I took 2 valium and went to bed early (Monday 12th October, 1970) Elizabeth Jolley's Diary of a weekend farmer is one quirky memoir (if you can call it that). And yet it is, really, exactly what you might expect from a writer who rarely wrote the expected! It is a slim volume - illustrated … Continue reading Elizabeth Jolley, Diary of a weekend farmer
Australian writers
Alan Gould, The lakewoman: A romance
I'm a little embarrassed to say that until The lakewoman was shortlisted in the 2010 Prime Minister's Literary Awards, I only knew of Alan Gould as a poet. Turns out, though, that he has written several novels, of which this one is his most recent. It is, ostensibly, a war novel, in that much of it is set … Continue reading Alan Gould, The lakewoman: A romance
Monday musings on Australian literature: Reverse expats
Several months ago I wrote a Monday musings post on Australian expat novelists, so I thought it was only fair to write one on reverse expat novelists, that is, writers from elsewhere who have settled in Australia. Because, yes, some people DO come here as well as leave! For this post, I'm choosing a few … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Reverse expats
Delicious descriptions from Down Under: Thea Astley on oddballs
Thea Astley is one of my favourite writers and so I thought my next Delicious descriptions should be from her. It won't be the last because her writing is truly delicious. Up till now, my Delicious Descriptions have been of landscape/environment. This one is about people. It's from Drylands (1999), her last novel (or, really, … Continue reading Delicious descriptions from Down Under: Thea Astley on oddballs
Leah Swann, Bearings
When I read a collection of short stories, I look to see whether there is an overriding theme. It's not essential that there be one, of course, but it can add to the satisfaction, if only because looking for a theme forces me to think a little more about what I've been reading. Well, I … Continue reading Leah Swann, Bearings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers from our Deep South
Yes, Australia has a "deep south", though we may not necessarily call it that. It's Tasmania, an island hanging off the southeast of mainland Australia. Like Western Australia, it can sometimes feel like another country. You have to go over the sea to it - and when you get there, you sometimes find yourself saying, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers from our Deep South
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian bildungsroman
I know the sad truth. About everything. (Craig Silvey, Jasper Jones) In past posts, I've talked of enjoying coming-of-age novels (aka bildungsroman) and so today I thought I'd share 5 (cos 5 seems like a manageable number for a list like this - and gives you an opportunity to contribute your own!) Australian novels in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian bildungsroman
Monday musings on Australian literature: West Coast Writers
For the non-Australians among you, Western Australia is our biggest state and, for many of us, is further away from where we live than New Zealand. Moreover, its main population areas are on the coast: there is a lot of desert between the eastern states and where most Western Australians live. Consequently, it would be … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: West Coast Writers
Marie Munkara, Every secret thing
They all nodded, not knowing what the hell curry* was but getting gist of the story all the same. Marie Munkara leads us a merry dance with Every secret thing, her first book, which won the David Unaipon Award for an unpublished Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writer. What exactly is this "thing" she presents … Continue reading Marie Munkara, Every secret thing
Writer-Artist Shaun Tan wins an Oscar
Shaun Tan, whose Eric (an excerpt from Tales from Outer Suburbia) I reviewed here a few months ago, won the Oscar this week for Best Animated Short Film. (Tan shared the prize with British producer, Andrew Ruhemann). This is the third time, I believe, an Australian film has won this category, the previous ones being … Continue reading Writer-Artist Shaun Tan wins an Oscar
Whispering Gums 