Those who read this blog may have come across DesertBookChick (DBC) before. She's the one who doesn't like Jane Austen! In fact, she admits that, despite being a PhD, she's a bit anxious about classics in general. However, not one to shy away from a challenge, she has declared August Classics Month on her blog. … Continue reading What is a classic: Guest post at DesertBookChick
Blogging
Book Review Bingo, or Words to Avoid in Book Reviews
Am I the last to hear about Michelle Kerns list of twenty most annoying book review clichés, published in examiner.com in March last year? I think it flickered across my radar briefly a little while ago but it was brought vividly to my attention last week when Ramona Koval (presenter of Radio National's The Book … Continue reading Book Review Bingo, or Words to Avoid in Book Reviews
The limits of Google
I'm sure you've all had them, those searches that bring people to your blog by accident. Well, let me rephrase that: as far as Google is concerned it makes good sense, but you know the poor searcher at the other end of the keyboard would not agree. I just have to share with you one … Continue reading The limits of Google
George Orwell, Confessions of a book reviewer
It's been a while since I wrote on a George Orwell essay so it seemed - while I'm still reading my current read - to be a good time to do another. And what better, given my recent "how to write a book review" post, than to do Orwell's essay on book reviewing. Orwell, as … Continue reading George Orwell, Confessions of a book reviewer
A light interlude, but will Desert Book Chick approve?
I have nearly finished my next book/s and so a review will be coming up any moment now, but in the meantime I thought I would post this photo: Now, the thing is, Desert Book Chick recently wrote a post on the Five Things that turn her off (some) book blogs - and one of them … Continue reading A light interlude, but will Desert Book Chick approve?
Six months old today!
I started writing this blog six months ago today - and what a fun experience it's been, not only because I've enjoyed forming my thoughts into some sort of coherent (I hope ) whole, but also because it has introduced me to a vibrant, welcoming and encouraging book blogging community. I put off starting a … Continue reading Six months old today!
Advice to would-be women journalists, 1930s style
While I was researching something completely different today, I came across a wonderful - you'll see why soon - article titled "Not much fun in being a woman journalist - or is there?" in the second issue of The ABC Weekly published on 9 December 1939 by the Australian Broadcasting Commission. The article was written by … Continue reading Advice to would-be women journalists, 1930s style
You know you are hooked
...on blogging when you start writing your blog in your head while you are out and about enjoying something. This is what happened to me last night (and it's not the first time) when I was at a Kate Ceberano concert (sorry Kate - but I did pull myself up quickly and start concentrating again). … Continue reading You know you are hooked
Why I link to Wikipedia
Those who regularly read my blog will have noticed that I link to Wikipedia more often than to other more seemingly appropriate sources. This is not necessarily because Wikipedia is the best source to link to for the item in question but because Wikipedia: usually provides a basic intro to/definition of the topic or term … Continue reading Why I link to Wikipedia
More on blogging, images and copyright
Those of you who have read my very early posts will know that copyright on images is an important issue for me - it's why I often don't have a lot of images on my posts, much as I'd like to. I'm sure that it won't be long before the whole copyright situation is blown … Continue reading More on blogging, images and copyright
