Heroine of the Argonauts

This week I stumbled across Atalanta (2023), the newly released novel by Jennifer Saint. I bought it on impulse and planned to shelve it for future, but quickly found myself engrossed in the tale and read it immediately. I was not familiar with this heroine of Greek mythology who has often been sidelined in tales of the Argonauts, so it was great to read a novel which put her in the centre of the story.

As an infant, Atalanta was abandoned on the side of Mount Parthenion by her father, King Iasus of Arcadia, disappointed that she was not a boy. Instead of perishing, she was cared for by a bear and raised as a cub. The goddess Artemis brought Atalanta to live with her nymphs in the forest and trained her as a skilled hunter. In exchange for her protection and training, Artemis required Atalanta to take a vow of chastity. Atalanta becomes a skilled hunter, gifted with her bow and arrow, and the fastest woman ever seen. 

When Jason gathers the bravest fighters to go on a quest for the Golden Fleece, Artemis sends Atalanta as her representative. The only woman to join this crew, Atalanta has to prove herself worthy. She battles alongside the men as the journey as they encounter giants, harpies, sirens and the clashing rocks of the Symplegades. During this adventure, Atalanta grows close to Meleager, a fellow Argonaut. She breaks her vow of chastity, bears his child, but believes she has still honoured her commitment to Artemis as she will not marry him or any man. 

After her time with the Argonauts, Atalanta is known for heroism in the Calydonian boar hunt and for the footrace her father created to determine which suitor should marry her and inherit his kingdom. 

Jennifer Saint has brought this forgotten warrior to life. Written as a first person account, we view the well-known myth of Jason and the Argonauts through a female lens. This allows readers to understand Atalanta's motivations - how she does not want to be constrained by societal expectations for women and is conflicted about her feelings. Saint has crafted a fully-formed character who is brave, pragmatic, strong and capable of more than she was given credit for. 

I enjoyed Jennifer Saint's previous novel Ariadne (2021) and have her second book Elektra (2022) awaiting my attention. Saint's skill as a story teller continues to grow and she has cemented her reputation as an author of feminist retelling of ancient myths. 

Stella Prize Winner 2023

The winner of the Stella Prize was announced tonight. Sarah Holland-Batt was  awarded the prize for her poetry collection The Jaguar. 

Holland-Batt's poetry is about the grief and loss of her father from Parkinson's disease. These poems reflect on mortality. Holland-Batt has previously been recognised with the 2016 Prime Minister's Literary Award for poetry. The judges write 'accessible, lyrical and wise, this is a book from a poet at the height of her powers.' 

Sarah Holland-Battt received the award and its $60,000 prize money. She is an award-winning poet and Professor of Creative Writing and Literary Studies at QUT. Her previous works include Aria and The Hazards, the latter earning Holland-Batt the 2016 Prime Minister's Literary Award for Poetry.

In announcing this prize, the Chair of the Judging Panel, Alice Pung, said:

"In The Jaguar, Sarah Holland-Batt writes about death as tenderly as we’ve ever read about birth. She focuses on the pedestrian details of hospitals and aged care facilities, enabling us to see these institutions as distinct universes teeming with life and love. Her imagery is unexpected and unforgettable, and often blended with humour. This is a book that cuts through to the core of what it means to descend into frailty, old age, and death. It unflinchingly observes the complex emotions of caring for loved ones, contending with our own mortality and above all – continuing to live." 

This is the second consecutive year the prize has been awarded to a poet, following the 2022 award to Evelyn Araleun for Dropbear. 

Women's Prize Shortlist 2023

 The 2023 Women's Prize shortlist has been announced!  The six titles on the shortlist are:

• Black Butterflies - Priscilla Morris
• Pod - Laline Paull
• Fire Rush - Jacqueline Crooks
• Trespasses - Louise Kennedy
• The Marriage Portrait - Maggie O'Farrell
• Demon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver

When the Longlist was announced in March, I predicted that Kingsolver and O'Farrell would be on the shortlist. But I had expected NoViolet Bulawayo (Glory), Sophie Mackintosh (Cursed Bread) and Natalie Haynes (Stone Blind) to be shortlisted. Shows I am terrible at predicting these things. Still I am going to call it and say that Barbara Kingsolver will win this year! 

To learn more about these shortlisted titles, there is a summary on each book on my blog, and the judges have released a short video announcing the shortlist below. You can also read interviews with the authors on the Women's Prize website.

