Much as I, an Aussie, hate to admit it, those New Zealanders have style! Kimbofo has just posted, on her Reading Matters blog, New Zealand Book Council's current promo - take a look here. Beautiful isn't it? It springboards from Maurice Gee's novel Going west - which reminds me that I really must read the … Continue reading Kiwis have style!
Commentary
The trouble with audiobooks (for me)
Once was audiobooks were used primarily by visually impaired people and travellers, but with the rapidly increasing miniaturisation of audioplayers, audiobooks are now being "read" by people going on walks, working out in the gym, doing housework, sitting on public transport, or even working at their computers. In other words, people listen to audiobooks pretty … Continue reading The trouble with audiobooks (for me)
Were you an Argonaut?
Before the sun and the night and the blue sea, I vow to stand faithfully by all that is brave and beautiful; to seek adventure, and having discovered aught of wonder, or delight; of merriment or loveliness, to share it freely with my comrades, the Band of Happy Rowers. (from The ABC Weekly, 28 Dec … Continue reading Were you an Argonaut?
Snow gums
Give me a home among the gum trees (from song by W. Johnson and B. Brown) Every Australian should have a gum in their yard somewhere! Pretty well every home I've lived in, and I've lived in a few, has had one in the yard or in the street just outside. My current home, in … Continue reading Snow gums
Kangaroo in the suburbs
A propos of nothing really, but our lovely afternoon has just been made more lovely by the arrival across the road of: I could write now about the role of kangaroos in Australian culture ... but I think I'll just leave it at this. (PS For those interested in such things, it's an Eastern Grey … Continue reading Kangaroo in the suburbs
Library for a fiver!
In May 1940, Professor Walter Murdoch (of the University of Western Australia) wrote three articles in The ABC Weekly arguing that, with £5, you could give yourself "a liberal education in so far as books can give it". It takes three articles for him to list and justify his selections which are grouped under categories: Fiction, History, … Continue reading Library for a fiver!
The value of the imprimatur
In the October issue of Limelight, conductor-composer Guy Noble has written about that Washington Post experiment in which renowned violinist, Joshua Bell, busked in downtown Washington. Only one person recognised him. No-one else showed much interest and he ended with the princely sum of a little over $30, $20 of which came from the person … Continue reading The value of the imprimatur
Australian Battle Cry, circa 1941
Somehow I would not have thought of socialism and patriotism being combined in the same person but, logically I suppose, there's no real reason why they shouldn't be. And it does appear they were combined in Dame Mary Gilmore, a famous Australian poet and journalist who was also well-known as a socialist. How do I know? Well, today … Continue reading Australian Battle Cry, circa 1941
Think twice about questioning an author!
I have to admit that I'm not one of those readers who gets too hung up about accuracy in fiction. After all, fiction is, by definition, a work of imagination, and not of fact. And so, when I read fiction I'm pretty good at suspending my disbelief. I'm more interested in the world created by … Continue reading Think twice about questioning an author!
The thin end of the wedge?
I don't think so actually. I am referring to Wikipedia's plans to introduce "flagged revisions" on articles for living people. This really could just be seen as an improvement on the current practice of protecting or semi-protecting articles that are continually "vandalised" with false and sometimes scurrilous information. The trouble is that this "protection" practice … Continue reading The thin end of the wedge?
Whispering Gums 