A Year of Australian Literature - suggestions?

For the coming year, I have adopted a new challenge: I have vowed to read 12 works of Australian literature in the next 12 months. I hope to have similar projects for other countries in future years.

I have just finished my January book, the insightful but ultimately chaotic A Child's Book of True Crime by Chloe Hooper. I felt it reworked some Henry James-ish elements, without some of the gratifying (and frustrating) subtlety of that author.

I have listed the other books I am considering for the next 11 months here:

http://sycoraxpine.blogspot.com/2007/01/year-of-down-under.html

I wanted to get some LT advice about what else I should consider. What Australian books have you read recently that you would recommend? I would be particularly glad to receive recommendations about Australian drama, which I feel is poorly represented in my list, but fiction, non-fiction and poetry recs are also welcome.

I go into the criteria I use for inclusion in the blog entry linked above, but, long story short, I consider a work "Australian" if its author is Australian by birth, residence or choice, and would not include works by non-Australians that are set in Australia.

Thanks so much for the help!

I didn't see any books by Marianne Curley on your list so I would suggest one of your stories. She writes YA time travel fiction.

Thanks, demonlover. Do you have a particular work by Curley you would recommend? I am not familiar with her work, but I do love YA lit.

Suggestions from a non-Australian who happens to have read a fair amount of Australian authors over the last year or two (enough for me to notice a trend)...

The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville
Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living by Carrie Tiffany
Gilgamesh by Joan London
Sixty Lights by Gail Jones (Dreams of Speaking) is her new one, which has been recommended to me but I haven't read yet.
Music and Silence by Rose Tremain

For something a little different, Margo Lanagan's Black Juice, very thought-provoking, literary fantasy short fiction with, I think, clearly has an Australian "feel" to it. It's a small book and will only take you a few hours, but the effects will linger.

I can recommend many of your choices, the White Earth and The Secret River are excellent, as are the Peter Carey's, of course. I'd also recommend, if you do this sort of thing, the podcasts of "Book Talk" from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which a LTer in the UK told me about.

It's a bit older, but Christina Stead's The man who loved children is fantastic.

Well, now I feel foolish - both Gilgamesh and Music and Silence are sitting on my shelves at home, and I didn't think to include them on my list. I am so glad you mentioned them! I am also intrigued by the authors you both mention, avaland and KromesTomes, that I hadn't considered previously: Stead, Tiffany, and Jones. I have a feeling I will have a delightfully large pile to take home from the library today!

An excellent Australian writer that never seems to get mentioned on LT is Rodney Hall. Kisses of the Enemy or The Island in the Mind are good places to start.

Starting at the youngest age and moving upwards, personal favourites include:

Cat and fish and Cat and fish go to see by Joan Grant age 3 plus
The Magic pudding by Norman Lindsay age 9 plus
Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner (a classic and you need to be prepared for tears before bedtime.) Age 10/11 plus
Tomorrow when the war began, The dead of night and A killing frost by John Marsden. An excellent YA trilogy.
Letters from inside by John Marsden, also YA
So much to tell you by John Marsden. Again, YA.
Walkabout by James Vance Marshall. Another classic, much used at various times in the secondary English curriculum in the U.K.
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay. A highly readable book that was made into an enigmatic film.
The getting of wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson. Another classic read, which I think was also made into a film.
My brilliant career by Miles Franklin, originally published in 1901, I think.
The riders by Tim Winton. Published about 10 years ago. Didn't read this but a.n.other in the household did and quite liked it. Tim Winton has also written some YA about a character called Lockie Leonard, which was very surf driven, as I recall.

Hope some of that is of use.

If you like mysteries, I recommend the "Napoleon Bonaparte (Bony)" mysteries by Arthur W. Upfield.

>3 sycoraxpine: As far as I know she's only written four books, a stand alone and a trilogy. The stand alone is Old Magic and is very good. Since it seems like you're looking for one book per author that may be the one to go with.

In case you're curious the trilogy is called The Guardian's of Time, (The Named, The Dark and The Key, it takes forever to find the correct touchstones) is excellent, especially the first two books

I think Patricia Carlon is Australian; she's a mystery writer from the 1950's and 60's. Her books were reprinted by Soho Press here in the states a few years back. They read a bit dated these days (what? milk jugs on the doorstep?) but still a decent read. The Running Woman was as good as any.

I heartily second avaland's recommendation of Margo Lanagan and agree as well that many of her stories do seem to have a distinctly Australian sensibility.

For something really different, encompassing both poetry and detective fiction, you might want to check out The Monkey's Mask by Dorothy Porter. It's a novel in verse, a mystery and a lesbian love story all rolled into one compact volume!

