Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Relatively Famous
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
20 posts | 7 read | 10 to read
Michael and Majorie Madigan refuse to be interviewed by biographer Sinclair Hughes for his new book Inside the Lion's Den: The Literary Life of Gilbert Madigan. This is not surprising as Gilbert is Marjorie's ex- husband and Michael's mostly absent father. In Roger Averill's brilliantly conceived new novel, Relatively Famous, Gilbert Madigan is Australia's first Booker Prize winner, a feted and much lauded author that the U.K. and U.S. now likes to call their own. Michael cannot escape his father's life and work, and at times his own life seems swallowed by it. His father's success is a source of undeniable pleasure but also of great turmoil. How does one live in the shadow of a famous relative who we never seem to be able to live up to? In a world increasingly obsessed with fame and celebrity, this engrossing novel subtly explores notions of success , masculinity, betrayal and loss, and ultimately what it might mean to live a good life.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
LapReader
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

I ripped this beautiful paper off quick smart and then things got hectic and I didn‘t get a chance to post. Merry Xmas and thanks @Rissreads I can‘t wait to use that bath bomb tonight if I can lose the family for a bit. Ha! I was eyeing off the gifts you gave me at the post office the other day but restrained myself. You totally got m xo

Rissreads Yay, I‘m so happy that you like your gifts. Enjoy that bath ♥️ 2y
46 likes1 comment
review
Jeg
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image
Pickpick

This book was on list of books TBR but I‘m not sure why, however it was a really good read. The 4th book I‘ve read recently that had one chapter in the past, next in the present. This was cleverly done. Another Aussie book for me this year. @MrsMalaprop

MrsMalaprop It was great wasn‘t it? You might have heard of it through me & I heard of it through @Rissreads who I think got a copy from @CarolynM 😆. #ozfiction 5y
CarolynM @MrsMalaprop I loved this book and I'm delighted to have spread the word about it.🙂 5y
Jeg @MrsMalaprop I thought that after I read the other reviews and saw yours . We have so many good Aussie authors. I need to start writing a little reminder beside the books I write down . 5y
Rissreads Yep, I loved this book! 💙 5y
Rissreads @Jeg @MrsMalaprop @CarolynM Yes I feel like at the moment that we are so lucky with what's being written by and about Australians. There is just so much out to there that I haven't read or even heard of yet, waiting to be discovered. I can't wait to see what people think of books like The lucky galah and Lambs of god. 5y
12 likes5 comments
review
JennyM
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image
Pickpick

A beautifully written piece about a famous author and his largely-absent relationship with his son. I‘m feeling quite reflective after finishing it, and also a little sad.

MicheleinPhilly Had not heard of it before. Sounds wonderful! 5y
cathipink Interesting! I feel like you usually read stories based on the inverse perspective (child writing about parent). I'm going to check this out! 5y
CarolynM Glad you liked it. There's a lot to think about. I was fascinated by how oblivious the biographer was to the fact that he was writing about more lives than just that of his subject. 5y
See All 6 Comments
JennyM @MicheleinPhilly @cathipink it‘s a really great read. @CarolynM recommended it (thank you - I loved it), and we both agree it deserves more attention. If it were published by a larger Australian publishing house, I think you‘d have seen this much more. 5y
Rissreads I'm glad you liked it, I loved it and it was one of my favourites last year. 💜 5y
JennyM @Rissreads just another piece of great #OzFiction 😘 5y
71 likes1 stack add6 comments
blurb
JennyM
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

It‘s Sunday afternoon in my part of the world, and I‘m settling down for an hour or so (🤞) with this one.

CarolynM I loved this one. Looking forward to seeing your review. 5y
JennyM @CarolynM I have gobbled the first half up - it‘s excellent. Thanks for the recommendation! 😘 5y
51 likes2 comments
blurb
BookNAround
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

It never gets old seeing my name in Shelf Awareness Pro. 😁 Anyone who wants more info on submitting books, feel free to hit me up. Quick note, authors cannot submit their own works, we don‘t currently accept self-pubbed books, genre fiction is fine if it crosses over with literary fiction, and all books must be easily acquired through all the usual distribution sources.

review
TrishB
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image
Pickpick

A book about life, parenting, relationships and how we all bugger it up sometimes. Though some more than others. I really enjoyed this and the reflections on relationships felt very real.
Thanks Carolyn- I‘ll try and spread the word further!

CarolynM So glad you enjoyed it. I found it a lot more successful in exploring its themes, and a lot more satisfying, than I have found many other novels that get plenty of attention and win awards. I really didn't want it to sink without trace! 6y
TrishB @CarolynM so true, if word doesn‘t get out there it must be very frustrating for the author! 6y
126 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
TrishB
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

Lunchtime read with some vege sushi today 😁 Enjoying this book @CarolynM 💕

AmyReadsAlot Sushi & a book sounds perfect! Except now I want some 🍣! 😂 6y
Cathythoughts Everything looks good 👍🏻♥️ 6y
Books88 Yum!!! Best lunch 6y
See All 6 Comments
Caroline2 Oh that veggie sushi looks yummy 🤤 6y
TrishB @TheGenreMinxBookReviews @Cathythoughts @AJBowers @Caroline2 first time I‘ve had this one from Sainsbury‘s- it was lovely! 6y
Caroline2 Oh Sainsbury‘s eh! I‘ll have to check it out! 😀 6y
121 likes6 comments
blurb
TrishB
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

Carolyn how quick was that 😁😁 thank you so much 😘Can‘t wait to read and the bookmark matches which is obviously very important.
Love my Litsy bookmail ❤️

CarolynM Amazing! I didn't send it from my usual post office. That shouldn't make a difference, but I wonder? Anyway, I'm glad you've got it and I hope you like it. 6y
TrishB @CarolynM I may give it a go next! 6y
104 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
MrsMalaprop
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image
Pickpick

Told from the perspective of Michael, son of a famous author and absent father Gil. Each chapter of the novel is paired with an extract from a ‘biography‘ about Gil, which was an interesting and effective technique.

