Australian Classic Fiction

The Varnished Culture thinks some Australian novels are worthy of the whole world: An Imaginary Life (by David Malouf) The Book Thief (by Markus Zusak) Capricornia (by Xavier Herbert) The First Man in Rome (by Colleen McCullough) Gould’s Book of Fish (by Richard Flanagan) The Harp in the South (by Ruth Park) The Magic Pudding (by Norman Lindsay) The Man Who Loved Children (by Christina Stead) The Merry-go-round in the Sea (by Randolph Stow) My Brilliant Career (by Miles Franklin) My Brother Jack (by George Johnston) Oscar and Lucinda (by Peter Carey) Picnic at Hanging Rock (by Joan Lindsay) Power Without Glory…

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The Art of Stalking

January 15, 2020 | Posted by Guest Reviewer | ART, FILM, MUSIC, WRITING & LITERATURE |

The New South Wales Police Force offers this regarding the crime of Stalking: Stalking is a crime…and…includes: ‘the following of a person about or the watching or frequenting of the vicinity of, or an approach to a person’s place of residence, business or work or any place that a person frequents for the purposes of any social or leisure activity’.  Stalking involves a persistent course of conduct or actions by a person which are intended to maintain contact with or exercise power and control over another person. These actions cause distress, loss of control, fear or harassment to another person and occur…

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Homage to Catullus

May 9, 2019 | Posted by Guest Reviewer | HISTORY, Poetry |

A rumination: Farts foreshadow faeces, Poppers presage poo; When they start, and carry on There’s little else to do But find yourself a toilet And sit yourself right down, Unless your suiting will assume A savage shade of brown.  

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Films to Help Remember Phone boxes

March 19, 2019 | Posted by Guest Reviewer | FILM, LIFE |

Cigarettes, hats & gloves, phone boxes…where did you go? Here’s an aide memoire for phone boxes…let us know of more! All the President’s Man [Woodward to Deep Throat: “We talked about Wallace.” DT: “This is different.”] Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy [main image…Vale Baxter (or so he thought)] The Apartment  [see below: “She looks just like Marilyn Monroe!”] Dr Strangelove [“If you don’t get the President of the United States on that phone; you’ll have to answer to the Coca-Cola company.”] The French Connection [Popeye in the subway, tailing ‘Frog One’: “I don’t care how many bartenders you got sick,…

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Happy Oktoberfest!

October 12, 2018 | Posted by Guest Reviewer | LIFE |

12 October 1810: First Oktoberfest held in Munich to celebrate the nuptials of Ludwig I and Princess Therese.  The Varnished Culture offers a sad Oktoberfest song, to be sung to the tune of “All Out of Love” by Air Supply (with apologies). I’m lying alone with my head on the phone, Thinking of you till it hurts, I know you’d be true but what else can we do Tormented and torn apart, I wish I could carry you right in my hands For times when my life seems so low, It would make me believe what tomorrow could bring When today doesn’t…

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