Susan Varga's biography-cum-memoir, Heddy and me, was first published back in 1994, so why am I reading it now? By a rather circuitous route, as it happens. Lesley Lebkowicz, whose The Petrov poems I've reviewed, read my post on Anna Rosner Blay's Sister, sister, and suggested to Susan Varga that she might like to send me her book to … Continue reading Susan Varga, Heddy and me (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Hope Prize
I came across the beautifully named Hope Prize over the weekend via some online service. Was it Twitter? Was it Facebook? Perhaps even Instagram though I think not, but I really can't recollect. Such is our online lives, eh? Anyhow, the Hope Prize, was, according to the website, established by the Brotherhood of St Laurence "thanks … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Hope Prize
Josephine Rowe, A loving, faithful animal (Review)
How many novels have you read featuring the Vietnam War? I've not read many I must say, but last year I did review Charles Hall's Summer's gone, and now this year I've read Josephine Rowe's A loving, faithful animal. It's a debut novel but, from its form, you can tell that Rowe is an accomplished short story writer. I … Continue reading Josephine Rowe, A loving, faithful animal (Review)
Six degrees of separation, FROM Never let me go TO The paper house
I rather enjoyed playing Kate's #6Degrees "meme" last month so, while I don't expect to play every month, November's starting book, Kazuo Ishiguro's Never let me go, was far too tempting to let go! Once again, read on to see why ... I read Kazuo Ishiguro's dystopian Never let me go before I started blogging, and have only reviewed one of his works since … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Never let me go TO The paper house
Monday musings on Australian literature: Women writers on the outback
After I posted my completion of the AWW Bingo Card yesterday a discussion ensued on Lisa's ANZLitLovers blog regarding her comment on the dearth of books written by women "set in the outback". That got me thinking ... and it seemed like a good topic to play with in a Monday Musings. There's a question to resolve … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Women writers on the outback
AWW Bingo 2016 Challenge Completed
For a blogger of more than 7-years standing who doesn't take part in memes and challenges, I'm doing a good job this month. First it was 6 degrees of separation earlier this month, and now it's a bingo game. I have good reasons for these exceptions, but I don't expect you really want to know those, … Continue reading AWW Bingo 2016 Challenge Completed
Bruce Pascoe, Dark emu, black seeds: Agriculture or accident? (Review)
Indigenous author Bruce Pascoe's Dark emu, black seeds: Agriculture or accident? was my reading group's October book, and a very interesting read and discussion it turned out to be. It's not a simple book to discuss and really got us thinking, eliciting a variety of responses, though we all agreed with Pascoe's basic premise that we Australians need … Continue reading Bruce Pascoe, Dark emu, black seeds: Agriculture or accident? (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Novels about objects
This weekend I went to the National Museum of Australia's current visiting exhibition, A History of the World in 100 Objects from the British Museum. The promo describes it thus: "Explore the history of humanity — how we have shaped the world, and how the world has shaped us — in this major exhibition. Witness compelling stories … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Novels about objects
Oliver Wendell Holmes, The deacon’s masterpiece: Or the wonderful “one-hoss-shay” (Review)
Oliver Wendell Holmes is one of those wonderful names that, once you hear it, you can't really forget it - at least, I can't. But, the thing is, I often hear wonderful names of people who've "done things" without actually knowing what they've done. Oliver Wendell Holmes is one of these, and so when he … Continue reading Oliver Wendell Holmes, The deacon’s masterpiece: Or the wonderful “one-hoss-shay” (Review)
Anna Spargo-Ryan, The paper house (Review)
I hadn't heard of Anna Spargo-Ryan's novel, The paper-house, when it was sent to me for review, which is not surprising given it's a debut novel. However, I loved the cover - designed by one of Australia's top book designers, Sandy Cull - and so was more than willing to give it a go. It traverses some … Continue reading Anna Spargo-Ryan, The paper house (Review)
Whispering Gums 