on the first one ... (Note: these two posts will be in lieu of this week's Monday Musings.) The Art of Books Chong, Bowers, Katauskas I chose this session primarily because one of … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 2, Pt 1: Art, Books and Politics
Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 1, Pt 4: Indigenous Australians (2)
My first day of the Canberra Writers Festival ended with a bang - two hours with several of Australia's top indigenous writers, organised by FNAWN (First Nations Australia Writers Network). It was a not-to-be-missed event, and was divided into two parts: "Because of her I can": poetry readings with Ellen van Neerven, Yvette Holt, Jeanine … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 1, Pt 4: Indigenous Australians (2)
