Today's post was inspired by two comments on yesterday's post which featured a public reading event I'd taken part in. Lisa (ANZLitLovers) commented that she is taking part in a reading of James Joyce's Ulysses in a Queenscliff bookshop next Bloomsday, while Karen (Booker Talk) said she wasn't sure she'd heard of such a grand … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading marathons
Literary events
My literary week (15), readings and readers
As regular readers here know, my "literary week" posts are irregular affairs, usually inspired by something I really want to share (or document for my own benefit!) And so it is this week … Reading Boochani in public ... and related thoughts I was especially pleased, given the events in Christchurch last Friday week, that … Continue reading My literary week (15), readings and readers
Festival Muse 2019: Alice Pung in conversation with Sam Vincent
Festival Muse, a literary festival run by one of our favourite places in town, Muse, now seems to be a fixture on the Canberra Day long weekend calendar. For the last two years Mr Gums and I have attended the Opening event, which this year was titled Moments of Wonder. As Opening Night was also International Women's Day, … Continue reading Festival Muse 2019: Alice Pung in conversation with Sam Vincent
Michelle Arrow in conversation with Frank Bongiorno
A few days ago, Mr Gums and I attended another ANU/The Canberra Times Meet the Author event, this one featuring Australian historian Michelle Arrow in conversation with Australian historian Frank Bongiorno. It was an especially interesting pairing because Arrow's book, which she is currently touring, is titled The seventies: The personal, the political and the … Continue reading Michelle Arrow in conversation with Frank Bongiorno
Jane Caro in conversation with Alex Sloan
It was to the ANU's brand new Kambri Cultural Centre that we went for this week's ANU/The Canberra Times Meet the Author event with Jane Caro, who is doing a book tour with her new book Accidental feminists. Kambri is not as cosy as the old venue but is bigger, more flexible, and offers a … Continue reading Jane Caro in conversation with Alex Sloan
Monday musings on Australian literature: some Australian feminist “classics”
Tonight I went to an ANU/The Canberra Times Meet the Author event featuring author and journalist, Jane Caro, in conversation with local radio personality and booklover, Alex Sloan. It was of course inspired by Caro's new book, Accidental feminists. So, I thought it might be fun this Monday Musings to just list some of Australia's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: some Australian feminist “classics”
Elizabeth Kleinhenz in conversation with Chris Wallace – about Germaine Greer
It made for a busy night, given that the last Tuesday of the month is also my reading group night, but I had to go to this ANU Meet the Author event, because it involved Canberra academic/journalist (not to mention Germaine Greer biographer) Chris Wallace conversing with Elizabeth Kleinhenz, whose biography, Germaine: The life of Germaine … Continue reading Elizabeth Kleinhenz in conversation with Chris Wallace – about Germaine Greer
Dymphna Clark Lecture: Clare Wright and You daughters of freedom
According to the University of Melbourne website, the Dymphna Clark Lecture "is delivered annually by a lecturer who exemplifies the deep commitment Dymphna Clark showed to Australia's intellectual and cultural life." Strangely, I can't find a description of the lecture series on the Manning Clark House site which, I believe, is behind the lecture series. … Continue reading Dymphna Clark Lecture: Clare Wright and You daughters of freedom
Nadia Wheatley in conversation with Marion Halligan
Nadia Wheatley is, I fear, not as well-known in Australia's literary firmament as she should be because her credentials are excellent. Not only is there My place (1987) - a wonderful multi-award-winning children's book about the history of place - but her biography of Charmian Clift, The life and myth of Charmian Clift, has been … Continue reading Nadia Wheatley in conversation with Marion Halligan
Telling and writing the story: Richard Fidler’s Seymour Biography Lecture
On Friday night I went to my fourth consecutive Seymour Biography Lecture at the National Library of Australia. A highlight on the Library's calendar, it's an annual lecture devoted to life-writing, and was endowed by the Seymours in 2005. This year's speaker, Richard Fidler, was, at first glance, a surprising pick - but a very popular one. He … Continue reading Telling and writing the story: Richard Fidler’s Seymour Biography Lecture
Whispering Gums 