This week, Nigel Featherstone's latest novel, My heart is a little wild thing, was published, and I plan to attend the launch later this month. In the meantime, it seemed apposite to discuss his essay on Christos Tsiolkas in Reading like an Australian writer. Those of you who have read Nigel's blog will know that … Continue reading Nigel Featherstone on Christos Tsiolkas’ fearlessness
Literature by period
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Pocket Library (2)
Last Monday I introduced the Australian Pocket Library (APL) which was a series of cheap paperbacks produced under the auspices of the Commonwealth Literary Fund (CLF). Its initial purpose was to provide Australian reading matter to Australian POWs but, in its final form, was intended by the CLF to play a bigger role in promoting … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Pocket Library (2)
Mark McKenna, Return to Uluru (#BookReview)
Mark McKenna's engrossing history, Return to Uluru, takes as its starting point the arrival in Central Australia, in 1931, of 29-year-old police officer, Bill McKinnon. Of course, Uluru's true history reaches back into the almost-incomprehensible mists of geological time, and its human history back to the arrival of Indigenous Australians tens of thousands of years … Continue reading Mark McKenna, Return to Uluru (#BookReview)
Stella Prize 2022 Winner announced
The 2022 Stella Prize winner was announced tonight and it's not a surprise, as several of us in the blogosphere rather thought that Evelyn Araluen's Dropbear would be the winner. Indeed, I was so confident I took it with me to Melbourne this month, fully intending to read it. But, there was not much reading … Continue reading Stella Prize 2022 Winner announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Pocket Library (1)
Bill and Lisa have already posted today in recognition of ANZAC Day, Bill's titled ANZAC Day 2022, while Lisa's is about Martha Gething who is featured in the book, Australian women pilots: Amazing true stories of women in the air. My post, in fact, comes to you courtesy of Lisa who, last week, emailed me … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Pocket Library (1)
Jess Hill, See what you made me do (#BookReview)
I took me a long time to read Jess Hill's 2020 Stella award-winning See what you make me do, partly because I bought the e-book version which I read in fits and starts and partly because of its content. As the Aussies among you will know, Hill's book is an intense, thorough discussion of domestic … Continue reading Jess Hill, See what you made me do (#BookReview)
Bernard Cronin, The last train (#Review, #1954Club )
Bernard Cronin (1884-1968) has featured in this blog a couple of times, but most significantly in a Monday Musings which specifically featured him. He was a British-born Australian writer who, in his heyday in the 1920s to 40s, was among Australia's top 10 most popular novelists. And yet, along with many others of his ilk, … Continue reading Bernard Cronin, The last train (#Review, #1954Club )
Monday musings on Australian literature: 1954 in fiction
Some of you know that Karen (Kaggsy's Bookish Rambling) and Simon (Stuck in a Book) run "reading weeks" in which they choose, somewhat randomly, a year from which "everyone reads, enjoys, posts and shares wonderful books and discoveries from the year in question". The next one is 1954, and is happening this week, 18-24 April. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1954 in fiction
Margaret Atwood, Dearly (#BookReview)
Earlier this year, I decided to try audiobooks more regularly - and thought short stories would be a good way to go. Julie Koh's Portable curiosities was my choice. It was, overall, a positive experience. Then I thought poetry might be worth trying given it's such an aural form. I chose Margaret Atwood's latest collection … Continue reading Margaret Atwood, Dearly (#BookReview)
Elizabeth von Arnim, Vera (#BookReview)
After a run of tough reads in 2021, my reading group wanted something gentler, so I suggested that for our "classic" we do a novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, whose works I've loved for their pointed wit, delightful humour, and astute commentary on marriage and the relationship between men and women. As is my wont, … Continue reading Elizabeth von Arnim, Vera (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 