I’m afraid this month’s reading update is rather meagre. Not in quality – the opposite, in fact! – but because I haven’t been reading very much, skipping from one book to another. The reason? Tiredness. Reading Matters is almost here! (FYI: there are only tickets left for the Public Day).
I began The Dispossessed and put it aside for The Midwich Cuckoos. Le Guin’s prose is sharp and observant and requires a measure more of concentration than I can currently call on. Wyndham’s prose is relaxed, easier in comparison. I love The Day of The Triffids, and if The Midwich Cuckoos title doesn’t ring a bell, you might have heard of its movie adaptation:
But I put Cuckoos aside once my reserved copy of The High Places came into the library. Earlier this month McFarlane won the prestigious Dylan Thomas Prize for the book, and after just the first few stories I can see why. In fact, one of these – ‘Mycenae’ – would probably rank among my top ten favourite short stories.
What are you reading this month?
p.s Speaking of short stories, I’m pleased to say that I’ve been shortlisted in both the 2017 Alan Marshall Short Story Award and 2017 Nillumbik Ekphrasis Poetry Awards. The announcement was made last week. This seems like a good opportunity to also say that I’ll be teaching a Creativity 101 workshop for Writers Victoria in July. Do come along! Especially those of you who’ve wanted to do my creativity e-course but prefer to learn face-to-face. This is your chance!
