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)
Australian writers
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)
Shokoofeh Azar, The enlightenment of the greengage tree (#BookReview)
I bought Shokoofeh Azar's novel The enlightenment of the greengage tree when it was longlisted for the 2018 Stella Prize, for which it was also shortlisted. However, it was its shortlisting this year for the International Booker Prize that prompted me to finally take it off the TBR pile. Born in Iran, artist and writer Azar … Continue reading Shokoofeh Azar, The enlightenment of the greengage tree (#BookReview)
Writers in Residence: An Online Festival
With information coming from every which way, I'm not sure how I heard about the Writers in Residence online festival. Organised by The Writers Bloc and inspired by Isol-Aid, its aim was to "ask some of Australia's most exciting emerging writers to read from their new books" and share "what they've been reading in isolation". It … Continue reading Writers in Residence: An Online Festival
Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Young Australian Novelists (2)
The Sydney Morning Herald's Best Young Australian Novelists award is announced annually to coincide with the opening of the Sydney Writers Festival. Of course, there is no live festival this year, but awards announcements can still go ahead can't they? I have posted on these awards before, but that was 2013, so I figured I could … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Best Young Australian Novelists (2)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting locals in 1927
Back in 2014 I wrote two Monday Musings posts on a plebiscite held in 1927. It involved readers of Melbourne's The Argus newspaper naming those they deemed "the six leading poets and the six foremost writers of fiction of Australia and New Zealand”. You can see the results in my first post, and some post-plebiscite commentary … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting locals in 1927
Heather Rose, Bruny (#BookReview)
If The yield (my review) was Tara June Winch's passion project, I'd say Bruny is Heather Rose's. It's a very different book to her previous novel The museum of modern love (my review). Not only is it a strongly plot-driven novel, but it's about something that is clearly dear to her heart, the future of Tasmania … Continue reading Heather Rose, Bruny (#BookReview)
Writing War: A panel discussion about war and historical writing
In its original guise, I would not have been able to attend Writing war: A panel discussion featuring Nigel Featherstone, Melanie Myers and Simon Cleary because it was going to be held in Brisbane's Avid Readers bookstore. However, in one of those lucky COVID-19 silver linings, the discussion was transformed into an online ZOOM discussion and, hey presto, … Continue reading Writing War: A panel discussion about war and historical writing
Julie Thorndyke, Mrs Rickaby’s lullaby (#BookReview)
Quaint title, eh? I really didn't know what to expect when I accepted this book for review, but accept I did because the publisher is a quality little press and because the author, Julie Thorndyke, although unknown to me, has a track record as a writer, particularly of tanka. Mrs Rickaby's lullaby, however, is her … Continue reading Julie Thorndyke, Mrs Rickaby’s lullaby (#BookReview)
Tara June Winch, The yield (#BookReview)
Tara June Winch's novel, The yield, follows her impressive - and David Unaipon award-winning - debut novel Swallow the air (my review). Ten years in the making, The yield could be described as her "passion project". It makes a powerful plea for Indigenous agency and culture. I wrote about The yield's genesis last year, but will repeat it … Continue reading Tara June Winch, The yield (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 