Carmel Bird, Telltale: Reading writing remembering (#BookReview)

Finally, I have found something to thank COVID for - Carmel Bird's Telltale. Best described as a bibliomemoir, Telltale may never have been written if Bird had not been locked down with her extensive library. What is a lively mind to do in such a situation? I can think of a few options, but what … Continue reading Carmel Bird, Telltale: Reading writing remembering (#BookReview)

Kim Vanessa Scott, Growing up … Katherine style (#BookReview)

Growing up .. Katherine style is the second self-published book I have reviewed from this Katherine-based artist and writer, the first being her book about some of Katherine's historical housing, Katherine's tropical housing precinct 1946-1956. There are a few reasons why I have broken my no-self-published-books rule. One is that both books had some Northern … Continue reading Kim Vanessa Scott, Growing up … Katherine style (#BookReview)

O. Henry, Conscience in art (#Review)

Followers of the short story form will probably know of O. Henry, the pen-name of American author William Sydney Porter (1862-1910). Although he also wrote poetry and non-fiction, Henry was best known for his prodigious short story writing. His legacy, as Wikipedia says, includes the O. Henry Award, which is an annual prize awarded to outstanding … Continue reading O. Henry, Conscience in art (#Review)

Ernest Hemingway, Cat in the rain (#Review)

As I often do with Library of America (LOA), I bookmarked their recent Story of the Week featuring Ernest Hemingway's short story "Cat in the rain" to read later. "Later" came today. I have no Hemingway on my blog, so this seemed a perfect opportunity, and I do like short stories anyhow. First ed. cover, from Wikipedia article. … Continue reading Ernest Hemingway, Cat in the rain (#Review)

Audrey Magee, The colony (#BookReview)

Irish novelist Audrey Magee's second novel, The colony, was my reading group's August book, and it proved an excellent choice. Literary and highly readable, with vivid characters and a sophisticated exploration of its subject matter, The colony engaged us on all levels. It was longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize (and may yet be shortlisted. … Continue reading Audrey Magee, The colony (#BookReview)

Anita Heiss, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (#BookReview)

Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray/River of dreams is Anita Heiss' second work of historical fiction, her first being Barbed wire and cherry blossoms about the 1944 Cowra breakout in which she imagines a relationship between a Japanese escapee and a young First Nations Australian woman. I have not read that novel, but I have read, over the last … Continue reading Anita Heiss, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (#BookReview)