Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. Tsiolkas is an author I admire and enjoy and yet I have not read The Slap. I remember that it caused quite a stir when it came out and … Continue reading Bill curates: Christos Tsiolkas’ The slap
Literature by period
Favel Parrett, There was still love (#BookReview)
Favel Parrett's third novel, There was still love, is one of those novels in which not a lot happens but has a lot going on. Just the sort of novel, really, that I tend to like. (It all started with Jane Austen!) The novel revolves around the lives of two Czech sisters, one who ends … Continue reading Favel Parrett, There was still love (#BookReview)
Bill curates: Jane Austen’s letters, 1814-1816
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. I said, when I introduced this series, that Sue began writing Whispering Gums in May 2009. It seems that once begun she could not stop. There are WG posts … Continue reading Bill curates: Jane Austen’s letters, 1814-1816
Christos Tsiolkas, Damascus (#BookReview)
I have reviewed (and enjoyed) two of Christos Tsiolkas' books since blogging - The slap and Barracuda - so I was of course interested when Allen & Unwin sent me his most recent release, until, that is, I saw its subject matter. Biblical history, or historical fiction set in biblical times, are not really big … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas, Damascus (#BookReview)
Bill curates: Eve Langley’s The pea pickers
Back in April, Karen of Booker Talk published a great series of posts on the A2Z of Bookblogging. One of those posts was on Updating Posts or, Breathing new life into old posts. Bill (The Australian Legend), as part of his generous plan to help me keep my blog alive during my time-challenged period, suggested … Continue reading Bill curates: Eve Langley’s The pea pickers
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Bill on Melbourne and Sydney, 1880-1939
Over the years, I've invited people to write guest posts on my blog, including Bill a couple of years ago. However, when Bill (The Australian Legend) became aware of my current family care situation and its impact on my reading and posting, he offered to organise some guest Monday Musings posts for me. It lifted … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Bill on Melbourne and Sydney, 1880-1939
Yarra Valley Writers Festival 2020 (Online): Place, Family and the Weekend
I have now written three posts on last weekend's Yarra Valley Writers Festival (which you can find on this linked tag). Lisa (ANZLitLovers) also wrote up several sessions. Given Lisa has also covered the last three sessions I have yet to cover, I will, as I did in my last post, try to focus on a … Continue reading Yarra Valley Writers Festival 2020 (Online): Place, Family and the Weekend
Yarra Valley Writers Festival 2020 (Online): Fire, Climate and the Natural World
What I hate about writers festivals is that I end up wanting to read every book discussed. But this is impossible, so my next best option is to give the writers a little heads up, at least. I have written posts on two sessions from last weekend's Yarra Valley Writers Festival (see this linked tag). Lisa … Continue reading Yarra Valley Writers Festival 2020 (Online): Fire, Climate and the Natural World
Monday musings on Australian literature: On the Run (Aussie crime writers in America)
In yesterday's post on the Yarra Valley Writers Festival (YVWF) crime panel, I mentioned Sulari Gentill's intitiative which saw four Australian crime writers taking Australian crime to the USA last year. Called On the Run: Australian Crime Writers in America, it's such an inspired project that I thought it deserved its own post, a Monday Musings post, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: On the Run (Aussie crime writers in America)
Yarra Valley Writers Festival 2020 (online): If I tell you I’m going to have to kill you (Crime panel)
This is my second report of the sessions I attended of the first Yarra Valley Literary Festival. I hope to write up more, but you can also check Lisa's blog for her posts. She did not, however, attend Christos Tsiolkas - see my post - nor this crime panel. Like Lisa, I really read crime, but … Continue reading Yarra Valley Writers Festival 2020 (online): If I tell you I’m going to have to kill you (Crime panel)
Whispering Gums 