y separately published work icon Woodpecker Point and Other Stories selected work   short story  
Issue Details: First known date: 1988... 1988 Woodpecker Point and Other Stories
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

This collection of short stories about everyday life hint at the ominous as they skate a fine line between the mundane and the fantastic and familiar images become startling icons. (Source: Copac)

Notes

  • Contains thirteen of the sixteen stories that appear in The Woodpecker Toy Fact and Other Stories (1987).
  • With this collection of twenty-four stories, New Directions introduces to American readers a wonderful new writing voice from Australia. (Source: dustjacket, US edition)

Contents

* Contents derived from the New York (City), New York (State),
c
United States of America (USA),
c
Americas,:A New Directions Book , 1988 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Boy and Girl, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 1-4)
Bye Baby Bunting, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 5-11)
Brother Gregory, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 12-16)
The Balloon Lady, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 17-21)
Mother of the Bride, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 22-25)
The Woodpecker Toy Fact, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 26-32)
A Taste of Earth, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 33-37)
Higher Animals, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 38-40)
Kay Petman's Coloured Pencils, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 41-45)
The Right Stuff, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 46-50)
Buttercup and Wendy, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 51-56)
Seeking its Level, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 57-60)
Introducing Your Friends, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 61-64)
The Best Thing to Do, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 65-68)
Buff Orpington and the Disasters of Middle Life Buff Orphington and the Disasters of Middle Life, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 69-74)
Note: With title: Buff Orpington and the Disasters of Middle Life.
The Enlargement of Bethany, Carmel Bird , single work short story

Harry Stone runs an optometrist's in Woodpecker Point, where he knows nearly every one of the residents. He is smitten with Bethany Grey, the owner of the Orchid Frock shop across the street, but she has never come in for an appointment.

As Harry's receptionist, Lisa, gets married, he tries to connect with Bethany Grey, but loses his courage. He plans on gifting an enlarged photograph of her at the wedding to her. When he looks at the photo, he sees skulls in her eyes.

Harry gives a smaller version of the photo instead, one without the skulls visible. Bethany thanks him and mentions she's been meaning to make an appointment.

 (p. 75-81)
Cherries Jubilee, or, Whichever Way You Look at It, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 82-84)
Note: Includes additional Epigraph.
Woodpecker Point, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 85-121)
The Hair and the Teeth, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 122-126)
In the Conservatory, Carmel Bird , single work short story (p. 127-133)
VIEW ENTIRE CONTENTS ( works)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • London,
      c
      England,
      c
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,      :       Virago ,       1990 .
      Extent: 153p.
      ISBN: 1853811467 (pbk)
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Related Works

y separately published work icon The Woodpecker Toy Fact and Other Stories Carmel Bird , Fitzroy Ringwood : McPhee Gribble Penguin , 1987 Z364855 1987 selected work short story To read these stories is to look into a kaleidoscope - or a peepshow where, against bright backdrops, people and their passions shift and slide with a mysterious dark daring. (Souce: back cover, 1987 edition)
VIEW ALL RELATED WORKS (1)

Works about this Work

Untitled 1990 single work review
— Appears in: Canadian Literature , Winter no. 127 1990; (p. 182)
— Review of Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story
Antipodean Resonance Tania Glyde , 1990 single work review
— Appears in: The Times Literary Supplement , 14-20 September no. 4563 1990; (p. 980)
— Review of A Body of Water : A Year's Notebook Beverley Farmer , 1990 selected work autobiography short story poetry diary ; Flying Lessons Susan Johnson , 1990 single work novel ; Place of Birth Beverley Farmer , 1990 selected work short story ; Taking Shelter Jessica Anderson , 1989 single work novel ; Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story ; Flawless Jade Barbara Hanrahan , 1989 single work novel
Untitled Peter Wolfe , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: Studies in Short Fiction , Spring vol. 26 no. 2 1989; (p. 203-204)
— Review of Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story
[Review] Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Nancy E. Schaumburger , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: Belles-Lettres (US) , Summer vol. 4 no. 4 1989; (p. 18)
— Review of Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story
Untitled Eileen Gillooly , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: The New York Times Book Review , 28 May 1989; (p. 18)
— Review of Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story
Antipodean Resonance Tania Glyde , 1990 single work review
— Appears in: The Times Literary Supplement , 14-20 September no. 4563 1990; (p. 980)
— Review of A Body of Water : A Year's Notebook Beverley Farmer , 1990 selected work autobiography short story poetry diary ; Flying Lessons Susan Johnson , 1990 single work novel ; Place of Birth Beverley Farmer , 1990 selected work short story ; Taking Shelter Jessica Anderson , 1989 single work novel ; Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story ; Flawless Jade Barbara Hanrahan , 1989 single work novel
Untitled Eileen Gillooly , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: The New York Times Book Review , 28 May 1989; (p. 18)
— Review of Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story
[Review] Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Nancy E. Schaumburger , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: Belles-Lettres (US) , Summer vol. 4 no. 4 1989; (p. 18)
— Review of Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story
Untitled Peter Wolfe , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: Studies in Short Fiction , Spring vol. 26 no. 2 1989; (p. 203-204)
— Review of Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story
Untitled 1990 single work review
— Appears in: Canadian Literature , Winter no. 127 1990; (p. 182)
— Review of Woodpecker Point and Other Stories Carmel Bird , 1988 selected work short story
Foreword : Poetic Injustice Elizabeth Swanson , 1989 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Australian Magazine , 1-2 July 1989; (p. 9)
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (6)
Last amended 20 Jan 2009 15:42:33
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