Italian writer Diego Marani's The last of the Vostyachs was originally published in 2002, but the English translation was not published until 10 years later in 2012. How lucky we are that it was, because this book is unlikely to have been written by an English-language writer. Its focus on the relationship between language, culture and … Continue reading Diego Marani, The last of the Vostyachs (Review)
Review
Richard Rossiter (ed), Knitting and other stories (Review)
Short stories, I've decided, are the ideal reading matter for breakfast, so for the last couple of weeks I've been engrossed in Knitting and other stories, which contains a selection of stories from this year's Margaret River Short Story Competition. The competition is new, having been offered for the first time last year. According to the … Continue reading Richard Rossiter (ed), Knitting and other stories (Review)
Bill McKibben, Oil and honey (Review)
It's coincidental, but nicely appropriate, that the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) published its Provisional Statement on the Status of the Climate in 2013 last week, just as I was finishing US environmental activist Bill McKibben's latest book, Oil and honey: The education of an unlikely activist. It's likewise coincidental that, three days before WMO's announcement, … Continue reading Bill McKibben, Oil and honey (Review)
Griffyn Ensemble’s 2013 Elements of Canberra season
The Griffyns ended their 2013 season on a high … literally (in a performance of "Southern Sky") and figuratively (with beautiful playing under somewhat challenging circumstances … but more on that anon). Downstairs, CSIRO Discovery Centre (A bit dark for my digital compact!) You have to be hardy to be a Griffyn Ensemble follower. You … Continue reading Griffyn Ensemble’s 2013 Elements of Canberra season
Lesley Lebkowicz, The Petrov poems (Review)
Canberra poet Lesley Lebkowicz has made a couple of brief appearances in my blog: first in my post on The invisible thread anthology, and then when she won this year's ACT Poetry Award. I was consequently more than happy to accept for review her latest book, The Petrov poems. It's intriguing that nearly 60 years … Continue reading Lesley Lebkowicz, The Petrov poems (Review)
Villainesses thriving in Canberra
Now I know many Australians see Canberra, their national capital, as a soulless, boring, sliced-white-bread sort of place but not so. There is life here. Art is happening - and it's fresh, vibrant and young. Not all our young people have left (yet!). Last night Mr Gums and I went to the opening of a … Continue reading Villainesses thriving in Canberra
Bianca Nogrady, The end: The human experience of death (Review)
Have you thought about your death? About how and where you want to die? These are the questions Australian science journalist Bianca Nogrady asks us to consider in her recent book, The end: the human experience of death. I'm not a morbid person, but when Nogrady contacted me to ask whether I'd consider reviewing her … Continue reading Bianca Nogrady, The end: The human experience of death (Review)
Christina Stead, For love alone (Review)
In a recent communication with local author Nigel Featherstone about reviewing, he reminded me of Peter Rose's advice for new reviewers for the ABR. One of the points Rose makes is: with major books, ones that have been reviewed extensively in the newspapers, submit reviews that add to our understanding of the book, not just repetitious … Continue reading Christina Stead, For love alone (Review)
Murray Bail, Portrait of electricity (Review)
A couple of weeks ago I quoted Murray Bail on compser-house-museums from his latest novel, The voyage. But this isn't the first time Bail has expressed his attitudes towards turning the home of a famous person into a museum. It was the topic of a short story, "Portrait of electricity" which, as far as I can … Continue reading Murray Bail, Portrait of electricity (Review)
Murray Bail, The voyage (Review)
It took me a while to read Murray Bail's latest novel The voyage. I started it before we went overseas but didn't quite finish it, and decided not to carry it with me. So, 8 weeks later, I picked it up and found it surprisingly easy to continue. I say surprising because it is a rather … Continue reading Murray Bail, The voyage (Review)
