A few days ago I posted a review of Marion Halligan's latest book, Valley of Grace, and mentioned that Halligan had attended my bookgroup meeting at which we discussed the book. I didn't, however, share in that post all of the things that Halligan told us - and I won't in this post either. Some … Continue reading Marion on Marion (Halligan)
Challenge of the biopic, Redux
Back in July I posted about biopics and about the tensions inherent between fact and fiction in what is, essentially, a dramatisation. Despite this - despite the fact that I know I can't rely on them for the facts - I like biopics. Of course, I don't like all biopics, and there are some I … Continue reading Challenge of the biopic, Redux
Indie Book Award, 2009
The winner of this year's Indie Book of the Year Award was announced last week - and it is Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, which I reviewed here recently. The Indie Book Awards are made by Australian independent booksellers, and this is their second year. The winners in the four sections are chosen by a … Continue reading Indie Book Award, 2009
This of course doesn’t make any sense
Lisa, over at ANZLitLovers, has produced a list of some of the main features of postmodernism. It just so happens that I am also reading a postmodernist book, Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is illuminated (from which the title of this post comes). I've only just started the book but it is exhibiting those features of … Continue reading This of course doesn’t make any sense
The value of the imprimatur
In the October issue of Limelight, conductor-composer Guy Noble has written about that Washington Post experiment in which renowned violinist, Joshua Bell, busked in downtown Washington. Only one person recognised him. No-one else showed much interest and he ended with the princely sum of a little over $30, $20 of which came from the person … Continue reading The value of the imprimatur
Marion Halligan, Valley of grace
Delicious but sly are the first words that come to mind when I think about Marion Halligan's latest novel, Valley of Grace. Take this for example: You know, people think flowers are pretty. Sentimental. Frivolous even. But the fact is, everything begins in the garden. Humans. Society. Civilisation. Evil. Things bud, bloom, weather, age, die. … Continue reading Marion Halligan, Valley of grace
William Lane, The workingman’s paradise
Wealth and Poverty both seem to degrade most of us. (p. 249) So says Bohemian Connie Stratton to the hero Ned Hawkins in William Lane's 1892 novel, The workingman's paradise. William Lane, an English-born journalist, union supporter and socialist, wrote under a number of pseudonyms including John Miller, the name he used for this novel … Continue reading William Lane, The workingman’s paradise
William Styron, Rat beach
I haven't read any William Styron, though I have seen the movie of Sophie's Choice, and so was pleased to have the opportunity to read his "Rat beach" for one of my many bookgroups this month. This short story was published in The New Yorker three years after Styron's death and is about a young … Continue reading William Styron, Rat beach
If you look up Wikipedia…
Back in June I wrote a post on Wikipedia's fairly rapid rise over the last two years in the credibility stakes ... about how it is even being cited as a source by Aunty ABC (Australia's government-backed broadcaster, for my overseas readers). Well, it has risen even higher than that now. Yesterday, the minister conducting … Continue reading If you look up Wikipedia…
Truth in fiction?
One of the things we readers regularly talk about is the notion of the truths we find in fiction. I like to collect what authors have to say about this, particularly in their own fiction, and so thought I'd share a few with you. But first I'll start with one from Richard Flanagan that doesn't … Continue reading Truth in fiction?
Whispering Gums 