Travel

On the literary (and linguistic) road in Japan: 3, Matsue and beyond

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This will be my last post on our Japanese adventures (unless something specific inspires me to write again - always leave yourself an out is my motto) and I'm going to share a few particular experiences, so here goes. Matsue and Lafcadio Hearn Our prime reason for going to Matsue was to visit the Adachi Museum … Continue reading On the literary (and linguistic) road in Japan: 3, Matsue and beyond

Monday musings on Australian literature: Travel writers on Australia

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Don't panic, I told myself, the universe with still continue if I miss one week's Monday musings. You see, after having been in Japan for over two weeks now, my thoughts have strayed rather far from Australian literature. But then, necessity being the mother of invention, an idea came to me. While I've been travelling, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Travel writers on Australia

On the literary (and linguistic) road in Japan: 2, Kanazawa and Kyoto

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Isabella Bird (Unbeaten tracks in Japan, 1880) doesn't appear to have visited Kyoto or Kanazawa, which is a shame as I would have enjoyed reading her comments. However, I thought I'd quote from her anyhow, from Letter I. It covers her arrival in Yokohama harbour on May 21 which is close in time of year … Continue reading On the literary (and linguistic) road in Japan: 2, Kanazawa and Kyoto

On the literary (and linguistic) road in Japan: 1, Central Honshu

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Given this is primarily a litblog, I like my travel posts to have some literary or, at least, linguistic interest. And so in this first post about our current trip to Japan, literary and linguistic observations and thoughts will be my focus. Linguistic challenges Japanese language has a pitch-accent system which can provide particular challenges for … Continue reading On the literary (and linguistic) road in Japan: 1, Central Honshu

Matt McClelland, Best river and alpine walks around Mt Kosciuszko

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For many years now, Mr Gums and I have been going to Thredbo in Kosciuszko National Park for a few days in early January. In other words, instead of heading east to the coast, like many of our city's residents, we head south to the mountains for a bit of R&R involving bushwalking, dining and reading. … Continue reading Matt McClelland, Best river and alpine walks around Mt Kosciuszko

Monday musings on Australian literature: Mountain murmurings

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Mountain? Because this week's Monday musings was inspired by my recent sojourn in the mountains. Murmurings? Because it will be more pictorial than textual. And what does all this to have with Australian literature? Two things, primarily: My definition of "Australian literature" for this blog series is a broad one - it is intended to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Mountain murmurings

Literary encounters, Australian style

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I've been remiss. I could have solved some of your Christmas shopping challenges by telling you about two books which would be perfect gifts for readers: Shane Maloney and Chris Grosz's Australian encounters, and Susannah Fullerton's Brief encounters. Both have "encounters" in the title, but they use the word in slightly different ways, as you'll see … Continue reading Literary encounters, Australian style

Monday musings on Australian literature: The Victorian Literary Map

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This week's Monday Musings will be a brief one, partly because my time is tight (I really must finish Parrot and Olivier in America by tomorrow) and partly because I'm primarily going to post a link to a map: the online interactive Victorian Literary Map. As you might have guessed from my various Literary Road postings, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Victorian Literary Map