Last Novellas in November I wrote one post, November being, as we know, "that" month for litbloggers! Let's see how I go this year. Before I get going I want to thank Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck) for the work they put into it, because novellas feature highly in my most … Continue reading Novellas in November 2026, Part 1
Novellas
Vicenzo Latronico, Perfection (#BookReview)
Italian author Vicenzo Latronico's Perfection, which was shortlisted for the 2025 International Man Booker Prize, was my reading group's August book. It was my suggestion, for three reasons: I like for us to read at least one translated book a year (which we don't always achieve); I'd seen a few bloggers in my circles review … Continue reading Vicenzo Latronico, Perfection (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2026: Winners announced
A couple of weeks ago, I announced the 2026 shortlist for independent non-profit publisher Finlay Lloyd's fourth 20/40 Prize. 20/40 is a novella-length manuscript award for prose works that are between 20,000 and 40,000 words. It is not limited to debut or young or women or any other subgroup of writers, as some manuscript awards … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2026: Winners announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2026: Shortlist announced
I'm back ... from my European jaunt, and ready with another Monday Musings (having missed a couple while I was away). And it's one that's special to me, the shortlist for Finlay Lloyd's 20/40 Prize. This prize is now in its fourth year, which is thrilling because it comes from the heart of a small, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2026: Shortlist announced
Angela O’Keeffe, Phantom days (#BookReview)
Some readers do not like non-human narrators, full stop, but I am not one of them. Indeed, I have read some wonderful non-human narrators, including most recently, those created by Carmel Bird and Chris Flynn. What these narrators offer, when done well, is a different, unexpected perspective, and I find that exciting. So, I was … Continue reading Angela O’Keeffe, Phantom days (#BookReview)
Merlinda Bobis, In the name of the trees (#BookReview)
In July, Philippine-born Merlinda Bobis' latest novel, In the name of the trees, won the ACT Literary Awards prize for fiction, and in August it was shortlisted for the Prime Minster's Literary Awards. But then, Merlinda Bobis is no stranger to awards, in Australia and her country of birth, the Philippines, as you will see … Continue reading Merlinda Bobis, In the name of the trees (#BookReview)
Claire Keegan, Small things like these (#BookReview)
Very occasionally my reading group makes a book-scheduling boo-boo, and it happened this year when we chose Irish writer Claire Keegan’s So late in the day: Stories of women and men for our May read. This book, which comprises three of Keegan’s short stories, “So late in the day”, “The long and and painful death”, and … Continue reading Claire Keegan, Small things like these (#BookReview)
Johanna Bell, Department of the Vanishing (#BookReview)
Words can be problematical when it comes to expressing our response to literature, indeed to any of the arts. We are uncomfortable, for example, using the word "enjoy" to express our response to anything that is dark. This is understandable, and yet I think "enjoy" is a perfectly okay word for something that has engaged … Continue reading Johanna Bell, Department of the Vanishing (#BookReview)
Samantha Harvey, Orbital (#BookReview)
Samantha Harvey's Booker Prize-winning novella, Orbital, is one of those novels you want to keep by your side after you've finished it, hoping that its calm beauty and quiet provocations will stay with you just that little bit longer. And here, in this opening sentence, I am channelling the "you" voice that she slips into occasionally … Continue reading Samantha Harvey, Orbital (#BookReview)
Novellas in November 2025
Last Novellas in November I wrote two posts, besides my reviews, but this year I will only manage one. However, I just want to put it on record that I do appreciate the work put into it by Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck), because novellas feature highly in my most memorable … Continue reading Novellas in November 2025
