I've been pretty remiss in my blog regarding New Zealand literature. I have read and enjoyed several New Zealand novelists, such as Keri Hulme, Janet Frame and Fiona Kidman, but the only New Zealand writer I've reviewed here to date has been Lloyd Jones. And so I was both intrigued and pleased when Spinifex Press … Continue reading Beryl Fletcher, Juno and Hannah (Review)
Review – Novels
Diego Marani, The last of the Vostyachs (Review)
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)
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)
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, 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)
Michelle de Kretser, Questions of travel (Review)
Every now and then a book comes along that is so sweeping in its conception, that it almost defies review. Such a book is this year's Miles Franklin Award winner, Questions of travel by Michelle de Kretser. Consequently, I'm going to focus on one aspect that particularly spoke to me - and that is her … Continue reading Michelle de Kretser, Questions of travel (Review)
Rachel Hennessy, The heaven I swallowed (Review)
It feels strange to be reviewing a Vogel Literary Award runner up, which Rachel Hennessy's The heaven I swallowed was in 2008, in a year when the judges decided not to award the prize because they didn't find ‘that special quality that a winning entry has’. C'est la vie I suppose, but what a shame … Continue reading Rachel Hennessy, The heaven I swallowed (Review)
Hilary Mantel, Bring up the bodies (Review)
In her author's note at the end of her second Thomas Cromwell novel, Bring up the bodies, Hilary Mantel writes that: In this book I try to show how a few crucial weeks might have looked from Thomas Cromwell's point of view. I am not claiming authority for my version; I am making the reader … Continue reading Hilary Mantel, Bring up the bodies (Review)
Krissy Kneen, Steeplechase (Review)
Darn that Australian Women Writers Challenge! It has introduced me to a bunch of Aussie women writers I hadn't heard of previously, one of whom is today's author, Krissy Kneen. I may not have read her quite as soon as I have - there are so many I want to read - if it hadn't … Continue reading Krissy Kneen, Steeplechase (Review)
Susan Hawthorne, Limen (Review)
Limen is a lovely word, isn't it? It's the title of Susan Hawthorne's recently published verse novel. You probably know what it means, but just in case you'd forgotten like I had, it means threshold or doorway. This Limen though is a verse novel! If you are uncertain about novels in verse, this would be … Continue reading Susan Hawthorne, Limen (Review)
Whispering Gums 