Hamlet: A Novel, John Marsden, Text, 9781921351471, 2008 (Australia) + Hamlet (film), directed by Kenneth Branagh, 1996. John Marsden has always had a distinct ability to grasp and express adolescent experience. His Hamlet: a Novel is highly accessible for an audience familiar with heightened perceptions of desire, deception, unfairness, traps, loneliness, defiance, and existential angst. If you are familiar … Continue reading Two Hamlets
Australian writers
Go Nam!
Nam Le has won the $140,000 Dylan Thomas Prize, for a writer under 30. And how well-deserved! Read all about it from the ABC, or The Oz, or perhaps what we printed in WBN today (subscription required). And do revisit my 'responsive' interview with Nam. This is so exciting, when you love a writer's work - because a prize … Continue reading Go Nam!
Nam Le – a 'responsive' interview
The Boat, Nam Le, 2008, Penguin - Hamish Hamilton (Aus, US), 9780241015414 Sentences - LiteraryMinded Responses - Nam Le * The terminal point, point of contemplation. The idea of terminus is critical to narrative: what (and where) is the point that occasions the narrative? What needs finishing in order for articulation to start? Because a narrative, … Continue reading Nam Le – a 'responsive' interview
Capitalism is funny – a review of Max Barry's Company
Company, Max Barry, Scribe, 9781921215643, 2008 (Aus, US) Jones joins Zephyr as an enthusiastic employee, without even knowing what the company does. This doesn't seem to be an odd thing at Zephyr, where Jones' coworkers in the Training Sales department just accept that Zephyr is a ‘holdings' company, and get on with their menial, perpetual … Continue reading Capitalism is funny – a review of Max Barry's Company
'I Wanted to Talk About Being Completely Screwed Over by the Corporate Machine With a Smile on My Face' – William Kostakis on Loathing Lola
Loathing Lola, William Kostakis, Pan Macmillan, 2008, Australia, 9780330424165 You rewrote the whole book to be in first person (no mean feat!), in Courtney's point of view. How did you come to this decision? Okay, so originally, Loathing Lola was in the third person, with three leads, Courtney, Tim and Katie. Well, four leads, if you included … Continue reading 'I Wanted to Talk About Being Completely Screwed Over by the Corporate Machine With a Smile on My Face' – William Kostakis on Loathing Lola
Helen Garner's The Spare Room left me staring at the wall
Text Publishing, 2008, 9781921351396 (Aus, US) The Spare Room left me staring at the wall of my bedroom. The illness of Nicola, the anger of Helen - a few weeks pass in a few reading hours, simply told but infinite. I stare at the wall and realise this novel will take hold of me over the years. … Continue reading Helen Garner's The Spare Room left me staring at the wall
The Best Unpublished Books – Part Two
The Ice Age – Kirsten Reed I think, if I’d read this book between the ages of 14-17, it would be my favourite book. Not that it only has young adult appeal. I still found that the laid-back protagonist, who doesn’t seem particularly fazed most of the time to be on the road with a … Continue reading The Best Unpublished Books – Part Two
The Best Unpublished Books – Part One
From the Deep End Table – Christopher Currie I tracked down Chris after reading an amazing story of his in Voiceworks a couple of years ago, called 1969. It was about Woodstock – the summer of love. I found his writing to be incredibly insightful, subtle, and beautiful. I was instantly a fan. Chris has … Continue reading The Best Unpublished Books – Part One
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