Anna Funder made her name with the much-hailed and widely published nonfiction work Stasiland. Her first novel, All That I Am—already a bestseller and winner of multiple awards—has just been awarded the Miles Franklin Literary Award for 2012. Congratulations Anna! Recommended reading: Miles Franklin winner Anna Funder finds out it's all about her, award coverage by Stephen Romei … Continue reading Anna Funder’s All That I Am wins 2012 Miles Franklin
Australian authors
Casual fate: Taking Shelter by Jessica Anderson
Published in 1989, by Penguin Jessica Anderson (1916-2010) won the Miles Franklin Literary Award twice, for Tirra Lirra by the River in 1978 and The Impersonators in 1980. Taking Shelter is one of her less lauded novels (they all sound quite different). I picked it up mainly because of one of the cover blurbs: 'A provocative … Continue reading Casual fate: Taking Shelter by Jessica Anderson
Recently read: The Fine Colour of Rust by PA O’Reilly & What the Family Needed by Steven Amsterdam
I'm fairly time-poor at the moment, but I wanted to at least make a small note about a couple of books I've read lately in preparation for the Sydney Writers' Festival next week! The Fine Colour of Rust, PA O'Reilly, Blue Door, 9780007434930, March 2012 (buy paperback, ebook) I'm a big fan of Paddy O'Reilly's … Continue reading Recently read: The Fine Colour of Rust by PA O’Reilly & What the Family Needed by Steven Amsterdam
Closer to Stone by Simon Cleary
UQP, March 2012 9780702239229 (buy paperback) A few years ago I read and enjoyed The Comfort of Figs by Simon Cleary, and I was excited to receive his new book Closer to Stone in the mail. It's about a young Australian man who travels to Northern Africa in the mid '90s in search of his missing brother. As I … Continue reading Closer to Stone by Simon Cleary
Choosing to fly: When We Have Wings by Claire Corbett
Allen & Unwin, 2011 9781742375564 (buy Aus paperback, ebook, US/Kindle) The main theme, and dilemma, for the two main characters in When We Have Wings is an old one: how do we deal with technological progress, the divides it can create (between classes, between generations), and the power it may provide to a privileged few? More specifically, … Continue reading Choosing to fly: When We Have Wings by Claire Corbett
The isle of man: Sweet Old World by Deborah Robertson
Vintage, 9781741668254 March 2012 (buy paperback, ebook) This article was originally published in The Big Issue no. 402. Deborah Robertson’s latest book started out as a completely different project. The author of award-winning, bestselling novel Careless (2006) and the earlier short-story collection Proudflesh (1997) left her teaching position at Murdoch University—eventually relocating from Fremantle to … Continue reading The isle of man: Sweet Old World by Deborah Robertson
Bellingen Readers and Writers Fest 2012 special: The Lake Woman by Alan Gould + The Rip by Robert Drewe
In the lead-up to the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival, I’ll be putting up a series of (short) reviews of books I’m reading in preparation. The Lake Woman, Alan Gould, Arcadia, 9781921509346 Alec Dearborn is an Australian in British service in WWII. In his first moments of war he parachutes from an attacked plane (over … Continue reading Bellingen Readers and Writers Fest 2012 special: The Lake Woman by Alan Gould + The Rip by Robert Drewe
Bellingen Readers & Writers Fest special: A Common Loss by Kirsten Tranter
In the lead-up to the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival, I’ll be putting up a series of (short) reviews of books I’m reading in preparation. A Common Loss, Kirsten Tranter Fourth Estate, 2012 9780732290825 (paperback, ebook) This is a fabulous, understated thriller and character story. A group of friends, who met in college, catch up … Continue reading Bellingen Readers & Writers Fest special: A Common Loss by Kirsten Tranter
Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival 2012 special: The Sea Bed by Marele Day
In the lead-up to the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival, I'll be putting up a series of (short) reviews of books I'm reading in preparation. The Sea Bed, Marele Day Allen & Unwin, 2009 9781741758412 (paperback, ebook) The Sea Bed is set around an island with a tradition of ‘sea women’, who, for generations, have dived, … Continue reading Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival 2012 special: The Sea Bed by Marele Day
Up in the air: an interview with Carrie Tiffany on Mateship with Birds
Picador, February 2012 9781742610764 (paperback, ebook) A version of this article was published in The Big Issue No. 399 Carrie Tiffany’s debut novel Everyman’s Rules for Scientific Living was published in 2005 to high praise. Now, her second novel Mateship with Birds—a compelling and elegant meditation on family, desire and country life—confirms the author’s attraction … Continue reading Up in the air: an interview with Carrie Tiffany on Mateship with Birds
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