When Western Australian writer Craig Silvey set his coming-of-age novel Jasper Jones in the 1960s I was a bit surprised, as Silvey himself did not grow up in that era. I'm not so surprised, though, about Charles Hall's debut novel Summer's gone as Hall did grow up in the 1960s. The novel is, from my … Continue reading Charles Hall, Summer’s gone (Review)
Australian writers
Miles Franklin, Brent of Bin Bin and the Great Australian Bight
In this week's Monday Musings I discussed the literary mystery concerning the identity of Brent of Bin Bin. I referred to an article written in 1954 after her death by Murray Tonkin in which he asked whether the truth that she is, or is a collaborator of, Brent of Bin Bin will now be revealed. I … Continue reading Miles Franklin, Brent of Bin Bin and the Great Australian Bight
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bernard Cronin, an Old Derelict!
It's a bit cheeky, really, to write about a writer I've never read, but I do this occasionally, particularly in Monday Musings because I use them to educate myself as well as to share ideas and knowledge with you. I came across Bernard Cronin (1884-1968) when I was roving around Trove earlier this year. He's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bernard Cronin, an Old Derelict!
Lynette Washington (ed), Breaking beauty (Review)
As I've said before, I usually don't read book introductions until the end. In the case of Breaking beauty, an anthology of short stories edited by Lynette Washington, it wouldn't have mattered if I had read it first because Brian Castro's intro gave nothing away while at the same time saying a lot. He starts by noting … Continue reading Lynette Washington (ed), Breaking beauty (Review)
Delicious descriptions: Fiona McFarlane thinks a house can be a character
In another life, well, not quite another life, but in my pre-blog life when I discussed books online via listserv reading groups, I became involved in various literary discussions. One of these was whether a house or place can be a character. Some of us argued they could because they could be seen to act or react, to reflect … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Fiona McFarlane thinks a house can be a character
Fiona McFarlane, The night guest (Review)
Those of you who followed the literary award season in Australia last year will have seen Fiona McFarlane's debut novel The night guest pop up several times. The more it popped up, the more I wanted to read it - but also the more I thought it would be good to read with my reading … Continue reading Fiona McFarlane, The night guest (Review)
Ellen van Neerven, Heat and light (Review)
It's silly I know, but I had a little thrill at the end of Ellen van Neerven's Heat and light, because not only was the last story set in a place where I spent six of the formative years of my childhood - Sandgate on the northern edge of Brisbane - but one of the characters learnt to … Continue reading Ellen van Neerven, Heat and light (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Capital men novelists
It's been a year since I wrote my post on Capital women novelists, the third in my series on Canberra's writers. (The other two were Capital women and Capital men poets.) Today I am finally getting to the male novelists. I'll start in a round-about way with a local controversy. Last year, the ACT government changed the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Capital men novelists
John Clanchy, Six: New tales (Review)
John Clanchy, like Julian Davies whose Crow mellow I recently reviewed, is another Australian writer I'd heard of but not read until his piece in the Canberra centenary anthology, The invisible thread. What a treasure trove that has turned out to be! Anyhow, titled "The gunmen", Clanchy's contribution was an excerpt from his first novel, The life … Continue reading John Clanchy, Six: New tales (Review)
Pulse: First 2014 (Review)
Now here's the thing. I'm a librarian by training, so I have certain expectations of how publications are titled, and Pulse, I must say, confused me. However, we librarians also know that publishers and writers don't care about our rules; they just do what appeals to them! Fair enough. They're the creators after all. Still, when I see … Continue reading Pulse: First 2014 (Review)
Whispering Gums 