As I neared the end of Heather Rose's Stella Prize-winning novel The museum of modern love, I slowed down. I wanted, of course, to know how it was going to resolve, but I wanted to savour it too. It doesn't seem right to rush the end of thoughtful books like this. But, I have to … Continue reading Heather Rose, The museum of modern love (#BookReview)
21st century literature
Stephen Orr, Datsunland (#BookReview)
Two things I loved about Stephen Orr's novel The hands (my review) were its evocation of men, boys and their relationships, and its rural setting. And this is also why I liked Datsunland, his recent short story collection comprising thirteen short stories and a novella. It's a no-holds-barred exploration of the lives of boys and men. It is not … Continue reading Stephen Orr, Datsunland (#BookReview)
Phil Day, A chink in a daisy-chain (#BookReview)
You've "met" Phil Day, author of A chink in a daisy-chain, here before. He illustrated co-publisher Julian Davies' Crow mellow (my review) and Hartmann Wallis' Who said what, exactly, which I reviewed very recently. This time, though, Day is author as well as illustrator. It's a fun, mind-bending book - with the fun starting on … Continue reading Phil Day, A chink in a daisy-chain (#BookReview)
Min Jin Lee, Pachinko (#BookReview)
If you are looking for a big, engrossing read that takes you into a little-known world, then I offer you Korean-American author Min Jin Lee's Pachinko. It tells a story about the Korean diaspora in Japan over a period of 80 years, and was my reading group's pick for August. There wasn't a bored person … Continue reading Min Jin Lee, Pachinko (#BookReview)
Karenlee Thompson, Flame tip: Short fictions (#BookReview)
Short story anthologies usually have some sort of organising principle - a theme, perhaps, such as Australian love stories, or a prize, such as the Margaret River Short Story Competition - but single author collections tend to be looser. Not so Karenlee Thompson's Flame tip which she describes as containing "creative writing pieces that weave in … Continue reading Karenlee Thompson, Flame tip: Short fictions (#BookReview)
Susan Varga, Rupture (#BookReview)
Finally, eight months after receiving Susan Varga's poetry collection, Rupture, I've finished it. The delay had nothing to do with the quality of the book, but just with my ineffectiveness at keeping up with review books. I apologise to Susan Varga and all the other authors and publishers whose books I still have to get … Continue reading Susan Varga, Rupture (#BookReview)
Yuri Herrera, Signs preceding the end of the world (#BookReview)
While I was travelling in the USA last month, I wanted to read at least one book relating to the regions we were visiting. I started by looking for a novel set in/about the northwest, but then Yuri Herrera's Signs preceding the end of the world, set in the southwest, popped out at me, and … Continue reading Yuri Herrera, Signs preceding the end of the world (#BookReview)
Hartmann Wallis, Who said what, exactly (#BookReview)
Never mind Hartmann Wallis' question Who said what, exactly, I want to know who Hartmann Wallis is, exactly! You would think the author bio at the front of the book might tell you, now wouldn't you? But, no. Well, not exactly. There is an author bio, and it does tell you stuff - truthful stuff … Continue reading Hartmann Wallis, Who said what, exactly (#BookReview)
Ali Cobby Eckermann, Too afraid to cry (#BookReview)
Having reviewed Yankunytjatjara/Kokatha woman Ali Cobby Eckermann's poetry collection, Inside my mother (my review) for Lisa's ANZlitLovers Indigenous Literature Week, 2017, I decided to also read her 2012 memoir, Too afraid to cry. It filled in a lot of gaps, which is not necessary to appreciate or comprehend the poetry but which does deepen the understanding. The memoir's dedication … Continue reading Ali Cobby Eckermann, Too afraid to cry (#BookReview)
Ali Cobby Eckermann, Inside my mother (#BookReview)
Ali Cobby Eckermann, a Yankunytjatjara/Kokatha woman, has featured a few times on this blog, including in my review of her verse novel, Ruby Moonlight, and my Monday Musings post on her winning the valuable Windham-Campbell Prize this year. She is now appearing again as I review her poetry collection, Inside my mother, for Lisa's ANZlitLovers Indigenous … Continue reading Ali Cobby Eckermann, Inside my mother (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 