A question that confronts many young people as they reach adulthood - in western cultures at least - is, should I go or should I stay? This is particularly so for young people in small rural towns, and is the issue at the heart of Stephen Orr's latest novel, Shining like the sun. Wilf Healy, … Continue reading Stephen Orr, Shining like the sun (#BookReview)
Review
Jane Caro, The mother (#BookReview)
When my reading group scheduled Jane Caro's debut novel, The mother, I was, I admit, not exactly enthusiastic, because my sense was that it was not going to be the sort of, shall I say, subtle writing I prefer. My sense was right, but I am not sorry I read it - partly because of … Continue reading Jane Caro, The mother (#BookReview)
Beth H. Piatote, Beading lesson (#Review)
Beth Piatote's "Beading lesson" is the thirteenth of fourteen stories in the anthology, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers, and with it, we move from the 1990s to the 2000s. Beth H Piatote Anthology editor Bob Blaisdell provides very little information about Piatote. It simply says that she is Nez Perce and a … Continue reading Beth H. Piatote, Beading lesson (#Review)
Sebastian Barry, The secret scripture
What follows here is an edited version of the first ever review post I wrote - back in December 2008 on a Blogger blog I set up for my reading group. I've been meaning for some time to bring it over here because I'd like to have Sebastian Barry represented on my blog! However, my … Continue reading Sebastian Barry, The secret scripture
Donna M. Cameron, The rewilding (#BookReview)
Quite coincidentally, earlier this month, I read and posted on Willa Cather’s short story "The bookkeeper's wife" which commences with a young man, Percy Bixby, sitting in his office deciding to do something in order to keep his flashy fiancée Stella. That was published in 1916. I have now just finished Donna M. Cameron’s novel, … Continue reading Donna M. Cameron, The rewilding (#BookReview)
Jane Austen, Lady Susan, revisited (#BookReview)
I have read Jane Austen's Lady Susan several times, including with my local Jane Austen group in 2014 (my review). That now being ten years ago, we decided it was time to read - and consider - it again. However, as my time was tight, I decided to try an audiobook version, and found a … Continue reading Jane Austen, Lady Susan, revisited (#BookReview)
Willa Cather, The bookkeeper’s wife (#Review)
Willa Cather, 1936 (Photo: Carl Van Vechten; Public domain, via Wikipedia) It's nearly two years since I posted on a Library of America (LOA) short story, and it's over a year since they published Willa Cather's "The bookkeeper's wife" as their Story of the Week. However, this morning I had a quiet moment and decided to … Continue reading Willa Cather, The bookkeeper’s wife (#Review)
Melissa Lucashenko, Edenglassie (#BookReview)
Broadly speaking, Melissa Lucashenko's latest novel, Edenglassie, does for southeast Queensland what Kim Scott's That deadman dance does for Noongar country in southwest Western Australia. Both tell of the early days of their respective colonies from a First Nations perspective; both are written in a generous spirit but with absolute clarity about the dispossession that … Continue reading Melissa Lucashenko, Edenglassie (#BookReview)
Myfanwy Jones, Cool water (#BookReview)
When I was a little girl, I was allowed to watch a limited amount of television, and what I loved - yes, you can laugh at me - were the singing cowboys, like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. We are talking the 60s and I was constrained by what was on at the times I … Continue reading Myfanwy Jones, Cool water (#BookReview)
Hell Herons, The Wreck Event
In late June I attended the 2024 ACT Literary Awards which were held in the Canberra Contemporary Art Space. In my post on those awards, I shared the MCs' acknowledgement of CCAS's ongoing sponsorship. They made the point that this space is an appropriate venue because there are links between all artists, including the fact … Continue reading Hell Herons, The Wreck Event
Whispering Gums 