One of the most appealing things about Rachel Matthews' third novel, Never look desperate, is that it features some decent men. In this #metoo era, which differs little from what came before, there's plenty of fiction which shows men in less than stellar light. And that's fair enough. One of the reasons I read fiction … Continue reading Rachel Matthews, Never look desperate (#BookReview)
Australian writers
Marjorie Barnard, The lottery (#Review, #1937 Club)
This will probably be my only review for the 1937 Year Club but I am thrilled to do it, because it is by Marjorie Barnard, an author whom I have mentioned many times, but have not yet managed to review here. My post is on a short story from her collection, The persimmon tree and … Continue reading Marjorie Barnard, The lottery (#Review, #1937 Club)
Shankari Chandran, Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens (#BookReview)
Shankari Chandran's Miles Franklin Award winning novel, Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens, was my reading group's March book. Unfortunately I was out of town at the time of the meeting, but of course I wanted to read it - and I did, finally! Like many people, I think, when I first saw the book, I … Continue reading Shankari Chandran, Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale Yasmine Gooneratne (1935-2024)
It was through the Jane Austen Society of Australia's (JASA) newsletter, Practicalities, that I learned of the death of Yasmine Gooneratne, a woman with whom I have crossed paths - one way or another - three times. She was an academic at Macquarie University, where I did my undergraduate degree; she wrote a novel, A … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale Yasmine Gooneratne (1935-2024)
Carmel Bird and Jace Rogers, Arabella (#BookReview)
If you have read Carmel Bird, and particularly if you have read her bibliomemoir Telltale (my review), you will know that she has a whimsical turn of mind. You will also know that she can turn her hand to most forms of writing, including children's picture books. Her latest outing, Arabella, proves the point. Arabella … Continue reading Carmel Bird and Jace Rogers, Arabella (#BookReview)
Karen Viggers, Sidelines (#BookReview)
I don't usually start a book review by relating its content to my own experience, but local author Karen Viggers' latest novel Sidelines invites exactly this. Sidelines is about children's sport and what happens when the competitiveness gets out of hand. It was largely inspired by Viggers' own experience as the mother of sporty children, … Continue reading Karen Viggers, Sidelines (#BookReview)
Richard Flanagan, Question 7 (#BookReview)
Question 7 is the fifth book by Richard Flanagan that my reading group has done, making him our most read author. That surprised me a little, but he has produced an impressive body of work that is hard to ignore - and, clearly, we haven't. We always start our meetings with sharing our first impressions. … Continue reading Richard Flanagan, Question 7 (#BookReview)
Karen Viggers in conversation with Alex Sloan
When Colin Steele emailed out the schedule, to date, for this year's Meet the Author series, I immediately marked in my calendar those events I could attend. There weren't many, as life is busy with yoga, tai chi, reading group and concert subscriptions, but the first I could attend was local author Karen Viggers (who … Continue reading Karen Viggers in conversation with Alex Sloan
Vale Marion Halligan (1940-2024)
Such sad news. I have just heard that Marion Halligan, one of Australia's literary treasures, died yesterday. She has been frail for some time, but the last time I saw, and spoke briefly to, her was at the 2023 ACT Book Awards in December. She was her usual engaged self, though also frustrated with the … Continue reading Vale Marion Halligan (1940-2024)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 3, Marion Simons
Back in 2021, I started a Monday Musings sub-series on forgotten Australian writers, but to date have only written on two - Helen Simpson and Eliza Hamilton Dunlop. I have been intending to get back to it and with this year's slight revamp of Elizabeth Lhuede's and my contributions to the Australian Women Writers blog, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 3, Marion Simons
Whispering Gums 