This is cross-posted from the Melbourne Writers Festival 2012 blog. Hamish Hamilton (Penguin) 9781926428420 July 2012 It’s taken me a little while to get over Majok Tulba’s unflinching novel about a young boy kidnapped by rebels and forced to become a soldier. On the cusp of adolescence Obinna is forced to witness unimaginable horrors, from … Continue reading Beneath the Darkening Sky by Majok Tulba
Bits & bobs: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Kibble & Dobbie
As you may have seen, my Melbourne Writers Fest pre-festival blogging is in full swing. I'll be cross-posting some of the longer posts over here, but do check in on the blog for Steph Convery and Mark Welker's posts, too, and to find out more about the festival. And please do come along to the … Continue reading Bits & bobs: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Kibble & Dobbie
The Dinner by Herman Koch reviewed in the Australian
My review of black satire The Dinner, by Dutch author Herman Koch, has been published in the Australian. You can read the review here (it doesn't seem to be pay-walled). — Just wanted to let you all know I've been away all week with my family—sad circumstances, but we're all OK—and I'm very busy over the next … Continue reading The Dinner by Herman Koch reviewed in the Australian
Month of reading
I was stoked this month to be asked to contribute the 'month of reading' column to The Victorian Writer, the magazine of Writers Victoria. Below is a version of my column. — I was recently held up at Melbourne airport for seven hours. I tried to see it as a blessing: pure, uninterrupted reading time. I … Continue reading Month of reading
Writing & playing Dickens: Q&A with Simon Callow (MWF 2012)
Cross-posted from the Melbourne Writers Festival 2012 blog. Simon Callow is an actor, writer and this year's festival keynote speaker. At the festival he'll be talking about the great storyteller Charles Dickens, the subject of his latest book Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World. I asked him a few questions about his work... You’ve … Continue reading Writing & playing Dickens: Q&A with Simon Callow (MWF 2012)
’70s-style dystopia: This Perfect Day by Ira Levin
This Perfect Day is a dystopian sci-fi novel, published in 1970, in the vein of Brave New World and Logan’s Run. People are born into a happy (read: bland) unified society, ruled by UniComp, which is literally a giant computer. Over the generations heterogeneity has been genetically blended out, and every member of ‘The Family’ … Continue reading ’70s-style dystopia: This Perfect Day by Ira Levin
Geek Mook launch; Killings interview
Geeks! My latest published piece is an essay on Ghostbusters, in Geek Mook, to be launched at Bella Union bar, Trade's Hall, on 13 July. See the invite on Facebook. Pretty sure I'll be dressed up and reading a snippet from my essay, so do come along and ask me if you can please see the storage facility Mr Venkman. … Continue reading Geek Mook launch; Killings interview
Behind the scenes
I've just put some 'behind the scenes' pics from A Drink with Chris Flynn up on my Facebook page. Enjoy!
Bits & bobs: support the Queensland Literary Awards, MWF blogging
In response to QLD Premier Campbell Newman's axing of the Premier's Literary Awards, a passionate group of people have rallied together to make sure a version of the awards is still going ahead: the Queensland Literary Awards. The judges are hard at work and now they're looking for some financial support so that the winning … Continue reading Bits & bobs: support the Queensland Literary Awards, MWF blogging
Parsley and blood: Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
April 2012 Random House 9781741668452 (buy paperback, ebook) I love a good historical novel: the ability to contrast past and present, to be absorbed in a world that’s (mainly) unfamiliar, and to experience vastly different circumstances, pressures, and social customs. Kate Forsyth allows us to taste, smell and feel 16th Century Italy and late 17th … Continue reading Parsley and blood: Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
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