Serendipitously, while trawling Trove for something else recently, I came across a fascinating article in the Tribune about the winners of the first two Miles Franklin Awards. The article was written by Jack Beasley in July 1959, and the two winners were Patrick White's Voss (1957), and Randolph Stow's To the islands (1958), two books … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1950s prose-poets criticised
Neil H Atkinson, The last wild west (#BookReview)
In one of those strange synchronicities, I attended an event, a few hours after finishing Neil H Atkinson's The last wild west, that gave me the perfect opening for my post. This event was the launch of the VR film, Carriberrie, at the National Film and Sound Archive. Speaking at the launch, indigenous woman and participant … Continue reading Neil H Atkinson, The last wild west (#BookReview)
Jane Caro in conversation with Alex Sloan
It was to the ANU's brand new Kambri Cultural Centre that we went for this week's ANU/The Canberra Times Meet the Author event with Jane Caro, who is doing a book tour with her new book Accidental feminists. Kambri is not as cosy as the old venue but is bigger, more flexible, and offers a … Continue reading Jane Caro in conversation with Alex Sloan
Monday musings on Australian literature: some Australian feminist “classics”
Tonight I went to an ANU/The Canberra Times Meet the Author event featuring author and journalist, Jane Caro, in conversation with local radio personality and booklover, Alex Sloan. It was of course inspired by Caro's new book, Accidental feminists. So, I thought it might be fun this Monday Musings to just list some of Australia's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: some Australian feminist “classics”
Annabel Smith, Whiskey and Charlie (#BookReview)
Some explanations first. Western Australian author Annabel Smith's novel Whiskey & Charlie was first published in Australia back in 2012 as Whisky Charlie Foxtrot, which immediately brings to mind the two-way alphabet (or, as I knew it, the alphabet used by the police on The Bill for communication. The things you learn via TV!) However, as happens, … Continue reading Annabel Smith, Whiskey and Charlie (#BookReview)
Igniting Change, Small ways to shape our world (#BookReview)
I really should have posted on this book, Small ways to shape a world, way before this, because it is a quick (albeit meaningful) read, but I am rigorous about the order in which I post on books sent to me for review, and so it has taken until now for it to rise to … Continue reading Igniting Change, Small ways to shape our world (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella judges on the zeitgeist in Australian fiction
Last week I reported on the longlist for this year's Stella Prize, and shared an excerpt from the judge's comments. For today's Monday Musings, I'm reiterating most of that - for us to think about and discuss: Reading for the Stella Prize … [is] a sample of the zeitgeist, a look at what is informing … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella judges on the zeitgeist in Australian fiction
Josephine Wilson, Extinctions (Guest post by Amanda) (#BookReview)
I am very pleased to bring you another guest post by Amanda, for a book I've not managed to read yet, much as I'd like to: Josephine Wilson's Miles Franklin Award winning novel, Extinctions. Amanda's review I loved this book. I was really sorry when it ended. It’s the kind of novel you press into … Continue reading Josephine Wilson, Extinctions (Guest post by Amanda) (#BookReview)
Stella Prize 2019 Longlist
I don't do well at having read the Stella Prize longlist at the time of its announcement. In 2017 I'd read none, and last year I improved on that by having read one of the 12-strong longlist. By the end of the year, though, I had read five, which is good for me, given in … Continue reading Stella Prize 2019 Longlist
Angela Meyer, A superior spectre (#BookReview)
A superior spectre may be Angela Meyer's first novel, but her already significant writing credentials, including being the author of the short/flash style fiction collection Captives (my review), and the editor of the anthology The great unknown (my review), ensure this is a confident debut. And it needed to be, because Meyer took big risks in this … Continue reading Angela Meyer, A superior spectre (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 