This is, I believe, a Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna) though I could also be wrong as I'm very much an amateur when it comes to tree identification. It does look like: they can be found up and down the east coast of New South Wales, of which the Hastings River is part, and they … Continue reading Time for another gum
Craig Silvey, Jasper Jones (Review)
What is is about coming-of-age novels? Why do we like to read them long after we've (hopefully) come of age ourselves? Is it because we like to compare our own experience with that of others? Whatever the reason, it is clear that we do like to read them because they sure keep being written and … Continue reading Craig Silvey, Jasper Jones (Review)
Kendall’s favourite son
...is the Australian poet, Henry Kendall. Except, he's not REALLY a son - he was not born there, and he only lived there for 6 years, from 1875 to 1881, when he was New South Wales' first Forest Inspector. But, you know the story, when you are on a good thing...! And, anyhow, as a … Continue reading Kendall’s favourite son
Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, 2009
Queenland has done itself proud with this year's award winners: Richard Flanagan's Wanting, Chloe Hooper's The tall man, Nam Le's The boat and Adam Elliot's film script for Mary and Max all won their sections. All great works. Perhaps I should try to read the winners of the other sections. I like how these judges … Continue reading Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, 2009
The Young Victoria
As I wrote in a past post, I do love a biopic! And this week I saw another one, The Young Victoria. In many ways it covers much the same ground as the 2001 miniseries, Victoria & Albert. Both show Victoria's lonely childhood, the poor relationship between her mother and Victoria's uncle the King, her … Continue reading The Young Victoria
António Lobo Antunes, The natural order of things
Virtuosic? Tour de force? These are such clichéd terms to use in a review - and yet, I can find no other words to better describe Portuguese writer António Lobo Antunes' 1992 novel, The natural order of things. This is one of those beautifully written, but rather challenging, books that you know you really should read … Continue reading António Lobo Antunes, The natural order of things
Thinking of peace in 1941
Oh the benefits (and sadness) of hindsight! This week, during my reading of the 1941 issues of The ABC Weekly, I came across a few references to peace and the need to plan for it. Oh dear! It's probably just as well they didn't know how much longer they had to go. Anyhow, one of … Continue reading Thinking of peace in 1941
A.B. (Banjo, to most of us) Paterson
Within the next few weeks I will be reviewing the Australian Classic Library's re-release of Paterson's The man from Snowy River and other verses, so this post is just a teaser. It was inspired by a column in The ABC Weekly (of 22 February 1941). Paterson died on 5 February 1941 - and less than three … Continue reading A.B. (Banjo, to most of us) Paterson
Australian Battle Cry, circa 1941
Somehow I would not have thought of socialism and patriotism being combined in the same person but, logically I suppose, there's no real reason why they shouldn't be. And it does appear they were combined in Dame Mary Gilmore, a famous Australian poet and journalist who was also well-known as a socialist. How do I know? Well, today … Continue reading Australian Battle Cry, circa 1941
Think twice about questioning an author!
I have to admit that I'm not one of those readers who gets too hung up about accuracy in fiction. After all, fiction is, by definition, a work of imagination, and not of fact. And so, when I read fiction I'm pretty good at suspending my disbelief. I'm more interested in the world created by … Continue reading Think twice about questioning an author!
Whispering Gums 