Understated yet totally engrossing. A novel about fathers and sons; families and parenting; separations and fame; how we move through life, trying to figure it all out as we go...

I loved it. #ozfiction 🇦🇺

CarolynM So glad you loved it too. ❤️ 6y
Freespirit Sounds like a must read! 6y
Asktheletters I really enjoyed it as well! 6y
Rissreads I loved it!!!!!!!!!! 💚 6y
Jeg Now I love it too. 😍 5y
57 likes6 stack adds5 comments
quote
MrsMalaprop
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

Really enjoying this book so far. #currentlyreading #ozfiction

CarolynM I'm really glad to see you reading this. I loved it but I've not seen it promoted anywhere. I think it deserves more attention. Hope you go on enjoying it. 6y
Jeg How true. 6y
TrishB Stacked 👍🏻 @CarolynM there are no reviews on amazonuk on this at all! 6y
See All 9 Comments
CarolynM @TrishB It comes from a small publisher whose list is eclectic in the extreme. A lot of it is VERY non commercial but in amongst it are some real gems. Unfortunately I don't think they have much of a promotional budget. 6y
CarolynM @TrishB I just looked at the price of this on Amazon UK and had a slight heart attack. Email me your address and I'll send you a copy. The address is munchenberg at on the dot net dot au (edited) 6y
TrishB @CarolynM thank you so much 😘 this is why it‘s so difficult to get indie books published in another country 😔 6y
MrsMalaprop @CarolynM I bought it the other day with @Rissreads ! So all thanks to you 🙏. 6y
TrishB @CarolynM done 😘 6y
Rissreads I‘m glad you are enjoying it, this book really affected me. I loved it! 6y
42 likes9 comments
blurb
MrsMalaprop
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

A spot of #bookretailtherapy and cake with fellow bibliophile @Rissreads was just what the doctor ordered today 📚🍰💕.

Libby1 Perfection. 6y
Hooked_on_books That cake! 🤤 6y
Rissreads That cake was divine! 🍰💜 6y
See All 6 Comments
JennyM Sounds good! Hope you‘re doing ok. Thinking of you xx 6y
CarolynM Perfect! ❤️ 6y
Mdargusch I could stare at this photo all day long. 6y
66 likes6 comments
review
Rissreads
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image
Pickpick

I LOVED this book, it is one of my favourites for 2018! And to think I read it right at the end!
This book touched me as some of the themes are present in my own life at the moment regarding separation. It also deals with relationships between parents and children. The hardest job in the world!
I enjoyed the way it swapped between the sons thoughts about his father and the written bio of the same man. Thanks for the gift @CarolynM 😊💙
#ozfiction

CarolynM I'm so pleased you liked it. I think it is terrific. I can't understand why it has had so little attention. 6y
CarolynM That's great @MrsMalaprop 👍 I'm trying hard to spread the word on this one.🙂 6y
24 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
CarolynM
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image
Pickpick

What does a biographer owe to the family of his/her subject? How do you deal with having aspects of your life analysed and made public because you are the child of a person worthy of biography? How do you reconcile the public view of the worth of your father when he has chosen to be largely absent from your life? I really enjoyed the way the author explored these questions. The fact that the setting is Melbourne's inner north didn't hurt.

CouronneDhiver Stacked - thank you! 😄 6y
Cathythoughts Excellent review 😊👍🏻 6y
JennyM Sounds great x 6y
Cinfhen Cool concept, great review 6y
CarolynM @CouronneDhiver Hope you enjoy it if you get around to reading it. 6y
50 likes5 comments
blurb
CarolynM
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image
Cathythoughts What a gorgeous picture 💕💕💕 6y
LeahBergen ❤️❤️ 6y
40 likes4 comments
quote
CarolynM
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

Not just Melbourne, I think

Ruthiella I think this is a worldwide 🌎 affliction now! ☕️ 6y
37 likes1 comment
blurb
Asktheletters
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

I love this time of year - the weather is cool and the sky stretches huge and blue. I picked up “Relatively Famous” on a whim and at a little over halfway through, am really enjoying it. It‘s a quiet novel about parents and children, and what it means to be present.

CarolynM I've just finished reading Relatively Famous. I enjoyed it very much, there was a lot to think about. How did you feel about it when you finished it? 6y
Asktheletters I felt that it was slightly less compelling in the last quarter, but overall I really enjoyed it. I loved the faux biographical extracts at the start of each chapter, and the contrast between that reconstructed “fictional reality” and the lived (fictional) experience of the protagonist. It didn‘t hurt that I‘m a complete sucker for novels that interweave fiction with Australian art / literary history 😊 6y
12 likes2 comments
blurb
CarolynM
Relatively Famous | Roger Averill
post image

#AprilBookishMadness #PinkCover
A new release about the relationship between a famous writer and his son. I'm looking forward to getting into this one.