Willa Cather's short story, "A Wagner matinée", was Library of America's "Story of the Week" back in May. However, I was busy then, but I like Cather, so I put it aside to read later. And later has finally come! I've reviewed another Cather short story here, "The sentimentality of William Tavener", which was published in … Continue reading Willa Cather, A Wagner matinée
Literature by period
Weekends with TS Eliot
In which I further exploring the iPad app for TS Eliot's The waste land, particularly in terms of the poem's sound/musicality.
Winners of the 2011 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards
Brought to you straight from the afternoon presentation with Caroline Baum in the National Library of Australia Theatre: Fiction: Traitor, by Stephen Daisley Non-fiction: The hard light of day, by Rod Moss Young adult fiction: Graffiti moon, by Cath Crowley Children's fiction: Shake a leg, by Boori Monty Pryor and Jan Ormerod This afternoon's panel discussion followed the formal … Continue reading Winners of the 2011 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards
Margaret Mendelawitz, Charles Dickens’ Australia. Book 1, Convict stories
So true may fiction be in the hands of a genius (from "Convict in the gold region", by Richard Horne) Richard Horne, in his article "Convicts from the gold region", describes a scene from Don Quixote in which Quixote meets and sets free some convicts by driving away their guards, only to have his generosity … Continue reading Margaret Mendelawitz, Charles Dickens’ Australia. Book 1, Convict stories
Delicious descriptions from Down Under: Melbourne scenes, 1850s
One of the contributors to Charles Dickens' weekly magazine Household Words was Richard Horne. According to the notes on Contributors in Margaret Mendelawitz's five-volume set, Charles Dickens' Australia, which I reviewed last week, Horne was an English-born author who lived in Australia from 1852 to 1869. He agreed to write travel pieces for Household Words "in return", … Continue reading Delicious descriptions from Down Under: Melbourne scenes, 1850s
Margaret Mendelawitz, Charles Dickens’ Australia: Selected essays from Household Words 1850-1859
It was not to be a high-brow intellectual periodical. Above all he wanted to reach and entertain the masses and, at the same time, help shape discussion and debate on the important social questions of the time. (from Introduction, by Margaret Mendelawitz) Charles Dickens' Australia is a set of five volumes containing essays, stories and … Continue reading Margaret Mendelawitz, Charles Dickens’ Australia: Selected essays from Household Words 1850-1859
MJ Hyland, Carry me down
If you like writers who unsettle, then MJ Hyland is a writer for you. Carry me down is my second Hyland. I read, loved and reviewed a later book of hers, This is how, nearly a year ago, and said then that I'd like to read more. I finally have, and am not disappointed. Carry … Continue reading MJ Hyland, Carry me down
Kate Chopin, A morning walk
It's been some time since I read (and therefore reviewed) a Library of America offering, but when I saw another Kate Chopin offering pop up a few weeks ago, I couldn't resist it. And so, I printed it off, but have only just managed to read it. Well, what a surprise... I thought about starting … Continue reading Kate Chopin, A morning walk
Helen Garner, Postcards from Surfers
Helen Garner is a fiercely honest writer - and a prolific one too. She has written novels, short stories, essays and non-fiction books. All are generally well-acclaimed, though not always without controversy (as I mentioned in my recent Monday musings). Certainly, I haven't always agreed with her ... but I do admire her honesty and … Continue reading Helen Garner, Postcards from Surfers
Jay Griffiths, A love letter from a stray moon
I have always wanted wings. To fly where I belong, to become who I am, to speak my truths winged and moon-swayed. I'm not sure I can do justice to this poetic, passionate novella by Jay Griffiths. Titled A love letter from a stray moon, it's a first person outpouring in the voice of Mexican … Continue reading Jay Griffiths, A love letter from a stray moon
Whispering Gums 