Category Archives: Books

The Book that Changed Me

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

The opening session at the Newcastle Writers Festival was titled The Book that Changed Me with Helen Garner, Michael Robotham and Jessica Rudd in conversation with Caroline Baum. Baum led the way through a glad bag of topics, and at … Continue reading →

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Newcastle Writers Festival 20-22 March

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

This year’s lineup at the 2015 Newcastle Writers Festival at Newcastle City Hall will thrill any book lover. A taste of the talent: Helen Garner, Marion Halligan, Favel Parrett, Bob Brown, Michael Robotham, Les Murray, and proudly standing alongside them … Continue reading →

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All is Not Well on the Australian Literary Front

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Last Monday the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Fiction Prize was split between Richard Flanagan for The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Steven Carroll for A World of Other People. When Richard Flanagan gave the $40,000 prize money he … Continue reading →

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Richard Flanagan on his Man Booker winner

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Breaking News: Richard Flanagan won the 2014 Man Booker with his novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North. This morning I listened to his interview with Guardian Books. The first thing that struck me was here was someone who … Continue reading →

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Expanding the Moment

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Sometimes I come across a passage of writing that stops time. It’s a magical moment where the writing creates a strange paradox: the words go on but time itself stops long enough for me to observe this expanded, intense and … Continue reading →

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What is Time?

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Two things happened last weekend that made me question Time. Firstly, I heard Jeanette Winterson discuss time at the Sydney Opera House. She grew up in a household that lived in End Time. When Mrs Winterson had drills to practice … Continue reading →

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David Malouf at Sydney Writers’ Festival

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Sydney Theatre. 11.30 am. 22 May, 2014 The auditorium lights faded. Enter stage right, David Malouf. Australian Book Review’s first laureate. Multiple literary award winner, including the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Man Booker short-lister. Enter Tegan Bennett Daylight. Interviewer. One of … Continue reading →

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Alex Miller at the SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Hornsby Library, 21st May 2014 You would expect when an insightful author like Alex Miller stands up to talk to his readers he would make us think. Not only did he succeed, but more importantly, he made us feel. First … Continue reading →

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Books are Bad for You

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

There is no way someone who lives books, reading and writing can ignore a column piece called Books are Bad for You. My hackles go up immediately and I’m ready to argue with its author, Howard Jacobson, before I’ve even … Continue reading →

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Launch of ‘Mirrors – The Writing Workshop Anthology’

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

There’s nothing quite like the excitement and buzz that surrounds the launch of a book. The hard work is done. The clumps of hair you ripped out in despair have grown back. Your friends and family are here and are … Continue reading →

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