A month ago, blogger Kim Forrester (Reading Matters) tweeted "I’ve stopped reading books where a woman being murdered is the plot point. Let’s change the story." I thought this was interesting, but didn't think a lot about it at the time because I read very little crime (though I do watch some). However, I was … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Barbara Jefferis Award and negative depictions of women
Non-fiction November 2018, Weeks 1 to 3
I'm not sure how long Non-fiction November has been happening in the blogosphere, but I first became aware of it last year. It runs for a month, with a different set of questions posed for each week of the month. Last year I concatenated my responses into two posts, one for weeks 1 to 3, … Continue reading Non-fiction November 2018, Weeks 1 to 3
Margaret Merrilees, Big rough stones (#BookReview)
In her latest novel Big rough stones, Margaret Merrilees seems to have done for Australian lesbians what Armistead Maupin did for the American gay community in his Tales of the city series. It is the story, spanning roughly three decades from around 1970s on, of a character named Ro and her lesbian sisterhood in Adelaide. … Continue reading Margaret Merrilees, Big rough stones (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading for Reconciliation
Funny sometimes how Monday Musings topics suddenly appear to me. I was researching for a future post, when I came across a site called Reading for Reconciliation - and couldn't go past it for today's post. However, the site's Home Page needs a bit of unpicking. It has a heading, "Finalists in 2012 Queensland Reconciliation Awards", … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading for Reconciliation
EM Forster, Howards End (#BookReview)
Where to start? Like all great classics, EM Forster's Howards End has so much to think and write about that it's difficult to know where to focus, not to mention what new angle I could possibly add. Perhaps I'll just start at the beginning - with its epigraph, "only connect..." That's a concept that's sure … Continue reading EM Forster, Howards End (#BookReview)
Six degrees of separation, FROM Vanity fair TO …
Well, it's a tricky night here in Canberra, with a nasty bushfire on my side of town. It's probably far enough away to not put us at serious risk, but a serious fire just two-thirds into spring is a worry. For now, though, I shall put those thoughts aside and turn to Six Degrees. As … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Vanity fair TO …
Elizabeth Kleinhenz in conversation with Chris Wallace – about Germaine Greer
It made for a busy night, given that the last Tuesday of the month is also my reading group night, but I had to go to this ANU Meet the Author event, because it involved Canberra academic/journalist (not to mention Germaine Greer biographer) Chris Wallace conversing with Elizabeth Kleinhenz, whose biography, Germaine: The life of Germaine … Continue reading Elizabeth Kleinhenz in conversation with Chris Wallace – about Germaine Greer
Monday musings on Australian literature: And now it’s booktubers
Well, actually, it's not quite "and now" because booktubers have been around for a while - apparently. Or, so I read in an article, sent to me by occasional commenter here Neil. (Thanks Neil.) The article is from ABC RN's The Hub program: it contains a link to the segment on the radio program, as … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: And now it’s booktubers
Delicious descriptions: EM Forster and downsizing
My reading group's next book is EM Forster's Howard's end which I first read at university in 1973. (My lovely Penguin Modern Classics edition cost me all of $1.20.) It's a delicious read and I'm falling in love with Forster all over again. My full post on it will go up some time next week, … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: EM Forster and downsizing
Amanda Duthie (ed.), Margaret & David: 5 stars (#BookReview)
Margaret and David, the subjects of this delightful, eponymously named collection of reminiscences and essays, do not need last names here in Australia. They are just "margaretanddavid". But, since we have an international readership here, I should formally introduce them. Margaret and David are Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton, Australia's best-known and best-loved film critics … Continue reading Amanda Duthie (ed.), Margaret & David: 5 stars (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 