Willa Cather, 1936 (Photo: Carl Van Vechten; Public domain, via Wikipedia) It's nearly two years since I posted on a Library of America (LOA) short story, and it's over a year since they published Willa Cather's "The bookkeeper's wife" as their Story of the Week. However, this morning I had a quiet moment and decided to … Continue reading Willa Cather, The bookkeeper’s wife (#Review)
Melissa Lucashenko, Edenglassie (#BookReview)
Broadly speaking, Melissa Lucashenko's latest novel, Edenglassie, does for southeast Queensland what Kim Scott's That deadman dance does for Noongar country in southwest Western Australia. Both tell of the early days of their respective colonies from a First Nations perspective; both are written in a generous spirit but with absolute clarity about the dispossession that … Continue reading Melissa Lucashenko, Edenglassie (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2024
National Poetry Month - in Australia - is now four years old, and once again it is spearheaded by Red Room Poetry, which is described by ArtsHub as "Australia’s leading organisation that commissions poets and produces live poetry events nationally". ArtsHub adds that this Month is "a festival that celebrates emerging and established writers, as … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2024
Six degrees of separation, FROM The Museum of Modern Love TO …
It's another new month, meaning time for another Six Degrees. Last month, in my introduction, I said that one of the things I like about doing this meme is seeing what book Kate has chosen next. Little did I know when I was writing that post, that the book she had chosen for this month … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM The Museum of Modern Love TO …
Monday musings on Australian literature: Et toi, France!
With a certain event happening in Paris, and other parts of France at the moment, I thought it would be fun to briefly explore, some literary connections between Australia and France. I say "some" because there's no way I could know, let alone list, all the ways in which our countries have connected over the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Et toi, France!
Myfanwy Jones, Cool water (#BookReview)
When I was a little girl, I was allowed to watch a limited amount of television, and what I loved - yes, you can laugh at me - were the singing cowboys, like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. We are talking the 60s and I was constrained by what was on at the times I … Continue reading Myfanwy Jones, Cool water (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 6, Constance Clyde
"Forgotten" is a subjective thing, as I suggested with my fifth post in this series on Lillian Pyke whose reputation as a children's writer has survived in niche circles at least. My next subject, Constance Clyde, like Lillian Pyke, has entries in both AustLit and Wikipedia suggesting some notability, but I had not heard of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 6, Constance Clyde
Hell Herons, The Wreck Event
In late June I attended the 2024 ACT Literary Awards which were held in the Canberra Contemporary Art Space. In my post on those awards, I shared the MCs' acknowledgement of CCAS's ongoing sponsorship. They made the point that this space is an appropriate venue because there are links between all artists, including the fact … Continue reading Hell Herons, The Wreck Event
Brigitta Olubas and Susan Wyndham in conversation with Julieanne Lamond
This week's Meet-the-Author conversation with Brigitta Olubas and Susan Wyndham about their book Hazzard and Harrower: The letters was high priority for me - not only because Hazzard and Harrower are wonderful writers, but because Olubas and Wyndham are themselves significant players in Australia's literary community. For those who don't know them, Shirley Hazzard (1931-2016) … Continue reading Brigitta Olubas and Susan Wyndham in conversation with Julieanne Lamond
Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australian short story collections
NAIDOC Week 2024 National Logo NAIDOC Week 2024 finished yesterday, but, as I often do, I am bookending the week with Monday Musings posts. Last week, I posted on First Nations Australian Stella listees. This week I'd like to highlight some recent (meaning 21st century) short story collections. In my admittedly limited experience, First Nations … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australian short story collections
Whispering Gums 