What do you think?
Rate this book
Bloom: UTS Writers Anthology 2021
In every life, there are seasons. Fires burn and rains fall, but after the blazes and storms, flowers bloom.
A symbol of resilience and unity, the Australian wattle regenerates after the devastation of fire and deluge. Often propagated in turmoil, it blossoms bright and sturdy. For these reasons, it emblazons the cover of the 35th Writers’ Anthology: Bloom.
Celebrating a diverse group of voices, Bloom welcomes a foreword by Zoë Norton Lodge, an acclaimed author, performer and UTS alumna.
Informed by the turbulence and uncertainty of the previous year, Bloom celebrates stories from all walks of life. Spanning hardship and deterioration, humour and introspection, it promises a rekindling of the creative spirit.
This anthology calls for us to reconnect, to see all is not lost. Our creativity and ingenuity continue to bloom as we endure the repercussions of the previous year. Now in its 35th year, the UTS Writers’ Anthology continues to champion new and exciting voices from within the UTS community. Full of imagination and zeal, Bloom brings forth a sense of hope; the hope we can grow from our experiences, the hope we can simply be.
A symbol of resilience and unity, the Australian wattle regenerates after the devastation of fire and deluge. Often propagated in turmoil, it blossoms bright and sturdy. For these reasons, it emblazons the cover of the 35th Writers’ Anthology: Bloom.
Celebrating a diverse group of voices, Bloom welcomes a foreword by Zoë Norton Lodge, an acclaimed author, performer and UTS alumna.
Informed by the turbulence and uncertainty of the previous year, Bloom celebrates stories from all walks of life. Spanning hardship and deterioration, humour and introspection, it promises a rekindling of the creative spirit.
This anthology calls for us to reconnect, to see all is not lost. Our creativity and ingenuity continue to bloom as we endure the repercussions of the previous year. Now in its 35th year, the UTS Writers’ Anthology continues to champion new and exciting voices from within the UTS community. Full of imagination and zeal, Bloom brings forth a sense of hope; the hope we can grow from our experiences, the hope we can simply be.
256 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2021
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 26, 2022
From working at the book launch last year, the passion from the authors, editorial team and wider UTS writing community was undoubtedly palpable. I was lucky enough to learn about the history of the UTS anthology over the 40 years and hear snippets from the modern stories represented in 'Bloom' that night, which is why I had to know more. The diverse and authentic storytelling in this creative non-fiction format has been a thoroughly wonderful experience and an amazing showcase of UTS writing talent.
I regret not taking notes throughout but I'll try to note as many stories that stood out to me and reasons/comments on them
Off My Chest by Laurie Geddes
A genuine conversation on breasts, a body part with which our relationship and understanding change with our identity and with time.
Nukulau by Jocelyn Prasad
It was interesting to learn in this creative non-fiction setting about Fiji Indians. I've had many classmates who introduced themselves as Fiji-Indians and never quite realised the colonial background to their story.
They had two heads by Joshua Camilleri
This might be the story that really got me. I felt my heart pang throughout, learning the reality for drag queens and the duality of their lives with the potential for both worlds to collide.
The world is too loud but only for me by Sophie Katherine Serafim
I believe this story presented the experiences and reality of autism, especially in the final parts with its honest non-sugarcoated summary. "Whatever. It's a disability and there's shit that comes with that. There's not always some great gift". I feel these words more strongly in the light of Dylan Alcott's Australian of the Year Award for disability advocacy.
Guiding Light by Mike Dolan
Phytoplankton and fireflies. This story weaved science into stories and pulled out the child in me that grew up wanting to be a scientist.
The Dress by Peter Vaughan-Reid
The first part had my heart beating out of my chest. I was found myself reliving the years that I, as an atheist, was forced to keep going to church with my family in those first few pages.
