Over the weekend, I reviewed local Canberra author Irma Gold's debut novel, The breaking, and described it as belonging to the eco-literature "genre". I thought it might be interesting to explore this field a little more. Definitions I'll start with definitions, because, does it really exist? Wikipedia doesn't have an article for eco-literature, but it … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Eco-literature
Eco-literature
Irma Gold, The breaking (#BookReview)
I have broken a golden rule! That is, I am reviewing Irma Gold's debut novel, The breaking, out of the order in which I received it for review, which is something I (almost) never do! But, I am attending an author event on this book this weekend, and I really wanted to have read it … Continue reading Irma Gold, The breaking (#BookReview)
Gene Stratton-Porter, The last Passsenger Pigeon (#Review)
I have passed up reading and/or posting on so many Library of America (LOA) Story of the Week offerings over the last months - sadly, because there have been some excellent selections chosen for their political relevance. However, when I saw a sentimental favourite, Gene Stratton-Porter (1863-1924), pop up, I knew I had to break the drought. … Continue reading Gene Stratton-Porter, The last Passsenger Pigeon (#Review)
John Kinsella, Displaced: A rural life (#BookReview)
I haven't talked about reading synchronicities for some time, but when I started reading John Kinsella's memoir, Displaced, I couldn't help but think of the book I had just finished, Gay Lynch's historical novel Unsettled (my review). Both have one word titles which play with opposites; in both cases, those opposites refer to physical meanings … Continue reading John Kinsella, Displaced: A rural life (#BookReview)
Karen Viggers, The orchardist’s daughter (#BookReview)
The orchardist's daughter is local author Karen Viggers' fourth novel, but the first that I've read. She has, however, appeared on my blog before, being the person who conversed with Sofie Laguna about her novel, The choke. It was one of the most entertaining conversations I've ever attended. Now, if you haven't read or heard of … Continue reading Karen Viggers, The orchardist’s daughter (#BookReview)
World Bee Day 2018 – and literature
Apparently today, May 20, is World Bee Day! Who knew? Not me, until this morning. I understand it was designated last December by the United Nations, on the recommendation of Slovenia. Given the rise of cli-fi literature and the importance of bees to our planet, I've decided to give a little shout out to our … Continue reading World Bee Day 2018 – and literature
William T Hornaday, The bird tragedy of Laysan Island (Review)
William Temple Hornaday (1854-1937), whose article "The bird tragedy of Laysan Island" was a recent Library of America (LOA) Story of the Week offering, is a tricky man to write about. Originally a taxidermist, he became one of the pioneers of the wildlife conservation movement in America after he realised, around the 1880s, the dire situation regarding the country's … Continue reading William T Hornaday, The bird tragedy of Laysan Island (Review)
Cassie Flanagan Willanski, Here where we live (Review)
"Write what you know" is the advice commonly given to new authors - and it's something Cassie Flanagan Willanski, author of Here where we live, seems to accept. Set in South Australia, where Willanski lives, this debut collection of short stories reflects her two main interests, creative writing and the environment. The book won Wakefield Press's Unpublished Manuscript Award a couple … Continue reading Cassie Flanagan Willanski, Here where we live (Review)
Frederick Law Olmsted, Trees in streets and in parks (Review)
I last came across the American landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, a few years ago when I was doing some freelance research for a Canberra 2013 centenary project. This was because Olmsted, who designed New York's Central Park with Calvert Vaux, inspired Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney Griffin, the original designers of Canberra. Now, it just … Continue reading Frederick Law Olmsted, Trees in streets and in parks (Review)
J. Sterling Morton, About trees (Review)
One of the first Library of America stories I wrote about here was John Muir's "A wind-storm in the forests", so when I saw one titled "About trees" pop up recently, I had to read it. By recently, I mean April - as the Library of America published it to coincide with Arbor Day in the … Continue reading J. Sterling Morton, About trees (Review)
Whispering Gums 