For the last couple of years I’ve been keeping track of the gender statistics of my reading, and (surprise! surprise!) have realised I read many more books by men than by women. I’ve just discovered the Australian Women Writers’ Challenge and signed up for the Miles level of the challenge, which means I undertake to read six books by Australian women and review four of them (though as I normally review every book I read, defining ‘review’ very loosely, that’s not a big deal). The challenge webpage suggests that I tell you the six books I plan to read, but I’m going to leave it vague. The first one will probably be Favel Parrett’s Past the Shallows, but who knows what might happen before I pick it up.
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Reading & watching- Bards in the Wilderness (Brian Elliott & Adrian Mitchell 1970) 17 June 2013Call this research. I'm not reading a lot just now, but dipping into this. How Times Have Changed.
- SFF: Twenty Feet from Stardom (Morgan Neville 2012) 16 June 2013This was the feelgood final movie of the Sydney Film Festival, and it did the job very well.
- SFF: The Past (Asghar Farhadi 2013) 15 June 2013Another complex film about a troubled marriage the Iranian director of A Separation, though this time it's a divorce and set in France. The large contingent of Iranians at the SFF screening laughed in places the rest of us didn't, but I don't think anyone saw it as a rom com.
- SFF: Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films 15 June 2013Ten movies are screened. Three awards are given. Too much excellence. Another screening tomorrow morning, and the awards are announced tomorrow night. The suspense is overwhelming. Alex Ryan: NgurrumbangBrendon McDonall: All God's CreaturesDavid Lyons:RecordIsabel Peppard: ButterfliesJaime Lewis: RavageJim Batt: I Have Your HeartMaziar Lahooti: HeavenMi […]
- SFF: The Attack (Ziad Doueiri 2012) 13 June 2013'We are not Islamists or Christian fanatics. We are a ravaged people fighting for our dignity.' A successful Arab Israeli surgeon discovers that his wife has been a suicide bomber. There are many implausibilities, and some messaginess, but it's a complex and challenging movie.
- Bards in the Wilderness (Brian Elliott & Adrian Mitchell 1970) 17 June 2013
Oh good for you Jonathan … and welcome to the challenge. I look forward to your reviews and hope you enjoy taking part (and, of course, what you read to take part!)
You’ve sent me to my book-shelf, Jonathan. Statistics can be interesting, revelatory: An Australian anthology (reflective text) I edited for OUP in Melbourne – “Made in Australia” – published in 1990: 82 individual selections (poetry, prose, extracts, articles) 36 by males; 46 by females (among which total – 17 pieces from Indigenous writers). Used in schools though probably long since disappeared (during all those years I was in Japan)! In a companion volume (anthology only – OUP 1990) “An Arc of Australian Voices” – there were 44 separate titles – 38 writers – 21 titles by females 24 by males (one of the titles a joint effort: ABDULLAH & MATHEW “Grandfather Tiger”).
I did this challenge last year and it was wonderful. Definitely made me branch out of my comfort zone. I included NZ in my challenge and read Bone People by Keri Hulme. If you haven’t read that, you need to. It’s impeccable!
Cassie, I’m glad you mentioned Keri HULME. In 1985 I attended several literary events – speakers being writers – Australian and others (A.D. HOPE, Salman RUSHDIE, et al.) organised by Elizabeth WEBBY. Among whom that year’s Booker Prize winner Keri HULME. So impressive. A mate at the time at Canterbury University was working on a Dictionary of Maori (based on historical principles – a la the OED) – and I was reading Patricia GRACE and Witi IHIMAERA among others at the same time… Just last week tidying my book-shelves – picking up Keri HULME’s book – re-reading some of the newspaper & magazine cuttings I had folded into its pages.
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