Michael Burge's Blog, page 11

Madeleine’s heroines not so black and white

A Writer’s review of Madeleine St John’s The Women in Black. “St John is reminding Australians to lighten up.” “BUT she is a woman, although an Australian, so you know it is never after all only amusement on the part of a woman. The heart is always engaged, and so may be broken. And it … Continue reading Madeleine’s heroines not so black and white

Walking my country

“I learned more about this place than I imagined was possible.” FOR more than three decades I lived in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, until the call of the subtropics saw me relocate to Moreton Bay in South East Queensland in 2012. From the very beginning, this placehas been beautifulandstory-filled, but it was also … Continue reading Walking my country

Bloodletting basics with Helen Macdonald

A Writer’s review of Helen Macdonald’s ‘H is for Hawk’. “Macdonald courageously takes herself, and us, beyond our traditional blinkering on cruelty, hunting and killing.” WHENI closed this book, I felt free. Helen Macdonald can write. She can write the bejesus out of life, but this readleft me like I imagine her goshawk Mabel felt: … Continue reading Bloodletting basics with Helen Macdonald

Writer, you’re an author!

“This is a time to take great care of yourself.” THERE is nothing quite like hitting the publish button on your own work. It’s an even sweeter experience when you’ve been patient and reallydone the work on your book, confident that you’ve made it the best it can be with the resources at your disposal. … Continue reading Writer, you’re an author!

Magda’s (not so) funny bits

A writer’s review of Magda Szubanksi’s ‘Reckoning’. WHEN they say that all great comedy emerges from tragedy, they’re talking about books like Magda Szubanski’s Reckoning. Audiences are often perplexed when commentators explore the comic-tragic paradox, a place where there are no easy absolutes. But it’s something Australian creators do particularly well. Think of the suicide … Continue reading Magda’s (not so) funny bits

Writer, show your proof!

“Be hard on yourself and make your bookthe best it can be.” BY now your book and your plan to market it should be well advanced. You’re nearly at the finish line with theformatted, beta-read manuscript that you’ve read multiple times from start to finish; youreffective title and cover; all your publishing matter (such as … Continue reading Writer, show your proof!

Divorced from reality: the Coalition’s marital problems

“The Coalition will just have to take care of itself, because the political wedge has finally hit its target.” AFTER the Coalition’s narrow win, the plebiscite on Marriage Equality should be getting ready to kick off, yet the same election promise has been blamed for the major swing against Malcolm Turnbull. And the paradox has … Continue reading Divorced from reality: the Coalition’s marital problems

Stroke of brilliance behind Aussie crawl

“There are not enough great international novels about failure. This is one of them.” A Writer’s review of Christos Tsiolkas’ Barracuda. ANAustralian book tackling the mask of bravado worn by the successful Aussie sportsman was well overdue by the time Christos Tsiolkas’ Barracuda was published in 2013. The author could have chosen froma multitude of … Continue reading Stroke of brilliance behind Aussie crawl

We need to talk about Pauline

“One Nation sendsmixed messages, and its followers are able to live with policy blind spots, just like other Australians.” WITHno result on election night, it wasn’t toosurprising when people came up to our market stall at Cleveland in South East Queensland on Sunday morning asking who’d won. We weren’t selling anything, but petitioning voters in … Continue reading We need to talk about Pauline

Go beyond the like button (you know you want to)

“Westerners have lost touch with one of our strongest power bases: we are consumers.” PROGRESSIVES internationally are being hit with some hard facts, from the reality of the United Kingdom’s vote to end its politico-economic links with the European Union (EU); through the rise of Donald Trump as the Republican United States presidential candidate; to … Continue reading Go beyond the like button (you know you want to)