I have a new essay in Reading Like an Australian Writer, an anthology of writers examining the techniques, storytelling ways, and sometimes strange magic of other writers via a range of styles: personal, responsive, academic, analytical. It's aimed at emerging writers, writing students, but also fans of Australian literature and reading in general. It's an … Continue reading New essay in Reading Like an Australian Writer
Reviews + Analyses
Books, poetry, journals and the occassional film…
Books that got me through 2020
I read fewer books than ever this year. I finished thirty-three books and will probably get through three or so more by the year’s end, now that I’ve given myself a little time off. (This, of course, does not include all the books I worked on as an editor!) It wasn’t just the broad-sweeping anxiety … Continue reading Books that got me through 2020
Reading (and dreaming) highlights of 2019
Every year I get on here at this time of year and say: 'Holy shit, it's been a big year...' I'm a bit bored of it, but, well, in 2019 my novel A Superior Spectre was published in the UK and was shortlisted for a bunch of awards, and I went over to the Edinburgh International … Continue reading Reading (and dreaming) highlights of 2019
What I read in 2018
This was the most stressful year of my life! And... the most successful. I learnt so much – some hard lessons, but I learnt a lot about my own strength and capacity, too, which is a positive I'm sitting with at the end of the year. I went through a company restructure and took on … Continue reading What I read in 2018
Books I read in 2017
I feel so inadequate, really. It's not the number I would have liked, and honestly I think I bought more books than I read – so at least I am supporting the industry! But... I have a great excuse. I make books. In 2018, at this stage, 16 books I have acquired or co-acquired are … Continue reading Books I read in 2017
What I’m Reading, for the Meanjin blog
I lost [my enthusiasm] for a while, recently. Another part of me took over, a part that couldn’t make those connections, couldn’t really envision those pathways. Every now and then, a lamp flickered and I caught sight of a few stones. For the most part though, I lost my capacity. It was an effort to … Continue reading What I’m Reading, for the Meanjin blog
Wild Gestures by Lucy Durneen
I launched Lucy Durneen's Wild Gestures on 11 January at Buck Mulligan's Irish whiskey bar-bookshop. This was my speech. * Lucy Durneen’s Wild Gestures is a stunning collection of stories, so full of insight on the unconquerable spaces between people, the missed or never possible opportunities, the mistakes that couldn’t be otherwise, the yearning for things we … Continue reading Wild Gestures by Lucy Durneen
2016 in reading
My favourite reads in 2016 were The Abyssinian Contortionist by David Carlin Along with his earlier book about his father's suicide, I think Carlin is one of the warmest experimental (in a creative nonfic sense) writers working in Aus. This book follows the story of - and the story of David's friendship with - Ethiopian/Australian circus performer … Continue reading 2016 in reading
A dystopic vision: The Ark by Annabel Smith
When I first heard about Annabel Smith's project, The Ark, I was intrigued. Here was an excellent literary author (I'm a big fan of her novel Whisky Charlie Foxtrot) tackling not only speculative fiction, but a whole different format. The Ark is about the inhabitants of a sealed seed vault, in a near future where resources are rapidly dwindling. … Continue reading A dystopic vision: The Ark by Annabel Smith
Best Australian Stories 2014, ed. Amanda Lohrey
I've really enjoyed reading this year's Best Australian Stories (which includes my story 'Too Solid Flesh', originally published in Island 137). One commonality I found between the stories, which reminded me of the power of fiction (what it can do), was an emotional complexity that can only be 'shown', not explained. For example, in Julienne van Loon's 'Bring … Continue reading Best Australian Stories 2014, ed. Amanda Lohrey
