I’m having some trouble with my website here. A wonderful wonderful designer is doing things with it to make it better but I managed to muck it up a bit by fiddling. So bear with me/us as I/we get it how I want it.
But for now. A list:
- I am reading Bruce Pascoe’s DARK EMU. It’s showing me how bloody ignorant I am about this country and the history of it before the whites arrived. A lot of people on twitter have been saying to read it in the lead-up to 26 January and I am doing just that.
- I finished reading Christy Collins’s marvellous luminous deft THE END OF SEEING. I recommend vociferously.
- My reading this year, I am planning to read hard books and books I’ve had on my shelves for a long time. I’m more than half-way through CRIME AND PUNISHMENT as well. I also want to read HHhH as we went to the museum/church in Prague that features in the opening pages of Binet’s book.
- My trip OS was great. I feel very lucky to have seen and experienced some amazing things. Highlights were the Faberge eggs at the Kremlin in Moscow and at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg. Krakow was also a major highlight. Russian trains are the best. Helsinki’s Suomenlinna Island – a sort ferry trip from the dock – is a beautiful rugged cold place. Was great to see a few more things in Prague, but happy to be home to my routines and family. Staying put for a while though now.
- Although in April I have a residency at Bundanon to work on my 4th novel manuscript, working title swings between CIRCUS MAXIMUS and ARCADIA. I am in early stages of that one. It’s a messy beast to be sure, and mostly exists in my head.
- In March — 21st March to be precise — my second novel is published. LITTLE GODS has a cover and has some lovely endorsements that I feel I don’t deserve. It has been sent to print and the best word to describe all of this, in terms of how I’m feeling, is ‘precarious’. You can read more about LGs here. (Bear in mind the synoptic material I have a hand in. All the glowing flattering complimentary stuff, that’s not me.)
- In May I’m off to another residency, this time in Varuna. I feel very spoiled by the residency application gods this year. At Varuna I’ll be working on my 3rd novel – working title for that one is THE SEVEN EXPULSIONS. It’s about a woman whose life falls apart over the course of a week.
- Intending to schedule some more Bad Diary Salons across the year. With new readers, new themes, new venues.
SERAGLIO 
Welcome to 2018 Jenny.
I don’t usually invite people to read my blog, but I reviewed Dark Emu in late 2016, but just recently have had some comments on it that question some of Pascoe’s conclusions. I liked the book, but wondered whether the odd long bow was being drawn, perhaps unnecessarily.
Staying put for a while, eh? But then a residency here and a residency there! Both in the lovely state of NSW I notice!!
Glad you had a great trip – and, oh, I finally read Crime and punishment only a couple of years ago. Loved it.
Hi Sue, thanks! I had a look at your blog and the comments. Interesting what that person says but I’d love to know his credentials 😉 We all shape our narratives – consciously or unconsciously.
Haven’t made much progress with C&P I must say. (My nephew is reading it too, coincidentally. Am very impressed with him.) At the moment though I’m being delightfully sidetracked from Pascoe and Dosto by Toni Jordan’s Our Tiny Useless Hearts. It’s a terrific comedy of manners. I so admire her ability to write a completely different book every time.
Yes, I wondered about his credentials too. I tried to respond reasonably but not over-enthusiasically because of this. It sounds like he’s done quite a bit of reading but hard to know the perspective he’s coming from.
I’ve read three of Toni Jordans and enjoyed them, but haven’t managed to get to this one. She does write great variety I agree. And with warmth, which I like.
Hi Sue, thanks! I had a look at your blog and the comments. Interesting what that person says but I’d love to know his credentials 😉 We all shape our narratives – consciously or unconsciously.
Haven’t made much progress with C&P I must say. (My nephew is reading it too, coincidentally. Am very impressed with him.) At the moment though I’m being delightfully sidetracked from Pascoe and Dosto by Toni Jordan’s Our Tiny Useless Hearts. It’s a terrific comedy of manners. I so admire her ability to write a completely different book every time.
I realised I didn’t reply directly to your comment Sue… so have copied and pasted.