ANZAC Author Reading Challenge 2015- (April) Roger McDonald & Alan Duff

Roger McDonald is the author of nine novels, two works of non-fiction, and a number of other works.
McDonald was nominated for the Miles Franklin Award in 1994 for Water Man, and in 1999 for Mr Darwin's Shooter, which in that year won the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, the Victorian Premier's Literary Award, the South Australian Premier's Awards, and the Adelaide Festival Book of the Year. The Ballad of Desmond Kale won the Miles Franklin Prize in 2006 and the Adelaide Festival Prize for Fiction in 2008.

Roger McDonald

Bibliography:

Novels

1915 (1979)

Slipstream (1982)

Rough Wallaby (1988)

Water Man (1993)

The Slap (1996)

Mr Darwin's Shooter (1998)

The Ballad of Desmond Kale (2006)

When Colts Ran (2010)

The Following (2013)

Alan Duff is a New Zealand novelist and newspaper columnist. He is most well known as the author of the novel Once Were Warriors (1990), which was made into a film of the same name in 1994.

Alan Duff

Bibliography

Once Were Warriors (1990)

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted (1996)

Out of the Mist and Steam (1999)

Jake's Long Shadow (2002)

Dreamboat Dad (2008)

Who Sings For Lu? (2009)

Frederick's Coat (2013)

I'm going to try both authors this month. I have Once Were Warriors and have placed a hold at the library for Mr. Darwin's Shooter

Well, I finished Once Were Warriors. It was a powerful story - sad, depressing - about the modern-day Maoris in a depressed urban environment. Their lives were so miserable that desperation was normal, and sadly, it was followed by complacency. This was a tough subject and a tough read.

Aside from the emotional aspects, I found the story difficult to read and follow. Duff's writing is coarse; the first person narration of streaming thoughts made for slow reading. I wonder if much of my difficulty was due to colloquialisms and dialect. I'd like to hear opinions other readers. Should I abandon Duff since I didn't like his style, or is he worth another try?

I am going to read Once Were Warriors - it's been on the TBR pile for ages. I'm looking at Mr. Darwin's Shooter and 1915 for Roger McDonald. Anyone read either one?

I've just started Mr. Darwin's Shooter. I'm not far enough along to have formed an opinion.

I finished Mr. Darwin's Shooter -Interesting because of the "local color" rather than the story.

I finished Mr. Darwin's Shooter. I liked it. I really liked the conflict about whether Darwin's findings proved there was no God. Particularly as that conflict is still strong. Speaking from the point of view of a Christian who also did a degree in zoology. Just like in the book, everyone has to come to some resolution on the subject. And everyone's resolution is a little different. Am I right? :)

I liked it well enough to pick up 1915 as well. Don't know that I will get to it this month though. Still have to read Once Were Warriors and my ACC book.

> 10 Glad you liked it. I must admit when I picked him I had never read him, or heard much about him. I mainly picked him because a) he is a Miles Franklin winner and I am trying to read as many of those as I can and b) he had a book in his collection about the ANZAC landings which seemed appropriate for April this year. (I am assuming that that is what 1915 is about.

I've started reading The Ballad of Desmond Kale. I just started yesterday, and I have to say wow, I'm loving it.

Oh, I'm also part way through Once Were Warriors- that's very good to. Not an easy read, it's quite tragic in a way. But, at the same time its not as difficult as I was anticipating.

Am reading Mr. Darwin's Shooter. I think the reading of it may bleed over into May as I only started it last weekend and it took a couple of chapters for it to get interesting.

I really enjoyed Once Were Warriors - it wasn't an easy read, in the sense that it's a little tragic and overwhelming. But I really enjoyed it in audiobook format, it was fantastic. I felt compelled to read up a little on Alan Duff - and my, he's an interesting character.

Finished Once Were Warriors last night. I feel like I deserve a survivors badge. Phew! Not at all an easy read and very overwhelming. But I believe it was worth it. :)

>13 evilmoose: Agreed. Very interesting. Like a character out of his book.

>14 nittnut: I'm still only part way through it. I'm kind of alternating between at and The Ballad of Desmond Kale. It actually makes for a nice juxtaposition.

I'm starting the audio of Once were warriors today. I've managed to avoid the movie over the years and have always meant to read the book.

I feel fortunate to have been able to find a book at my library for one or the other of the ANZAC authors each month so far. I got Mr. Darwin's Shooter this month. Mixed reactions here, but really good writing.

I finished The Ballad of Desmond Kale. (A bit late, but never mind) It was okay. I don't know that it is my FAVOURITE book, or even in my top ten, but is was well written. It also shed light on a part of Australian history that is often lionised, without being properly looked at. Namely the early days of white settlement in and around Sydney. I was an interesting portrayal of how you build a society when the majority of people are convicts and therefore of the criminal class in the old world. Where do their offspring fit in the social strata? When they have served their sentence, become emancipated and then acquire land and property (in this case sheep) they all of a sudden become landed gentry. It makes for an interesting social experiment- which we as modern day Australians are the beneficiaries of.

Finally finished the audio of Once were warriors and immediately followed it with the film which altered the storyline quite a bit. Heavy going and definitely still worth reading.

>19 avatiakh:- I'm glad you stuck it out, and found it worthwhile.

Yes, it was a good listen. Jay Laga'aia narrated very well, I remember when he was on tv here years ago before he moved over the ditch. Also discussed the differences between film and book with my son as he had only seen the movie.

Now must pick up the pace on the Stead book for May, I'm only a few pages in as Harry Hole has taken over my reading life this month.

For anyone in Victoria, you might like to know that Roger McDonald will be speaking at the Bendigo Writers Festival in August. Go to: http://www.bendigowritersfestival.com.au/category/sessions/page/6/ for details.

Alan Duff wrote a great editorial piece in today's paper about literature, poetry, decline of culture, values - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/Alan-Duff/news/article.cfm?a_id=977&objectid=11484...