The winner will be revealed on 14 June 2023. Better get reading!

Random Reads (16/04/2023)

 I have read a number of interesting articles lately on an eclectic range of subjects.

The May 2023 Vanity Fair cover story 'Inside Rupert Murdoch's Succession Drama' by Gabriel Sherman is a fascinating look at the aging media baron's decline and the in-fighting among his children for his empire. At age 92, Rupert Murdoch outwardly projects an image of virile leader, holding on to the reins of his corporation. But the last decade has been rough as he divorced two wives, battled injuries and illnesses, and became estranged from his youngest son. The article explores Rupert's lurch to the far-right, backing of Trump, and the trouble he is in with the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit. 

The Monthly magazine has an excellent April 2023 cover story on Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Written by Hugh White,  'Penny Wong's next big fight' explores the path she navigates between China and America in a contest for the Pacific. The threat of nuclear war is real. White argues that it may be easy to support America due to our history and alignment of values, and the AUKUS program, but is it good policy? Wong is an intelligent leader who understands the global economic shift and can see a non-binary path in which power in the Asia-Pacific is shared in a 'strategic equilibrium'. Wong spoke more freely when in Opposition, but has toned down her messaging since the election. As White argues, 'Penny Wong is uniquely placed to lead' in a debate about whether we would go to war, but it will be a serious test of her political capital. Given the stakes, I am glad we have someone as wise and considered as Penny Wong at the forefront of this issue.

The Guardian has been running a fascinating series on slavery as part of their 'Cotton Capital' project investigating the paper's founders' links to slavery. One of the articles is about the act of wilful forgetting that has taken place, to whitewash history and eradicate the legacy of racism and colonialism. In 'Lest we Remember: How Britain Buried its History of Slavery' author Gary Younge writes 'The transatlantic trade in human beings for profit doesn't slop one's mind, momentarily like an elusive name or date. A nation does not forget centuries of slavery as a person might forget an umbrella. The nation sets about the task with great prejudice.' Demand for cotton in the Manchester mills helped fuel the slave trade. This is a thought provoking series exploring various aspects of the slave trade and its historic and modern consequences.

With a nation-wide workforce shortage efforts to attract, develop and retain staff are essential for every business. I have been watching with interest the push for a four-day work week. On many levels I am attracted to the idea (personally and professionally) but I also have conflicted thoughts about the practicalities of making it work. The article published by The Ethics Centre on 12 April 2023 'The Ethical Dilemma of the 4 day Work Week' highlighted the trust reciprocation needed to make it work. What was missing for me is how to counter the potential of a further divide between knowledge workers (for whom flexible work is more straightforward) and those who have more hands-on work (e.g. manual labourers, care workers). The article briefly mentioned a trial at Unilever in Australia but factory workers were not able to take part due to union agreements, but I would be keen to see how it can work for shift-workers and how productivity would be measured.

Finally, I loved the article in the New York Times by Doosie Morris 'Hot Cross Buns are the Pumpkin Spice Latte of Australia' published on 3 April 2023. In our house we regularly lament about the premature release of seasonal products, but the early availability of hot cross buns is excused and we are glad these can be obtained pretty much year round. The article explores why Australians have become obsessed with these tasty treats and our terrible efforts to diversify with gross flavour combos and bizarre aligned products. Worth a read with a cup of tea and a hot cross bun.

Stella Prize Shortlist 2023

The 2023 Stella Prize Shortlist has been announced! The twelve nominees have been whittled down to six finalists in the running for this important literary award.

The 2023 shortlist is as follows:

• Adriane Howell - Hydra
• Eloise Grills - big beautiful female theory
• Sarah Holland-Batt - The Jaguar
• Louise Lim - Indelible City
• Edwina Preston - Bad Art Mother 
• Debra Dank - We Come With This Place

In compiling this shortlist, the chair of the judging panel, Alice Pung OAM says:

“Although all the books on our shortlist are very different, common themes emerge about a women's relationship to her art and the world around her. All our shortlisted books also explore with moving complexity some of the most pivotal relationships in a woman's life, and their roles as daughters, partners, wives and mothers.” 

For more information about these titles, see my post on the longlist.

While I think it is great that these writers and the small publishing houses they hail from are recognised, I am disappointed in this list and doubt I will read any of these titles. I was hoping that Fiona Kelly McGregor's Iris would be shortlisted.

The winner will be announced on 27 April 2023.