Kathy Charles’ debut novel Hollywood Ending was recently released by Text Publishing. In my review for the October issue of Australian Book Review I said: ‘Kathy Charles creates a world both familiar and strange … Despite being highly, if darkly, entertaining, the book hints at deeper issues, such as the extent of superficial distraction in contemporary [...]
Category Archives: Other People's Words
Buying time: Liz Sinclair on asking for money to write her book
October 29, 2009 – 8:50 am
I was very curious when I heard about Liz Sinclair’s project ‘Help Me Write My Book’. Like many writers, Liz has to work to support herself, and of course, work takes time away from what she’s really wanting to do – write that book. My first reaction, honestly, was something along the lines of ‘why does she [...]
Guest review: Lorelei Vashti on Linda Neil’s Learning How to Breathe
October 22, 2009 – 7:55 am
9780702237348
UQP
September 2009 (Australia)
Review by Lorelei Vashti
When I was first offered this book to review I thought: Well, Ms Meyer, it seems that not only are you literary-minded but you’re also literally minded, because what you have given me here is a book about a Brisbane girl returning home to her family. Which, Angela—as you very [...]
Guest review: Elena Gomez on Mic Looby’s Paradise Updated
October 13, 2009 – 7:57 am
9780980374667
September 2009 (Australia)
Affirm Press
If you didn’t already know that Mic Looby was once a Lonely Planet writer and editor, it’s not difficult to guess, reading his debut novel, Paradise Updated. In it, the satirically named ‘SmallWorld’ publishers dominate the guidebook industry and the bloke who made them what they are today, legendary Robert Rind, expert on [...]
Guest review: Rhys Tate on Mary Richardson’s Truckers
September 15, 2009 – 7:56 am
Truckers
Mary Richardson
Mark Batty Publisher
June 2009 (USA)
9780979966682
Reviewed by Rhys Tate.
A few months ago, as an ex-truckie and sometime poet, I was invited to submit some lines to Sydney outfit Red Room and their collection of trucker poetry, a pairing even I find incongruous. My poem was titled ‘There’s nothing romantic about driving a truck’ and [...]
Queensland Poetry Festival special: Elizabeth Bachinsky
August 20, 2009 – 8:03 am
The Queensland Poetry Festival runs from 21 to 23 August. Graham Nunn has helped me to select three poets to feature on LiteraryMinded in the weeks leading up to the festival. Revisit number one, A.F. Harrold; or number two, Hinemoana Baker, if you like. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Bachinsky is the author of three collections of poetry, Curio (BookThug, [...]
Copyright © 2008 Private Media Pty Ltd, Publishers of Crikey.com.au. All Rights Reserved.
Independent news, blogs and commentary on politics, media and business.
Editor: Jonathan Green.
Publishers: Eric Beecher, Diana Gribble.
Level 7, 22 William St, Melbourne, 3000. Ph: 1800 985 502 Fax: (03) 8623 9975
Kilts and wine breath: a conversation with my sister about meeting Diana Gabaldon
Some years ago when I was a bookstore girl, I became intrigued by this massive brick of a book called Cross Stitch, which many middle-aged women would get flustered over: ‘You haven’t read it?’ they’d ask.
I read it, and it was great fun – particularly the raunchy historical Scottish sex, and the time-travel element. I gave [...]