I don't know about you but I find blogging a challenge when I'm travelling, as I have been for much of May. I love my iPad for staying in touch, but I don't find it easy to write blog posts on it - either via the WordPress app or the browser. And, our old PC … Continue reading Michael Sala’s The last thread is 2013’s Pacific Region Winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize
21st century literature
Andrew Croome, Midnight empire (Review)
Andrew Croome's latest novel Midnight empire is yet another read this year that is outside my usual fare. I read it because of my reading group's focus this Centenary year on Canberra writers. It wasn't a big ask, though, because I had read and enjoyed his first novel, Document Z. While both deal with spies, … Continue reading Andrew Croome, Midnight empire (Review)
Dorothy Johnston, The house at number 10 (Review)
Dorothy Johnston's The house at number 10 has one of the cheekiest opening sentences I've read for a long time ... but I'm not going to tell you what it is. If you are interested you'll have to find out for yourselves - and tell me if you agree. I decided to read this novel … Continue reading Dorothy Johnston, The house at number 10 (Review)
Courtney Collins, The burial (Review)
I became aware of Courtney Collins' The burial when it was longlisted for the Stella Prize. It has since been shortlisted for the Stella, shortlisted for the new writing award in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and longlisted for the Dobbie Literary Award for new writing. It had previously been shortlisted for the 2009 Australian/Vogel … Continue reading Courtney Collins, The burial (Review)
Helen Trinca, Madeleine: A life of Madeleine St John (Review)
Madeleine (Courtesy: Text Publishing) I wanted to read Helen Trinca's biography Madeleine for several reasons. First, of course, being a reader, I'm interested in biographies and autobiographies of writers. Secondly, Madeleine St John belongs to that group of Australians, half a generation or so older than I am, that has made quite a mark on … Continue reading Helen Trinca, Madeleine: A life of Madeleine St John (Review)
Irma Gold (ed), The invisible thread (Review)
I even get nervous when I open a book, you know, for the first time. It's the same thing, isn't it. You never know what you'll find, do you? Each person, each book, is like a new world ... (from Mark Henshaw's Out of the line of fire, in The invisible thread) At last, you … Continue reading Irma Gold (ed), The invisible thread (Review)
Christos Tsiolkas in Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue
I indicated in my recent review of Meanjin's special Canberra issue that I would write another post or two on the issue. This is one of those posts. It may, in fact, be the only one, for who knows where the spirit will lead me next? Right now though, I want to devote a post … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas in Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue
Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue (Review)
Zora Sanders writes in her Editorial for Meanjin's Canberra Issue that Canberra has (or, is it had) a reputation for being The National Capital of Boredom. This is just one of the many less-than-flattering epithets regularly applied to Canberra: A Cemetery with Lights, Fat Cat City, and the pervasive, A City without a Soul. For me … Continue reading Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue (Review)
Graeme Simsion, The Rosie project (Review)
While I go to films fairly regularly, I rarely think of adapting books to film when I am reading. However, I was only a few pages into Graeme Simsion's The Rosie project when it occurred to me that it was perfect film material. The feeling got stronger - and then around a third of the … Continue reading Graeme Simsion, The Rosie project (Review)
Anita Heiss, Paris dreaming (Review)
Late last year I wrote a post about the inaugural Canberra Readers' Festival. One of the speakers was indigenous Australian author, academic and activist, Anita Heiss. I wrote then that I bought one of her books. It was her fourth (I think) chick lit novel, Paris dreaming. This might surprise regular readers here, as chick … Continue reading Anita Heiss, Paris dreaming (Review)
