While searching Trove recently for my Monday Musings 1923 sub-series, I came across some articles on Jane Austen's unfinished novel, The Watsons, and can't resist sharing them with you. I have written about unfinished books before, including on Jane Austen's unfinished novels, The Watsons and Sanditon. Unfinished books aren't to everyone's taste but, if you … Continue reading Jane Austen’s The Watsons in Trove: Finishing the unfinished
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian literary biographies (2, poets)
Eight years ago, I wrote a Monday Musings on Australian literary biographies, but the main focus there was on novelists. With this month being National Poetry Month and with, coincidentally, this year's National Biography Award going to a biography of a poet, it seemed a match made in heaven. In other words, it seemed appropriate … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian literary biographies (2, poets)
Rayna Green, High cotton (#Review)
With Rayna Green's short story, "High cotton", we pass the halfway mark in that anthology I've been posting on over the last few months, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers. We are also getting closer to the anthology's publication date of 2014, so these chronologically listed stories are starting to bunch up in … Continue reading Rayna Green, High cotton (#Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2023
This year Red Room Poetry is running their third annual National Poetry Month. How excellent is that? I don't know how successful it is at reaching its goal of increasing "access, awareness and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all audiences" but sometimes you just have to hang in there and build … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2023
Six degrees of separation, FROM Romantic comedy TO …
So now, the BIG CLEAN is done, and we are in the lap of the real estate gods. I hope to be able to tell you next month that we have sold, but in the meantime I'm taking my mind off it all to think about something that's far more fun, this month's Six Degrees. … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Romantic comedy TO …
Chris Flynn, Here be Leviathans (#BookReview)
I am not one of those readers who shun weird narrators. Indeed, you'll find several in this blog, including a skeleton, a dead baby, a foetus and a mammoth fossil. The critical thing for me is not who the narrator is, but whether that narrator is convincing and offers a perspective that engages my mind … Continue reading Chris Flynn, Here be Leviathans (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award 2023 Shadow Jury
Some of you have probably heard of "shadow juries". I took part in one a decade ago, for the now defunct Man Asian Literary Prize. It was great, but I haven't taken part in any blogger-inspired shadow juries again because of the time commitment needed. If I was already impressed by the work of literary … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award 2023 Shadow Jury
Debra Dank, We come with this place (#BookReview)
First Nations people are advised that this post contains the names of deceased people. It has been my reading group's tradition for some years now to read a book by a First Nations writer in July, the month in which NAIDOC Week occurs. Coincidentally, NAIDOC Week’s 2023 theme was “For our elders”, which worked beautifully with our … Continue reading Debra Dank, We come with this place (#BookReview)
Miles Franklin Award 2023 winner announced
The winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin award was announced this evening, and it's not one I've read, even though this year I've actually read two of the six shortlisted books! A record for me in recent times. The winner is: Shankari Chandran, Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens It's a book I've been toying with … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2023 winner announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1923: 6, A postal controversy
Who would have thought that the cost of postage would generate controversy in the book world? And the sorts of issues that would be raised as a result? (Courtesy OCAL, via clker.com) In my research of Trove for book-related issues in 1923, I came across a letter to the editor opposing some proposed changes in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1923: 6, A postal controversy
Whispering Gums 