Delicious but sly are the first words that come to mind when I think about Marion Halligan's latest novel, Valley of Grace. Take this for example: You know, people think flowers are pretty. Sentimental. Frivolous even. But the fact is, everything begins in the garden. Humans. Society. Civilisation. Evil. Things bud, bloom, weather, age, die. … Continue reading Marion Halligan, Valley of grace
21st century literature
William Styron, Rat beach
I haven't read any William Styron, though I have seen the movie of Sophie's Choice, and so was pleased to have the opportunity to read his "Rat beach" for one of my many bookgroups this month. This short story was published in The New Yorker three years after Styron's death and is about a young … Continue reading William Styron, Rat beach
Craig Silvey, Jasper Jones (Review)
What is is about coming-of-age novels? Why do we like to read them long after we've (hopefully) come of age ourselves? Is it because we like to compare our own experience with that of others? Whatever the reason, it is clear that we do like to read them because they sure keep being written and … Continue reading Craig Silvey, Jasper Jones (Review)
Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, 2009
Queenland has done itself proud with this year's award winners: Richard Flanagan's Wanting, Chloe Hooper's The tall man, Nam Le's The boat and Adam Elliot's film script for Mary and Max all won their sections. All great works. Perhaps I should try to read the winners of the other sections. I like how these judges … Continue reading Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, 2009
Maile Meloy, Liliana
[WARNING: SPOILERS IF YOU CARE] Fun but flimsy was my first reaction on reading the short story Liliana by American writer Maile Meloy. But, after reading it a couple of days ago, I found that it kept popping back into my head. What seemed at first to be a funny little story - about a grandmother … Continue reading Maile Meloy, Liliana
Breakfast with David, Malouf that is
"Exploring in the dark" is how David Malouf frames the process of writing. In other words, writing, he says, brings out what is within the writer but is not fully understood until the writing starts. Furthering this notion, he quoted Herman Hesse as saying that a writer needs to be "a sleepwalker with the absolute … Continue reading Breakfast with David, Malouf that is
Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards Shortlist
And so, as reported by Perry Middlemiss on his Matilda blog, it's pretty much the usual 2009 suspects that have been shortlisted for the Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction. They are: The pages by Murray Bail (Text) Dog boy by Eva Hornung (Text) The boat by Nam Le (Penguin) The slap by Christos Tsiolkas (Allen … Continue reading Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards Shortlist
Julian Barnes, The limner
I'm probably going to show my ignorance here as I'm no expert in short stories. I do however like them and have read a fair smattering over the years. Julian Barnes' The limner is interesting because it is historical, that is, unlike most short stories that I have read, it is set in the past … Continue reading Julian Barnes, The limner
J.M. Coetzee, Diary of a bad year
J.M. Coetzee is one of those rare novelists who pushes the boundaries of what a novel is. The progression from his mid-career novel, the spare but terrifying Disgrace (1999), through Elizabeth Costello (2003) to Diary of a bad year (2007) is so dramatic that there are those who question whether these last two are even … Continue reading J.M. Coetzee, Diary of a bad year
Orhan Pamuk, Snow
One of my rules of reading is that when I have finished a book I go back and read the first chapter (or so) and any epigraphs the author may have included. These can often provide a real clue to meaning. This rule certainly applies to my latest read, Snow, by Nobel Prize winner, Orhan Pamuk. … Continue reading Orhan Pamuk, Snow
Whispering Gums 