Here at the Gums, we like of course to give and receive books for Christmas. Like you, I'm sure, I love choosing books for those I love, albeit tinged with a little anxiety. Have they read it? Will they like it? That doesn't stop we readers giving it a go though does it? Anyhow, just … Continue reading Books given and received for Christmas
Monday musings on Australian literature: The challenge of literacy
Today's topic may be a bit serious for Christmas week, but I've decided to go with it anyhow. I was inspired to write it by an article in the online journal, The Conversation. The article, by Deakin University academic Lyn McCredden, was itself inspired by the Prime Minister's Literary Awards at which one of the winners, Richard Flanagan, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The challenge of literacy
Morris Lurie, Hergesheimer in the present tense (Review)
Well, well, well, I got to the end of Morris Lurie's quirky last novel (if that's what it is), Hergesheimer in the present tense, and laughed. The final paragraph, which seemed to come out of left field, concerns Dostoyevsky's contract with a "scurrilous publisher" to deliver a novel - The gambler - on an impossible schedule. It … Continue reading Morris Lurie, Hergesheimer in the present tense (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: RN presenters’ pick reads of the year
I was going to write my Case for post this week, but I think now that I'll leave it to January. Life is a bit too busy right now to put proper thought into presenting my case (though I've pretty much decided which book it will be!) So, instead, since various media outlets are starting … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: RN presenters’ pick reads of the year
The Griffyns end the year on, hmm, a macabre note
Only the Griffyn Ensemble could put together a concert that included Arvo Pärt and Bob Dylan, that started with eerie sounds from a tape and ended with mysterious knockings and bumpings from who knows where to the strains of Silent Night. Intrigued? Then read on ... This year the Griffyns' theme has been Fairy Stories - loosely … Continue reading The Griffyns end the year on, hmm, a macabre note
Who’s watching our e-reading behaviour?
I was intrigued to read in The Guardian app this morning that Kobo has released a report on patterns in e-reading that they have gleaned from more than 21 million Kobo readers (the devices and, therefore, the readers!) across the world! The report says that retailers had been reluctant to share the data they had been gathering … Continue reading Who’s watching our e-reading behaviour?
Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards
I've written about the Prime Minister's Literary Awards before - more than once in fact, as you will see if you click on my link. They were created in 2007 by our then new Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. What heady days they were. These were, at the time, Australia's most lucrative literary awards, and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards
Helen Garner, This house of grief: The story of a murder trial (Review)
Well you might ask why you would want to read a book about the trial of a man accused of murdering his three sons by driving his car into a dam and escaping the car himself? Indeed, Helen Garner was asked why she would want to attend such a trial - and write about it. … Continue reading Helen Garner, This house of grief: The story of a murder trial (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: The case for …
Back in February, the online journal, The Conversation, about which I've written before, started a occasional series they call The case for .... They described it simply as ... If you had to argue for the merits of one Australian book, one piece of writing, what would it be? That's very open-ended and I did … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The case for …
Delicious descriptions: Eimear McBride is not all grim
Reactions to Eimear McBride's A girl is a half-formed thing, which I reviewed recently, vary greatly. It is, overall, a bleak read and its style is idiosyncratic, which makes it a double whammy. So, for example, it has been called "brutal" (by Sunday Times Ireland) and a "joyous thing" (by Michael Cathcart, RN's Books and Arts Daily). … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Eimear McBride is not all grim
Whispering Gums 