Finding Meaning in the In-Between by Lily Cameron
Cameron has read aloud an excerpt from her work at the book launch and that had really captivated me. The discussion of the intersection between gender, queerness and language. To love being a woman and yet question then, how can you hate the restrictions of a language that affirms your identity. The authors who have written genderless love stories. All-round interesting read attracting the true arts student inside me.
Buczyna by Talia Horwitz
In just two pages Horwitz grabs you and points you to a brutal genocide committed by the Nazi German regime - The Children's Forest, Tarnow - where 800 Jewish orphans were shot dead in Buczyna Forest. I don't think I will ever forget such a story - this disgusting fact - whenever I think of WW2.
Freckles by Elana Chandran
A story of mixed-race existence, the questions around identity - guilt, curiosity, annoyance but thankfully with age, acceptance and pride. I definitely felt Chandran's childhood sentiment "I wish I were white", and glad to have also come to finally be happy as I am.
Les Jonquilles by Claire Matthews
This story took me through many emotions and presented a more humane representation of schizophrenia in the context of the family unit.
Other notable reads that I enjoyed:
Blood & Bone ... Judi Morrison
Social Distance ... Kate Macdessi
Running on Empty ... Mike Dolan
Vivat Crescat Floreat ... Neysha Santos
Looking forward to reading 40 years of the UTS Writers' Anthology!
I regret not taking notes throughout but I'll try to note as many stories that stood out to me and reasons/comments on them
Off My Chest by Laurie Geddes
A genuine conversation on breasts, a body part with which our relationship and understanding change with our identity and with time.
Nukulau by Jocelyn Prasad
It was interesting to learn in this creative non-fiction setting about Fiji Indians. I've had many classmates who introduced themselves as Fiji-Indians and never quite realised the colonial background to their story.
They had two heads by Joshua Camilleri
This might be the story that really got me. I felt my heart pang throughout, learning the reality for drag queens and the duality of their lives with the potential for both worlds to collide.
The world is too loud but only for me by Sophie Katherine Serafim
I believe this story presented the experiences and reality of autism, especially in the final parts with its honest non-sugarcoated summary. "Whatever. It's a disability and there's shit that comes with that. There's not always some great gift". I feel these words more strongly in the light of Dylan Alcott's Australian of the Year Award for disability advocacy.
Guiding Light by Mike Dolan
Phytoplankton and fireflies. This story weaved science into stories and pulled out the child in me that grew up wanting to be a scientist.
The Dress by Peter Vaughan-Reid
The first part had my heart beating out of my chest. I was found myself reliving the years that I, as an atheist, was forced to keep going to church with my family in those first few pages.
Finding Meaning in the In-Between by Lily Cameron
Cameron has read aloud an excerpt from her work at the book launch and that had really captivated me. The discussion of the intersection between gender, queerness and language. To love being a woman and yet question then, how can you hate the restrictions of a language that affirms your identity. The authors who have written genderless love stories. All-round interesting read attracting the true arts student inside me.
Buczyna by Talia Horwitz
In just two pages Horwitz grabs you and points you to a brutal genocide committed by the Nazi German regime - The Children's Forest, Tarnow - where 800 Jewish orphans were shot dead in Buczyna Forest. I don't think I will ever forget such a story - this disgusting fact - whenever I think of WW2.
Freckles by Elana Chandran
A story of mixed-race existence, the questions around identity - guilt, curiosity, annoyance but thankfully with age, acceptance and pride. I definitely felt Chandran's childhood sentiment "I wish I were white", and glad to have also come to finally be happy as I am.
Les Jonquilles by Claire Matthews
This story took me through many emotions and presented a more humane representation of schizophrenia in the context of the family unit.
Other notable reads that I enjoyed:
Blood & Bone ... Judi Morrison
Social Distance ... Kate Macdessi
Running on Empty ... Mike Dolan
Vivat Crescat Floreat ... Neysha Santos
Looking forward to reading 40 years of the UTS Writers' Anthology!
Displaying 1 of 1 review