As I often do with Library of America (LOA), I bookmarked their recent Story of the Week featuring Ernest Hemingway's short story "Cat in the rain" to read later. "Later" came today. I have no Hemingway on my blog, so this seemed a perfect opportunity, and I do like short stories anyhow. First ed. cover, from Wikipedia article. … Continue reading Ernest Hemingway, Cat in the rain (#Review)
Jacqueline Kent’s Seymour Biography Lecture
Last Thursday night we went to our fifth Seymour Biography Lecture at the National Library of Australia. We missed the last one in 2019 because we were travelling. Little did we know then that it would be three years before another one could be held. The Seymour Biography Lecture, which is one of the highlights on … Continue reading Jacqueline Kent’s Seymour Biography Lecture
Monday musings on Australian literature: Local colour, 1920-style
Back in June I wrote a post on the Australian Literature Society's Women's Night that they held in 1922. This Society, which was formed in Melbourne in 1899, has played an important role in supporting and promoting Australian literature for well over a century - first as itself, and then as part of the Association … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Local colour, 1920-style
Six degrees of separation, FROM The drover’s wife TO …
Spring at last - in the southern hemisphere anyhow. Winter seemed to start early this year so many of us, in my corner of the world anyhow, have been desperate to see its end. Yes, I know many of you have much more severe winters than we do, but it's all relative! And on that, … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM The drover’s wife TO …
Audrey Magee, The colony (#BookReview)
Irish novelist Audrey Magee's second novel, The colony, was my reading group's August book, and it proved an excellent choice. Literary and highly readable, with vivid characters and a sophisticated exploration of its subject matter, The colony engaged us on all levels. It was longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize (and may yet be shortlisted. … Continue reading Audrey Magee, The colony (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: The new AWW, six months on
In February, a new AWW (Australian Women Writers blog) team, comprising its founder, Elizabeth Lhuede, Bill Holloway (The Australian Legend) and me, published our first post in our revamped blog. Six months on we have settled into a nice little routine which I'd like to share with you, but first ... Let me recap what … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The new AWW, six months on
My literary week (17), musicals, movies and more
Spring is springing It's been over two years since my last literary week, which is weird given I enjoy writing these posts that explore the literary content or implications of other parts of my life. I am writing this one, for a number of reasons, prime of which is that I've not written a review … Continue reading My literary week (17), musicals, movies and more
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian girl’s annual
Some time ago I posted on an old School friend annual that I found during my decluttering. Today, I bring you a much older annual for girls, The Australian girl's annual. It came not from my childhood, but from my aunt's house when I was working on her estate, and it is undated. As far … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian girl’s annual
Emma Viskic, Resurrection Bay (#BookReview)
Back in February, I said I planned to "read" more audiobooks this year, and slowly I'm achieving that goal with Emma Viskic's Resurrection Bay being my third for the year. In fact, it makes a particularly special contribution, because it is the first book I wanted to hear when we bought our new car with … Continue reading Emma Viskic, Resurrection Bay (#BookReview)
Anita Heiss, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (#BookReview)
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray/River of dreams is Anita Heiss' second work of historical fiction, her first being Barbed wire and cherry blossoms about the 1944 Cowra breakout in which she imagines a relationship between a Japanese escapee and a young First Nations Australian woman. I have not read that novel, but I have read, over the last … Continue reading Anita Heiss, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 