Last Saturday, the NSW Writers’ Centre and Bankstown Arts Centre presented Boundless: A Festival of Diverse Writers, which they describe as the "first-ever festival focused on Indigenous and culturally diverse Australian writers and writing". My first reaction was, Really? Surely not. There was Blak and Bright held last year in Melbourne. But, hmm, that was specifically … Continue reading Monday Musings on Australian literature: the Boundless Festival
First Nations Australians
Carmel Bird (ed), The stolen children: Their stories (#BookReview)
Commenting on my post on Telling indigenous Australian stories, Australian author Carmel Bird mentioned her 1998 book The stolen children, describing it as her contribution "to the spreading of indigenous stories through the wider Australian culture". It contains stories told to, and contained in the report of, the National Enquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and … Continue reading Carmel Bird (ed), The stolen children: Their stories (#BookReview)
Ellen van Neerven (ed.), Writing black (#BookReview)
Writing black: New indigenous writing from Australia is one of the productions supported by the Queensland Writers Centre's if:book that I wrote about in a recent Monday Musings. It's an interactive e-book created using Apple's iBooks platform, and can be downloaded free-of-charge via the if:book page or directly from iBooks. Writing black was edited (and commissioned) by Ellen van … Continue reading Ellen van Neerven (ed.), Writing black (#BookReview)
A paradox of empowerment: Kim Scott’s Ray Mathew Lecture
Why was Raimond Gaita's Seymour Biography Lecture booked out, but not Kim Scott's Ray Mathew Lecture*. Both lectures, held at the National Library of Australia, are endowed by generous benefactors and are free. Don't get me wrong. I love that Gaita was booked out, but so should double Miles-Franklin-winner Noongar-author Kim Scott have been. His novel, That deadman … Continue reading A paradox of empowerment: Kim Scott’s Ray Mathew Lecture
Ali Cobby Eckermann, Too afraid to cry (#BookReview)
Having reviewed Yankunytjatjara/Kokatha woman Ali Cobby Eckermann's poetry collection, Inside my mother (my review) for Lisa's ANZlitLovers Indigenous Literature Week, 2017, I decided to also read her 2012 memoir, Too afraid to cry. It filled in a lot of gaps, which is not necessary to appreciate or comprehend the poetry but which does deepen the understanding. The memoir's dedication … Continue reading Ali Cobby Eckermann, Too afraid to cry (#BookReview)
Delicious descriptions: Kim Mahood’s desert
I wanted to use this Descriptions series to share a couple of Mahood's gorgeous descriptions from her memoir, Position doubtful, which I reviewed recently, but I've decided to share one about maps and relationships (and you'll probably see why), and a description. From a mapping expedition: The shortcomings of my prototype map soon become evident. … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Kim Mahood’s desert
Ali Cobby Eckermann, Inside my mother (#BookReview)
Ali Cobby Eckermann, a Yankunytjatjara/Kokatha woman, has featured a few times on this blog, including in my review of her verse novel, Ruby Moonlight, and my Monday Musings post on her winning the valuable Windham-Campbell Prize this year. She is now appearing again as I review her poetry collection, Inside my mother, for Lisa's ANZlitLovers Indigenous … Continue reading Ali Cobby Eckermann, Inside my mother (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading indigenous literature
Each July, as well as contributing at least one review to Lisa's ANZLitLovers Indigenous Literature Week, I try to write a Monday Musings post related in some way to NAIDOC week which, as Aussies will know, is a week, usually the first full week in July, during which activities are planned to “to celebrate the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading indigenous literature
Kim Mahood, Position doubtful (#BookReview)
Kim Mahood's memoir Position doubtful is a such a stimulating read. That might sound weird for a book whose subtitle is Mapping, landscapes and memories, but the thing is that it hits the spot in so many ways that are central to the issues confronting Australians right now. In other words, it's about our relationship to place. Specifically, … Continue reading Kim Mahood, Position doubtful (#BookReview)
My literary week (8), a cultural life
There's always something going on here in the nation's capital, besides politics that is and despite the belief in some circles that it is a soulless place! In fact, it's so busy here - so packed full of things to do - that my reading has been pretty slow of late. However, I have been … Continue reading My literary week (8), a cultural life
Whispering Gums 