Eve Langley (1904 -1974) is an enigmatic figure in Australian literary history. One of the (many) reasons why Eve Langley is considered enigmatic is her writing. There was a LOT of it, but was it fiction or was it autobiographical? And how is it possible to tell the difference when the author deliberately leads you … Continue reading Eve Langley and The Pea Pickers | Helen Vines #AWWbiography
Gabrielle Carey, with this book about Elizabeth von Armin, had the honour of being the very first author event by zoom, that I participated in during this Covid year. Also in attendance was Lisa from ANZLitLovers, who had alerted me to the event in the first place. It was lovely to be able to … Continue reading Only Happiness Here | Gabrielle Carey #AWWmemoir
Writing regular blog posts seems to be something quite beyond right now. But thanks to Karen @Booker Talk I've be revisiting some of my older posts to find fresh inspiration. This post about the rather silent author, Randolph Stow, was originally published on the 29th August 2015. I've been thinking about Gabrielle Carey a lot, over … Continue reading Moving Among Strangers by Gabrielle Carey
Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. I started reading it in 2016. I thoroughly enjoyed the early part - Matteson wrote a very thorough and in-depth look at Louisa's childhood. But the font was small and things began to get difficult thanks … Continue reading Eden’s Outcasts | John Matteson
It's time to bring this baby home!My final sessions and thoughts about this year's Sydney Writer's Festival.Town Hall, Sydney - Vivid-styleOn Friday evening, Mr Books and I went into Town Hall to hear George Saunders, Colson Whitehead, Mona Chalabi and Julia Turner discuss the topic American Carnage. The term references the point in Trump's inaugural … Continue reading Sydney Writer’s Festival – Part 3 and a Half
Thursday at the Sydney Writer's Festival was another glorious May day in the sunshine. Over breakfast I planned my session times. Two were pre-booked and paid, but I also hoped to fit in the free session called And the Award Goes To....Setting out on the ferry in the morning was a tad crisp, but the … Continue reading Sydney Writer’s Festival – Part 2
It was only a matter of time before we saw picture books for children that contained themes about mobile phone use. The two latest offerings deal with the positive aspects as well as the addictive nature of technology and social media.Australian writer/illustrator Nick Bland gives us The Fabulous Friend Machine. Popcorn the hen is a … Continue reading Picture Book Technology & Online Safety
Harper Lee & 'Scout' (Helios Gallery).I really want to get excited about this, but something feels off....You've all seen the news by now I'm sure.Here it is in AustraliaThe USAnd the UK.Is it a sequel? A prequel? A first novel or second?Should we be delighted that they have suddenly found a story about an adult … Continue reading Is it just me…?
Robert Dessaix was born in Sydney on 17th February 1944. He was soon adopted & given the name Robert Jones. Young Robert was educated at North Sydney Boys High School and the Australian National University. He then studied at Moscow State University during the early 1970s, and taught Russian Studies at the Australian National University and … Continue reading D is for Robert Dessaix
Aussie Author Challenge #2This week we visit a contemporary Australian writer, poet & critic.James BradleyBorn 15th May 1967 in Adelaide, SA.Bradley stuudied at the University of Adelaide where he studied law & philosophy. He now lives in Sydney with his partner, the novelist Mardi McConnochie, and daughters, Annabelle and Lila.NovelsWrack (1997) - Shortlisted for Miles … Continue reading B is for James Bradley
Noni the Pony Goes to the Beach is a follow up book for Alison Lester after the success of Noni the Pony (2011).Lester has been writing and illustrating children's books for over 30 years.She was born in country Victoria, growing up on a farm overlooking the sea.Horses have always been a passion for her, which … Continue reading Noni the Pony Goes to the Beach by Alison Lester
Sonya Hartnett is a Melbourne based author who writes for young children, teens, YA and now adults with her recent release of Golden Boys.She has won more awards than you can poke a stick at including the CBCA for Older Readers for The Midnight Zoo in 2011, the CBCA for younger readers in 2005 for The … Continue reading The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett
During a recent trip to Canberra I had the opportunity to attend the Bob Graham exhibition, A Bird in the Hand!at the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery in Civic. Graham started with a timeline of important life events. He also provided a wonderful glimpse into his working world.I love the photograph of Graham outside his window and … Continue reading Bob Graham: A Retrospective
The Swap tells that age old story of sibling jealousy.When left in charge to mind her baby brother, Caroline decides to swap her dribbly, annoying brother for another. She tries out a baby elephant, a baby panda & baby tigers.Unfortunately she experiences problems with all of them - too squirty, fussy eaters, too tiring etc.By … Continue reading The Swap by Jan Ormerod and Andrew Joyner
Thanks to my job in an Indie bookstore, I have had the pleasure of meeting lots of authors over the past 6 years. Some visits are arranged by the publishers. But many of them are pop in's - just to say 'hi' and to sign a few books.Local author Hannah Richell - author of The … Continue reading Armchair BEA – Authors I’ve Had the Pleasure to Meet.
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