Book cover (Courtesy: Text Publishing) The romantic, by Kate Holden, is hard to categorise. In an interview with Richard Aedy on ABC Radio's Life Matters she comments that, despite the success of her memoir In my skin, she was "a little bit uncomfortable with memoir" because it felt a bit "narcissistic". And so this, her second … Continue reading Kate Holden, The Romantic: Italian nights and days
Katharine Susannah Prichard, The pioneers
Katharine Susannah Prichard (1883-1969) is probably not as well-known in Australia, let alone internationally, as she should be. She was born in Fiji, but grew up in Tasmania and Melbourne, travelled overseas and in other parts of Australia, before settling in Western Australia in 1919. She was a founding member of the Australian Communist … Continue reading Katharine Susannah Prichard, The pioneers
Garry Disher, Wyatt (Guest post)
Some time ago I found in my mailbox a bundle of books from my lovely contacts at Text Publishing. Unfortunately, there were more books in the bundle than I could read at the time, and a couple were in genres I don't generally read (though that's not to say I wouldn't read them if I … Continue reading Garry Disher, Wyatt (Guest post)
Monday musings on Australian literature: My top Australian reads of 2010
In last week's Monday musings I said that this series would resume in the New Year. But then the thought occurred to me: this is an Australian focused litblog, so why don't I divide my top reads of the year into those by Australian writers, and the rest? That decision made, it seemed logical to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: My top Australian reads of 2010
Literary encounters, Australian style
I've been remiss. I could have solved some of your Christmas shopping challenges by telling you about two books which would be perfect gifts for readers: Shane Maloney and Chris Grosz's Australian encounters, and Susannah Fullerton's Brief encounters. Both have "encounters" in the title, but they use the word in slightly different ways, as you'll see … Continue reading Literary encounters, Australian style
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Christmas imagery
As a 50-something Australian, I grew up with a big disconnect regarding Christmas. Our Christmas occurs in summer but the cards we received (and could buy) and the carols we sang (and still do) tended to be winter-focused. And then we discovered the carols by Wheeler and James. John Wheeler (lyricist) and William G James (composer) … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Christmas imagery
Literary Societies of Sydney
Although I grew up in Queensland and New South Wales, and have spent most of my adult life in the Australian Capital Territory, it seems I have referred more in this blog to Melbourne (and Victoria), so now seems the time to balance it out a little. Why now? Because this week, in the December … Continue reading Literary Societies of Sydney
Vale Ruth Park
"Harp in the South silenced: author Ruth Park dead at 93" confronted me this morning on page 3 of our daily newspaper. I guess it had to happen, but it is nonetheless sad to see such a grand dame of Australian literature leave us. I have referred to her several times on this blog, three … Continue reading Vale Ruth Park
Alan Bennett, The uncommon reader
Light with bite is how I would describe Alan Bennett's delightful novella The uncommon reader. But, before I explain that further, a quick plot summary for those few who haven't come across it. It explores what happens when Queen Elizabeth II stumbles across a mobile library on the palace grounds and becomes obsessed with books and … Continue reading Alan Bennett, The uncommon reader
Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie writers and Jane Austen
Funnily enough, I'm not the only Australian who loves Jane Austen - and so we too have our very own Jane Austen juggernaut. We see the films and miniseries, we have the Jane Austen Society of Australia - and we have academics and others researching and writing on all sorts of topics relating to her. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie writers and Jane Austen
Whispering Gums 