I'm not quite sure I know where to start with this one - the ghost story that isn't. Or is it? The little stranger is my second Sarah Waters' novel. I found The night watch riveting, and I did see and enjoy (but not read) her very Dickensian Fingersmith. Like The night watch, The little stranger was … Continue reading Sarah Waters, The little stranger
Kill your darlings, and literary reviewing
Kill your darlings is a new Australian "independent publication of fresh, clever writing that combines intellect with intrigue" (from their website). The first issue, March 2010 Issue no. 1, contains an article by Gideon Haigh on what he believes to be the parlous state of literary reviewing in Australia. The article is titled "Feeding the … Continue reading Kill your darlings, and literary reviewing
Jorge Amado, Gabriela, clove and cinnamon
How could you resist reading a book with a title like this? I don't manage to read all the books scheduled for the various bookgroups I belong to, but when this one came up I decided it was a must - because it was by a non-Anglo writer and one I hadn't read before, and … Continue reading Jorge Amado, Gabriela, clove and cinnamon
Musica Viva, the Internet and Borodin
Tonight was the opening of our Musica Viva 2010 International Concert Season. The performers were the Borodin Quartet, and they performed two quartets by Shostakovich and one by their namesake, Borodin. I'm not going to review this concert in detail because, as I've said before, I have no musical training and so can't comment in any … Continue reading Musica Viva, the Internet and Borodin
Richard Allen and Kimbal Baker, Australia’s remarkable trees
It's odd, don't you think, that a poem by Thomas Hardy is used to introduce a book titled Australia's remarkable trees? The poem, "Throwing a tree", starts with a line that leaves you in no doubt as to the poet's sympathies: The two executioners stalk along over the knolls ... and concludes with the poignant, … Continue reading Richard Allen and Kimbal Baker, Australia’s remarkable trees
Willa Cather, The sentimentality of William Tavener
Last week's Library of America story was Willa Cather's "The sentimentality of William Tavener" (1900). I can't resist blogging about this one because it's by the wonderful Willa, to whom I was introduced when I first lived in the US in the early 1980s. I have read only three of her novels (My Antonia, The … Continue reading Willa Cather, The sentimentality of William Tavener
Ruth Park, Swords and crowns and rings
Note to self: never again "read" an audiobook over a long period, such as, say, 5 months! This is how I read Ruth Park's engrossing 1977 Miles Franklin award-winning novel, Swords and crowns and rings. It was not hard to keep up with the plot as it's pretty straightforward - and powerful. It is hard, … Continue reading Ruth Park, Swords and crowns and rings
Helen Simonson, Major Pettigrew’s last stand
If you like warm-hearted novels with a positive ending you may like this. If you like such novels with a touch of social commentary you will probably like this. If you like books like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Miss Garnet's angel, then this is definitely for you. But if you … Continue reading Helen Simonson, Major Pettigrew’s last stand
Alexander McCall Smith, Tea time for the traditionally built
Alexander McCall Smith said at the literary event I attended recently that if he achieves nothing else in his life he is glad he introduced the concept "traditionally built" because it has brought such comfort to many women (particularly, he says with a twinkle in his eye, in America!). Tea time for the traditionally built … Continue reading Alexander McCall Smith, Tea time for the traditionally built
Edith Maude Eaton, Mrs Spring Fragrance
This week's Library of America short story offering is "Mrs Spring Fragrance" by Chinese American author Edith Maude Eaton (1865-1914) who wrote under the pen name of Sui Sin Far. She had an American father and a Chinese mother and, according to the notes which accompany the story, was apparently the first person of Chinese … Continue reading Edith Maude Eaton, Mrs Spring Fragrance
Whispering Gums 