Tim Winton Best Writing?

In view of Tim Winton's recent Miles Franklin success with Breath, I was wondering which work ALTers consider to be his finest?

My favourite Tim Winton is 'Cloudstreet'.

Has to be The Riders for me. Ironically, the only one he has written which is set in Europe.

Dirt Music comes in first for me, especially the first part of the novel. The Turning is equally compelling, but not as sustained.

The Turning. I loved it.

The Riders was the first book of Tim Winton's that I read, and it took quite a lot of persuading to get me to read another. But I did: either The Turning or Dirt Music, both of which I read aloud when passenger on car trips, wold be my favourite.

I was underwhelmed by Dirt Music, thought Turning was great, and could see the appeal of Cloud Street but it didn't particularly grab me. (However, it was very much a part and time of Australia for my parents, so I can see why they loved it.)

Cloudstreet has been his all-time favourite for me – it was quite bizarre, and I liked the faintly historical aspect of it. I didn't care much for Dirt Music, although the plot, initially, was good. I didn't like The Riders as it seemed to me that he was losing his distinctive voice, and the plot was fairly pedestrian. I've got, but yet to read The Turning; however, it sounds good. And I'm looking forward to Breath.

I read an early book of his years ago, That Eye, the Sky and interviewed him about it on a religious show on the ABC, as it was very spiritual and a bit found-God like.* Nevertheless, it was very good. It's not referred to much in his work that I've seen.

*I know, name dropping again, but that was well before he was famous. He was just this guy, really cool looking, who'd written this book that I'd been asked to read.

Interesting that so many mention The Turning. I've just finished it and thought it brilliant. I loved the way several of the characters "bleed" (sometimes literally) into other stories.

I attended the premiere of the film version of That, the Sky in Perth which was introduced by the man himself. There were several major changes from the book: eg from the tree-clad hills near Perth, the location changed to a remote house-hold in SA. The baptism scenes were toned down. Tim Winton made the comment then that the film was virtually a different work of art... a gentle critique, I thought.

I've only read 3 of Tim Wintons, cloudstreet, Blueback and Dirt Music. All well written. I liked cloudstreet the most. Blueback is a children's tale and absolutely beautiful, although appealed more to me then my children. Dirt Music I'm one of the people who also was on the underwhelmed side. It did not live up to the hype. Still, looking forward to reading Breath.

There was another Tim Winton kids' book – I have it somewhere. Here it is: The Bugalugs Bum Thief It was okay, in an Andy Griffith's sort of way, but I think he (TW) is better at adult books.

My favourite is The Riders, then (in order) Cloudstreet, Blueback and Breath. Not Dirt Music.