Back in January I reviewed two stories from Ellen van Neerven and Rafeif Ismail's anthology Unlimited futures: Speculative, visionary Blak+Black fiction for Bill's (The Australian Legend) Australian Women Writers Gen 5 Week. The stories I reviewed were the second and third in the anthology because they were the first two by Australians in it. The … Continue reading Tuesday Atzinger, The River (#Review)
Poetry
Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 7: Poetry
As with the last post in this series, which was on novellas, poetry isn't so much a genre as a form. However, to repeat what I said then, when I started this sub-series, I couldn't find one all-inclusive word to cover all the types of literary works I thought I'd cover, so settled on "genres". … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Supporting genres, 7: Poetry
Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2022 and Verse novels
Having launched their Poetry Month in 2021 which I wrote about at the time, Red Room Company (or, Red Room Poetry) clearly felt it was successful, because they are back again this year with another Poetry Month. Its aim is to "increase access, awareness and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2022 and Verse novels
Jeanne Griggs, Postcard poems (#BookReview)
If you love travel, you would enjoy Jeanne Griggs' poetry collection, Postcard poems, which comprises postcard-sized poems ostensibly sent from locations around the USA, and further afield. Like all good travel writing, though, these poems offer more than just simple travel. However, before I discuss them, I should introduce the poet. Some of you will … Continue reading Jeanne Griggs, Postcard poems (#BookReview)
Evelyn Araluen, Dropbear (#BookReview)
The final line of "Gather", the opening poem in Evelyn Araluen's collection Dropbear, announces her intention - "got something for you to swallow". Well, I can tell you now, if you haven't already read the book, she sure has. Dropbear, self-described by Araluen as a "strange little book", won this year's Stella Prize, the first … Continue reading Evelyn Araluen, Dropbear (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: World Poetry Day, on anthologies
Last week, Brona (This Reading Life) wrote a post on Eve Langley's poem, "Native-born", in which she shared the statement from Wikipedia that it appears regularly in Australian anthologies. As I responded to Brona, I checked my three "modern" Australian poetry anthologies and only found it in the most obvious one, The Penguin book of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: World Poetry Day, on anthologies
Poetry Month 2021: Your favourite poems
Earlier this month, I wrote a Monday Musings on Poetry Month, at the end of which I asked readers to name their favourite poem. Poetry Month finished yesterday, 31 August, so I thought I'd close out the month by listing the nominated poems, alphabetically by poet. I should add that some commenters cheekily named more … Continue reading Poetry Month 2021: Your favourite poems
Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2021
I have posted on World Poetry Day, which occurs in March, several times in recent years. And I have written about Australian poetry various times, including about the Red Room Company (or, Red Room Poetry). Their vision is very simple: "to make poetry in meaningful ways". They have initiated and supported various projects over the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Poetry Month 2021
World Poetry Day 2020
I have written two World Poetry Day posts before, in 2016 and 2018, so why not again in 2020, particularly given, more than any year, we are probably in need of hearing what poets have to say - of being soothed, inspired, entertained, or yes, even admonished by them. Awarnessdays.com says of World Poetry Day: … Continue reading World Poetry Day 2020
World Poetry Day 2018
Did you realise that today, March 21, is World Poetry Day? I'm not asking this to catch you out but more because I wonder how well promoted it is - particularly here in Australia? I must say that, as in previous years, I've heard very little about it. Perhaps, though, if I went to my … Continue reading World Poetry Day 2018
Whispering Gums 