This is going to be a difficult post to write because, really, my knowledge is superficial, but I figure that if I put out some feelers, I just might learn something from those who read this and, hopefully, comment. I was inspired to write it by - yes, you've probably guessed it - Canberra's centenary, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writing and Canberra
First Nations Australians
Anita Heiss, Paris dreaming (Review)
Late last year I wrote a post about the inaugural Canberra Readers' Festival. One of the speakers was indigenous Australian author, academic and activist, Anita Heiss. I wrote then that I bought one of her books. It was her fourth (I think) chick lit novel, Paris dreaming. This might surprise regular readers here, as chick … Continue reading Anita Heiss, Paris dreaming (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian literacy
I feel a little uncomfortable being a white person writing on indigenous issues. It's difficult in situations of such immense power imbalance as currently exists between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians not to come across as patronising or a self-congratulatory do-gooder. However, I'm also aware that consciousness needs to be raised and good programs promoted, so … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian literacy
Kate Grenville, The lieutenant (Review)
I first came across William Dawes, the inspiration for Kate Grenville's The lieutenant, in Inga Clendinnen's award-winning history, Dancing with strangers (2003). But this is not the only book that Grenville's novel brought to mind, as it also reminded me of Kim Scott's That deadman dance. (Intriguing that both these books use a dance motif, … Continue reading Kate Grenville, The lieutenant (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Marilyn of Me, You and Books
I first "met" Marilyn earlier this year when she decided to take part in the Australian Women Writers Challenge 2012. There aren't many non-Australians who have signed up for this challenge so Texas-resident Marilyn stood out. She is a retired professor of a small liberal arts school in the USA, where she taught women’s history, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Marilyn of Me, You and Books
Canberra Readers’ Festival 2012: For the love of reading
You could all be looking at tulips ... said Kate Grenville, the first speaker at today's Canberra Readers' Festival. She was referring to Floriade, Canberra's popular, crowd-drawing annual spring festival, and the fact that today was a glorious day. Just right, in fact, for tiptoeing through the festival's stunning tulip beds. But instead, we keen readers … Continue reading Canberra Readers’ Festival 2012: For the love of reading
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia’s pioneer novelists
One of the reasons I started this Monday Musings series was to encourage me to read, think and/or learn about my country's literature, but in doing so I mostly write about books and authors I know and have read. Occasionally though I explore authors and works that are not so familiar to me. Today's post … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia’s pioneer novelists
Dame Mary Durack, Lament for the drowned country (Review)
Near the end of her book True north about Mary and Elizabeth Durack, biographer Brenda Niall writes of Mary Durack's poem, "Lament for the Drowned Country", which she says "has been judged her finest poem". Of course, with such a statement, I had to read it. I could have Googled* it, but I decided to check my … Continue reading Dame Mary Durack, Lament for the drowned country (Review)
Melissa Lucashenko, The silent majority (Review)
I have reviewed many individual short stories by Americans (through the Library of America), but not by Australians. Time to rectify that a little, and why not with a short story by Melissa Lucashenko, an Australian writer of European and indigenous Australian heritage. She is an award-winning novelist and an essayist, but I hadn't read … Continue reading Melissa Lucashenko, The silent majority (Review)
Jeanine Leane, Purple threads (Review for Indigenous Literature Week)
Bookcover via University of Queensland Press* What I especially like about Jeanine Leane's book, Purple threads, is how well she draws the universal out of the particular. That she does this is not unusual in itself. After all, this is what our favourite books tend to do. The interesting thing about Purple threads, though, is … Continue reading Jeanine Leane, Purple threads (Review for Indigenous Literature Week)
