Feminist book fortnight

Feminist Book Fortnight

SYDNEY — The second Australian Feminist Book Fortnight will be taking place from September 6 to 22 and will present a national program of activities to celebrate women as writers and readers.

An important part of the fortnight is the production of the Feminist Book Fortnight Catalogue, which brings together new writing by women and includes a selection of 21 favourites. This year the favourites include Dorothy Hewett's Wild Card, Poppy by Drusilla Modjeska and Reaching Tin River by Thea Astley as well as other fiction, poetry and prose.

In NSW, the program covers the spectrum of literary activity; the books discussed range from fiction and poetry to work about food, technology, science, politics and the law.

Highlights include:

• A special viewing of the exhibition Her Story: Images of Domestic Labour in Australian Art combined with readings by Marele Day, Penne Hackforth Jones, Deirdre Coleman and Elizabeth Webby at the S.H. Ervin Gallery, Watson Road Observatory Hill (ph 258 0174).

• A forum on legal and political challenges to abortion in Australia and the USA with Wendy McCarthy, Anne Summers and others, September 18, 6-7.30 p.m. at the Harold Park Hotel, Wigram Road, Glebe (ph 552 2999).

• A forum on women, sex and violence with Jocelynne Scutt, Eva Cox, Gillian Calvert and others, September 15, 1-5 p.m. at Distaff, Level 1, 156-161 St John's Road, Glebe (ph 512 840).

The fortnight will be launched by Pat O'Shane, with comedy performances by Jule McCrossin and Jacqui Reid on Friday, September 6, at the Harold Park Hotel at 6 p.m.

From GLW issue 25