As you know, I don't announce all literary awards shortlists, but the Prime Minister's Literary Awards have an "interesting" history, so I plan to follow them more closely than I originally did. The press release says that over 500 books were submitted across the 6 categories, much the same as last year in fact. Last year, … Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist, 2019, announced
Literary awards
Monday musings on Australian literature: National Biography Award, 2019
It's been five years since I posted on the National Biography Award. Given that, and the fact that some changes have been made since last year, I figured it was worth reminding you (and me) of it. First, a recap: The National Biography Award was endowed in 1996 by Geoffrey Cains, and supported for many … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: National Biography Award, 2019
Miles Franklin Award 2019 Winner announced!
Well, good news for me (because it's all about me of course!) Not only had I read more of the longlist and the shortlist than is my usual achievement, but one of those books is the winner - and a wonderful winner it is too, Melissa Lucashenko's Too much lip (my review)! Really, as much … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2019 Winner announced!
Monday musings on Australian literature: No Vogel prize in 2019
For those of us who follow the major Australian literary awards, The Australian/Vogel is one we like to keep an eye out for, because it has launched a number of significant careers during its nearly 40-year history. For those who don't know it, the award is for an unpublished manuscript, which can be "a work … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: No Vogel prize in 2019
Miles Franklin Award 2019 shortlist
Well, good news for me in that I had read three of the longlist, and two of those have made it through to the shortlist. Interestingly, the one that didn't, Trent Dalton's Boy swallows universe, has been making such a splash that I rather expected it to be shortlisted. But, as we all know, you … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2019 shortlist
Sayaka Murata, Convenience store woman (#BookReview)
Convenience store woman, which won Japan's prestigious Akutagawa Prize, is Sayaka Murata's 10th novel, but her first translated into English. Hopefully, it won't be the last. A rather unusual book, it elicited a stimulating discussion at my reading group last week. The convenience store woman of the title is 36-year-old Keiko Furukawa. She isn't "normal", and her … Continue reading Sayaka Murata, Convenience store woman (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Britannica Australia Awards
While researching my recent 1965 Monday Musings posts, I came across a new award to me - the Britannica Australia Awards (also known as the Encyclopaedia Britannica Australia Awards). Of course, I wanted to find out more about them. It was tricky. They have Wikipedia article, but The Canberra Times came good via Trove, and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Britannica Australia Awards
Miles Franklin Award 2019 Longlist
Woo hoo! Last year I had only read and reviewed one book on the Miles Franklin longlist, but this year I've read three! It's a record (for me, anyhow!) Here is the list: Michael Mohammed Ahmad's The Lebs (Nancy's review) (Hachette) Robbie Arnott's Flames (Lisa's review) (Text) Trent Dalton's Boy swallows universe (my review) (Fourth Estate) Gregory … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2019 Longlist
NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2019 Winners; and Vale Les Murray AO (1939-2019)
I decided to replace today's Monday Musings with an awards announcement, because the NSW Premier's Literary Awards were being announced tonight, and they comprise a swag of prizes, many being of particular interest to me. But, then I was shocked to hear that Australian poet Les Murray had died, and I couldn't let that pass … Continue reading NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2019 Winners; and Vale Les Murray AO (1939-2019)
Vicki Laveau-Harvie, The erratics (#BookReview)
Truth is that, while I like to read at least some of the Stella Prize shortlist, I didn't have Vicki Laveau-Harvie's memoir, The erratics, on my high priority list, though the more I heard about it, the more intrigued I became. However, it was winning the prize that tipped it over into my must-read category. What … Continue reading Vicki Laveau-Harvie, The erratics (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 