Wah! Once again I delayed reading a much heralded book until my reading group did it*, and so it is only now that I've read Clare Wright's Stella Prize winning history, The forgotten rebels of Eureka. The trouble with coming late to a high-profile book is how to review it freshly. All I can do, … Continue reading Clare Wright, The forgotten rebels of Eureka (Review)
Literary awards
Monday musings on Australian literature: Literary awards back then
A comment by blog-reader Ian Darling on a recent Monday Musings post that he supposed literary prizes existed back in 1927, followed by the tardy announcement a couple of days ago of the shortlist for this year's Prime Minister's Literary Awards (see Lisa ANZLitLovers' post), got me thinking about the history of literary awards. I've long … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Literary awards back then
Richard Flanagan, the Booker Prize, and Books
Lisa at ANZLitlovers has posted on Richard Flanagan's (exciting-to-us) Booker Prize win for The narrow road to the deep north, and has provided links to reviews by several bloggers. So, I thought I'd do something different. In my review and follow-up post, I discussed the role of poetry in the novel. Reviewer (and novelist) Romy Ash suggests … Continue reading Richard Flanagan, the Booker Prize, and Books
Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry awards
Over recent months, I've devoted several Monday Musings to exploring various Australian literary festivals and awards. I was inspired to write this one on poetry awards by two things. The first is that during my recent exploration of Australian literature in the first few decades of the 20th century, and particularly of the 1927 plebiscite conducted … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry awards
Monday musings on Australian literature: Nature Writing Prize
You know what they say, too much of a good thing is bad for you, so, to save you dear readers from bad things, I thought we'd take a break this week from my historical survey of Australian literature. And, since I received this morning an email containing a call for submissions for Nature Conservancy Australia's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Nature Writing Prize
Monday musings on Australian literature: National Biography Award
I have mentioned the National Biography Award before, but have never dedicated a post to it. Since this Monday musings coincides with the announcement of the 2014 award, I thought it would be a good time to write a little about this award. The National Biography Award was initially endowed by Geoffrey Cains, with support … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: National Biography Award
Tara June Winch, Swallow the air (Review for Indigenous Literature Week)
Tara June Winch's Swallow the air is another book that has been languishing too long on my TBR pile, though not as long as Sara Dowse's Schemetime. For Swallow the air, it was a case of third time lucky, because this was the third year I planned to read it for ANZLitLovers Indigenous Literature Week. Like the … Continue reading Tara June Winch, Swallow the air (Review for Indigenous Literature Week)
Miles Franklin Award 2014
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
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
Whispering Gums 