I won't get to many Melbourne Writers Festival events, because those of most interest to me clash with other commitments and responsibilities. This is a shame given this year's extensive digital program would enable me to attend my first ever MWF. Never mind, there will be other years. Nonetheless, I was thrilled to find a … Continue reading Melbourne Writers Festival 2020: Let me be brief
Australian writers
Emily Paull, Well-behaved women (#BookReview)
Well-behaved women is a debut collection of short stories by Western Australian writer Emily Paull. It is one of those collections that has a unique title, and what a perfect - and teasing - title it is for a collection of stories focused on women. It has, you won't be surprised to hear, the usual … Continue reading Emily Paull, Well-behaved women (#BookReview)
Chris Flynn, Mammoth (#BookReview)
I am not a big fan of anthropomorphism and have read very few animal-narrated books. Animal farm is one, while Watership down, so enamoured by many of my generation, is not. However, I was intrigued by Chris Flynn's Mammoth, which is narrated by a 13,000-year-old American Mastodon fossil, and was glad when my reading group decided … Continue reading Chris Flynn, Mammoth (#BookReview)
Bill curates: Elizabeth Jolley’s My father’s moon
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. Elizabeth Jolley is one of the greats and I am sorry that I have only read her in fits and starts. I have had, unread, Brian Dibble's biography of … Continue reading Bill curates: Elizabeth Jolley’s My father’s moon
Helen Garner, Yellow notebook: Diaries, Volume 1, 1978-1987 (#BookReview)
The opening session of last November's inaugural Broadside Festival featured Helen Garner in conversation with Sarah Krasnostein about her recently published Yellow notebook, the first volume of her edited diaries. It was an excellent, intelligent conversation. Garner came across as the forthright writer she is, one who fearlessly exposes difficult and unpleasant things, alongside joys and triumphs. … Continue reading Helen Garner, Yellow notebook: Diaries, Volume 1, 1978-1987 (#BookReview)
Bill curates: JM Coetzee’s Diary of a bad year
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. When Sue wrote this review in July 2009 - yes I am progressing only slowly, but there is so much to choose from! - Diary of a Bad Year … Continue reading Bill curates: JM Coetzee’s Diary of a bad year
Bill curates: Tim Winton’s Breath
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. Tim Winton is not my favourite novelist but as a Western Australian I feel obliged to read those of his books that I come across, and mostly they're OK … Continue reading Bill curates: Tim Winton’s Breath
Bill curates: Christos Tsiolkas’ The slap
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. Tsiolkas is an author I admire and enjoy and yet I have not read The Slap. I remember that it caused quite a stir when it came out and … Continue reading Bill curates: Christos Tsiolkas’ The slap
Favel Parrett, There was still love (#BookReview)
Favel Parrett's third novel, There was still love, is one of those novels in which not a lot happens but has a lot going on. Just the sort of novel, really, that I tend to like. (It all started with Jane Austen!) The novel revolves around the lives of two Czech sisters, one who ends … Continue reading Favel Parrett, There was still love (#BookReview)
Christos Tsiolkas, Damascus (#BookReview)
I have reviewed (and enjoyed) two of Christos Tsiolkas' books since blogging - The slap and Barracuda - so I was of course interested when Allen & Unwin sent me his most recent release, until, that is, I saw its subject matter. Biblical history, or historical fiction set in biblical times, are not really big … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas, Damascus (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 