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
Animal Kingdom scoops the 2010 AFI Awards
Australia's version of the Oscars - the AFI (Australian Film Institute) Awards - was held last night and, as my post title announces, Animal Kingdom (which I reviewed a few months ago) won, deservedly I think, almost every major category . The major awards were as follows: BEST FILM: Animal Kingdom BEST DIRECTION: David Michôd, Animal Kingdom … Continue reading Animal Kingdom scoops the 2010 AFI Awards
Tracy Chevalier, Remarkable creatures
Most readers experience, I think, periods of reading synchronicity when we read books in close succession that are related in some way. I am experiencing such a period now as Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable creatures is the third book I've read recently to deal in some way with the first decades of the 19th century. The … Continue reading Tracy Chevalier, Remarkable creatures
