'Yet the clock is time, and time is lost, is bankrupt before it begins'—from Owls do Cry, Janet Frame. Recently I made two early blog posts private. Many times I have gone to do this but never have. When I taught blogging I would tell my students that the blog itself formed an overall narrative. Mine … Continue reading Blog narrative
Author: Angela Meyer (LiteraryMinded)
Review of The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion in The Australian
I reviewed The Rosie Effect, Graeme Simsion's follow-up to The Rosie Project for the Weekend Australian. It's a warm read, and a successful sequel. Following is an extract from the review. — As with the first book, these incidents are humorous and cause cringing; the reader observes the miscommunication, the unravelling, and longs to step in as an … Continue reading Review of The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion in The Australian
Memories… Tim Eddy’s film of the #555writers tour
Find all #555writers posts here.
Bodies, effort, straws: The Special by David Stavanger
I had the pleasure last night of launching The Special by David Stavanger, winner of the 2013 Thomas Shapcott Prize. The book is published by UQP and available now. David and I didn't know each other beforehand, but connected through words (in emails, but mainly through our work) and it was a wonderful night, with much warmth. … Continue reading Bodies, effort, straws: The Special by David Stavanger
MWF 2014, Flashing the Square, Memory Makes Us
Melbourne Writers Festival has been fantastic so far. Stimulating keynotes from Helen Garner and Chris Hadfield, and I really enjoyed yesterday's panel 'Crossing Cultures', about cultural hybridisation. There were some great insights into contemporary China from Zhang Tianpan: contemporary China is very complex, but also very simple. There are many commonalities with the West—'we all … Continue reading MWF 2014, Flashing the Square, Memory Makes Us
Appearance on Jennifer Byrne Presents: Envy
I was honoured to be a guest on Jennifer Byrne Presents, an offshoot of the First Tuesday Book Club, to discuss one of the seven deadly sins, envy, along with Greg Sheridan, Lyndon Terracini and Kate McClymont. The show aired on 19 August on ABC, and will be available for a limited time on iview. There's also an outtake … Continue reading Appearance on Jennifer Byrne Presents: Envy
Whisky Literature: I’m playing with video again
This is the first in a series called Whisky Literature (combining two loves), where I will muse on literature, discuss recent reads, or read aloud over a dram of whisky. This episode features Ardbeg Uigeadail and the books Deeper Water by Jessie Cole, The Empress Lover by Linda Jaivin, and Tampa by Alissa Nutting, with mention … Continue reading Whisky Literature: I’m playing with video again
Review: Slush Pile by Ian Shadwell, for The Australian
Sometimes an author will have one big hit and then … nothing. When we meet Michael Ardenne, the antihero of Ian Shadwell’s Slush Pile, it has been more than a decade since he won the Man Booker Prize for his debut novel Ephesus. Now, he is 'as dry as an old dog turd'. Instead of writing, … Continue reading Review: Slush Pile by Ian Shadwell, for The Australian
#555writers: Grafton to Lennox Head
This'll be a short one. It's the fifth day of the five writers, five towns tour. We were all heartened to see Sam looking perkier this morning, after a good rest at the Quality Inn in Grafton. As for the rest of us... I think by the time we separate we will be both relieved … Continue reading #555writers: Grafton to Lennox Head
#555writers: Coffs to Grafton
This morning Zacharey Jane interviewed Craig Sherborne and myself in the Coffs Harbour Library. The crowd was fantastic, and asked lots of intriguing questions. Coffs all up was WONDERFUL. I'll never say a bad word about my home town again. Maybe. Poor Nick Earls is right now performing his Word Hunt talk at the Grafton … Continue reading #555writers: Coffs to Grafton