Okay, folks, so it's Easter Monday here in Australia, and a public holiday. We have had family - from Melbourne and Hobart - up our way for the long weekend and so I've not had a lot of time to think about my Monday Musings post. However, a couple of recent literary awards have come … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some ad hoc awards
Literary awards
Stella Prize 2016 Shortlist
Around a month ago, I announced this year's longlist for Stella Prize ... and now I bring you the short list. It must have been such a difficult choice and I'm sure all the books longlisted deserved to be shortlisted - but there can only be 6, and here they are: Six bedrooms by Tegan … Continue reading Stella Prize 2016 Shortlist
Kate Jennings, Moral hazard (Review)
How often do you read a book that connects in some ways with something you've recently read or thought about? Kate Jennings' award-winning Moral hazard, my latest read, links pretty directly to our discussion about autobiographical fiction in my Monday Musings post on Robert Dessaix two weeks ago. Dessaix, you may remember, criticised Garner's The spare room (and other works) arguing she was just … Continue reading Kate Jennings, Moral hazard (Review)
Stella Prize 2016 Longlist
The announcement of the Stella Prize Longlist is a red-letter day for the Australian Women Writers Challenge ... and also for me of course. So, today, I share the list with you. The shortlist will be announced on March 10. The judges look good to me: writer Emily Maguire, memoirist/essayist Alice Pung, author/academic Brenda Walker, … Continue reading Stella Prize 2016 Longlist
Emily Bitto, The strays (Review)
Let me start by saying I really enjoyed reading Emily Bitto's The strays. It was scheduled for my reading group the day after my return from Tasmania, and I suddenly found myself in the last day of my Tasmanian holiday without having started the book. Wah! I read it in two days, helped by several … Continue reading Emily Bitto, The strays (Review)
Mark Henshaw, The snow kimono (Review)
I wasn't far into Mark Henshaw's The snow kimono before I started to sense some similarities to Kazuo Ishiguro. I was consequently tickled when, about halfway through, up popped a secondary character named Mr Ishiguro. Coincidental? I can't help thinking it's not - but I haven't investigated whether Henshaw has said anything about this. I'm not at all suggesting, … Continue reading Mark Henshaw, The snow kimono (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: On what women write about
I had planned another topic for today, but a tweet from Australian novelist Jessica White this morning sharing a link from The Conversation changed my mind. The link was to an article by Natalie Kon-yu, a lecturer in Creative Writing and Gender Studies at Victoria University. This article explores Nicola Griffith's statement that "when women win literary awards … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: On what women write about
Monday musings on Australian literature: First winners of The Bulletin Novel Prize
"Once again women have proved that they can triumph over men"! So starts a 1928 newspaper article announcing the winners of the first Bulletin Novel Prize. Hmmm ... fascinating to read this the week we heard that eight of the ten books longlisted for the 2015 Miles Franklin Award are by women. I don't like to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: First winners of The Bulletin Novel Prize
Stella Prize 2015 Shortlist
I rarely write longlist, shortlist and winner posts, but for the Stella Prize I don't mind making an exception. Last month, I posted on the longlist, and yesterday, the shortlist was announced. Maxine Beneba Clarke's Foreign Soil (Hachette): short story collection that I really must read, a debut book Emily Bitto's The Strays (Affirm Press): another debut … Continue reading Stella Prize 2015 Shortlist
Fiona McFarlane, The night guest (Review)
Those of you who followed the literary award season in Australia last year will have seen Fiona McFarlane's debut novel The night guest pop up several times. The more it popped up, the more I wanted to read it - but also the more I thought it would be good to read with my reading … Continue reading Fiona McFarlane, The night guest (Review)
Whispering Gums 