Well, lookee here, the Stella Prize shortlist was announced this morning while I was at Tai Chi so I am just getting to it now. And, I am rather pleased because, although I've only read one of the six, I am currently reading another, and have a third on my reading group schedule, so that's … Continue reading Stella Prize 2020 Shortlist announced
Literary awards
Anna Goldsworthy, Piano lessons (#BookReview)
Ever since Anna Goldsworthy's memoir, Piano lessons, was published, I've hankered to read it, but somehow never got around to acquiring a copy. So, when I was casting around for our next road trip audiobook and this one popped up serendipitously in Borrowbox, I grabbed the opportunity. Now, I have to admit that although I … Continue reading Anna Goldsworthy, Piano lessons (#BookReview)
Stella Prize 2020 Longlist
I don't do well at having read the Stella Prize longlist at the time of its announcement. In 2017 I'd read none; in 2018 it was one, and last year two! Will it be three this year? (BTW by the end of 2019, I had read six of the 12, one more than in 2018! … Continue reading Stella Prize 2020 Longlist
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Winners, 2019, announced
The Winners of the the Prime Minister's Literary Awards for 2019 were announced earlier today, but I was driving to Berrima for my annual "same-time-next-year" catch up with a dear Sydney friend. Below is the shortlist for the three categories I posted on in my shortlist post, with the winners marked in bold. Fiction Rodney … Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Winners, 2019, announced
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist, 2019, announced
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
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)
Whispering Gums 