Whispering Gums

Books, reading and more … with an Australian focus … written on Ngunnawal Country

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Epistolary works

Jane Austen, Lady Susan, revisited (#BookReview)

August 18, 2024August 22, 2024 / Whispering Gums / 24 Comments

I have read Jane Austen's Lady Susan several times, including with my local Jane Austen group in 2014 (my review). That now being ten years ago, we decided it was time to read - and consider - it again. However, as my time was tight, I decided to try an audiobook version, and found a … Continue reading Jane Austen, Lady Susan, revisited (#BookReview)

Maria Edgeworth, Leonora (#BookReview)

March 6, 2019March 6, 2019 / Whispering Gums / 18 Comments

My Jane Austen group decided to start the year by discussing one of Austen's precursors, not to mention favourite writers, Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849). Edgeworth was born eight years before Austen and lived much longer than Austen's not quite 42 years - lucky her! She was also prolific, so we had plenty to choose from. According … Continue reading Maria Edgeworth, Leonora (#BookReview)

Jane Austen, Lady Susan (Review)

October 19, 2014April 26, 2025 / Whispering Gums / 10 Comments

It is a truth universally acknowledged - I know this is a tired old joke but I seem programmed to do it - that Jane Austen fans will collect multiple editions of her works. There are many reasons for this behaviour, but one of them is our interest in different introductions. And so, although I … Continue reading Jane Austen, Lady Susan (Review)

Annabel Smith, The Ark (Review)

October 12, 2014November 23, 2018 / Whispering Gums / 17 Comments

I must start by thanking Western Australian short story writer Glen Hunting* for recommending Annabel Smith's The Ark in his comment on a recent Monday Musings post. Hunting wrote that it "is self-published and available as a print book, e-book, app, and has its own interactive website". I was intrigued so checked it out. My initial reaction … Continue reading Annabel Smith, The Ark (Review)

Helene Hanff, 84 Charing Cross Road

February 19, 2011April 26, 2025 / Whispering Gums / 19 Comments

Before you all (well, those of you of a certain age at least) gasp and wonder how it could be that I haven't read this delightful little tome before, I assure you that I have. However, on our drive home today from our week at the coast, we listened to an unabridged audiobook version, and … Continue reading Helene Hanff, 84 Charing Cross Road

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Recent Whisperings

  • Six degrees of separation, FROM Perfection TO …
  • Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian novels set in Germany
  • Lee Lai, Cannon (#BookReview)
  • Monday musing on Australian literature: on People’s Choice literary awards
  • Merlinda Bobis, In the name of the trees (#BookReview)

Latest comments

  1. Stefanie's avatar
    Stefanie on Six degrees of separation, FROM Perfection TO …September 9, 2026

    What a fun twist this month!

  2. anchorcreativelyfaa0f34cbd's avatar
    anchorcreativelyfaa0f34cbd on Six degrees of separation, FROM Perfection TO …September 6, 2026

    Grüss Gott again WG! It's Treble Clef here..... It was my post above, but as I had trouble logging into…

  3. anchorcreativelyfaa0f34cbd's avatar
    anchorcreativelyfaa0f34cbd on Six degrees of separation, FROM Perfection TO …September 6, 2026

    Grüss Gott WG! I hope you and Mr Gums are enjoying your Austro-Deutschland travels! I haven't read 'Perfection' but your…

  4. maamej's avatar
    maamej on Six degrees of separation, FROM Perfection TO …September 6, 2026

    Far more than will ever be possible to get through!

  5. Whispering Gums's avatar
    Whispering Gums on Six degrees of separation, FROM Perfection TO …September 6, 2026

    Thanks Mallika. I like books about Baby boomers, but I also like books about other generations too, so I think…

Past Whisperings

Recently Popular Whisperings

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Australian Literary Awards for (mostly) Fiction, 2026


The Age Book of the Year: Moreno Giovannoni, The immigrants
ALS Gold Medal:
Australian Book Industry Award (Literary Fiction): Charlotte McConaghy, Wild dark shore
Barbara Jefferis Award:
Indie Book Awards (Fiction): Charlotte McConaghy, Wild dark shore
Miles Franklin Award: Omar Musa, Fierceland
NSW Premier's Literary Award (Christina Stead Prize): Moreno Giovannoni, The immigrants
Patrick White Award:
Prime Minister's Literary Award:
Queensland Literary (Fiction) Award:
South Australian Literary Awards:
Stella Prize: Lee Lai, Cannon
Victorian Premier's Literary (Fiction) Award: Omar Musa, Fierceland
Western Australian Premier's Book of the Year Award:

Acknowledgement of Country

I acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the nation in which I live, of land that was never ceded. I honour and respect their cultural heritage, customs and beliefs, and am truly thankful for their ongoing care of this country.

Copyright on my content

This work by Whispering Gums is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareALike 4.0 International

Copyright on images used in this blog

I am careful about the images I use in this blog. Some of them are my own, some I've specifically obtained permission to use from an owner, and some book cover thumbnails are used under fair use provisions. However, I have used others under Creative Commons (and similar licences) when the owners have indicated on their sites/pages that they release their material under such licences. Where possible, I have tried to properly attribute the owners/creators of uploaded images. If you think I have breached your copyright in any way please let me know. Any photos not attributed to others or to public domain are mine. Unless otherwise specified, you are welcome to use them under the Creative Commons license described under Copyright on my content above.

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