Julian Davies, author of Crow mellow and publisher at Finlay Lloyd, has written six novels, some of them short-listed for significant literary awards, but, embarrassingly, I only became properly aware of him through his inclusion in the two Canberra centenary volumes that I reviewed in 2013, The invisible thread and Meanjin's The Canberra Issue. It's the … Continue reading Julian Davies, Crow mellow (Review)
Satire
Djuna Barnes, Come into the roof garden, Maud (Review)
Okay, I'll admit it, I've never heard of Djuna Barnes (1892-1982). However, I was intrigued when I saw her pop up in the Library of America's (LOA) Story of the Week program last month, and so decided to investigate. I discovered that, while I didn't know her, many did, such as, oh, ee cummings, TS Eliot, … Continue reading Djuna Barnes, Come into the roof garden, Maud (Review)
Marie Munkara, Every secret thing
They all nodded, not knowing what the hell curry* was but getting gist of the story all the same. Marie Munkara leads us a merry dance with Every secret thing, her first book, which won the David Unaipon Award for an unpublished Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writer. What exactly is this "thing" she presents … Continue reading Marie Munkara, Every secret thing
Alan Bennett, The uncommon reader
Light with bite is how I would describe Alan Bennett's delightful novella The uncommon reader. But, before I explain that further, a quick plot summary for those few who haven't come across it. It explores what happens when Queen Elizabeth II stumbles across a mobile library on the palace grounds and becomes obsessed with books and … Continue reading Alan Bennett, The uncommon reader
HL Mencken, The nature of liberty
I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again: I am enjoying being introduced to classic American writers of whom I've heard but not read through the Library of America. This week it is HL Mencken, and you can read his satirical piece, "The nature of liberty" (1920), online at LOA. Mencken (1880-1956), according … Continue reading HL Mencken, The nature of liberty
George Jean Nathan, Baiting the umpire
I haven't posted on the last few Library of America stories, mainly due to lack of time and the fact that they've been by well-known writers anyhow. However, the one that lobbed in this week, "Baiting the umpire" by George Jean Nathan, looked rather intriguing and so I read it. It is really an essay, but … Continue reading George Jean Nathan, Baiting the umpire
Whispering Gums 