What do you say when you don’t know what to say? Are critics ever lost for words? What role does arts criticism have in the media and publishing landscape, and what is its future in times of increased funding pressures?
Critic Swallows Book is a collection from Sydney Review of Books that brings together 22 essays, demonstrating the eclecticism of Australian criticism. Hear about decolonising Australian literature and revisiting the classics, blockbuster fiction and book-length poems, modernism in the Antipodes and reading during the pandemic, and more.
If you wish you were better at talking about books or want to up your book-club game, don’t miss this free festival event with contributors Yumna Kassab, James Jiang, and Ivor Indyk.
Yumna Kassab is the inaugural Parramatta Laureate in Literature and author of The House of Youssef, Australiana and The Lovers. Her books have been listed for The Stella Prize, Miles Franklin Award, Prime Minister's Literary Awards, QLD Literary Awards, Victorian Premier's Literary Award and NSW Premier's Award.
Ivor Indyk is a writer and director of Giramondo Publishing Company. He is Emeritus Professor in the Writing and Society Research Centre at Western Sydney University, was the founding editor of HEAT magazine and co-founder of the Sydney Review of Books.
James Jiang is a writer, editor, and recovering academic. He edits the Sydney Review of Books.
This venue is wheelchair accessible, but please visit our Accessibility page or email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au if you have any other accessibility requirements.
Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival will have Auslan interpreters available for the Festival and will schedule them into sessions on request. Please complete the Auslan request question at checkout.
This session is presented in partnership with Western Sydney University.
Festival Ticket Information
This event is free, but registration is recommended to help manage venue capacity.