The literary-minded in Melbourne need never be bored. The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas will begin filling our lunch breaks and evenings this month. Here's the program for the first three months. I'll be getting along to see Helen Garner, and I love the idea of the Lunchbox/Soapbox sessions which allow you to … Continue reading Speaking of…
Commentary
Go west! Perth Writers Fest 2010 program released
I've never been to Western Australia. Isn't that nuts? I've been to Europe, I've been to the USA and I've been to Asia, but never the other side of my own country. Lucky for me, the lovely organisers of Perth Writers Festival have invited me along this year. Besides my sessions, I am expecting to catch … Continue reading Go west! Perth Writers Fest 2010 program released
When they get it right – from book to film
to One of my favourites: to Oh, Virginia! And then something like: to What are your favourite book-to-film adaptations? I love all of the above because the films aren't necessarily 100% true to the plot and characters of the books, but are something wonderful on their own - maintaining something of the 'mood' of the … Continue reading When they get it right – from book to film
Brows will be lifted…
* New short story of mine in The Lifted Brow 6: Atlas, being launched this Friday! My story 'Obsolescence' is a bit of a dark, modern fable set in Bergen, Norway, where my relatives are from. The issue is going to be awesome, with a piece of writing about every country in the world (not … Continue reading Brows will be lifted…
Nabokov, you sly ol’ dog
How can someone be this amusing (and amused) and articulate? I'm in love and fascinated and repulsed all at the same time, just as I was reading Lolita... While we're here: Nabokov in audio. Martin Amis on Nabokov. Shelley Winters breaks my heart in Kubrick's film version (for which Nabokov wrote the screenplay): What say you?
Exchanging information
There’s always going to be someone smarter than you in the room. But then – so much of what you know, they may have never encountered. It’s really rewarding to give someone, or a group of people, access to something you use and understand; something you grasp and even love. And I walk away having learnt … Continue reading Exchanging information
Number Five is alive! And analysing my reading habits
I missed you. But it seems a break was needed. On my holidays I just about shut down - sleeping 10-12 hours a night, barely writing or reading a thing, seeing movies and spending time with great people. Though one of Clarissa's lines from The Hours kept coming into my head: 'I seem to be unravelling'. I … Continue reading Number Five is alive! And analysing my reading habits
Cut, print, that's a wrap: 2009
In 2009... Christos Tsiolkas said c**t Steven Amsterdam, Tom Cho, Kirsten Reed, Krissy Kneen, Josephine Rowe and Kathy Charles were forced to 'respond' I also interviewed Eva Hornung, Max Barry, Jon Bauer (whose debut novel has since been picked up by Scribe and will be out in 2010), Toni Jordan, Josephine Emery, Adam Ford, Emily Maguire, Lisa … Continue reading Cut, print, that's a wrap: 2009
1993—a pivotal year (with thanks to Mrs Grant)
Besides my Oma, the person who most encouraged my writing when I was a child was my year three teacher, Mrs Grant. She was an exchange teacher from Canada and we all grew to love her so much that it was devastating the day she left. She was so sweet that one time, when my best friend … Continue reading 1993—a pivotal year (with thanks to Mrs Grant)
Brethren is one of my favourite words (but that has nothing to do with Peril, my best books of 2009, Kafka's diary, or an Overland blog guest post)
* This week I went to the launch of Peril, edition 8: 'why are people so unkind'? It featured readings, and a fun, sexy performance by Ladies of Colour Agency that made me want to get up an shake it, baby. Maxine Clarke, who performed her poetry, gives a very warm of a rundown of … Continue reading Brethren is one of my favourite words (but that has nothing to do with Peril, my best books of 2009, Kafka's diary, or an Overland blog guest post)
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