This year was my reading group's 30th year, and for the first time ever we decided to vote on our top picks for the year. Will it become a tradition? Who knows? Anyhow, in the spirit of end-of-year lists, I thought you might be interested to see the result, because you will know some of … Continue reading My reading group’s top picks for 2017
Reading
Caroline Moorehead, Dancing to the precipice (#BookReview)
Unusually, my reading group read two biographies about non-Austrian women this year, Jane Fletcher Geniesse's book on Freya Stark (my review) in January and now, this month, Caroline Moorehead's book Dancing to the precipice: Lucie de la Tour du Pin and the French Revolution on the French aristocrat Henriette-Lucy, Marquise de La Tour-du-Pin-Gouvernet. Interestingly, Moorehead has … Continue reading Caroline Moorehead, Dancing to the precipice (#BookReview)
Stan Grant, Talking to my country (#BookReview)
History is, in a way, the main subject of my reading group's October book, Stan Grant's Talking to my country. I'm consequently somewhat nervous about writing this post, because discussions of history in Australia are apt to generate more emotion than rational discussion. I will, though, discuss it - through my interested lay historian's eyes. … Continue reading Stan Grant, Talking to my country (#BookReview)
Gabrielle Carey, Moving among strangers (#BookReview)
Emma's guest Monday Musings post last week on Randolph Stow provided the impetus for me to finally retrieve Gabrielle Carey's Moving among strangers: Randolph Stow and my family from my TBR pile. I've been wanting to read it for the longest time, but ... well, those of you with big TBRs will understand. Moving among strangers, whose … Continue reading Gabrielle Carey, Moving among strangers (#BookReview)
My literary week (9), some thoughts about fiction …
It's been a busy week, what with getting ready for our road trip to Port Macquarie, and then doing said road trip, so reading has been slowed down somewhat. However, that doesn't mean that things literary have been forgotten. Why write fiction? Like most of you who read this blog, I expect, I'm always looking … Continue reading My literary week (9), some thoughts about fiction …
Monday musings on Australian literature: Grateful Brits send books to Aussies
As I was searching Trove for another topic, I came across some articles that I just had to share, particularly given my recent posts on bookswapping and bookselling for charity. These articles date from post-World War 2 when Britain was living under strict rationing, which continued for a long time - until 1954, in fact. To … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Grateful Brits send books to Aussies
Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Vol. 2
I recently posted my thoughts on Volume 1 of Persuasion, which I read for my Jane Austen group's slow reading of the novel. This post, obviously, is on the second (and last) volume. As before, I'll be focusing on reflections from this read rather than writing a traditional review. And, again, just in case you need a refresher … Continue reading Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Vol. 2
Heather Rose, The museum of modern love (#BookReview)
As I neared the end of Heather Rose's Stella Prize-winning novel The museum of modern love, I slowed down. I wanted, of course, to know how it was going to resolve, but I wanted to savour it too. It doesn't seem right to rush the end of thoughtful books like this. But, I have to … Continue reading Heather Rose, The museum of modern love (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bookswapping
Last week I wrote a Monday Musings about bookselling for/by charities. As I was writing it, I realised that there was another way of acquiring books that is worth writing about - book swap arrangements. Not surprisingly, it came up in comments on that post, so is clearly something of interest to many readers. It's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bookswapping
Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Vol. 1
My Jane Austen group is reading Persuasion - eleven years since we last did it - because 2017 is the 200th anniversary of its publication. Of course I've read it several times, so, as you'll know from my other Austen re-reads, my aim here is to focus on reflections from this read rather than to … Continue reading Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Vol. 1
