Tag Archives: Australian Women Writers Challenge

Finishing the Australian Women Writers Reading Challenge 2012

I decided to embrace the challenge wholeheartedly, and choose the option of reading ten books and giving a lengthy review of four. As I have some free time, I reviewed rather more. A list of links is below. The books I tried to … Continue reading

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Our 2013 Reading Challenge

In 2012 we tried a basic “52 books in 52 weeks” challenge and it went well, so we wanted to have another for 2013. We couldn’t come up with a more awesome idea than the people over at the Australian … Continue reading

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Aussie Voices: Australian Legendary Tales: Folk-Lore of the Noongahburrahs As Told To The Piccaninnies

This fortnight on Aussie Voices, we have a strange document, with layered significance, by a female writer who lived in north-western New South Wales. Two tales of her childhood, unprovable as all such things are, show K. Langloh Parker’s character, and the … Continue reading

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The Dawn by Louisa Lawson, volume one

Continuing in my quest to complete the Australian Women Writers Challenge, I’m cheating a little by selecting a magazine. It is, however, a really interesting magazine, if, like me, you’re into social history, and it is only available due to … Continue reading

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Great Australian Women by Susanna de Vries

This has all of the makings of a great book of biographies. Its choice of subjects is, for the most part, sound. Its characters, as required, stand up to either poverty or oppression, and overthrow or ameliorate it. The stories are inspiring, … Continue reading

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My Country and Other Poems by Dorothea Mackellar

Technically, Dorothea Mackellar is a good poet, and she’s a pleasure to read, but her subject choice, and her mode of writing, lack some of the edge and energy of modern poetry. As a poet of the senses, she’s exceptional. She’s … Continue reading

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The Autumn Castle by Kim Wilkins

This review contains significant spoilers, which begin after the Plot heading. There’s a tension when reviewing authors who are alive and live relatively close to you. You’d like them to succeed. You’d like to give them a hand. You’d like, in … Continue reading

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The Country Cookbook by Belinda Jeffrey

Reviewing a cookbook isn’t like reviewing fiction. To review a cookbook you need to be aware of how varied the desires of readers of cookbooks are, compared to, say, readers of fiction. Most people read fiction for amusement, and are … Continue reading

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Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood: book club discussion questions

I listened to Cocaine blues in audiobook as a preparation for the new ABC TV series. I was going to review it, but several of the people on the Australian Women Writers Challenge already have. So, instead, book club discussion … Continue reading

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A river not yet tamed by Nancy Cato

Beware: spoilers! So, I downloaded this book, and the recording has the full We Are Serious treatment. It’s in the Bolinda Classics line. We start out with Bud Tingwell saying “Hi, I’m Bud Tingwell and you’d better brace yourself, because … Continue reading

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