Finally, an excuse to mention W. Somerset Maugham here - and the excuse is, as Aussie literary fiction followers will probably know, that Mirandi Riwoe's Stella shortlisted novella, The fish girl, is a response to (was inspired by) Maugham's short story "The four Dutchmen". I don't usually feel I need to read the original work … Continue reading W. Somerset Maugham, The four Dutchmen (#Review)
Stephen Orr, Incredible floridas (#BookReview)
The good thing about reviewing Stephen Orr's latest book Incredible floridas is that you know the end at the beginning, so there's no need to worry about spoilers. The end, the one that you read at the beginning that is, is that Hal, the 22-year-old son of artist Roland and his wife Ena, commits suicide. … Continue reading Stephen Orr, Incredible floridas (#BookReview)
World Poetry Day 2018
Did you realise that today, March 21, is World Poetry Day? I'm not asking this to catch you out but more because I wonder how well promoted it is - particularly here in Australia? I must say that, as in previous years, I've heard very little about it. Perhaps, though, if I went to my … Continue reading World Poetry Day 2018
Monday musings on Australian literature: Mollie Skinner and DH Lawrence
I promised this post in yesterday's review of Mollie Skinner's short story, "The hand", but have since been reminded that Bill (The Australian Legend) has already written about Skinner's relationship with Lawrence. I've decided to continue with my plan, not only because it interests me, but because I hope to add to the discussion. So, I suggest that you … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Mollie Skinner and DH Lawrence
M.L. (Mollie) Skinner, The hand (#Review)
Pam of Travellin' Penguin blog read ML Skinner's short story "The hand" for a challenge she was doing, and, when I expressed interest in it, very kindly sent me a copy. "The hand" is a mysterious little story - and by little, I mean, little in that it takes up less than 7 pages of the anthology, … Continue reading M.L. (Mollie) Skinner, The hand (#Review)
Sofie Laguna, The choke (#BookReview)
There are many reasons why I wanted to read Sofie Laguna's latest book The choke. Firstly, I was inspired by a very engaging author conversation I attended late last year. Secondly, she won the Miles Franklin with her previous book The eye of the sheep (which I still haven't read). Thirdly, its setting, the Murray River, is … Continue reading Sofie Laguna, The choke (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Contemporary Australian literary translators
Today's Monday Musings was inspired by the shortlisting for the 2018 Stella Prize of Iranian-born Australian-based writer Shokoofeh Azar's The enlightenment of the greengage tree. I first came across this book when Lisa (ANZLitLovers) reviewed it last August, commenting in her opening paragraph that the novel "is an exciting development in Australian publishing" because it was written in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Contemporary Australian literary translators
John Lang, The forger’s wife (#BookReview)
When new publisher Grattan Street Press offered me a review copy of John Lang's The forger's wife last November, I couldn't resist, even though it is from their Colonial Australian Popular Fiction series. I say "even though" because, had it been written now, it would probably not have come under my radar. It's very much … Continue reading John Lang, The forger’s wife (#BookReview)
Festival Muse 2018: Turn me on
Woo hoo, Muse, which is one of my favourite places in Canberra, is running its second Muse Festival this long weekend in Canberra. As last year, Mr Gums and I went to the opening event, Turn me on, last night -and it was different but also good. Different because last year's opener, Women of the … Continue reading Festival Muse 2018: Turn me on
Stella Prize 2018 Shortlist announced
As you probably know, the Stella Prize is the award I particularly like to follow, though I don't always post on the Longlist and the Shortlist as I am this year. The Longlist was announced on 8 February (my post), and the shortlist was announced, yesterday, International Women's Day, as has, appropriately, become tradition. Here … Continue reading Stella Prize 2018 Shortlist announced
Whispering Gums 