Dare I step into the breach? I think I will. Let me start by saying I'm a strong supporter of political correctness, though I hate the term itself and the way it is bandied about with little thought or nuance. To me, political correctness fundamentally means respect for and sensitivity to the feelings and place … Continue reading Horne Prize – the “political correctness” controversy
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Banjo Prize
I have just caught up with a new literary prize - the Banjo Prize - which is not to be confused with the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards I guess it's to be expected that one of Australia's favourite bush poets might be honoured by more than one award being named for him. Before I get … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Banjo Prize
Robyn Cadwallader, Book of colours (#BookReview)
What makes historical fiction worth reading for me is the exploration of universal ''truths". Fortunately, Robyn Cadwallader's second novel, Book of colours, does this, albeit I wish that some of the universals - gender inequity, class (meaning social and economic inequity), and fear of foreigners - were no longer universal! The book explores other more general universals, … Continue reading Robyn Cadwallader, Book of colours (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing NSW
Today's Monday Musings is the fifth in my little series on Australia's writers centres, and it's New South Wales' turn. Originally called the NSW Writers Centre, it was renamed this year as Writing NSW. Writing NSW was founded (under its original name) in 1991, as a not-for-profit organisation providing services to writers. On its Our … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writing NSW
Vance Palmer, Battle (#Review)
Vance Palmer's short piece "Battle" is the first piece in this special Meanjin anthology. Meanjin is one of Australia's longest lasting literary journals. It was founded by Clem Christesen in 1940. As publisher Melbourne University Press says, it has, since then, "documented both the changing concerns of Australians and the achievements of many of the … Continue reading Vance Palmer, Battle (#Review)
Delicious descriptions: Laurie Steed’s divorced mum
I don't do many Delicious Descriptions these days, but I did want to share another quote from Laurie Steed's You belong here which I reviewed recently. The book concerns a marriage break-up and its impact on the family. This quote comes from the point-of-view of the daughter, Emily, who's around 19 at the time, thinking … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Laurie Steed’s divorced mum
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund
Australia's Copyright Agency has been referenced here several times in this blog, mostly regarding the work it does via its Cultural Fund, but I wonder how many of us (besides artists) know just how much it does to support Australian writing and writers? The Copyright Agency is a non-profit organisation (company) which describes its mission … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund
Laurie Steed, You belong here (#BookReview)
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
