In the last couple of months of my Mum's life I bought her a few novels that I thought would give her pleasure. Although we didn't know, then, how dire her health was, I did know that she was tired and needed good but not overly demanding or depressing reads. So, for Easter, I gave … Continue reading Anne Tyler, Redhead by the side of the road (#BookReview)
Women writers
Favel Parrett, There was still love (#BookReview)
Favel Parrett's third novel, There was still love, is one of those novels in which not a lot happens but has a lot going on. Just the sort of novel, really, that I tend to like. (It all started with Jane Austen!) The novel revolves around the lives of two Czech sisters, one who ends … Continue reading Favel Parrett, There was still love (#BookReview)
Bill curates: Jane Austen’s letters, 1814-1816
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. I said, when I introduced this series, that Sue began writing Whispering Gums in May 2009. It seems that once begun she could not stop. There are WG posts … Continue reading Bill curates: Jane Austen’s letters, 1814-1816
Bill curates: Eve Langley’s The pea pickers
Back in April, Karen of Booker Talk published a great series of posts on the A2Z of Bookblogging. One of those posts was on Updating Posts or, Breathing new life into old posts. Bill (The Australian Legend), as part of his generous plan to help me keep my blog alive during my time-challenged period, suggested … Continue reading Bill curates: Eve Langley’s The pea pickers
Shokoofeh Azar, The enlightenment of the greengage tree (#BookReview)
I bought Shokoofeh Azar's novel The enlightenment of the greengage tree when it was longlisted for the 2018 Stella Prize, for which it was also shortlisted. However, it was its shortlisting this year for the International Booker Prize that prompted me to finally take it off the TBR pile. Born in Iran, artist and writer Azar … Continue reading Shokoofeh Azar, The enlightenment of the greengage tree (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Young Australian Novelists (2)
The Sydney Morning Herald's Best Young Australian Novelists award is announced annually to coincide with the opening of the Sydney Writers Festival. Of course, there is no live festival this year, but awards announcements can still go ahead can't they? I have posted on these awards before, but that was 2013, so I figured I could … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Young Australian Novelists (2)
Heather Rose, Bruny (#BookReview)
If The yield (my review) was Tara June Winch's passion project, I'd say Bruny is Heather Rose's. It's a very different book to her previous novel The museum of modern love (my review). Not only is it a strongly plot-driven novel, but it's about something that is clearly dear to her heart, the future of Tasmania … Continue reading Heather Rose, Bruny (#BookReview)
Julie Thorndyke, Mrs Rickaby’s lullaby (#BookReview)
Quaint title, eh? I really didn't know what to expect when I accepted this book for review, but accept I did because the publisher is a quality little press and because the author, Julie Thorndyke, although unknown to me, has a track record as a writer, particularly of tanka. Mrs Rickaby's lullaby, however, is her … Continue reading Julie Thorndyke, Mrs Rickaby’s lullaby (#BookReview)
Stella Prize 2020 Winner announced
Well, a very different announcement "party" for the announcement of the 2020 Stella Prize winner but one that was exciting for those of us not in Melbourne, because we could attend! It was a beautifully conceived and smoothly produced program, with words from each of the shortlisted writers and each of the judges, plus a … Continue reading Stella Prize 2020 Winner announced
Tara June Winch, The yield (#BookReview)
Tara June Winch's novel, The yield, follows her impressive - and David Unaipon award-winning - debut novel Swallow the air (my review). Ten years in the making, The yield could be described as her "passion project". It makes a powerful plea for Indigenous agency and culture. I wrote about The yield's genesis last year, but will repeat it … Continue reading Tara June Winch, The yield (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 