Woo hoo, it's summer at last, not that we necessarily knew it, given on day 2 Canberra experienced its lowest summer minimum (just below freezing point) since records began. However, this weekend is different and we are seeing proper summer temperatures. Just right for our Southern Hemisphere Christmas parties that are starting to happen. I … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Seascraper TO …
Monday musings on Australian literature: Trove treasures (15), What Australia read in 1945
(Courtesy OCAL, via clker.com) Another post in my Monday Musings subseries called Trove Treasures, in which I share stories or comments, serious or funny, that I come across during my Trove travels. Today's story is longer than those I have mostly shared, but given it's an annual recap of 1945, exactly 80 years ago, I've … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Trove treasures (15), What Australia read in 1945
Margaret Atwood, Negotiating with the dead: A writer on writing (#BookReview)
My reading for Buried in Print Marcie's annual MARM month has been both sporadic and minimal, to say the least, but this year I finally got to read a book that has been on my TBR shelves for a long time and that I have planned to read over the last few MARMs. It's Atwood's … Continue reading Margaret Atwood, Negotiating with the dead: A writer on writing (#BookReview)
Nonfiction November 2025
My participation in Nonfiction November, like Novellas in November and MARM, tends to be a bit random and sporadic. Last year, I wrote one post for Nonfiction November. I will do the same this year, focusing on two of the questions - My Year in Nonfiction and Book Pairings. These are the two that most … Continue reading Nonfiction November 2025
Novellas in November 2025
Last Novellas in November I wrote two posts, besides my reviews, but this year I will only manage one. However, I just want to put it on record that I do appreciate the work put into it by Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck), because novellas feature highly in my most memorable … Continue reading Novellas in November 2025
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 16, Edna Davies
Of all the forgotten writers I’ve researched, Edna Davies proved by far the most difficult. Even AustLit had nothing on her besides a list of a few works, but she intrigued me so I soldiered on. This post, like most of my recent Forgotten Writers posts, a revision, with a little bit of added information, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 16, Edna Davies
Angus Gaunt, Anna (#BookReview)
Last month, I posted on the winners of the 2025 Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Publishing Prize, of which Angus Gaunt's Anna was one. I am thrilled with this prize, not only because I love the novella form, but because of the variety of stories we are seeing. So far the fiction winners have been an historical … Continue reading Angus Gaunt, Anna (#BookReview)
Helen Garner and Sarah Krasnostein in conversation with Beejay Silcox
Last night's ANU/Meet-the-Author event was a sold-out affair, in a 500-seat theatre. And why not? Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, and Sarah Krasnostein are among Australia's top writers of narrative nonfiction, and they have just produced a book about the Leongatha mushroom murders. Indeed, it's only because they have written about it that I am interested … Continue reading Helen Garner and Sarah Krasnostein in conversation with Beejay Silcox
Monday musings on Australian literature: Canberra Writers’ Festival 2025 recap
Back in 2019, the Canberra Writers Festival sent subscribers a report on the event. I don't think they've done so since, which is a shame, as I loved reading (and writing about) it. This year, thanks to Colin Steele, who runs the ANU/Meet-the-Author series, I was able to see a report on the Festival that … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Canberra Writers’ Festival 2025 recap
Teffi, The examination (#Review, #1925 Club)
Mostly for the Year Clubs, I read an Australian short story, usually from one of my anthologies. However, for 1925, I couldn't find anything in my anthologies, so turned to other newspaper-based sources, including Trove, but I mainly found romances or works that were difficult to access. And then, out of the blue, I found … Continue reading Teffi, The examination (#Review, #1925 Club)
Whispering Gums 