No comments about A kind of exile: Godfrey Blunden--an Australian in Paris.(Biography): An article from: Journal of Australian Studies.

No comments about Banjo of the Bush: The Life and Times of A B Banjo Paterson.

No comments about The universal autobiographer: the politics of normative readings. (Framing Stories and Poetry).: An article from: Journal of Australian Studies.

1 comments about Henry Kendall: The Man and the Myths (Miegunyah Press Series, 2nd Ser., No. 1).

1. Lily Brett has written a novel that makes you laugh and cry in turns. Things Could Be Worse captures the life of a child of two Holocaust survivors.

   The novel explores many themes such as; the impact of the Holocaust not only on survivors, but their children; growing up as a migrant in Melbourne and; the struggle to find identity and happiness. The characters are brilliantly illustrated by David Rankin, an artist and the author's husband.

   Every word and picture in the book rings true, and it gives an insight on what, for most of us, would be unimaginable. A truly wonderful book.

No comments about Warrigal's Way (UQP Black Australian Writers).

1 comments about Angel at My Table (A Women's Press Classic).

1. The second volume of Janet Frame's autobiography traces her development as a writer from teacher training days, through her short-lived teaching career (ending with her walking out of class and never looking back, with which I can wholeheartedly empathise) to her being mentored twenty-four hours a day by the established New Zealand writer, Frank Sargeson. Despite her failure to understand his homosexual leanings, the warmth of her relationship and appreciation of his friendship are transparent.

   An Angel At My Table is a worthwhile read for any aspiring author first setting out - Janet's way of writing is described with humour and insight. We are even told how Frank Sargeson seemed to be rather taken aback by the relative ease of her writing, not realising that, whenever he came within earshot she would start typing `This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlock speak and in accents disconsolate answer the wail of the forest' over and over again, alternating this with the slightly less erudite `The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog'. After all, she did not wish her mentor to suspect her of lack of productivity!

   Though she only briefly refers to her many years spent in Seacliff Hospital, the mental anguish and emotional turmoil of these years clearly is shown to result in her greater self-awareness and appreciation. She writes: "I was taking my new status seriously. If the world of the mad were the world where I now officially belonged (lifelong disease, no cure, no hope) then I would use it to survive, I would excel in it. I sensed that it did not exclude my being a poet." At which point I put the book down, gave a great whoop of delight and danced around the room. You see, I, too, am a poet *wry grin*

No comments about Australian Literature, 1788-1914 (Dictionary of Literary Biography).

No comments about The Grand Old Man of Australian Politics: The Life and Times of Sir Henry Parkes.

No comments about Oodgeroo.

No comments about Roundabout at Bangalow.