Presented in partnership with Sydney Review of Books and Radio National’s The Bookshelf This was my final session of the festival, and it felt the perfect choice after five sessions focussing on authors and their novels. The program described it this way: Derided, disparaged and cursed to the heavens, book critics are depicted as literature’s … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2024: 6, The case for critics
Christos Tsiolkas
Nigel Featherstone on Christos Tsiolkas’ fearlessness
This week, Nigel Featherstone's latest novel, My heart is a little wild thing, was published, and I plan to attend the launch later this month. In the meantime, it seemed apposite to discuss his essay on Christos Tsiolkas in Reading like an Australian writer. Those of you who have read Nigel's blog will know that … Continue reading Nigel Featherstone on Christos Tsiolkas’ fearlessness
Bill curates: Christos Tsiolkas’ The slap
Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. Tsiolkas is an author I admire and enjoy and yet I have not read The Slap. I remember that it caused quite a stir when it came out and … Continue reading Bill curates: Christos Tsiolkas’ The slap
Christos Tsiolkas, Damascus (#BookReview)
I have reviewed (and enjoyed) two of Christos Tsiolkas' books since blogging - The slap and Barracuda - so I was of course interested when Allen & Unwin sent me his most recent release, until, that is, I saw its subject matter. Biblical history, or historical fiction set in biblical times, are not really big … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas, Damascus (#BookReview)
Yarra Valley Writers Festival 2020 (online): Road to Damascus (Christos Tsiolkas with Angela Savage)
Today I attended several sessions of the first Yarra Valley Literary Festival, which the organisers turned around and converted to an online event with the arrival in our lives of COVID-19. I plan to write up a couple more sessions over the next week, when time permits, but you can also check Lisa's blog for her … Continue reading Yarra Valley Writers Festival 2020 (online): Road to Damascus (Christos Tsiolkas with Angela Savage)
Christos Tsiolkas, Barracuda (Review)
The best way I can describe Christos Tsiolkas' latest novel Barracuda is to liken it to what Tsiolkas would define as a "good man", tough on the outside, but tender within. I don't know how Tsiolkas does it, but he manages to reach into your heart while at the same time confronting you to your … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas, Barracuda (Review)
Christos Tsiolkas on success and failure
I will soon post my review of Christos Tsiolkas' latest novel Barracuda, which is about a young man who fails in his quest to become an Olympic swimmer. It tears him apart. In tonight's news, here in Australia, we heard that one of our successful Olympic swimmers is going into rehab for addiction to Stillnox. … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas on success and failure
Christos Tsiolkas in Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue
I indicated in my recent review of Meanjin's special Canberra issue that I would write another post or two on the issue. This is one of those posts. It may, in fact, be the only one, for who knows where the spirit will lead me next? Right now though, I want to devote a post … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas in Meanjin’s The Canberra Issue
Christos Tsiolkas, The slap (Review)
You could easily give yourself away when reviewing Christos Tsiolkas’ latest novel, The slap. For example, do you align yourself with the uncompromising, emotional earth mother Rosie or the rational, cool and collected but somewhat more willing to compromise Aisha? Do you rail against the liberal use of expletives, the relaxed attitude to recreational drug … Continue reading Christos Tsiolkas, The slap (Review)
Whispering Gums 