With the year's end, we come to annual highlights posts - my reading highlights post which I like to do on December 31, and my blogging highlights one on January 1. I do my Reading Highlights on the last day of the year, so I will have read (even if not reviewed) all the books … Continue reading Reading highlights for 2023
Book lists
Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite books 2023
Over recent years, I've shared favourite Aussie reads of the year from various sources, with the specific sources varying a little from time to time. This year, a significant source - The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age - is unavailable to me as it is behind a paywall, and at this time of year I just … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite books 2023
My reading group’s favourites for 2023
As I've done for a few years now, I am sharing my reading group's top picks of 2022. This is, after all, the season of lists, but also, I know that some people, besides me, enjoy hearing about other reading groups. I'll start, though, by sharing what we read in the order we read them … Continue reading My reading group’s favourites for 2023
Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Summer Reading List, 2023
December is when I start my round of regular end-of-year posts, and a new one I'm adding to the fold is the The Grattan Institute's annual Prime Minister's Summer Reading List. The institute is an Australian non-aligned, public policy think tank, which produces readable, reasoned reports on significant issues, like, most recently, the role of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Summer Reading List, 2023
Monday musings on Australian literature: Henry Mayer Book Prize
This last week I have become aware, via two different paths, of the Henry Mayer Book Prize. I feel I've seen it referenced before, but it hasn't fully registered. I certainly haven't written about it before, so, now's the time. I'll start by introducing the person for whom the prize is named, Henry Mayer (1919-1991). … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Henry Mayer Book Prize
ACT Book of the Year Award 2023 shortlist and winner
This year I attended, for the first time, the announcement of the ACT Book of the Year award, which was held at the Woden Public Library. For some reason our award doesn't get the media recognition or attention that it deserves. Sure, it is not one of the wealthiest literary prizes in the country, and … Continue reading ACT Book of the Year Award 2023 shortlist and winner
Monday musings on Australian literature: 2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
Occasionally, as you know, I use my Monday Musings post to make awards announcements, particularly if the announcement is made on Monday, as this award usually is. And so it happened again today, a Monday, that the shortlist for this award was announced. I have written about it before and so if you are interested … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
Monday musings on Australian literature: Masterpieces of fiction, 1910-style
A straightforward post this week, and one shared in the spirit that readers love lists of books. This list is not Australian (despite my posting it in my Monday Musings series) but it was shared in multiple Australian newspapers in 1910 which makes it part of Australia's literary history, don't you think? The list was … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Masterpieces of fiction, 1910-style
Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award 2023 Shadow Jury
Some of you have probably heard of "shadow juries". I took part in one a decade ago, for the now defunct Man Asian Literary Prize. It was great, but I haven't taken part in any blogger-inspired shadow juries again because of the time commitment needed. If I was already impressed by the work of literary … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award 2023 Shadow Jury
Miles Franklin Award 2023 winner announced
The winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin award was announced this evening, and it's not one I've read, even though this year I've actually read two of the six shortlisted books! A record for me in recent times. The winner is: Shankari Chandran, Chai time at Cinnamon Gardens It's a book I've been toying with … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2023 winner announced
Whispering Gums 