Some years, I've written an indigenous Australian focused Monday Musings post to start and conclude NAIDOC Week and Lisa's ANZLitLovers Indigenous Literature Week. I have been researching a topic for this year's second post, but it's taking longer than I expected, so have decided to hold it over to next year. Meanwhile, having committed to a … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Listen to Indigenous Australian authors
First Nations Australians
Stan Grant, On identity (#BookReview)
Stan Grant seems to be the indigenous-person-du-jour here in Australia. I don't say this disrespectfully, which I fear is how it may come across given Grant's views "on identity", but it feels true - particularly if you watch or listen to the ABC. He pops up regularly on shows, sometimes as presenter, other times as … Continue reading Stan Grant, On identity (#BookReview)
Tony Birch, The white girl (#BookReview)
We need more novels like Tony Birch's The white girl and Melissa Lucashenko's Too much lip. This is not to say that we don't need all the wonderful Indigenous Australian literature I've read and reviewed here over the years, but some of the books, as excellent (and as beloved by me) as they are, can … Continue reading Tony Birch, The white girl (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: early Indigenous Australian literature
Since 2013, I've written an indigenous Australian focused Monday Musings post to coincide with NAIDOC Week and Lisa's ANZLitLovers Indigenous Literature Week. NAIDOC Week, for non-Aussies out there, occurs across Australia each July "to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples". One way litbloggers can recognise and celebrate it … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: early Indigenous Australian literature
Lecture and Book Launch: Australia’s first naturalists
I don't usually write up book launches, mostly because the speeches are brief, and I hope to eventually read and review the book itself. However, as the title of this post tells, the launch for Penny Olsen and Lynette Russell's book, Australia's first naturalists, was also billed as a lecture, hence this exception. Australia's first … Continue reading Lecture and Book Launch: Australia’s first naturalists
Amanda Duthie (ed.), Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family (#BookReview)
Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family is the second tribute book I've reviewed in Wakefield Press's Don Dunstan Award series. The first, Margaret & David: 5 stars, was also edited by Amanda Duthie. Like that book, Kin contains short reflections and essays on the contribution made to Australia's film industry and culture by Freda Glynn, her children Erica … Continue reading Amanda Duthie (ed.), Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family (#BookReview)
Stan Grant in conversation with Mark Kenny
Who could resist a conversation involving Australian journalist, author and academic, Stan Grant? Not many, it seems, which is why this ANU/The Canberra Times conversation event was held in a bigger venue than usual, Llewellyn Hall, and just as well, because the audience was indeed bigger than usual. Such is the drawcard of Stan Grant … Continue reading Stan Grant in conversation with Mark Kenny
Melissa Lucashenko, Too much lip (#BookReview)
Melissa Lucashenko's title for her latest novel Too much lip conveys a lot about what she is trying to do here. Superficially, the title refers to protagonist Kerry's refusal (or inability) "to swallow her opinions", but there are layers to the title which reflect the layers in the novel. Kerry is female and Indigenous, and … Continue reading Melissa Lucashenko, Too much lip (#BookReview)
Us Mob Writing, Too deadly (#BookReview)
Too deadly is an anthology of writings by the Canberra-based writing group Us Mob Writing. Comprising Australian First Nations writers, this group was formed in the late 1990s and is, apparently, one of our capital's longest running writers' groups. I saw advertising for the book's launch back in late 2017, but was unable to attend. I … Continue reading Us Mob Writing, Too deadly (#BookReview)
Anita Heiss (ed.), Growing up Aboriginal in Australia (#BookReview)
As many others have said, including my reading group, Anita Heiss's anthology, Growing up Aboriginal in Australia, should be required reading for all Australians. At the very least, it should be in every Australian secondary and tertiary educational institution. Why? Because it contributes to the truth-telling that is critical to real reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous … Continue reading Anita Heiss (ed.), Growing up Aboriginal in Australia (#BookReview)
