Translated from the German by Anthea Bell (Aus, US, UK) Text Publishing, September 2010 9781921656569 Johanna Adorján’s grandparents took their own lives in October 1991. In this reserved and moving book Adorján pieces together the last day of their lives, interspersing this narrative with details of her grandparents' pasts, pieces of her own story, and musings on various related … Continue reading Johanna Adorján’s An Exclusive Love
'I want to read that, too!' Wanting to know and be everything (but then take my time with something)
The Christmas party season is in full swing. I've forgotten names, drank too much, jumped on a trampoline, been told secrets, held hands with sweaty strangers (swing dancing), stuttered (kinda a new one) and swapped WIP stories with emerging and published writers. There's a lot of pressure to be in the know. To have read … Continue reading 'I want to read that, too!' Wanting to know and be everything (but then take my time with something)
Guest review: Elizabeth Bryer on Wayne Macauley’s Other Stories
Black Pepper November 2010 9781876044664 (Aus) Reviewed by Elizabeth Bryer Other Stories brings together Melbourne-based Wayne Macauley’s output over the past decade and counting. The collection is filled with ‘other’ stories—tales that are other, or outside the mainstream, in a double sense. They are other in subject, given that they are stories that trace … Continue reading Guest review: Elizabeth Bryer on Wayne Macauley’s Other Stories
Interview with Paul Murphy, book trailer specialist
In the past few months Paul Murphy has been kindly forwarding me his book trailers. I visited his website, http://www.booktease.com.au, and was impressed by the range and quality of his work in this emerging field. In our visually aligned and keyboard-bound culture, book trailers will increasingly play an important role in drawing readers to the … Continue reading Interview with Paul Murphy, book trailer specialist
A very short break (+ fun links)
Lovely readers, I am taking a very short blog break (about a week) as I am off to Sydney for my Confimation of Candidature and to present a paper (on this, of all things) to the Writing and Society Research Group at UWS. A few bits and bobs to keep you occupied: Follow Steve Martin … Continue reading A very short break (+ fun links)
Brendan Cowell’s How it Feels
Picador, November 2010 9781405039291 Our protag, Neil, is a young ‘arty’ guy from Cronulla whose concerns oscillate between the people of home, and his burgeoning theatre career. He’s self-absorbed, which we know because it’s reiterated a million times in the book. He can’t make up his mind about which chick to f*ck and keep f*cking. … Continue reading Brendan Cowell’s How it Feels
Aussies up for largest worldwide literary prize: IMPAC Dublin longlist
The longlist for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is nominated by libraries worldwide, so it's no surprise that Australian books have been put forward by Australian libraries. Nonetheless, the €100,000 prize is nothing to balk at. It's a long longlist, but an interesting one. I like seeing the flavour of different libraries in different … Continue reading Aussies up for largest worldwide literary prize: IMPAC Dublin longlist
The LiteraryMinded Couch, Episode One: Uhh, Fail Vlog
I've been meaning to add video content to LiteraryMinded for yonks! I've interviewed authors on stage, I've read my own work aloud, I can write about books - but speaking alone into a camera is an entirely different kettle of fish...
'You Will Notice That Hallways Are Painted' in Torpedo Greatest Hits
Torpedo Greatest Hits ed. Chris Flynn Hunter Publishers 9780980517989 (Aus) A few months ago this collection was released with my story 'You Will Notice That Hallways Are Painted', along with stories by Steven Amsterdam, Mandy Ord, Jon Bauer, Krissy Kneen, Toby Litt, Ruby Murray, Josephine Rowe and even Richard Brautigan. The story was written in … Continue reading 'You Will Notice That Hallways Are Painted' in Torpedo Greatest Hits
Guest review: Genevieve Tucker on Colm Tóibín’s The Empty Family
Picador November 2010 9781405040235 (Aus, US, UK) Reviewed by Genevieve Tucker Much has been made around the traps of the fact that Colm Tóibín published a story in his last collection that used the word empty (and words deriving from it) fourteen times, though no one has bothered to acknowledge that the story in question was … Continue reading Guest review: Genevieve Tucker on Colm Tóibín’s The Empty Family
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