How to write about a book that has made such a big splash that it has already been extensively reviewed. What more can one say? This is what I'm facing with Douglas Stuart's debut and Booker Prize-winning novel, Shuggie Bain. I haven't, in fact, read much about it, because I prefer to come to books … Continue reading Douglas Stuart, Shuggie Bain (#BookReview)
Poetry Month 2021: Your favourite poems
Earlier this month, I wrote a Monday Musings on Poetry Month, at the end of which I asked readers to name their favourite poem. Poetry Month finished yesterday, 31 August, so I thought I'd close out the month by listing the nominated poems, alphabetically by poet. I should add that some commenters cheekily named more … Continue reading Poetry Month 2021: Your favourite poems
Monday musings on Australian literature: 2021 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award longlist
I only occasionally use my Monday Musings post to make awards announcements. Today is one of those occasions, because the Nib Literary Awards longlist was announced today and I did want to share it, as it's one of Australia's quieter but yet interesting awards. I have written about it before and in that post you … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 2021 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award longlist
F*ck Covid: An Online Literary Affair (2)
This is the second of my two posts on the F*CK COVID online-only event. My first post introduced it and covered the fiction session. This post will report on the non-fiction session. I'll start by noting that while the first session involved established authors, this one, I think it's fair to say, involved emerging writers, who … Continue reading F*ck Covid: An Online Literary Affair (2)
F*ck Covid: An Online Literary Affair (1)
An initiative of the ACT Writers Centre and its Creative Producer Nigel Featherstone, F*CK COVID, was an online-only event. It comprised two panel discussions, featuring "four of Australia’s most exciting literary voices", one focused on fiction, and the other non-fiction. I will report on these in separate posts. Both sessions included the authors reading from their books … Continue reading F*ck Covid: An Online Literary Affair (1)
Price Warung, Selected tales of Price Warung (#BookReview)
Price Warung, as I wrote in my previous post on him, is the pseudonym used by English-born Australian writer, William Astley, who came to Australia with his parents in 1859 when he was still a child. Astley became a radical journalist and short-story writer, with particular interests in transportation/convict literature, and the Labour and Federation … Continue reading Price Warung, Selected tales of Price Warung (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: a “grim continent”?
These are grim times, so you might have assumed that our current predicament is today's topic, but no, we are going back to 1929. My, if there was a grim time, 1929 heralded such a one. However, it's not the Depression I'm going to either. In fact, the article I found in Trove, which inspired … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: a “grim continent”?
Delicious descriptions: Sara Dowse on West Block
In my recent post on Sara Dowse's West Block, I ran out of time to share some quotes and thoughts on her depiction of Canberra and the heritage building, West Block, in which the novel is set. I am remedying that now. But, I'll start by saying that, like most readers, I love reading because … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Sara Dowse on West Block
Sara Dowse, West Block (#BookReview)
The decision to republish, last year, Sara Dowse's pioneering 1983 novel, West Block, was prescient. Think about this. In last weekend's The Saturday Paper (14 August 2021), journalist Karen Middleton wrote about an issue involving the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. In her article, she shares some comments made about this Department by law … Continue reading Sara Dowse, West Block (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 3: Biography
Time for another in my little Monday Musings sub-series on "supporting" genres. I've chosen Biography for this one, since the 2021 National Biography Award winner will be announced this month. However, I have written quite a bit about Australian biography before: Australian Literary Biographies The Hazel Rowley Literary Fund Indigenous Australian biographies The National Biography … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 3: Biography
