I mentioned the nonfiction winner of the 2024 Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Publishing Prize, in this week's Monday Musings, but saved the full winner announcement until after I attended the launch at a conversation with the winning authors this weekend. The participants This year, as publisher Julian Davies had hoped, there was a prize for fiction … Continue reading Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Publishing Prize 2024 Winning Books Launch with Conversation
Literature by period
Monday musings on Australian literature: Nonfiction awards 2024
It's been a very busy weekend, and I have a few posts waiting to do, plus a reading group book to finish for tomorrow, so this post is a quick one. Phew, you are probably saying if you stuck with me over the weekend! Today's topic recognises that our litblogosphere's annual Nonfiction November event, currently … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Nonfiction awards 2024
Karen Jennings, Crooked seeds (#BookReview)
Crooked seeds is the third novel I've read by South African writer Karen Jennings, and she continues to intrigue and impress me, because she seems to be quietly bubbling away in her little corner of the world writing books that grapple with the difficult questions. Unfortunately, I didn't read her Booker-longlisted novel, An island (2020), … Continue reading Karen Jennings, Crooked seeds (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Fearless reviewing in 1970
I concluded last week's Monday Musings by saying that I wasn't finished with 1970. There are several posts I'm hoping to write, drawing from my 1970 research, but I'm starting with this one simply because it picks up on a comment I made last week. That comment referenced George Johnston, and a review by John … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Fearless reviewing in 1970
Michael Wilding, The man of slow feeling (#Review, #1970 Club)
Michael Wilding's short story, "The man of slow feeling", is hopefully the first of two reviews I post for the 1970 Club, but we'll see if I get the second one done. I have been making a practice of reading Australian short stories for the Year Clubs, so when the year is chosen I go … Continue reading Michael Wilding, The man of slow feeling (#Review, #1970 Club)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 1970 in fiction
Once again it's Karen's (Kaggsy's Bookish Rambling) and Simon's (Stuck in a Book) "Year Club" week. This week, it is 1970, and it runs from today, 14th to 20th October. As for the last 6 clubs, I am devoting my Monday Musings to the week. Despite the excitement and idealism of the 1960s, 1970 Australia … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1970 in fiction
Stephen Orr, Shining like the sun (#BookReview)
A question that confronts many young people as they reach adulthood - in western cultures at least - is, should I go or should I stay? This is particularly so for young people in small rural towns, and is the issue at the heart of Stephen Orr's latest novel, Shining like the sun. Wilf Healy, … Continue reading Stephen Orr, Shining like the sun (#BookReview)
Jane Caro, The mother (#BookReview)
When my reading group scheduled Jane Caro's debut novel, The mother, I was, I admit, not exactly enthusiastic, because my sense was that it was not going to be the sort of, shall I say, subtle writing I prefer. My sense was right, but I am not sorry I read it - partly because of … Continue reading Jane Caro, The mother (#BookReview)
Beth H. Piatote, Beading lesson (#Review)
Beth Piatote's "Beading lesson" is the thirteenth of fourteen stories in the anthology, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers, and with it, we move from the 1990s to the 2000s. Beth H Piatote Anthology editor Bob Blaisdell provides very little information about Piatote. It simply says that she is Nez Perce and a … Continue reading Beth H. Piatote, Beading lesson (#Review)
Sebastian Barry, The secret scripture
What follows here is an edited version of the first ever review post I wrote - back in December 2008 on a Blogger blog I set up for my reading group. I've been meaning for some time to bring it over here because I'd like to have Sebastian Barry represented on my blog! However, my … Continue reading Sebastian Barry, The secret scripture
Whispering Gums 