When I decide to write about a Library of America (LOA) Story of the Week it is usually because it's by a favourite author (like Willa Cather, Kate Chopin, or Edith Wharton), or by an author I want to read but haven't yet (like John Updike or Washington Irving) or on a topic that interests me … Continue reading George Augustus Sala, The tyranny of pie (Review)
Review
The Griffyns … wah! wah! wah!
Last weekend was the last Griffyns concert of the year - and what a delight it was (except for the wah! moment). It was their 10th anniversary concert and they called it Griffyns Go Wilder. Knowing the Griffyns, as you do by now if you've been following my posts, you'll know that that could mean … Continue reading The Griffyns … wah! wah! wah!
Christina Stead, Ocean of story, Pt 1: The early years – Australia (Review)
Contribution no. 2 for Lisa's Christina Stead Week from Ocean of story: the uncollected stories of Christina Stead. My first post was on the titular story, "Ocean of story", which is also used as the collection's Introduction. After this Introduction, the stories have been organised into 7 sections by editor RG Geering. These sections are presented chronologically, … Continue reading Christina Stead, Ocean of story, Pt 1: The early years – Australia (Review)
Christina Stead, Introduction: Ocean of story (Review, possibly)
I am so glad Lisa (ANZLitLovers) has given me an excuse, her Christina Stead Week, to finally pick up Ocean of story: The uncollected stories of Christina Stead. I bought this book, in 1991, from a sale table for all of 98 (Australian) cents! What a bargain. I then popped it on my Australian literature TBR shelves, … Continue reading Christina Stead, Introduction: Ocean of story (Review, possibly)
Susan Varga, Heddy and me (Review)
Susan Varga's biography-cum-memoir, Heddy and me, was first published back in 1994, so why am I reading it now? By a rather circuitous route, as it happens. Lesley Lebkowicz, whose The Petrov poems I've reviewed, read my post on Anna Rosner Blay's Sister, sister, and suggested to Susan Varga that she might like to send me her book to … Continue reading Susan Varga, Heddy and me (Review)
Josephine Rowe, A loving, faithful animal (Review)
How many novels have you read featuring the Vietnam War? I've not read many I must say, but last year I did review Charles Hall's Summer's gone, and now this year I've read Josephine Rowe's A loving, faithful animal. It's a debut novel but, from its form, you can tell that Rowe is an accomplished short story writer. I … Continue reading Josephine Rowe, A loving, faithful animal (Review)
Bruce Pascoe, Dark emu, black seeds: Agriculture or accident? (Review)
Indigenous author Bruce Pascoe's Dark emu, black seeds: Agriculture or accident? was my reading group's October book, and a very interesting read and discussion it turned out to be. It's not a simple book to discuss and really got us thinking, eliciting a variety of responses, though we all agreed with Pascoe's basic premise that we Australians need … Continue reading Bruce Pascoe, Dark emu, black seeds: Agriculture or accident? (Review)
Oliver Wendell Holmes, The deacon’s masterpiece: Or the wonderful “one-hoss-shay” (Review)
Oliver Wendell Holmes is one of those wonderful names that, once you hear it, you can't really forget it - at least, I can't. But, the thing is, I often hear wonderful names of people who've "done things" without actually knowing what they've done. Oliver Wendell Holmes is one of these, and so when he … Continue reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, The deacon’s masterpiece: Or the wonderful “one-hoss-shay” (Review)
The Griffyns meet Red Note
Some Griffyn Ensemble concerts are intellectually challenging and some are educational, some are musically innovative and some are simply good fun, but some, like this week's Castles of Refuge, are just plain beautiful. Castles of Refuge was the third concert of this year's four-concert season and was presented in collaboration with Scottish new music group, … Continue reading The Griffyns meet Red Note
Willa Cather, The enchanted bluff (#Review)
I've reviewed a few Willa Cather stories on this blog now, as well as her gorgeous novel, My Antonia, but as I love her stories, I can't resist reviewing the latest to have been shared by the Library of America (LOA), albeit that was a couple of months ago now. The story is titled "The … Continue reading Willa Cather, The enchanted bluff (#Review)
