Queensland is the state of my birth, and that makes it special to me! It is a large state and one of our most geographically diverse, ranging from the tropical north to the arid west, from the subtropical south to the temperate inland southeast. It has one of Australia's most popular tourist destinations, the Great … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers from our north
First Nations Australians
Marie Munkara, Every secret thing
They all nodded, not knowing what the hell curry* was but getting gist of the story all the same. Marie Munkara leads us a merry dance with Every secret thing, her first book, which won the David Unaipon Award for an unpublished Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writer. What exactly is this "thing" she presents … Continue reading Marie Munkara, Every secret thing
Animal Kingdom scoops the 2010 AFI Awards
Australia's version of the Oscars - the AFI (Australian Film Institute) Awards - was held last night and, as my post title announces, Animal Kingdom (which I reviewed a few months ago) won, deservedly I think, almost every major category . The major awards were as follows: BEST FILM: Animal Kingdom BEST DIRECTION: David Michôd, Animal Kingdom … Continue reading Animal Kingdom scoops the 2010 AFI Awards
Ah, sweet synchronicity of life!
Ok, I know that "synchronicity" doesn't really scan with "mystery" but it just felt right. Last night, wearing one of my hats, I attended the National Film and Sound Archive's event, Coo-ee: Sound Day: Sounds of Australia 2010. (Phew, that's a mouthful isn't it?). Sounds of Australia is an NFSA initiative aimed at creating a … Continue reading Ah, sweet synchronicity of life!
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writers
It's important I think that my third post be on our indigenous writers. Again it's going to be pretty idiosyncratic as my reading in this area has been scattered, not for lack of interest so much as the old "so many books" issue that we all know only too well. I was first introduced to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writers
Indigenous Australian stories – and digital technologies
In my recent on the literary road post, I referred briefly to Indigenous Australian stories. Rather coincidentally, I have just spent three days at a conference titled Information Technology and Indigenous Communities, hosted, primarily, by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) with the aim of exploring "the ever-increasing use of … Continue reading Indigenous Australian stories – and digital technologies
On the literary (cultural) road, in the Top End
Last month, Mr Gums and I holidayed in the Top End (of Downunder). I'm not quite sure where the Top End ends as it is a loose description for the northern part of Australia's Northern Territory, but I believe it encompasses all the areas we visited. For ten days, we explored Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park … Continue reading On the literary (cultural) road, in the Top End
Thea Astley, The multiple effects of rain shadow (Review)
There are two main reasons why I like - actually love - to read Thea Astley. One is her language, her wonderful way with words that may, at times, be over-the-top but that is never clichéd. The other is her passion for the underdog, and thus for social justice in a world where it is … Continue reading Thea Astley, The multiple effects of rain shadow (Review)
Bran Nue Dae
You could hardly get two more different films than Warwick Thornton's Samson and Delilah and Rachel Perkins' Bran Nue Dae. Both are directed by indigenous Australians and both address indigenous Australian issues but, wow, how differently they do it. While Samson and Delilah is spare and almost without dialogue, Bran Nue Dae is exuberant and … Continue reading Bran Nue Dae
Top non-fiction of 2009
Is it cheating to do separate lists for fiction and non-fiction? Some people list their top books regardless of form or genre, while others created separate lists. I'm going to do the latter because - well, because I get to choose more books for a start. Actually, I didn't read a lot of non-fiction this … Continue reading Top non-fiction of 2009
