Back in 2020 I commenced a Monday Musings subseries I called "supporting genres". Some of the posts have, admittedly, been more form- than genre-based. Today's however is a genre, and one I have been putting off because it's not one I am at all familiar with. However, with Valentine's Day looming this week, I felt … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 9: Romance novels
Viva La Novella Prize
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 8: Science fiction
Unlike my last two posts in this "supporting genres"series, today's is a true-blue genre. The problem is, as many of you will realise, that it takes me way, way out of my comfort zone. However, with this week being National Science Week in Australia, I decided that it was a good time to tackle this … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 8: Science fiction
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 7: Poetry
As with the last post in this series, which was on novellas, poetry isn't so much a genre as a form. However, to repeat what I said then, when I started this sub-series, I couldn't find one all-inclusive word to cover all the types of literary works I thought I'd cover, so settled on "genres". … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 7: Poetry
Christine Balint, Water music (#BookReview)
Christine Balint's Water music was a joint winner of the 2021 Viva La Novella Prize with Helen Meany's Every day is Gertie Day (my review), but they are very different books. Meany's is contemporary, perhaps even near-future, and tackles some up-to-the-minute issues regarding fact, truth and authenticity, while Balint's is historical fiction, a coming-of-age story, … Continue reading Christine Balint, Water music (#BookReview)
Helen Meany, Every day is Gertie Day (#BookReview)
Helen Meany's Every day is Gertie Day is the third Viva La Novella winner that I've read and posted about on my blog, the other two being Julie Proudfoot's The neighbour (my review) and Mirandi Riwoe's The fish girl (my review). All are memorable reads, and do this award proud - and no, I am … Continue reading Helen Meany, Every day is Gertie Day (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 6: Novellas
Yes, I know, novellas aren't really a genre, but when I started this sub-series I couldn't find one word to cover all the types of literary works I thought I might end up covering, so we are all going to have to live with "genres". OK? Many of you will know why I've chosen novellas … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 6: Novellas
Mirandi Riwoe, The fish girl (#BookReview)
Mirandi Riwoe was joint-winner of the 2017 Seizure Viva La Novella prize with her book, The fish girl - and it has now been shortlisted for this year's Stella Prize. As you may already know, it was inspired by Somerset Maugham's short story "The four Dutchmen", which I reviewed a few days ago. Indeed, Maugham's story … Continue reading Mirandi Riwoe, The fish girl (#BookReview)
Julie Proudfoot, The neighbour (Review)
When Julie Proudfoot offered me her debut novel, The neighbour, for review I was more than happy to accept. After all, it had won Seizure magazine's Viva La Novella Prize in 2014, and you all know how much I love a novella. I must say it's a gorgeous looking book. I'm not one to judge books … Continue reading Julie Proudfoot, The neighbour (Review)
Whispering Gums 