This is my second reading group book review in a row, which shows just how behind I still am. Vincenzo Latronico's Perfection (my review) was our August meeting book. That meeting was the night before we left for Europe and I didn't get to write it up until our return. Haussegger's Unfinished revolution was our … Continue reading Virginia Haussegger, Unfinished revolution (#BookReview)
Reading
Vicenzo Latronico, Perfection (#BookReview)
Italian author Vicenzo Latronico's Perfection, which was shortlisted for the 2025 International Man Booker Prize, was my reading group's August book. It was my suggestion, for three reasons: I like for us to read at least one translated book a year (which we don't always achieve); I'd seen a few bloggers in my circles review … Continue reading Vicenzo Latronico, Perfection (#BookReview)
Canberra Writers Festival 2026: 6, How to read for joy
Elaine Castillo and Beejay Silcox with Andra Putnis The program described the session as follows: With the brilliant book under threat, it’s time to raise the stakes – by reading in a way that brings us more joy and satisfaction! We get more from books when we think deeply about the questions they unleash. Join … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2026: 6, How to read for joy
Favourite quotes: on Weather
Many moons ago, I started a little ad hoc Favourite Quotes series which I would really love to maintain way more frequently than I have, given I've written five in the last ten years, not for lack of quotes but for lack of - well, who knows? Time? Energy levels" Just remembering to do it? The … Continue reading Favourite quotes: on Weather
Darren Rix and Craig Cormick, Warra Warra Wai (2, some literary connections)
Last month, I reviewed Darren Rix and Craig Cormick's book Warra Warra Wai: How Indigenous Australians discovered Captain Cook, and what they tell about the coming of the Ghost People, but I didn't say all I'd like to have said. And I won't achieve that here either, but I did want to focus on a … Continue reading Darren Rix and Craig Cormick, Warra Warra Wai (2, some literary connections)
Darren Rix and Craig Cormick, Warra Warra Wai
What most struck me as I got into the flow of Darren Rix and Craig Cormick's book Warra Warra Wai: How Indigenous Australians discovered Captain Cook, and what they tell about the coming of the Ghost People was that I was reading something that felt like a model for a new way of telling Australia's … Continue reading Darren Rix and Craig Cormick, Warra Warra Wai
Niall Williams, This is happiness (#BookReview)
It was while my reading group was discussing Niall Williams' This is happiness that a certain penny finally dropped, and it happened like this. My reading group's practice is to start our meetings with each of us sharing our first impressions of the chosen book. The first three at this meeting said they had trouble … Continue reading Niall Williams, This is happiness (#BookReview)
Claire Keegan, Antarctica (#BookReview)
I promised in my post on Claire Keegan's novella Small things like these, that a review of Antarctica would be coming soon, and I like to keep my promises, so here it is. First, though, I must say I'm thrilled to have had this unexpected opportunity to spend time with Keegan whose So late in … Continue reading Claire Keegan, Antarctica (#BookReview)
Claire Keegan, Small things like these (#BookReview)
Very occasionally my reading group makes a book-scheduling boo-boo, and it happened this year when we chose Irish writer Claire Keegan’s So late in the day: Stories of women and men for our May read. This book, which comprises three of Keegan’s short stories, “So late in the day”, “The long and and painful death”, and … Continue reading Claire Keegan, Small things like these (#BookReview)
Maxine Beneba Clarke, Beautiful changelings (#BookReview)
Maxine Beneba Clarke's latest book, Beautiful changelings, is the first poetry collection scheduled by my reading group in our 38 years, and it went very well. I should clarify, lest you think we are poetry-avoiders, that we have read some verse novels and we've had a couple of poetry evenings where we've shared favourite poems, … Continue reading Maxine Beneba Clarke, Beautiful changelings (#BookReview)
