Carmel Bird, whose latest short story collection, The dead aviatrix: Eight short stories, I'm reviewing here, has to be the consummate writer. She can turn her hand to fiction and nonfiction, to short and long form writing, to formal and more informal voices, and to both serious and witty or satiric tones. She's also an … Continue reading Carmel Bird, The dead aviatrix: Eight short stories (#BookReview)
Australian writers
Diana Blackwood, Chaconne (#BookReview)
Does a book set in the early 1980s qualify as historical fiction? Does a book about a twenty-something woman's romantic adventures, and search for direction, qualify as coming-of-age? The answer is probably yes to both. Certainly, it is within these parameters that it's appropriate to discuss Diana Blackwood's debut novel Chaconne. Chaconne, as you can … Continue reading Diana Blackwood, Chaconne (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia’s most successful writer, ever
The obvious question to ask when someone makes a "best ever" claim is by what criteria? The easiest way to justify "best" is with numbers. And so it is here, as it's with numbers that Australian publisher Allen & Unwin's blog, Things Made From Letters, suggests that Morris West is "Australia's most successful writer, ever." … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australia’s most successful writer, ever
Lynette Washington, Plane Tree Drive (#BookReview)
Lynette Washington's debut collection of short stories, Plane Tree Drive, reminded me a little of Rebekah Clarkson's Barking dogs (my review). Both are collections of stories revolving around a location, and in both the location is in the Adelaide region. There are differences though. Clarkson's book is a little grittier with an overall theme of … Continue reading Lynette Washington, Plane Tree Drive (#BookReview)
Tony Park, The cull (#MiniBookReview based on a Guest Read)
When Tony Park's The cull was sent to me for review last September, I knew it wasn't really within my normal ambit but every now and then I try something new, so thought I might give it a go. However, as time passed and more books came, I realised that I had to let it … Continue reading Tony Park, The cull (#MiniBookReview based on a Guest Read)
Tasma (Jessie Couvreur), Uncle Piper of Piper’s Hill (#BookReview)
The first thing to say about Tasma's debut novel Uncle Piper of Piper's Hill is that it's rather wordy, speaking to a literacy different from that of today's readers. For this reason, Uncle Piper won't appeal to readers who like short simple sentences, and a plot which moves along at a good clip with little … Continue reading Tasma (Jessie Couvreur), Uncle Piper of Piper’s Hill (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Tasma (aka Jessie Couvreur)
Tasma, c. 1890. (Public Domain, from the State Library of Victoria, via Wikipedia) This week Bill (of The Australian Legend) is running an Australian Women Writers Gen 1 Week, through which he plans to highlight Australian women writers from our first generation of writers, which he defines as "those writers who came before the 1890s … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Tasma (aka Jessie Couvreur)
Jenny Ackland, The secret son (#BookReview)
Melbourne-based author Jenny Ackland has tried something rather audacious in her debut novel, The Secret Son. Instead of following the autobiographical route that many first novelists do, she has leapt right in and tackled, albeit from left field, one of Australia's most controversial legends, Ned Kelly. But, here's the rub: it's not exactly about Ned … Continue reading Jenny Ackland, The secret son (#BookReview)
Bruce Beresford, The best film I never made (#BookReview)
Bruce Beresford, author of The best film I never made, is of special interest to me for a couple of reasons, besides the fact that I've enjoyed many of his films over the years. One is that after a few years of taking (or, perhaps, "dragging" is more accurate) our then young son to various classic … Continue reading Bruce Beresford, The best film I never made (#BookReview)
Joy Eadie, Discovering Charles Meere: Art and allusion (#BookReview)
The award for my last review of the year goes to something a little left field for me, Joy Eadie's Discovering Charles Meere: Art and allusion. I say left field because it is, essentially, a book of art criticism, and I don't do much of that here (or anywhere, for that matter!) However, when Halstead … Continue reading Joy Eadie, Discovering Charles Meere: Art and allusion (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 