As you know, I don't report on every literary award announced throughout the year in Australia. There are way too many. But I did want to announce the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, partly because they are only awarded biennially. They were established in 1986. The fact that they are awarded biennially means of course … Continue reading Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, 2014
Literary awards
Stella Prize 2014 longlist
I'm not going to write a long post on the Stella Prize longlist because Paula Grunseit has written a good rundown of the books on the Australian Women Writers' challenge website. Do check it out if you are interested to know more about the books (which I'll list below). The Stella Prize, regular readers here … Continue reading Stella Prize 2014 longlist
Eleanor Catton, The luminaries (Review)
Now here's the thing ... I don't make a practice of reading mysteries. I really don't care about who dunnit. When Mr Gums and I watch television crime shows, I rarely concentrate enough to work out the plot intricacies, but I do watch the characters. I'm always interested in the detectives and their relationships. I … Continue reading Eleanor Catton, The luminaries (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Here come the men!
Women really have dominated the literary awards season in Australia over the last two years. In 2012, the majority of the awards were won by Anna Funder with All that I am and Gillian Mears with Foal's bread. Last year it was mostly Michelle de Kretser with Questions of travel and Carrie Tiffany with Mateship … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Here come the men!
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia Council Award
Last month the Australia Council announced this year's Lifetime Achievement Award for Australian Literature. This award used to be called the Writer's Emeritus Award, which I have written about before. Lifetime Achievement Award sounds better don't you think? After all, "emeritus" implies retirement but most winners never really retire - at least as far as … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia Council Award
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Walkley Awards
The Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism are Australia's premier awards for journalists. Last week the winners of the 58th awards were announced. According to the Walkley Foundation website, the awards were established in 1956 by Ampol Petroleum founder Sir William Gaston Walkley. Apparently, according to the website, William Walkley appreciated the media’s support for his … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Walkley Awards
Monday musings on Australian literature: Sisters in Crime
And now for something rather different here at Whispering Gums. Crime literature, as my regular readers know, is not my forte. In fact, I really only read crime if it comes my way for a specific reason - such as Peter Temple winning the Miles Franklin Award a few years ago. That doesn't mean however … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Sisters in Crime
Monday musings on Australian literature: MUBA 2013
Last year I reported on the inaugural MUBA - Most Under-rated Book Award. I hoped that it would continue, because it brings to our attention good books that somehow slide under the radar, mostly because their authors are less known and/or their publishers are small. In 2012, I had read one of the four short-listed … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: MUBA 2013
Michelle de Kretser, Questions of travel (Review)
Every now and then a book comes along that is so sweeping in its conception, that it almost defies review. Such a book is this year's Miles Franklin Award winner, Questions of travel by Michelle de Kretser. Consequently, I'm going to focus on one aspect that particularly spoke to me - and that is her … Continue reading Michelle de Kretser, Questions of travel (Review)
Two under-the-radar Australian literary awards announced
A couple of lesser known - but significant to me - literary awards were announced over the last week or so, one national and the other local. I'd like to tell you about them! ALS Gold Medal 2013 The ALS Gold Medal is awarded by the Association for the Study of Australian Literature. It doesn't usually … Continue reading Two under-the-radar Australian literary awards announced
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