Near the end of her book True north about Mary and Elizabeth Durack, biographer Brenda Niall writes of Mary Durack's poem, "Lament for the Drowned Country", which she says "has been judged her finest poem". Of course, with such a statement, I had to read it. I could have Googled* it, but I decided to check my … Continue reading Dame Mary Durack, Lament for the drowned country (Review)
The Griffyn Ensemble’s paean to the weather
It's pretty much a given that a Griffyn Ensemble concert will be both entertaining and challenging - and their latest concert, Cloudy With a Chance of Rain, was no exception. But this concert had an added fillip: it was unashamedly political in addressing the thorny (for some) issue of climate change. Good on the Griffyns … Continue reading The Griffyn Ensemble’s paean to the weather
Monday musings on Australian literature: National Bookshop Day (Belated)
Saturday 11 August was National Bookshop Day here down under but I decided to delay writing about it until this week's Monday Musings as it seems a worthy subject. However, Lisa of ANZLitlovers and Louise of A Strong Belief in Wicker did their posts in a more timely way. National Bookshop Day is a new concept … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: National Bookshop Day (Belated)
Delicious descriptions from Down under: Mary Durack on Patrick White
I am slowly - very slowly - reading True North, Brenda Niall's biography of Mary and Elizabeth Durack. Life is rather getting in the way of reading at present so, contrary to my normal practice, I am going to post a Delicious Description from it before, rather than after, my review. For those of you … Continue reading Delicious descriptions from Down under: Mary Durack on Patrick White
Monday musings on Australian literature: Some favourite Aussie film adaptations (1)
In support of Australia's National Year of Reading the National Film and Sound Archive is, later this year, holding an exhibition on film adaptations. And that made me think about my favourite film adaptations, which in turn made me think it might be a good Monday Musings topic. So, here I am. This post will … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some favourite Aussie film adaptations (1)
Melissa Lucashenko, The silent majority (Review)
I have reviewed many individual short stories by Americans (through the Library of America), but not by Australians. Time to rectify that a little, and why not with a short story by Melissa Lucashenko, an Australian writer of European and indigenous Australian heritage. She is an award-winning novelist and an essayist, but I hadn't read … Continue reading Melissa Lucashenko, The silent majority (Review)
Virginia Woolf on Jane Austen’s Love and freindship
A couple of weeks ago I reviewed Jane Austen's juvenilia work, Love and freindship. I wanted, then, to share with you Virginia Woolf's take on Jane and the work, but decided it would be better as its own post, so here I am again. Woolf was quite an essayist, as you probably know, as well … Continue reading Virginia Woolf on Jane Austen’s Love and freindship
Monday musings on Australian literature: It’s all about sport, or is it?
I've written previous Monday Musings on themes and motifs in Aussie literature - like the lost child, the beach, mountains and even sheep - so, with the Olympics now on, it seemed appropriate to add sport to this list. Whether we all like it or not, Australia has somewhat of a reputation for being a … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: It’s all about sport, or is it?
What do Anna Funder and Amarcord have in common?
Leipzig! It's funny isn't it how some person, place, idea (or whatever) that you hadn't come across in who knows how long suddenly makes its presence felt more than once in a short amount of time. This is what happened to me this week when I attended, on Sunday, a conversation at the National Library … Continue reading What do Anna Funder and Amarcord have in common?
Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2012
Last year I attended and reported on the post-announcement panel for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards, held at the National Library of Australia. I attended again this year and, since it occurred today, Monday, I've decide to devote this week's Monday musings to it. First, the winners: Fiction: Gillian Mears' Foal's bread (My review) Poetry: Luke … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2012
