I love food and I enjoy reading about food. I particularly enjoy reading about food - and food traditions - from other cultures. And so, when Ana Menéndez's story popped up on the Library of America last month I made a note to read it. The last piece of food writing that I read from LOA, … Continue reading Ana Menéndez, Celebrations of Thanksgiving: Cuban offerings
Banana Yoshimoto, The lake (Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011)
Image created by Matt Todd of A Novel Approach When I saw that Banana Yoshimoto's novel The lake was shortlisted for the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize I knew that it would be a high priority for me to read, because I like Japanese literature and I have read and enjoyed Yoshimoto (her novel Kitchen) … Continue reading Banana Yoshimoto, The lake (Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011)
Monday musings on Australian literature: My AusLit wrap up for 2011
Here we are at the end of another year and I've decided that, rather than list my top Aussie reads for 2011, I'd list my AusLit highlights of the year. I apologise in advance that it's going to be all about me - that is, the links will be to posts on this blog. After … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: My AusLit wrap up for 2011
Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011: Reviews from the week December 18-24
Happy Holidays everyone who is celebrating this weekend ... May you receive many books and the time to read them! I have taken a quick break from my festivities to bring you Week 6 of our Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011 longlist reviewing project. It has been quiet on the reviewing front this week, … Continue reading Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011: Reviews from the week December 18-24
Whither literary manuscripts in the digital age?
Have you experienced the thrill of seeing original manuscripts by your favourite author or of a favourite book? I certainly have ... the most memorable for me, of course, being some pages from Jane Austen's Persuasion. But such personal thrill isn't the only value to be gained through having access to original manuscripts. Scholars love … Continue reading Whither literary manuscripts in the digital age?
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest Post from Guy of His Futile Preoccupations
Monday Musings' Guest Post no. 3 comes from Guy Savage of His Futile Preoccupations. Guy started commenting on my blog very early on and endeared himself to me by giving me the nickname of Gummie. That is a very Aussie thing to do - or is it English? Guy, you see, is an expat Brit … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest Post from Guy of His Futile Preoccupations
Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011: Reviews from the week December 11-17
Week 5 of our Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011 longlist reviewing project and we're moving along with quite a bumper crop of reviews this week ... Haruki Murakami's IQ84 (Japan) by Matt of A Novel Approach. Matt, a student of Japanese literature, has mixed feelings. He calls it unwieldy, though he also admits that … Continue reading Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011: Reviews from the week December 11-17
Anuradha Roy, The folded earth (Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011)
Anuradha Roy The folded earth London: MacLehose Press, 2011 257pp. ISBN: 9780857050441
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Gothic (19th century)
A few months ago I wrote a post on Horace Walpole's The castle of Otranto which is regarded as a pioneer in the Gothic novel tradition. I thought then that it would be good to explore how the Gothic translated to Australia where we have no castles in which the supernatural can rattle and clang. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Gothic (19th century)
Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011: Reviews from the week December 4-10
Week 4 of our Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011 longlist reviewing project and we're moving along with ... Jamil Ahmad's The wandering falcon (Pakistan) by Stu of Winston's Dad. He, like Lisa who has already reviewed it, liked it for what he felt to be its authentic portrayal of the tribespeople of an area that … Continue reading Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011: Reviews from the week December 4-10
Whispering Gums 