Just checking in to see what's up with everyone in their neck of the woods. How are you coping with your COVID-19 restrictions? Are you getting stuck into those projects that have been hanging around forever? One of our friends is finally sewing clothes out of fabrics she bought on overseas trips years ago, another … Continue reading Living under COVID-19 (2)
Commentary
Living under COVID-19 (1)
This may be the first of a regular, irregular or occasional series of posts about living under COVID-19 , probably occasional because I suspect that, once we settle in for however long it's going to be, life will become same-same. Like many bloggers - see Nancy in the Netherlands' post, and Stargazer in London who … Continue reading Living under COVID-19 (1)
Ros Collins, Rosa: Memories with licence (Author’s response)
Last October, I reviewed a book by Ros Collins titled Rosa: Memories with licence. As the title suggests, this book is not quite memoir, but neither is it really fiction. My post generated quite some discussion from commenters, which resulted in my saying "Maybe Ros will comment here and answer the questions". Unfortunately, just as … Continue reading Ros Collins, Rosa: Memories with licence (Author’s response)
Books given and received for Christmas, in 2019 – sorta
Regular readers here will know that on my Boxing Day I usually publish a post on the books I gave and received for Christmas. However, this year I'm doing something different. I've just read a link that Paula (Book Jotter) posted in her latest Wind-up Post. It's from The Guardian and is about the challenges of book gift … Continue reading Books given and received for Christmas, in 2019 – sorta
World Refugee Day – #StepWithRefugees
World Refugee Day was denoted by the UN General Assembly in December 2000, and has been celebrated on June 20 ever since. Why 20 June? Because this was the date on which many African countries had already been celebrating Africa Refugee Day. The Day's aims, as for all UN International Days, are "to educate the … Continue reading World Refugee Day – #StepWithRefugees
Books given and received for Christmas, in 2018
In what is becoming a Boxing Day tradition - I have many end-of-year traditions it seems - I am doing, again, a post on the books I gave and received this Christmas. There weren't many as it's becoming hard to pick the right books for people, somehow, even though we are a reading family. Here are the … Continue reading Books given and received for Christmas, in 2018
Monday musings on Australian literature: Blaming the Americans
Rummaging through my little folder of papers and ideas for Monday Musings posts, I found a 2014 article from The Conversation titled "The Americans are destroying the English language - or are they?" If you are a non-American English-speaker you probably know exactly what this is about, because we non-American English-speakers love to get on … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Blaming the Americans
World Bee Day 2018 – and literature
Apparently today, May 20, is World Bee Day! Who knew? Not me, until this morning. I understand it was designated last December by the United Nations, on the recommendation of Slovenia. Given the rise of cli-fi literature and the importance of bees to our planet, I've decided to give a little shout out to our … Continue reading World Bee Day 2018 – and literature
How to read difficult books
There was a quote I really wanted to use in my review last week of Rabih Alameddine's An unnecessary woman, but I couldn't find a place to fit it in. Sometimes reviews take off in a direction and they just can't be reined in, I've found! This quote is, however, too good not to share … Continue reading How to read difficult books
Books given and received for Christmas, in 2017
In what is becoming a Boxing Day tradition - I have many traditions it seems at the end of the year - I am doing, again, a post on the books I gave and received this Christmas. For Ma Gums, who has worked as a lexicographer, another word-oriented book (giving her such books is becoming another tradition!): … Continue reading Books given and received for Christmas, in 2017
Whispering Gums 