Well, the Miles Franklin Award judges have announced the winner of the 2014 award, and it is Evie Wyld's All the birds, singing - the only shortlisted book I've read! How lucky am I? Check my review, if you are interested. I loved All the birds, singing, and agree with the judges that it is “spare, yet … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2014
Literary awards
Monday musings on Australian literature: Red Room Poetry Object Competition 2014
Just a quick Monday Musings today but an interesting one I hope. Red Room Poetry Object is a poetry-writing competition for Australian students in Years 3-10. It was created by The Red Room Company, which is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in 2003. It apparently grew out of the Red Room Radio Show. The company's aim is … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Red Room Poetry Object Competition 2014
Monday musings on Australian literature: ABR’s first laureate
While I was gallivanting in the northern hemisphere in April, ABR (the Australian Book Review) announced its first ever laureate. I missed it at the time, but heard of it soon after my return, and am now sharing it with you. For most Aussie readers, though, it's probably a bit old hat! ABR's concept of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: ABR’s first laureate
Adam Johnson, The orphan master’s son (Review)
Given my current reading preferences, I probably wouldn't have read Adam Johnson's Pulitzer prize-winning novel, The orphan master's son, if it hadn't been for my reading group, but I'm rather glad I did. It's a confronting novel, not only because of its brutal content, but also because it is an outsider's critique. I always feel more … Continue reading Adam Johnson, The orphan master’s son (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Non-fiction literary awards
This will probably be my last post on specialised literary awards, but it is an important one to cover, not least because while I was away a non-fiction work, Clare Wright's The forgotten rebels of Eureka, won the Stella Prize in its second year. This is notable because while most awards seem to be specially … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Non-fiction literary awards
Australian Women Writers 2014 Challenge completed
Regular readers here know by now that I only do one challenge, and that's the Australian Women Writer's Challenge. As in previous years, I signed up for the top level: Franklin-fantastic. This required me to read 10 books and review at least 6. I have now exceeded this. I will continue to add to the challenge, as … Continue reading Australian Women Writers 2014 Challenge completed
Monday musings on Australian literature: Emerging or debut writer awards
Almost as important for emerging writers as the unpublished manuscript awards, about which I wrote recently, are the awards devoted to new, mostly defined as debut, writers. That is, these awards are for writers lucky enough to have been published - and who knows, some may have won an unpublished manuscript award to get published - … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Emerging or debut writer awards
Miles Franklin Award 2014 Longlist
Earlier today Miles Franklin Literary Award's Trust Company announced the longlist for this year's award. As usual, it includes the full gamut - expected titles, along some surprise inclusions and omissions. One of the interesting exclusions would have to be, I think, Christos Tsiolkas' Barracuda (my review). It certainly deals with "Australian life in any of its … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2014 Longlist
Monday musings on Australian literature: Unpublished manuscript awards
I've recently reviewed a couple of books which have won unpublished manuscript awards: Hannah Kent won the inaugural Writing Australia Unpublished Manuscript Award in 2011 for Burial rites (my review), and Margaret Merrilees won the Unpublished Manuscript Award at the Adelaide Writer's Week in 2012 for The first week (my review). Now, I've discussed awards a few … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Unpublished manuscript awards
Monday musings on Australian literature: Pascall Prize
The Pascall Prize is one of those under-the-radar sorts of awards, that is, one that tends not to get much general press. However, that doesn't mean it's not significant. In fact, I've had it in my list of topics for a couple of years but, having mentioned in my David Malouf birthday post last week … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Pascall Prize
Whispering Gums 