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A Writing Life
A Writing Life: Helen Garner and Her Work | Bernadette Brennan
11 posts | 4 read | 1 reading | 2 to read
Helen Garner is one of Australias most important and most admired writers. She is revered for her fearless honesty in the pursuit of her craft. But Garner also courts controversy, not least because she refuses to be constrained by the rules of literary form. She has never been afraid to write herself into her nonfiction, and many of her own experiences help to shape her fiction. But who is the I in Helen Garners work? Bernadette Brennans A Writing Life is the first full-length study of Garners forty years of work, a literary portrait that maps all of her books against the different stages of her life. Brennan has had access to previously unavailable papers in Garners archive, and she provides a lively and rigorous reading of the books, journals and correspondence of one of Australias most beloved women of letters. Billed as the first full-length study of Garners 40 years of work, a literary portrait that maps all of her books against the different stages of her life. Well, who wouldnt want to read that? Australian Dr Bernadette Brennan is an academic and researcher in contemporary Australian writing, literature and ethics. She is the author of a number of publications, including a monograph on Brian Castro and two edited collections: Just Words?: Australian Authors Writing for Justice (UQP 2008), and Ethical Investigations: Essays on Australian Literature and Poetics (Vagabond 2008). She lives in Sydney.
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Sue
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Hey guys I wrote a review type thing! You can find it on the blog bit.ly/2raapwDbit.ly/2raapwD

I really enjoyed it and it took me back to some early to kid 90s feels when I first read Garner‘s work.

Jeg I loved this too. 7y
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MrsMalaprop
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I ❤️❤️❤️ Helen Garner's writing. This was a fascinating insight into the woman and her work, and how both are completely entwined. I have read Monkey Grip (1977) and most of her work from the 90's on. This book made me determined to read everything in between. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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MrsMalaprop
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#bookpairings #fallintobooks Loving this book about Helen Garner and her writing.

Pairs well with peanut M&Ms 😋

Cinfhen EVERYTHING pairs well with peanut M&M's 7y
ReadosaurusText I think you won the hashtag! 😂 7y
AmyG BAH...everything pairs well with peanut M&Ms. 7y
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MrsMalaprop
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Hammock reading with a raven for company, on this fine second day of Spring 🌞🌼📚.

Aside: my husband read an article this morning in the Australian newspaper magazine saying that over 30s just shouldn't use emojis 'cause we don't do it properly. Well, you know what I have to say about that...

😜😄😂😎🙄😏😋

AmyG 👍🏻👏🏻👊🏻🙌🏻 7y
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MrsMalaprop
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This wonderful photo of two of my Australian writing #heroes is in my current read, a book about Helen Garner and her work. The photo is of Tim Winton and Helen Garner at the Adelaide Arts Festival in 1986. ❤️❤️❤️ #septembowie @Marchpane

Abailliekaras My home town! ❤️ these two. 👏🏼 7y
Cinfhen That's a great photo😊 7y
Marchpane Love the photo! Confession: I've never read Helen Garner... 7y
MrsMalaprop @Marchpane 🙀She's not to everyone's taste, but I think her sparse, eloquent writing is to die for. 7y
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Joanne1
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This fascinating and well written book gave me fresh insight into one of my favourite Australian authors. Highly recommended

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Joanne1
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Started this last night, very suitable for a Helen Garner fan girl like me. If you've never read this great Aussie writer I'd highly recommend her.

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Jeg
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Still reading A Writing Life. Really loving it. Realised I'd never seen Monkey Grip. So borrowed it and watched today. Enjoyed it especially knowing the background. Also enjoyed watching the extras on the DVD. Gracie was played by Helens daughter Alice. In the extras she was all grown up and remembering making the film. Delightful.

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Jeg
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Finished Everywhere I Look and just loved it. So decided to try the book about her. So far so good. 😍 Both books will be keepers along with my other books by Helen Garner. Wonderful writing.

Sue This one looks wonderful! 8y
Joanne1 Helen Garner is just the best. I hope this book does her justice. BTW the audio version of Everywhere I Look is read (brilliantly) by Helen herself. I felt like she was sitting having a cuppa in my kitchen. 8y
Jeg Thanks for that @Joanne1 I'd love to hear her reading . Shall see where I can find it. 8y
MrsMalaprop I loved Everywhere I Look too. Had to stop myself buying the other yesterday. My TBR is out of control 😬. 8y
Jeg @MrsMalaprop I know what you mean about out of control TBR . Mine is now a bookshelf full. I've had to stop myself looking at books in shops. Think I might try for the audio of Everywhere as it would be nice to hear Helen reading it. I've n ever been an audio book person. 8y
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Jeg
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Next part of today's book haul. Spent Xmas gift cards. So happy. 😊😊 . One of these will be a keeper. Can you guess which one @MrsMalaprop .?

MrsMalaprop Ooooh, how exciting 😍. Both of these look great. Did you see Australian Story last week? And of course Garner is the keeper 😊. 8y
Jeg Yes @MrsMalaprop . I saw it and also heard her on the radio. New I had to read the book. 8y
Jeg @MrsMalaprop I see a mistake above should be Knew not new!! Right about the keeper. 8y
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MrsMalaprop
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To all the Helen Garner fans out there:

My friend @Jeg reminded me to read this article in the weekend Australian newspaper today. It's an extract from a new book by Bernadette Brennan called A Writing Life: Helen Garner and her work.

Can't wait to get my hands on a copy 👏😁.

Jeg I've been thinking the same. I have a gift card which I haven't used. 😊😊 8y
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