Nardi Simpson's Song of the crocodile is a tight multi-generational saga set in the fictional town of Darnmoor over the last decades of the twentieth century. It tells the story of the people of the Campgrounds, who are ostracised, exploited and abused by the white townspeople. Between the Campgrounds and the town proper, with its … Continue reading Nardi Simpson, Song of the crocodile (#BookReview)
First Nations Australia literature
Adam Thompson, Born into this (#BookReview)
When my brother gave me Tasmanian author Adam Thompson's Born into this earlier this year, I told him I'd save it for Lisa's ILW 2021, which I did - and which means I can now thank him properly for a yet another well-chosen gift, because this is a strong, absorbing and relevant read. If you … Continue reading Adam Thompson, Born into this (#BookReview)
Jasmine Seymour and Leanne Mulgo Watson, Cooee mittigar: A story on Darug songlines (#BookReview)
Recently, on a bit of a whim, I bought two books from the Indigenous Australian publishing company, Magabala Books. They were the younger readers-young adult novel, Black Cockatoo (my review), which had been shortlisted for a few awards, and this picture book, Cooee mittigar, which had just won the 2020 Prime Minister's Literary Award for … Continue reading Jasmine Seymour and Leanne Mulgo Watson, Cooee mittigar: A story on Darug songlines (#BookReview)
Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler, Black cockatoo (#BookReview)
Black cockatoo is a young adult novel written by Indigenous Australian author, Carl Merrison, and his non-Indigenous collaborator, Hakea Hustler, and illustrated by Indigenous Australian illustrator, Dub Leffler. It is a beautiful, little (in size, not value) book that made quite a splash when it was published. It was shortlisted for several children's literature awards … Continue reading Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler, Black cockatoo (#BookReview)
Craig Cormick and Harold Ludwick, On a barbarous coast (“BookReview)
Craig Cormick is a Canberra-based writer whom I've seen at various literary events around town, but not read until now, so I was especially glad when Allen & Unwin sent me this book to review. Titled On a barbarous coast, it was written collaboratively with Harold Ludwick, "a Bulgun Warra man whose traditional lands lie … Continue reading Craig Cormick and Harold Ludwick, On a barbarous coast (“BookReview)
Julie Janson, Benevolence (#BookReview)
In a rather curious synchronicity, the last three books I've read have all had single word, multiple-meaning, titles, all relating to the colonial settlement of Australia - Gay Lynch's historical fiction Unsettled (my review), John Kinsella's memoir Displaced (my review), and now Julie Janson's historical fiction Benevolence whose title drips with irony. Recently, I commented … Continue reading Julie Janson, Benevolence (#BookReview)
Bill curates: Monday musings on Indigenous Australian writers
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. The feature of Whispering Gums that we all most look forward to is Monday Musings. But when did they start? It took me a while to locate - WordPress … Continue reading Bill curates: Monday musings on Indigenous Australian writers
Archie Roach, Tell me why: The story of my life and my music (#BookReview)
Good things come to those who wait! At least, I hope so, because Lisa has had to wait a long time for a review from me for this year's Indigenous Literature Week. Finally, though, I finished the main book I chose for this year's challenge, Archie Roach's memoir, Tell me why: The story of my life … Continue reading Archie Roach, Tell me why: The story of my life and my music (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian literature, 1970s
Although Lisa's (ANZLitLovers) annual Indigenous Literature Week is officially over for 2020, I thought I'd bookend it with a second Monday Musings, this one on how Indigenous Australian literature looked around 50 years ago. Who was writing then, and what were they writing? My main sources were Trove, of course, and the Macquarie Pen anthology of Aboriginal … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian literature, 1970s
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian biographies
Yesterday was the start of Lisa's (ANZLitLovers) 2020 Indigenous Literature Week, and, as I have done for a few years now, I've decided to devote my Monday Musings to an Indigenous Australian literature topic. This year's topic is Indigenous Australian biography. I have previously written Monday Musings on Indigenous Australian autobiographies and memoirs. These have flourished in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian biographies
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