Last year I posted on a book called Trailblazers: 100 inspiring South Australian women. I decided then that it could inspire some Monday Musings posts, because it includes writers among its inspiring women. The first writer to appear in this alphabetically-arranged book is Nancy Cato. She is described as "Writer and activist", which enhances her … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Nancy Cato
Women writers
Jane Austen, Juvenilia, Volume the third (#Review)
This month my Jane Austen group completed our reading of Jane Austen's Juvenilia. (Click the links for my thoughts on the first and second volumes.) Volume the third is a little different to the other two, as it contains just two unfinished works: EvelynCatharine, or The bower Both were written in 1792, when she was … Continue reading Jane Austen, Juvenilia, Volume the third (#Review)
Jane Austen, Lesley Castle (#Review)
I mentioned in my post on the second volume of Jane Austen's Juvenilia, that I might do a separate post on one of its longer pieces, Lesley Castle. It's one of her three longer pieces in that volume, and is often published separately or in other compilations, so warrants some attention, methinks! Lesley Castle Lesley … Continue reading Jane Austen, Lesley Castle (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Young Australian Novelists (3)
I've posted twice on The Sydney Morning Herald's Best Young Australian Novelists, last year, and back in 2013. Bill, in fact, chose that 2013 post in his Bill Curates series on this blog. The award was established in 1997 by the newspaper's then literary editor, Susan Wyndham, making this year its 25th year. An emerging … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Young Australian Novelists (3)
Marian Matta, Life, bound (#BookReview)
In August 2020, small independent publisher MidnightSun sent me two short story collections, Margaret Hickey's Rural dreams (reviewed last month), and Marian Matta's Life, bound. I enjoyed Rural dreams, as some of you may remember, for its exploration of rural lives from multiple angles and points of view. Life, bound is a very different collection. … Continue reading Marian Matta, Life, bound (#BookReview)
Sara Phillips (ed), The best Australian science writing 2020 (#BookReview)
In 2016, my reading group discussed the 2015 edition of The best Australian science writing. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to do it again, and so this month we read the 2020 (tenth anniversary) edition. Our discussion was as engaged as before (and the overall reasons I enjoyed this volume are the … Continue reading Sara Phillips (ed), The best Australian science writing 2020 (#BookReview)
Bill curates: Best Young Australian Novelists
Bill Curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue’s vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. Today, what I'd like to know is where do all the Best Young Novelists go? Emily Maguire, who's featured in this post from 2013, wrote one about Gundagai a few years … Continue reading Bill curates: Best Young Australian Novelists
Stella Prize 2021 Winner announced
Unfortunately - though not really - I was not able to "attend" the online announcement as I did last year, as I'm spending a few days in the Snowy Mountains with Mr Gums and two friends. Before I announce the winner, which most of you will have heard by now anyhow, here is a quick … Continue reading Stella Prize 2021 Winner announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 1, Helen Simpson
Do you often wonder how many of the writers we love now will still be read a few decades on? How good are we at identifying those who will continue to be read? So-so, I think you'll agree if you've noticed the many unfamiliar, but well-regarded-at-the time, names amongst the authors mentioned in my various … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 1, Helen Simpson
Margaret Hickey, Rural dreams (#BookReview)
Rural dreams is another collection of short stories from small independent publisher MidnightSun, and it's another good one. I hadn't heard of Margaret Hickey before, but her website says that she's won a number of awards and is a performed playwright. Relevant to this book is that Hickey grew up in small country towns in … Continue reading Margaret Hickey, Rural dreams (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 