OK, a fun little post to get you in the mood for Valentine's Day at the end of this week. Mr Gums and I don't make a big thing of the Day - it wasn't a big thing in Australia when we were young - but that doesn't mean I can't use it to give … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Love is in the air
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Books given in 2025
Over the years I have often listed the books I gave as Christmas gifts, though last year I shared the books I gave throughout the year - as Christmas, birthday and other gifts. I'm doing the same this year. Most, though not all, are Australian books. They are not necessarily my favourite reads - indeed, … Continue reading Books given in 2025
Brian Castro, Chinese postman (#BookReview)
Serendipity is a lovely word, and is even lovelier when it touches my reading. Such was the case with my last two books, Olga Tokarczuk's House of day, house of night (my review) and Brian Castro's Chinese postman. The connections between them are simple and complex. Both focus more on ideas than narrative, are disjointed … Continue reading Brian Castro, Chinese postman (#BookReview)
Kim’s Triple Choice Tuesday
Back in 2010, Kimbofo (as I like to call her from her sign on/login name) started a blog series called Triple Choice Tuesday in which she asked "bloggers, writers and readers to share three books that have had a meaningful impact on them". She saw it as a "fun way to highlight great books, discover … Continue reading Kim’s Triple Choice Tuesday
Monday musings on Australian literature: Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition
Now THIS is something different for Monday Musings. Yes, it is Australian, but it's not a literary award. Its full title is The Australia for UNHCR – SBS Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition and, according to Australia's UNHCR website, it "recognises and celebrates the contribution of refugees who are shining a light on the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition
Monday musings on Australian literature: UNESCO Cities of Literature
A year before I started this blog, Melbourne was designated as a UNESCO City of Literature, something I briefly mentioned in a 2010 post on the Victorian Literary Map. The City of Literature program is part of UNESCO's wider Creative Cities Network which was launched in 2004, and which itself grew out of UNESCO's 2002 … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: UNESCO Cities of Literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers on artists
Last week, the winner of Australia's prestigious Archibald Prize was announced, Laura Jones for her portrait of Tim Winton. Winton, as I read in the Herald's The Booklist email, is the first novelist to be the subject of an Archibald Prize-winning portrait in more than two decades, with Geoffrey Dyer’s portrait of Richard Flanagan being … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers on artists
What would you recommend?
Last week, Mr Gums and I drove back from Melbourne where we had spent the holiday season with family. Having spent over two weeks in the city - very lovely because we saw family - I did want a little country respite before hitting our own (much smaller, admittedly) city. Bright, in Victoria's Alpine Shire … Continue reading What would you recommend?
Nonfiction November 2021: Your year in nonfiction
While I've taken part in Nonfiction November before, I've never done it week by week right through the month. I may not this year, either, but I am starting off as if I mean to! Nonfiction November is hosted by several bloggers, with Week 1: (November 1-5) – Your Year in Nonfiction, hosted by Rennie … Continue reading Nonfiction November 2021: Your year in nonfiction
Whispering Gums 