I have to recommend Wake in Fright by Kenneth Cook and The Last Love Story by Rodney Hall. Worth seeking out, too, is Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott. Also, I'd consider ditching the more obvious works by the more popular Australian writers. For instance, think about swapping out McCullough's The Thorn Birds and reading Tim or A New Creed for the Third Millennium. Just some thoughts. Best of luck.

Forgot to mention this first time. How could I?

Try Thursday's Child by Sonya Hartnett. I read this several years ago and it was outstanding.

For anyone whose interested I've posted a list on sycoraxpine's profile page. And I would second those on lizzier's list.
avaland: Rose Tremain is English. Three weeks away from the bookshop and look what happens to you.

My apologies! And it's 7 weeks away from the bookstore:-)

for some austrialian SF/Fantasy/Speculative fiction writers see: Trudi Canavan's Recommendation List and Australian Speculative Fiction list

Also see Fantastic Fiction's List of Australian Authors which isn't just fantasy authors!

I am so intrigued by all these suggestions. I have already made a preliminary trip to the library and come back with a first load (Magic Pudding, Black Juice, The Monkey's Mask, Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living) and will go back for a second as soon as I have finished editing this (sigh) lurking chapter of my dissertation. I know that The Secret River, Kisses of the Enemy and Seven Little Australians are already on hold for me there! I think my first attempt will be The Book Thief, since that is in heavy demand at the library. I will keep you updated!

If you like The Book Thief, I am the Messenger (I think it's just called The Messenger in Australia?) and Fighting Ruben Wolfe by the same author are both set in Australia, and are both very good (Messenger is better).

from the books on your shelf I'd like to give a big plug to Peter Carey's Oscar and Lucinda - one of my all-time favourite books. Carey's Bliss is also very good.

I'm shamefully uninformed of what is good in Australian lit but I did read Marcus Clarke's For the Term of His Natural Life a couple of times back in the 80's - I loved it then but haven't re-read it since so I don't know how I'd feel about it today.

Displaced Person by Lee Harding is a YA novella I remember fondly from decades ago - I recently received a used copy via bookcrossing.com and I'm looking forward to revisiting it sometime soon.

Back with a second load from the library (and more coming soon): Kisses of the Enemy, The Sound of One Hand Clapping, The Secret River, Seven Little Australians (in an 1897 edition!!!), and Voss.

#21 - sycoraxpine - an 1897 edition. How truly delightful, you lucky person.

I'm on a bit of an Australian reading jag too. I read Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living recently and would recommend it unreservedly.

I liked Year of Wonders and The Book Thief too. The Book Thief is probably a little overhyped, but it does have an incredibly memorable final sentence. I didn't know Geraldine Brooks was Australian!

I started to read Kate Grenville's Lillian's Story, but it just didn't grab me, which probably says more about my mood at the time than the book. When I see The Secret River in the library, I'm going to scoop it up.

I'm currently trying to wade through The Fatal Shore, the popular history of Australia's convict past, but I've gotten kinda stalled halfway through. The book is alternately engrossing and repetitive.

I loved Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish, by Richard Flanagan, about a forger in prison in Tasmania in the 1800s, and would highly recommend it.

I read Dirt Music by Tim Winton for my Olympic Challenge at bookcrossing. I liked it very much, and plan to read more of his work.

And for chocolatedog: I've had the very same reaction to The Fatal Shore..very interesting book, but I had to stop and let it all digest. I'll pick it up again eventually.

I like your idea of reading at least one Aussie book per month for the next 12 months. I've been wondering what to do with myself after I read a book per country...I'll have to mull over this idea.

I also love Tim Winton's writing. My favourite book of his thus far is Cloudstreet. I cried copious tears when I finished that book.

South Australian writer, Lian Hearn aka Gillian Rubinstein has written the most beautiful and powerful Japanese mythical, fantasy series - Tales of the Otori. Not sure if this will meet the criteria as it's set in ancient Japan and Ms Hearn/Rubinstein immersed in Japanese history to write the absorbing tale, but well worth a read.

not sure if you are still open for suggestions, but i just have to recommend my favorite, death of a river guide by richard flanagan, kind of magical realism stuff, set in tasmania, you could also check out the miles franklin award winners (there should be a list of previous winners in the prizes group) or ask at the australian librarythingers group...

For the Miles Franklin Award look on The Prizes group.

They're a Weird Mob by Nino Culotta. An Australian penpal I had back in high school sent it to me--a cute book.

#29 ...and it's a good depiction of life for European immigrants in the 1960s.

It's criminal that they don't teach The Magic Pudding in English classes, it's a classic that schoolkids would want to read.

I guess the reason for it not being studied is partly due to the choice of more modern texts to be studied, and also Postmodernism is a scourge on some books that takes away the true heart of a book. Note I say "book", not text. "Text" dehumanises the printed word too much I feel.

