National Poetry Month - in Australia - is now five years old, and once again it is spearheaded by Red Room Poetry, which should not need any introduction by now to regular readers here. This year it runs a bit over a month, from 30 July to 3 September. As before, they have appointed Poetry … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: National Poetry Month 2025
Gertrude H. Dorsey (Browne), An equation (#Review)
Gertrude H. Dorsey's short story is the third in the anthology Great short stories by African-American writers, which my American friend Carolyn sent me. It presented an unexpected challenge. Gertrude H. Dorsey (Browne) The biographical note at the end of the anthology is one of the shortest provided by the editors. It goes: Who was … Continue reading Gertrude H. Dorsey (Browne), An equation (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Quiet achievers 1, Terri-ann White of Upswell Publishing
Over the years I have started several Monday Musings sub-series, some of which I've nearly completed (such as those on writers centres and on supporting genres) while others are still continuing (like Forgotten writers). Today, I'm introducing a new one. It was inspired by an email I received the other day from Terri-ann White of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Quiet achievers 1, Terri-ann White of Upswell Publishing
Six degrees of separation, FROM The safekeep TO …
It's the last month of winter, and I can't wait for it to be over. It's been colder than usual here (though not as cold as some of your experience in winter I realise). However, I do like the Six Degrees meme, so let's get straight to it. If you don't know how this #SixDegrees … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM The safekeep TO …
Winnie Dunn, Dirt poor Islanders (#BookReview)
When my reading group chose our books for the second half of the year, the shortlist for the Miles Franklin Award had not yet been announced. However, wonderfully, the three books we chose from the longlist, all ended up on the shortlist. One of those was Winnie Dunn's debut novel, Dirt poor Islanders. It is … Continue reading Winnie Dunn, Dirt poor Islanders (#BookReview)
Monday musings of Australian literature: National Tree Day
Around ten years ago, I wrote a post on National Arbor Day. It was inspired by a Library of America story. The thing is that then I didn't, and I still don't hear, about Arbor Day anymore. Indeed, Mr Gums and I reminisced that it was mainly through school that we heard about it at … Continue reading Monday musings of Australian literature: National Tree Day
Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie, Some people want to shoot me (#BookReview)
Having finally read Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie's Some people want to shoot me, I am not surprised that it has been shortlisted in the Nonfiction category of this year's Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. It is moving; it is clearly written; and it is informative about big issues. Wayne Bergmann is a Nyikina* man … Continue reading Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie, Some people want to shoot me (#BookReview)
Miles Franklin Award 2025 winner announced
The winner of the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award, worth AUD60,000, was announced this evening by Australian journalist Fran Kelly during her program, The Radio National Hour. And the winner is: Siang Lu's Ghost cities Kelly described the novel as being about an "epic conquest of ancient empires and tyrannical leaders", and also about "what … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2025 winner announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Factory novels
"I love a factory novel"! So wrote Buried-In-Print blogger Marcie on my post earlier this year on the Australasian Book Society. I do too, I replied, and noted to myself that this could be a topic for Monday Musings. I have not done as much research as I would have liked, but I figured I … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Factory novels
Monday musings on Australian literature: Prizes for Humour Writing
There are not, apparently, many prizes for humour writing around the world, but we have two here in Australia, the Russell Prize and the John Clarke Prize. Those from other countries include the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize (UK), the Thurber Prize for American Humour, and the Leacock Memorial Medal for Canadian Humour. Do you know … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Prizes for Humour Writing
Whispering Gums 