The genres - or, perhaps I mean sub-genres - keep coming. Recently, I've started hearing about something called tech noir. I've heard for some time of rural (or outback or drought) noir, and have read some in that genre because I love books with a strong sense of place. I am also interested in technology … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Tech noir
Six degrees of separation, FROM The correspondent TO …
This month's SixDegrees occurs the weekend we here in Australia celebrate (or, commemorate, depending your point-of-view) Easter. Yes, I know that we are not the only country to do this, but I also know that not all countries make it a four-day weekend as we do. So, I just thought I'd share this little bit … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM The correspondent TO …
Monday musings on Australian literature: Blake Poetry Prize
Coincidentally, I reviewed a book of poetry by Paris Rosemont just as the longlist for the current Blake Poetry Prize was announced, and it includes a poem by her. The timing seemed right to give this prize some air. I have mentioned it before - but only in passing in my 2024 Poetry Month post … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Blake Poetry Prize
Paris Rosemont, Barefoot poetess (#BookReview)
Fierce, raw, honest are all clichés used to describe strong, powerful writing, but when it comes to Paris Rosemont's poetry collection, Barefoot poetess, they are hard to go past. However, I prefer to avoid review clichés, so let's start again ... Paris Rosemont's second poetry collection, Barefoot poetess, turned out to be quite the page-turner … Continue reading Paris Rosemont, Barefoot poetess (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Melbourne, a City of Literature?
A year ago I finally wrote a post on the UNESCO Cities of Literature, focusing on Melbourne's designation as UNESCO's second such city in 2008, and Hobart's addition as Australia's second city in 2023. The full list is available online at the Cities of Literature website. As I wrote in that post, the criteria against … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Melbourne, a City of Literature?
World Poetry Day 2026: More poetry on my TBR pile
As I have written before, World Poetry Day was declared by UNESCO in 1999, with the goal of honouring "poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in … Continue reading World Poetry Day 2026: More poetry on my TBR pile
Monday musings on Australian literature: Hazel Rowley Fellowship
Back in 2013, I wrote about the Hazel Rowley Literary Fund which was set up in 2011 by Rowley's sister and friends, in association with Writers Victoria. Hazel Rowley was, as many of you will know, one of Australia's most respected biographers. Her subjects were diverse, and not exclusively Australian. Indeed, most were not Australian, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Hazel Rowley Fellowship
Johanna Bell, Department of the Vanishing (#BookReview)
Words can be problematical when it comes to expressing our response to literature, indeed to any of the arts. We are uncomfortable, for example, using the word "enjoy" to express our response to anything that is dark. This is understandable, and yet I think "enjoy" is a perfectly okay word for something that has engaged … Continue reading Johanna Bell, Department of the Vanishing (#BookReview)
Stella Prize 2026 Longlist announced
As I say every year, I don't do well at having read the Stella Prize longlist at the time of its announcement. In recent years the most I've read at the time of the announcement has been two (in 2019). Last year I'd read one. I have read 9 of the 13 winners to date, … Continue reading Stella Prize 2026 Longlist announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Turning 50 in 2026
No, not me, much as I wish it were! I'm talking books. Today being the day after International Women's Day, I thought to feature women in this week's Monday Musings. But how? Then I remembered that somewhere last year I'd seen a list of books turning 50, so decided to take inspiration from that and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Turning 50 in 2026
Whispering Gums 