I was going to title this post "Life-changing reads" but decided that that wasn't quite right. I'm not sure that any book has quite changed my life though many have opened my eyes to other ways of seeing and being in the world. May marked my third year of blogging and I started this post … Continue reading My most unforgettable books, to date!
Book lists
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian Novel, 1945 style
Every now and then I like to delve into the newspapers digitised by the National Library of Australia and made available via its website. Last week, I was pottering around researching another topic for Monday Musings (for which you'll now have to wait) when I came across an article written in 1945 about a series of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian Novel, 1945 style
Raising my consciousness: Thoughts of a reader on International Women’s Day
I am not, and never have been, scared to use the "F" word - that is, I call myself a Feminist. My philosophy is a simple one: women are not the SAME as men, but women deserve EQUAL rights and respect as men. This is not to say that the interpretation and application of this … Continue reading Raising my consciousness: Thoughts of a reader on International Women’s Day
Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite first (Australian) lines
This is a bit of a copout, I know, but I'm travelling this week and don't have a lot of time to write a seriously considered post. So, I've decided to simply do a list - of some of my favourite first lines from Australian literature. Like most readers I think, I do love a … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite first (Australian) lines
Notable reads for 2011
I've been wondering whether to jump on the "Best of" bandwagon and, if I did it, how to do it. Then today I read Lizzy Siddal's (love that name!) list and decided that I'd follow her lead and use categories rather than go for a simple Top Ten (or whatever) which always feels fraught. I know Lizzy's … Continue reading Notable reads for 2011
Monday musings on Australian literature: Meanjin’s Tournament of Books
Many Monday musings ago I wrote about the reduced visibility of women writers in Australia. I wasn't the only one concerned and things have been afoot to up the ante for women writers. For example, a new award targeting women writers, the Stella Prize, was announced earlier this year. And now Meanjin, a longstanding literary … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Meanjin’s Tournament of Books
Monday musings on Australian literature: the Great Australian Novel, or?
First, a confession. I am not one who believes we need to define such a beast as "The Great [name your country] Novel". However, just to be perverse, I thought that for this week's Monday musings it would be interesting to look at what might qualify for such a label - and, in doing so, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: the Great Australian Novel, or?
The gift of words
Middle age has come and all the plans and needs are chaff not seeds, blowing down the blue air to fall flat and trampled by some window where a hopeful girl braids her thick hair and hums. ("Humble", by Ginny Jackson) Better late than ... hmm, perhaps not, but I'm going to tell you anyhow. … Continue reading The gift of words
Top fiction, et al, from 2010
Well, 2010 is officially over so I reckon I can now safely present my top fiction of the year! As I listed my top Aussie reads in my last Monday musings post, this post will exclude Aussie writers. Partly for this reason, I'm not going to list the usual 5 or 10 here, but just … Continue reading Top fiction, et al, from 2010
Monday musings on Australian literature: My top Australian reads of 2010
In last week's Monday musings I said that this series would resume in the New Year. But then the thought occurred to me: this is an Australian focused litblog, so why don't I divide my top reads of the year into those by Australian writers, and the rest? That decision made, it seemed logical to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: My top Australian reads of 2010
