It's some time since I last attended an author event, not because there haven't been any but because they've clashed with other commitments. I mean, why do organisations choose the same day of the week for events, like, say, Thursdays? Why don't they get together and agree to share them across all the week days? … Continue reading Robyn Cadwallader in conversation with Catherine Milne
Monday musings on Australian literature: Unfinished books
Regular readers here will recognise that this post was inspired by my recent posts on Jane Austen's unfinished novels, The Watsons and Sanditon. They made me think more generally about unfinished novels, and who is interested in them. I thought it might be fun to write about this, referencing Australian literature. But first, lest this … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Unfinished books
Jane Austen, Sanditon (Unfinished) (#Review)
I first read Jane Austen's unfinished novel, Sanditon, in the early 1970s, when I was deep into my love of Austen and had to read everything she wrote. This meant reading her two unfinished novels (the other being The Watsons which I've written about here twice before) and her Juvenilia, parts of which I've also … Continue reading Jane Austen, Sanditon (Unfinished) (#Review)
Kate Chopin, Her letters (#Review)
There are a few American authors who, when they pop up as a Library of America (LOA) Story of the Week, I try to read. These include Edith Wharton, Willa Cather and Kate Chopin. I don't always manage to read them, but I have read the latest Kate Chopin story they've published, "Her letters". And my, … Continue reading Kate Chopin, Her letters (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Literary awards’ judging panels
In my Stella Awards post last week, I shared an excerpt from winner Alexis Wright's acceptance speech in which she applauded the diversity in this year's shortlist, noting that it included "Indonesia, Iran and Sri Lanka, as well as two Aboriginal writers." In that post, I also quoted Stella's Executive Director, Aviva Tuffield, as saying … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Literary awards’ judging panels
Charlie Archbold, Mallee boys (#BookReview)
Reading synchronicities strike again. Both my last read, John Clanchy's Sisters, and this one, Charlie Archbold's Mallee boys, are family stories with a guilt about the death of a family member at their centre. Both, too, are set in non-urban areas, Clanchy's in coastal New South Wales and Archbold's in the dry Mallee region of … Continue reading Charlie Archbold, Mallee boys (#BookReview)
Stella Prize 2018 Winner – and how the Stella is tracking (pun alert!)
I don't always write announcement posts here - even when I write short and or longlist posts, because the news is usually so immediately known. What can I add? However, I've decided to post on last night's Stella Prize announcement for a couple of reasons, one being the significance of the winner and the other … Continue reading Stella Prize 2018 Winner – and how the Stella is tracking (pun alert!)
John Clanchy, Sisters (#BookReview)
Local writer John Clanchy has appeared a couple of times in this blog - as the author of the short story collection, Six: New tales (my review), and as the person launching Stephanie Buckle's collection, Habits of silence (my review) - but never for one of his novels, until now. Sisters has an interesting history: … Continue reading John Clanchy, Sisters (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: #8wordstory
Do you like writing challenges? Last year I started a Monday Musings sub-series on Australia's state writers centres. So far I've written on four, and I should be getting on with it. However, I can't resist returning, today, to the Queensland Writers' Centre (previous post) to share a wonderful campaign they ran late last year. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: #8wordstory
Six degrees of separation, FROM Memoirs of a geisha TO …
Last month I complained about the start of autumn because although I love autumn, I hate winter. This month, another nail went in the warm-weather coffin, with the ending of daylight savings. Oh dear ... The good news for me, though, is that I have actually read April's starting book for the Six Degrees of … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Memoirs of a geisha TO …
