Given this is primarily a litblog, I like my travel posts to have some literary or, at least, linguistic interest. And so in this first post about our current trip to Japan, literary and linguistic observations and thoughts will be my focus. Linguistic challenges Japanese language has a pitch-accent system which can provide particular challenges for … Continue reading On the literary (and linguistic) road in Japan: 1, Central Honshu
Commentary
Monday musings on Australian literature: Popular Penguins at a Perfect Price
You all know Penguin Books - and perhaps something about the company's origin. The story goes that Allen Lane, standing on a train platform in 1935 and not being able to find "something good" to read, decided that there existed "a vast reading public for intelligent books at a low price". He staked all he had, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Popular Penguins at a Perfect Price
Nine, just 9, books by female authors at the top of a 20th century list?
The Reading Ape, in his February Literary Fact of the Day compilation, included the following tidbit: There are only 6 female authors on The Modern Library's list of the 100 best novels of the 20th Century. In fact, in the Modern Library's Board's list (over 10 years old now), a woman doesn't appear until slot 15, … Continue reading Nine, just 9, books by female authors at the top of a 20th century list?
Hate trees! Love bumpy roads!
I was a contrary child. When my family went on long car trips, a few decades ago now, I would, in my sunny way, announce to my parents, "I hate trees, love bumpy roads". Guess what my parents were talking about prior to this pronouncement from their co-operative first-born? This refrain, as you can imagine, … Continue reading Hate trees! Love bumpy roads!
What you call Cult Fiction, I call …
Recently I wrote a post on why I love ABC's Radio National, giving The Book Show as one of the reasons. Now, I will talk about why I love ABC TV. Or, at least, about The First Tuesday Bookclub and its spin-off Jennifer Byrne Presents. Both programs involve a panel discussing books. The First Tuesday … Continue reading What you call Cult Fiction, I call …
Why I love Radio National
One of the best things about retirement for me is being able to listen to Radio National in the morning. For you overseas readers, Radio National is the national radio station of our national broadcaster, the ABC, Aunty, or, if you want to be formal, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Here is the usual morning line-up: … Continue reading Why I love Radio National
Wikipedia wants YOU (if you’re a woman)
Wikipedia has turned 10 - as I'm sure you've heard by now. Like all good organisations celebrating an anniversary, it is engaging in a little navel-gazing - and discovering some interesting things. To wit ... Yesterday the thoughtful Stefanie of So many books emailed me an article from The New York Times because she remembered … Continue reading Wikipedia wants YOU (if you’re a woman)
Freedom, a postscript
In one of those wonderful bits of reading synchronicities, I woke up this morning to read about US District Judge Roger Vinson declaring ObamaCare unconstitutional. Florida Governor Rick Scott (among others) agrees, saying that: "ObamaCare is an unprecedented and unconstitutional infringement on the liberty of the American people". Those of us in other parts of the … Continue reading Freedom, a postscript
The gift of words
Middle age has come and all the plans and needs are chaff not seeds, blowing down the blue air to fall flat and trampled by some window where a hopeful girl braids her thick hair and hums. ("Humble", by Ginny Jackson) Better late than ... hmm, perhaps not, but I'm going to tell you anyhow. … Continue reading The gift of words
On endings – in novels, that is
Australian writer, Amanda Lohrey, was interviewed on this morning's Bookshow about her new book, a collection of short stories titled Reading Madame Bovary, which Lisa at ANZLitLovers has well reviewed. I'm not going to talk about the interview here in any detail, but I did think she had something interesting to say about endings, particularly given the … Continue reading On endings – in novels, that is
