It was almost 30 years ago to the day that I attended my first exhibition of post-impressionist art. That was in London: it was Post-Impressionism at the Royal Academy of Arts, 1979-80, and we went on March 9, 1980, the last day of my first European trip. Last night, March 4, 2010, we went to … Continue reading Post-impressionism redux
The Diagram Prize for the oddest title of the year
I know you've been waiting for it: the longlist for the Bookseller/Diagram Prize is out - and in fact was out in early February. You can find it in the Guardian article here. As no doubt some of you know, this prize began in 1978 as a way, says the Wikipedia article to which I've linked, … Continue reading The Diagram Prize for the oddest title of the year
Jack London, War
What do I know about Jack London? Not much really, except that he wrote adventure stories like Call of the wild and White fang, and, intriguingly, a study of London slums, People of the abyss. So, when this week's Library of America story was "War" (1911) by Jack London, I decided to read it. You can read it … Continue reading Jack London, War
Sawako Ariyoshi, The doctor’s wife
The doctor's wife is the third Ariyoshi novel that I've read. The other two - The River Ki and The twilight years - I read well over a decade ago. According to Wikipedia The doctor's wife is considered her best novel. All, though, are fascinating reads providing an insight into a culture which is so different … Continue reading Sawako Ariyoshi, The doctor’s wife
Kevin Barry, Fjord of Killary
I hadn't heard of Kevin Barry when his short story published in The New Yorker this month, "Fjord of Killary", was brought to my attention. Kevin Barry is an Irish writer, born in Limerick in 1969, and this makes him 40 (or 41 this year). The first person narrator of the story is the same … Continue reading Kevin Barry, Fjord of Killary
Sarah Waters in conversation with Marion Halligan
Sarah Waters, 2006 (Courtesy: Annie_C_2, via Wikipedia, under Creative Commons CC-BY-2.0) In a delightful coincidence, Sarah Waters was in town tonight for a literary event, just one night after my reading group discussed her novel The little stranger - and so, naturally, those of us who were free turned up to hear her converse with … Continue reading Sarah Waters in conversation with Marion Halligan
Sarah Waters, The little stranger
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
Whispering Gums 