When should I give up saying that I don't read crime? In the last seven years, I've posted nine reviews tagged crime fiction (of which one was a guest post). Perhaps just over one a year still qualifies as not reading crime? Then again, what's the point of saying it, if every now and then I do … Continue reading Dorothy Johnston, Through a camel’s eye (Review)
Review – Novels
Sonya Hartnett, Golden boys (Review)
Although Sonya Hartnett has written a large number of books, for children, young adults and adults, I've never read her, which is something I've been wanting to rectify. My opportunity came in May when my reading group scheduled her latest novel, Golden boys, for discussion. It was shortlisted for several awards last year, including the Miles Franklin Award - … Continue reading Sonya Hartnett, Golden boys (Review)
Chinua Achebe, Things fall apart (Review)
At last I've read that classic of African literature, China Achebe's Things fall apart. It all came about because this year ABC RN's classics book club is doing Africa. As I've been wanting to read this book for a long time, and as my reading group has been making a practice of choosing one ABC … Continue reading Chinua Achebe, Things fall apart (Review)
Sarah Kanake, Sing fox to me (Review)
Back in late 2011, I wrote a Monday Musings post on 19th century Australian Gothic. I've always intended to post more on the topic, including one on Tasmanian Gothic. Well, here's a start, because Sarah Kanake's debut novel, Sing fox to me, is a good example of modern Tasmanian Gothic. I wrote in my first post that … Continue reading Sarah Kanake, Sing fox to me (Review)
Elizabeth Harrower, In certain circles (Review)
There's an interesting story behind Elizabeth Harrower's last novel, In certain circles. It was all set for publication in 1971, following her very successful The watch tower (my review), when Harrower pulled it. Why? I wondered about this as I read it, and I have some ideas, but more on that anon. First, the story. … Continue reading Elizabeth Harrower, In certain circles (Review)
Debra Adelaide, The women’s pages (Review)
When I started reading Debra Adelaide's latest novel The women's pages I thought, "Oh yes, here's another interesting story about women's lives, how their options are limited, etc etc. I'll enjoy this but I wonder why it was longlisted for the Stella?" And then, a few chapters in, I started to realise that behind this "interesting … Continue reading Debra Adelaide, The women’s pages (Review)
Tony Birch, Ghost River (Review)
"Some people believe in religion. Well, I believe in stories." So says Ren to his friend Sonny late in Tony Birch's third novel Ghost River. Ren and Sonny are two young adolescent boys who live in Melbourne's old inner-city suburb of Collingwood. It is the late 1960s, when Collingwood was a largely blue-collar neighbourhood. Ghost River is a novel … Continue reading Tony Birch, Ghost River (Review)
Kate Jennings, Moral hazard (Review)
How often do you read a book that connects in some ways with something you've recently read or thought about? Kate Jennings' award-winning Moral hazard, my latest read, links pretty directly to our discussion about autobiographical fiction in my Monday Musings post on Robert Dessaix two weeks ago. Dessaix, you may remember, criticised Garner's The spare room (and other works) arguing she was just … Continue reading Kate Jennings, Moral hazard (Review)
Annie Dillard, The Maytrees (Review)
I am not, as I wrote in my recent post on Emma Ayres' memoir Cadence, a big "reader" of audiobooks. In fact, until Cadence, I hadn't listened to one for a few years. However, we do have a few here that we had given Mr Gums' mother as her sight started to fail and which … Continue reading Annie Dillard, The Maytrees (Review)
Steve Toltz, Quicksand (Review)
Aldo Benjamin, the anti-hero of Quicksand, accuses wannabe-writer-friend Liam of having "such little imagination". You could not, however, accuse the novel's author, Steve Toltz, of this. Quicksand reads a bit like a 19th century satirical novel transplanted into the 21st century. It is big in size (though not as big as his first, A fraction of the whole), broad in subject … Continue reading Steve Toltz, Quicksand (Review)
Whispering Gums 