In this week's Monday Musings about the Walkley Awards, I noted that Melissa Lucashenko had won the award for Long Feature Writing for her essay "Sinking below sight: Down and out in Brisbane and Logan" in the Griffith Review. I've now read the essay, and thought I'd share it with you. I've reviewed Lucashenko before, … Continue reading Melissa Lucashenko, Sinking below sight (Review)
First Nations Australians
Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing the Australian landscape (2)
In this week's Monday Musings*, I plan to continue last week's discussion of some of the ideas that arose from the National Library of Australia's Writing the Australian Landscape conference. But first, I'll recap the two questions posed by the keynote speakers: Day 1, author Murray Bail suggested that only when we are at ease … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing the Australian landscape (2)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Role of Aboriginal literature
Most keen readers have firm views about the value of reading to them. Some, I think, read mainly to escape. Others like to be opened to other ways of being and thinking. Others like the things they learn - yes, even from fiction! And still others love beautiful or interesting language. These aren't the only … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Role of Aboriginal literature
Anita Heiss, Am I black enough for you (Review)
Anita Heiss's Am I black enough for you? is a challenge to categorise, so I'll start with writer Benjamin Law's description on the cover of my edition. He calls it "part family history, part manifesto" to which I'd add "part memoir" because "family history" does not really cover the self-description aspect of the book. For … Continue reading Anita Heiss, Am I black enough for you (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: BlackWords
NAIDOC Week, to which last week's Monday Musings was dedicated, officially finished yesterday, but I've decided to bookend it with another Monday Musings focusing on indigenous Australian literature. This post, in fact, also harks back to two Monday Musings ago which talked about the AustLit database - because I want to introduce you to one … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: BlackWords
Melissa Lucashenko, How green is my valley (Review)
Almost a year ago I reviewed a short story, "The silent majority", by Melissa Lucashenko. It was published in the Griffith Review of November 2009. I enjoyed the story and so, in honour of NAIDOC Week and ANZLitLovers Indigenous Literature Week, I thought I'd review another of her Griffith Review contributions. This one, "How green … Continue reading Melissa Lucashenko, How green is my valley (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian memoirs
As Australians would know, this week - July 7-14 - is NAIDOC week. NAIDOC originally stood for an organisation - ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’ - but the acronym has now become the name of the week itself. Fascinating how acronyms can take on lives of their own, isn't it? Anyhow, the theme … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian memoirs
Satellite Boy (Movie review)
It's disappointing to say the least that the new Australian film, Satellite Boy, is in very limited distribution. It was released 10 days ago, and in my city, with 6 cinema complexes, it is screening in only one. Why? It's rather an indictment of Australian audiences that such a film is not receiving wider distribution. … Continue reading Satellite Boy (Movie review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Place
Place. It's a complex thing isn't it? Arti (Ripple Effects) commented on my recent post on Gerard Manley Hopkins' "Spring and Fall" that ... while spring may be a welcome sight, for some strange reasons, I miss winter’s snow. (not the temp. just the beautiful snow scenes). Would I miss winter and snow? Not on … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Place
Monday musings on Australian literature: Inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop
I had planned another topic for today's Monday Musings, but when I heard via AustLit News about the inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop to be held in May this year, I decided to write about it sooner rather than later ... The workshop aims to bring together established and emerging writers of Aboriginal and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Inaugural First Nations Australia Writers Workshop
