For the longest time I've understood that during war-time people turn to lighter forms of entertainment, to musicals in film, for example, or to escapist books in their reading. However, the truth - of course - is more complex, as I discovered in Trove's digitised newspapers. I was fascinated by how often the matter was, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: War-time reading tastes, World War 1
Vale Jill Ker Conway
Just before Mr Gums and I set off for our Arnhem Land holiday in early July, I came across an obituary for the Australian-born academic, educator and writer Jill Ker Conway (1934-2018). She had died on June 1, but I hadn't heard. Why not? Her first memoir, The road from Coorain, was a best-seller, and … Continue reading Vale Jill Ker Conway
Six degrees of separation, FROM Atonement TO …
It's August and the last official month of winter. I'm happy, happy, happy. I'm also happy that it's time again for Six Degrees of Separation. How quickly it comes around. And, like last month, I've read the starting book. First though, the formalities. Six Degrees of Separation is a meme that is currently hosted by Kate … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Atonement TO …
Michelle de Kretser, The life to come (#BookReview)
Michelle de Kretser's Miles Franklin shortlisted novel, The life to come, makes for great reading but difficult blogging because, like her Miles Franklin Award winner, Questions of travel (my review), it is big, and covers a lot of ground. Where to start is the problem. However, I'll give it my best shot, starting with its form. … Continue reading Michelle de Kretser, The life to come (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Melbourne Centenary literary competitions, 1934
I came across a reference to the 1934/35 Melbourne Centenary literary competitions quite by accident, but they intrigued me so I decided to investigate further. Here's what I found ... Melbourne Centenary According to an article in the La Trobe Journal (no. 34, October 1984), there was much discussion about whether to celebrate the centenary in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Melbourne Centenary literary competitions, 1934
Marie Munkara, Of ashes and rivers that run to the sea (#BookReview)
The stories keep on coming, the stories, I mean, of indigenous children stolen from their families and what happened to them afterwards. I've posted on Carmel Bird's compilation of stories from the Bringing them home report, The stolen children: Their stories, and also on Ali Cobby Eckermann's memoir Too afraid to cry. Now it's Marie Munkara's … Continue reading Marie Munkara, Of ashes and rivers that run to the sea (#BookReview)
Monday Musings on Australian literature: Three Top End explorers
Well, folks, I'm back on the grid, but still in the Top End holidaying, so I'm going to make this one as short and sweet as I can. As we traveled through Arnhem Land we learnt about various early 19th century explorers in this region, particularly Phillip Parker King (who makes an appearance, if I … Continue reading Monday Musings on Australian literature: Three Top End explorers
Delicious descriptions: Marie Munkara on cars
I don't usually post Delicious Descriptions before I review a book but this one seems apposite. Yesterday, we did a tour of the Tiwi Islands - of Bathurst Island in particular. This is where Marie Munkara's memoir Of ashes and rivers that run to the sea, which I mentioned in my last Monday Musings, is … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Marie Munkara on cars
Delicious descriptions: Elizabeth Jolley on the value of libraries
Regular readers will know that in June I joined in Lisa's (ANZLitLovers) Elizabeth Jolley Week by posting two reviews, one of which was for the novella Orchard thieves. In that post I mentioned the sly humour, but I didn't really share a quote to demonstrate it. However, I knew that I could always write a … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Elizabeth Jolley on the value of libraries
Australian Women Writers 2018 Challenge completed
As in previous years, I'm writing my completion post for the Australian Women Writer's Challenge, around the middle of the year, even though I will continue to contribute until the year's end. However, I like to get the formal completion post out of the way, so I can relax! I signed up, again, for the top-level, Franklin, which involves … Continue reading Australian Women Writers 2018 Challenge completed
Whispering Gums 