How to title today's post was my first challenge - and I hope the title I settled on covers it well enough. What I am wanting to cover here are those awards that don't go to books (or manuscripts) or writers, but to those in the industry - people and organisations - that support writers … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Book industry awards
Literary awards
Gail Jones, Salonika burning (#BookReview)
Australian author Gail Jones' ninth novel, Salonika burning, is a curious but beautiful novel, curious because she fictionalises four real people for whom she has no evidence that they met or knew each other, and beautiful because of her writing and the themes she explores. The novel is set during World War 1, but its … Continue reading Gail Jones, Salonika burning (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella Prize 2024 Winner
The 2024 Stella Prize winner was announced last Thursday, the 2nd of May, but that was the also the day my blog turned 15, and I didn't want to flood cyberspace with too many posts. Then this weekend was the SixDegrees meme which meant another post coming at you. So, I decided to do my … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella Prize 2024 Winner
Shankari Chandran, Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens (#BookReview)
Shankari Chandran's Miles Franklin Award winning novel, Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens, was my reading group's March book. Unfortunately I was out of town at the time of the meeting, but of course I wanted to read it - and I did, finally! Like many people, I think, when I first saw the book, I … Continue reading Shankari Chandran, Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: News on two awards
Originally this post was going to be about South Australia's reframed literary awards, but then I saw some news on another award, and decided to do a little consolidated post. Here goes... South Australian Literary Awards Some of you might be aware that in my sidebar I have a widget (or whatever it's now called) … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: News on two awards
Stella Prize 2024 Shortlist announced
For what it's worth, given I've not read any of them, here is the Stella Prize shortlist. The announcement I received via email this morning describes it as comprising: a diverse mix, featuring novels, memoir and an essay collection. Three of these works are by debut authors, showcasing fresh voices in Australian literature. To summarise … Continue reading Stella Prize 2024 Shortlist announced
Stella Prize 2024 Longlist announced
As has happened in the past, this week's Monday Musings has been gazumped by the announcement this evening of the Stella Prize longlist. I attended the online streamed announcement from the Adelaide Festival Writers Week As I say every year, I don't do well at having read the Stella Prize longlist at the time of … Continue reading Stella Prize 2024 Longlist announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella Book of the Month
Most readers here know the origins of the the Stella Prize. I have written about it many times before, but it was in my post on the inaugural longlist in 2013 that I described its origins and goals in a little detail. I wrote then that: The award was created by a group of 11 … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella Book of the Month
Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Copperhead (#BookReview)
Barbara Kingsolver's latest - and multi-award winning - novel, Demon Copperhead, was inspired, as I'm sure most of you know, by Charles Dickens' autobiographical novel, David Copperfield. Indeed, Demon Copperhead opens with an epigraph from that novel: “It’s in vain to recall the past, unless it works some influence upon the present.” This could be … Continue reading Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Copperhead (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Henry Mayer Book Prize
This last week I have become aware, via two different paths, of the Henry Mayer Book Prize. I feel I've seen it referenced before, but it hasn't fully registered. I certainly haven't written about it before, so, now's the time. I'll start by introducing the person for whom the prize is named, Henry Mayer (1919-1991). … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Henry Mayer Book Prize
Whispering Gums 