My first reaction as I started reading Laurie Steed's debut novel, You belong here, was, "oh dear, another novel about a dysfunctional family", but I was quickly disabused of that prejudice because while that is indeed the book's "genre", Steed writes it in such a fresh and engaging way, albeit seriously so, that I was … Continue reading Laurie Steed, You belong here (#BookReview)
Raphaël Jerusalmy, Evacuation (#BookReview)
Raphaël Jerusalmy, for those who, like me, hadn't heard of him, is a French-born and educated writer living in Tel Aviv. He had a career in the Israeli military intelligence services, worked in humanitarian and educational fields, and is now an antiquarian book dealer in Tel Aviv, where his novella, Evacuation, is set. In some … Continue reading Raphaël Jerusalmy, Evacuation (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: National Child Protection Week 2018
If you are an Australian, you will be aware of our recent Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. That Commission only looked into one aspect of child sexual abuse in Australia. Arguably the bigger issue lies in the sexual abuse of children outside institutions - abuse of children by family members, by … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: National Child Protection Week 2018
Six degrees of separation, FROM Where am I now TO …
Woo hoo, Spring has sprung (just) in the southern hemisphere, and I for one am glad to see the back of winter, albeit the real warmth is a way off yet. And this month, the first day of Spring is also Six Degrees of Separation day. You regular readers here will know what that means, but … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Where am I now TO …
WG Sebald, Austerlitz (#BookReview)
For the first time in my reading group's 30-year history, we read a book recommended by a fictional character. It happened like this: after reading and discussing Rabih Alameddine's An unnecessary woman (my review) in January, we thought it would be interesting if we all nominated which book mentioned by the "unnecessary woman", Aaliya Saleh, that we'd … Continue reading WG Sebald, Austerlitz (#BookReview)
Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 2, Pt 2: Words (Last ones) and Music
My last Canberra Writers Festival event was, in a way, a little left field, because it primarily comprised a musical performance - but one with a strong literary element ... Turning Last Words into Music I chose this one, for a couple of reasons, but mainly because it involved music and was at a time … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 2, Pt 2: Words (Last ones) and Music
Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 2, Pt 1: Art, Books and Politics
For my last day of the Canberra Writers Festival I chose two quite different sessions, as you will see! This post is on the first one ... (Note: these two posts will be in lieu of this week's Monday Musings.) The Art of Books Chong, Bowers, Katauskas I chose this session primarily because one of … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 2, Pt 1: Art, Books and Politics
Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 1, Pt 4: Indigenous Australians (2)
My first day of the Canberra Writers Festival ended with a bang - two hours with several of Australia's top indigenous writers, organised by FNAWN (First Nations Australia Writers Network). It was a not-to-be-missed event, and was divided into two parts: "Because of her I can": poetry readings with Ellen van Neerven, Yvette Holt, Jeanine … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 1, Pt 4: Indigenous Australians (2)
Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 1, Pt 3: Indigenous Australians (1)
I planned to write a combined post for my last two events of Day 1, given both focussed on Indigenous Australians, but there was so much that I wanted to document (for myself, at least) that I decided to devote a post to each. There was, though, some overlap in terms of issues discussed, albeit … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 1, Pt 3: Indigenous Australians (1)
Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 1, Pt 2: Two panels
My next two festival sessions were panels - firstly at the National Museum of Australia, and then after a quick jaunt over the lake, chauffeured very kindly by Mr Gums, at the National Library of Australia. This Festival is spread too widely, geographically speaking - but I've said that before ... The power, politics and … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2018, Day 1, Pt 2: Two panels
Whispering Gums 