It's silly I know, but I had a little thrill at the end of Ellen van Neerven's Heat and light, because not only was the last story set in a place where I spent six of the formative years of my childhood - Sandgate on the northern edge of Brisbane - but one of the characters learnt to … Continue reading Ellen van Neerven, Heat and light (Review)
Women writers
Tara Moss, The fictional woman (Review)
In terms of feminist argument, I'm not sure that Tara Moss told me anything I didn't already know or believe in her first work of non-fiction, The fictional woman, but that didn't stop me enjoying her take, her approach. Moss is an interesting woman. Her careers as a model and a crime writer meant she wasn't really on my … Continue reading Tara Moss, The fictional woman (Review)
Favourite quotes: from Thea Astley’s Coda
I've decided to start a new, occasional series - a bit like The Conversation does! I have two reasons for this. One is that I'm reading pretty slowly at the moment, partly because my current read is a big one, and partly because life is busy. The other is that during my current decluttering project I've come across … Continue reading Favourite quotes: from Thea Astley’s Coda
Julie Twohig, Full circle (Review)
When I review individual stories, I tend to choose ones that are available on-line. Is that fair, I wonder? It means the author receives no payment for the story I review, but it does mean readers can enjoy a story that they may not otherwise easily access and, I suppose, that the author receives some exposure. … Continue reading Julie Twohig, Full circle (Review)
Anna Funder, Everything precious (Review)
I must thank John aka Musings of a Literary Dilettante for introducing me to this intriguing little e-work by Miles Franklin award-winner, Anna Funder. When John read it, back in October, it was in daily instalments, but when I clicked the link in his post I was offered several e-book versions, including for the Kindle and iPad, … Continue reading Anna Funder, Everything precious (Review)
Annie Parker, Passages in the life of a slave woman (Review)
I have, this year, reviewed a couple of Library of America's (LOA) stories about slavery in the USA, one being Harriet Ann Jacobs' "The lover", and the other William Wells Brown's, Madison Washington. I've always been interested in slavery in the US, so when Annie Parker's "Passages in the life of a slave woman" appeared in my inbox, I of … Continue reading Annie Parker, Passages in the life of a slave woman (Review)
Thea Astley, Drylands (Review, of sorts)
I read Thea Astley's Drylands many, many years ago now, so what I'm going to share here - inspired by my post earlier this year on confronting Australian novels - are the notes I made when I read it. They are not particularly well-formed, because I wasn't planning a review at the time, though I must admit … Continue reading Thea Astley, Drylands (Review, of sorts)
Helen Garner, This house of grief: The story of a murder trial (Review)
Well you might ask why you would want to read a book about the trial of a man accused of murdering his three sons by driving his car into a dam and escaping the car himself? Indeed, Helen Garner was asked why she would want to attend such a trial - and write about it. … Continue reading Helen Garner, This house of grief: The story of a murder trial (Review)
Delicious descriptions: Eimear McBride is not all grim
Reactions to Eimear McBride's A girl is a half-formed thing, which I reviewed recently, vary greatly. It is, overall, a bleak read and its style is idiosyncratic, which makes it a double whammy. So, for example, it has been called "brutal" (by Sunday Times Ireland) and a "joyous thing" (by Michael Cathcart, RN's Books and Arts Daily). … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Eimear McBride is not all grim
Eimear McBride, A girl is a half-formed thing (Review)
I try very hard when writing reviews to avoid clichés and superlatives, like, say, "achingly beautiful" or "masterful". But I think I'm going to use one for Eimear McBride's multi-award-winning debut novel A girl is a half-formed thing when I describe it as "searing". I can't think of a more apposite word. Yet I fear it too … Continue reading Eimear McBride, A girl is a half-formed thing (Review)
Whispering Gums 