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)
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)
Emma Viskic, Resurrection Bay (#BookReview)
Back in February, I said I planned to "read" more audiobooks this year, and slowly I'm achieving that goal with Emma Viskic's Resurrection Bay being my third for the year. In fact, it makes a particularly special contribution, because it is the first book I wanted to hear when we bought our new car with … Continue reading Emma Viskic, Resurrection Bay (#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)
Larissa Behrendt, After story (#BookReview)
Larissa Behrendt's latest novel After story has been on my wishlist since it came out last year, so I was thrilled when my reading group chose it as our 2022 NAIDOC-Week read. What self-respecting reader, after all, doesn’t like a literary tour? After story, for those who haven't caught up with it yet, is framed … Continue reading Larissa Behrendt, After story (#BookReview)
Jeanne Griggs, Postcard poems (#BookReview)
If you love travel, you would enjoy Jeanne Griggs' poetry collection, Postcard poems, which comprises postcard-sized poems ostensibly sent from locations around the USA, and further afield. Like all good travel writing, though, these poems offer more than just simple travel. However, before I discuss them, I should introduce the poet. Some of you will … Continue reading Jeanne Griggs, Postcard poems (#BookReview)
Jane Austen, Sense and sensibility (Vol. 3, redux)
I've called this post "Vol. 3, redux", although it is my first post on volume 3. The reason is that for my Jane Austen group's 2011 slow read of Sense and sensibility, I wrote posts on volumes 1 and 2, but not on volume 3 as I missed the meeting, and never did write up … Continue reading Jane Austen, Sense and sensibility (Vol. 3, redux)
Nigel Featherstone, My heart is a little wild thing (#BookReview)
In late May, I reported on the Canberra launch of Nigel Featherstone's latest novel, My heart is a little wild thing - and now I bring you my thoughts on this finely-observed book about a man's reaching for his own life. I'm going to start with a reflection on a question authors of books like … Continue reading Nigel Featherstone, My heart is a little wild thing (#BookReview)
Evelyn Araluen, Dropbear (#BookReview)
The final line of "Gather", the opening poem in Evelyn Araluen's collection Dropbear, announces her intention - "got something for you to swallow". Well, I can tell you now, if you haven't already read the book, she sure has. Dropbear, self-described by Araluen as a "strange little book", won this year's Stella Prize, the first … Continue reading Evelyn Araluen, Dropbear (#BookReview)
W.E.B. Du Bois, “Strivings of the Negro People” (#Review)
W.E.B. Du Bois by James E. Purdy, 1907, gelatin silver print, National Portrait Gallery, which has released this digital image under the CC0 license While I knew of W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963), it wasn't until I read Nella Larsen's Passing earlier this year that I was inspired to read something by him. Americans will probably … Continue reading W.E.B. Du Bois, “Strivings of the Negro People” (#Review)
