For the fifth year in a row, I'm devoting my last Monday Musings of the year to the Australian Women Writers Challenge*. This year has been one of consolidation rather than of huge change for the Challenge, as we got used to our self-hosted site to which we moved in 2015. The big advantage of this move was that it … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Women Writers’ Challenge 2016
Blogging
Six degrees of separation, FROM Revolutionary Road TO Fateless
Six Degrees of Separation is a monthly "meme" hosted by Kate (booksaremyfavouriteandbest). Each month, she nominates a book, and then those who choose to play create a chain of six books, linking one from the other as the spirit moves. Now, I hadn't planned to play this time because I haven't read Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road (nor did … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Revolutionary Road TO Fateless
My literary week (5), or, those reading coincidences
Last time I wrote a My Literary Week post it was because I'd scarcely read that week, but had some literary moments to share. This time it's because I've been reading things which have generated some thoughts that I want to document, but not in long dedicated posts. (I'm feeling lazy). Most have been inspired by those reading … Continue reading My literary week (5), or, those reading coincidences
Christina Stead, Ocean of story, Pt 1: The early years – Australia (Review)
Contribution no. 2 for Lisa's Christina Stead Week from Ocean of story: the uncollected stories of Christina Stead. My first post was on the titular story, "Ocean of story", which is also used as the collection's Introduction. After this Introduction, the stories have been organised into 7 sections by editor RG Geering. These sections are presented chronologically, … Continue reading Christina Stead, Ocean of story, Pt 1: The early years – Australia (Review)
Christina Stead, Introduction: Ocean of story (Review, possibly)
I am so glad Lisa (ANZLitLovers) has given me an excuse, her Christina Stead Week, to finally pick up Ocean of story: The uncollected stories of Christina Stead. I bought this book, in 1991, from a sale table for all of 98 (Australian) cents! What a bargain. I then popped it on my Australian literature TBR shelves, … Continue reading Christina Stead, Introduction: Ocean of story (Review, possibly)
Six degrees of separation, FROM Never let me go TO The paper house
I rather enjoyed playing Kate's #6Degrees "meme" last month so, while I don't expect to play every month, November's starting book, Kazuo Ishiguro's Never let me go, was far too tempting to let go! Once again, read on to see why ... I read Kazuo Ishiguro's dystopian Never let me go before I started blogging, and have only reviewed one of his works since … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Never let me go TO The paper house
AWW Bingo 2016 Challenge Completed
For a blogger of more than 7-years standing who doesn't take part in memes and challenges, I'm doing a good job this month. First it was 6 degrees of separation earlier this month, and now it's a bingo game. I have good reasons for these exceptions, but I don't expect you really want to know those, … Continue reading AWW Bingo 2016 Challenge Completed
Six degrees of separation, FROM Extremely loud and incredibly close TO The women’s pages
I have never played this #6Degrees "meme" before but when Kate (BookasAreMyFavouriteAndBest) announced that Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely loud and incredibly close (her response) would be the October starter, I knew I had to do it. Read on to see why ... I have read Extremely loud and incredibly close and as I recollect I enjoyed it. I don't … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Extremely loud and incredibly close TO The women’s pages
My literary week (4), or, not a page read
Would you believe that today is the first time in a week that I have opened my current novel? Terrible! But it's just been one of those weeks of being driven by other things, so much so that reading time has taken a big hit. There have, however, been a few literary moments which I … Continue reading My literary week (4), or, not a page read
My literary week (3), mid-winter 2016
Today pretty much marks the middle of winter for us downunder, and what an unusually cold and wet winter it's been, at least in my city. We've had more rain than usual, and we've had snow, which is rare for us though not unheard of. Our average July maximum is around 12-13°C but this last … Continue reading My literary week (3), mid-winter 2016