Also, non-Australian texts are being studied more than Australian ones. You can thank the "Cultural Cringe" for that. Yes, the Cultural Cringe, this outdated idea has crept into the Board of Studies and most schoolchildren's heads, and who can blame them when the only Australian books that get taught at school feel like a chore to read?

I would also recommend John Marsden if you also like YA fiction. As a teenager in NZ I think I read everything he wrote and the new release in the tomorrow when the war began series was always eagerly awaited. If you have children or like to read childrens books Paul Jennings books were hilarious. I think I read them at age 9 or 10. I've read a few Peter Carey books and really liked Oscar and Lucinda.

Read the young adult books about Pagan, by Catherine Jinks. They're not that long but they're really good. Lots of adults love them too. They're historical fiction, set in Jerusalem during the crusades, about a mixed race young man called Pagan, and his knight, Roland. They're quite funny but also sad.

Seven types of ambiguity by Elliot Perlman is worth a read.

sycoraxpine ~

I have Nancy Pearl's Book Lust and have looked up her recommendations for Australian fiction. Apart from the books suggested here already, and the ones you've already read, Pearl recommends:

Nevil Shute's A Town Like Alice and The Breaking Wave
Martin Boyd’s The Cardboard Crown; A Difficult Young Man; When Blackbirds Sing; and Outbreak of Love - a series written in the 1950s about an Australian family who move to England when things go wrong in Australia, and move back to Australia when things go wrong in England.

Also:

The Only Daughter by Jessica Anderson
Wrack by James Bradley
True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
Oyster by Janette Turner Hospital
Woman of the Inner Sea by Thomas Keneally
Cloudstreet; That Eye, The Sky; and Dirt Music by Tim Winton
English Passengers by Matthew Kneale

*Some of these I haven't read, so I can't give you my own opinion on them... :) *

Hi, everyone! Sorry to be so long out of touch. Here is a quick update on how my project is progressing. Thus far, I have read (with 1 being the earliest read, and 6 being the most recently read):

# 6) Alice Springs by Nikki Gemmell
# 5) Tirra Lirra by the River by Jessica Anderson
# 4) Remembering Babylon by David Malouf
# 3) The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay
# 2) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
# 1) A Child's Book of True Crime by Chloe Hooper

I am currently in the midst of Joan London's Gilgamesh, and hope to read Voss, Oscar and Lucinda, and Dirt Music in the next couple of months.

I have to admit that I am beginning to be a bit panicky about the rapidity with which the end of the year and the project is approaching. There is so much excellent literature still sitting on my shelves! So I just keep assuring myself that I don't have to STOP reading Australian books once 2007 is over.

By the way, The Magic Pudding is absolutely delightful. I originally got a copy from the library, but found it so indispensable to my shelves that I mooched a copy of my very own as soon as I finished it.

Derek Hansen writes about Australia and New Zealand. Sole Survivor is a particular favorite. The "lunch" series are very good, but not generally available in US.

I also like the recent Courtenay Brother Fish.

Usually when I'm in the county I go to Dymock's and get something fat to read on the trip back.

syco: So pleased to hear about your progress. Tirra Lirra By the River is a favourite of mine.

come in spinnerby Dymphna Cusack and Florence James is some good drama and ruth park's harp in the south andpoor man's orange are good books as well

Thomas Keneally is an Australian writer, I think. I particularly enjoyed his The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith which has also been made into a film. Sadly I don't have my copy anymore, but I do intend to purchase another at some point.

I love The Magic Pudding!

Probably a bit late now, but I am surprised that no-one has recommended Eucalyptus by Murray Bail - beautiful story, and very Australian... just look at the title!

>41 wandering_star: Agreed! The Magic Pudding was one of the first books I read as a child when I first arrived in Australia. Shortly after reading it I saw a stage production of it and I remember being completely entranced :)

Edited to add: Some other Aussie classics are Blinky Bill and Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

I second (or third or fourth) the recommendation for Margo Lanagan's Black Juice.

I second the recommendation for Nevil Shute's A Town Like Alice. Shute was British but emigrated to Australia, and in his writing made that country his own. A large part of the book takes place outside of Australia, but the rest is so very, very Australian, and beautiful.

Out of all of Janette Turner Hospital's books, I love Charades the best. Lush and gorgeous.

I also love "Amy's Children" (not touchstoning properly) by Olga Masters.

I have one anti-recommendation, in a way. I hate My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin. I read it in an Aussie Lit class (I spent a semester in Sydney at the tail end of the 1980s), and later again when I wrote an encyclopedia article about it. I signed up to write that article on purpose, thinking that I just needed to give the book another chance. Nope. Didn't work. ;-)

Ther are a couple of threads for Australian literature in the group "Reading Globally - Fiction".

How did the list work out?