Now here's something different at the Gums! I don't, as you'd know, make a practice of reviewing children's literature, though I have done a few cross-over adult-young adult novels. So, when Irma Gold and Craig Phillips' children's picture book, Megumi and the bear, landed in my letterbox a week or so ago I was challenged. … Continue reading Irma Gold and Craig Phillips, Megumi and the bear (Review)
Literature by period
Louis Nowra, Into that forest (Review)
Louis Nowra is one versatile and prolific writer, having written novels, non-fiction, plays and screenplays, essays and even libretti. Into that forest is his latest work. It was shortlisted for the Young Adult Novel prize in the 2012 Aurealis awards and the Ethel Turner Young People's Literature prize in this year's NSW Premier's Literary Awards. … Continue reading Louis Nowra, Into that forest (Review)
Carrie Tiffany, Mateship with birds (Review)
Carrie Tiffany is on a roll. Last month her second novel, Mateship with birds, won the inaugural Stella Prize, and this month it won the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction at the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards. It has also been shortlisted for the Miles Franklin award. Many bloggers* have already read and reviewed … Continue reading Carrie Tiffany, Mateship with birds (Review)
Jane Austen’s letters, 1796-1800
For the past five years my Jane Austen group has been reading Jane Austen's letters in a rather higgledy piggdledy manner*. We have nearly finished now. We have just done her first letters, and next year we will conclude, logically at last, on her final letters. What a fascinating time we've been having. Jane Austen's … Continue reading Jane Austen’s letters, 1796-1800
Michael Sala’s The last thread is 2013’s Pacific Region Winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize
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
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)
Autumn and a favourite poem
I was lying in front of a sunny window reading my current novel this afternoon when an urge came upon me to write about one of my favourite poems. It's one of the few I can recite from heart. The poem is "Spring and Fall" by Gerard Manley Hopkins, and it goes like this: To … Continue reading Autumn and a favourite poem
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)
Whispering Gums 