I think that every novelist has a single ideal reader (Stephen King, On writing) As I was reading Peter Temple's Truth I wondered whether I was Temple's "ideal reader". Somehow I think not. I am not a crime novel reader, but I did read and greatly like Temple's previous book, The broken shore, so why … Continue reading Peter Temple, Truth
Literary awards
JM Coetzee wins the 2010 Queensland Premier’s Literary Award
The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were announced last night, on the eve of the Brisbane Writers' Festival. The main award was won by JM Coetzee with Summertime, the third book in his fictionalised memoirs. The first two were Boyhood and Youth. I have this in my TBR but it has yet to arrive at the … Continue reading JM Coetzee wins the 2010 Queensland Premier’s Literary Award
ALS Gold Medal, 2009 (announced 2010)
Since many book bloggers are posting the Booker longlist, I don't think I need to do so here. I don't expect to read many of them, not so much due to a lack of interest as to the fact that I've a pretty full reading schedule in front of me without adding these to it! … Continue reading ALS Gold Medal, 2009 (announced 2010)
Peter Temple’s Miles Franklin win, Ruckus
Peter Temple's winning this year's Miles Franklin award* with his crime novel Truth has caused a bit of a ruckus - and, consequently, there's been some interesting discussion about it on various blogs. The discussion mainly concerns the implications of a so-called genre novel winning this traditionally "literary fiction" award, but there is also some discussion … Continue reading Peter Temple’s Miles Franklin win, Ruckus
Peter Temple’s Truth wins the 2010 Miles Franklin
So, the waiting is over and Peter Temple has won the 2010 Miles Franklin Award. I'm kicking myself that I haven't read it yet. I am not much of a crime-fiction reader - in fact I could probably count on one hand the crime novels I've read - but I did like his The broken … Continue reading Peter Temple’s Truth wins the 2010 Miles Franklin
ALS Gold Medal (and 2009 award shortlist)
My recent review of Herz Bergner's Between sky and sea reminded me of a rather ignored Australian literary award, the ALS Gold Medal, that I'd come across a few years ago but have let slip beneath my radar. It is time, methinks, to bring it to the fore. It was initially awarded by the Australian … Continue reading ALS Gold Medal (and 2009 award shortlist)
NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, 2010
The literary awards season is well and truly here downunder ... and last night, just before the opening of this year's Sydney Writers Festival, the NSW Premier's Literary Awards for 2010 were announced. The full list of winners can be found here, so I'll just name the critical ones, from my point of view (with links … Continue reading NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, 2010
Miles Franklin shortlist for 2010
It seems vaguely silly for all we bloggers to be announcing the same thing - except that perhaps each of us has a slightly different readership so maybe it's not completely redundant for me to announce here what has already been announced elsewhere - at Musings of a Literary Dilettante. The Dilettante has provided links … Continue reading Miles Franklin shortlist for 2010
Longlist for 2010 Miles Franklin Award announced
Without further ado, here are the twelve who've made it to the 2010 Miles Franklin Award longlist: Allington, Patrick Figurehead Carey, Peter Parrot and Olivier in America Castro, Brian The bath fugues Doust, Jon Boy on a wire Foster, David Sons of the rumour Foster, Deborah The book of Emmett Guest, Glenda Siddon Rock Hartnett, … Continue reading Longlist for 2010 Miles Franklin Award announced
The Diagram Prize for the oddest title of the year
I know you've been waiting for it: the longlist for the Bookseller/Diagram Prize is out - and in fact was out in early February. You can find it in the Guardian article here. As no doubt some of you know, this prize began in 1978 as a way, says the Wikipedia article to which I've linked, … Continue reading The Diagram Prize for the oddest title of the year
Whispering Gums 