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)
Australian writers
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)
Favourite quotes: from Thea Astley’s Coda
I've decided to start a new, occasional series - a bit like The Conversation does! I have two reasons for this. One is that I'm reading pretty slowly at the moment, partly because my current read is a big one, and partly because life is busy. The other is that during my current decluttering project I've come across … Continue reading Favourite quotes: from Thea Astley’s Coda
Julie Twohig, Full circle (Review)
When I review individual stories, I tend to choose ones that are available on-line. Is that fair, I wonder? It means the author receives no payment for the story I review, but it does mean readers can enjoy a story that they may not otherwise easily access and, I suppose, that the author receives some exposure. … Continue reading Julie Twohig, Full circle (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Noted Works series
In early December I wrote a post about online journal The Conversation's occasional series they call The case for .... I promised that I would write my own case, and I will - soon. It's just that I feel like a - well - a reader in a library. So many great books to choose from. I … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Noted Works series
Whispering Gums 