The Year of the Farmer

My favourite curry laksa to accompany one of my favourite Australian authors. I‘ve read a string of Australian novels recently. But it‘s got me thinking, are Australian books widely read outside of Oz? And if so, which ones? And if you‘re an Aussie yourself what are your favourite local authors? Who have I missed that I should add to my list?

BookNAround Aussie books can be really tough to get here in the US. Not sure why so few are published here but now that publishers are investing in imprints looking for commercially viable books from other countries, with any luck we‘ll get more. 6y

ManyWordsLater Europa editions has published a few Aussie novels And of course Markus Zusak.

Book Thief

Joanne1 @BookNAround that‘s interesting. I thought with Amazon you‘d be able to access titles from outside the US more easily. Hopefully you‘ll start getting more, there are some really great ones. PS I‘m heading to Washington in January and I‘m so looking forward to cheap books (they‘re so expensive over here). 6y

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Joanne1 @ManyWordsLater did you know Markus Zusak has a new book out. I‘ve not read it yet but am on the wait list for it at the library.

Bridge of Clay

Lindy I seek out Australian authors. Some that come immediately to mind besides Zusak: Tim Winton, Helen Garner, Alexis Wright, Joan London, Hannah Kent, Jane Harper, Peter Carey, Charlotte Wood, Shaun Tan, Geraldine Brooks, Margo Lanagan, Liane Moriarty, Jaclyn Moriarty, Michelle de Kretser, Sonia Hartnett, Melina Marchetta, Cath Crowley, and Dorothy Porter (still sad about her death). 6y

Joanne1 @Lindy wow, for someone who doesn‘t live here (or even for someone who does) that‘s an impressive list. I‘ve read something from most of them, but there‘s a few I still need to seek out. If you can check out Craig Silvey and Rosalie Ham (although you possibly already have) Elliott Perlman and Tony Birch are also great. 6y

CarolynM That's a greatlist @Lindy. Of the authors you've listed I particularly like Joan London, Helen Garner and Jane Harper. Some others who come to my mind are Fiona Capp, Stephen Carroll, Frank Moorhouse, Peter Goldsworthy, Christos Tsiolkas, Sulari Gentill. Kerry Greenwood seems to be extremely widely read and Kate Morton too. Then there's all the people from the past. 6y

Joanne1 @CarolynM and @Lindy I too love Helen Garner. She‘s the keynote speaker at the non-fiction writing festival that the library I work at hosts. It‘s very exciting. 6y

Lindy @Joanne1 @CarolynM You‘ve got me researching new-to-me authors and remembering others I like that I didn‘t originally think of: Jill Conway (speaking of people from the past), Evie Wyld, Margaret Wild, Steven Herrick, Nicki Greenberg (her Hamlet!), Jeannie Baker‘s sublime picture books… There‘s The Trauma Cleaner, Tall Man, and Les Murray‘s The Boys Who Stole the Funeral… all kinds of good stuff. 6y

Lindy @Joanne1 I would like to try the book you tagged by Ham, once it becomes available here. I saw the film trailer for The Dressmaker and was completely turned off, but that‘s probably unfair. Dark satire is normally up my alley. 6y

Lindy @CarolynM @Joanne1 The kinds of books that Kerry Greenwood, Kate Morton and Sulari Gentill write don‘t appeal to my tastes, but Fiona Capp looks like a writer I‘d enjoy. 6y

CarolynM @Lindy I'm not a fan of Kerry Greenwood or Kate Morton, I've been surprised by how internationally popular they are. I do like Sulari Gentill very much, though. I've only read 2 of Fiona Capp's book but loved them both. @MrsMalaprop often uses the tag #ozfiction when posting about Australian books and I've been using it too when I remember. You might be interested in seeing what other books and authors that tag throws up. 🙂 6y

ManyWordsLater @Joanne1 already got my copy

Bridge of Clay (Signed Edition)

Joanne1 @Lindy that‘s interesting about the dressmaker trailer. I‘ve read all of her books, the latest is probably my least favourite but is still good. All have that dark satire and uniquely Australian quality. 6y

Joanne1 @CarolynM I will try to remember that tag too. Good idea. 6y

Joanne1 @ManyWordsLater how exciting. Let me know what you think of it. Have you read his first book? I really enjoyed that one too.

The Messenger

MrsMalaprop What a great thread @Joanne1. @CarolynM @Lindy you‘ve listed some Australian authors I‘ve never even heard of 😲. I took a quick look at #ozfiction and see @Carolyn & @Rissreads have been using it quite a bit 🇦🇺📚👏😊. 6y

Rissreads Ooooooo this thread has been wonderful! I‘ve taken screen shots of the lists of authors! The next Australian author I will read will be Robbie Arnott‘s novel ‘Flames‘ and something from Helen Garner. One of my favourite novels I‘ve read this year is ‘Terra Nullius‘ by Claire G. Coleman . Woop woop for #ozfiction @Lindy @Joanne1 @CarolynM @MrsMalaprop @ManyWordsLater @BookNAround 6y

BookNAround @Rissreads I read that this year too. It was fabulous.

Terra Nullius

BookNAround I have also liked the books I‘ve read by Kate Grenville and Elizabeth Jolley just to mention two more not yet listed. 6y

CarolynM @Lindy I can't believe I forgot Georgia Blain. I think you might like her, especially

Between a Wolf and a Dog

CarolynM @Rissreads @BookNAround I have a copy waiting for me

Terra Nullius

Lindy @CarolynM Yes, I think you are correct about Between a Wolf and a Dog. It was already on my TBR, although I don‘t remember where I heard of it. The description reminds me of another book that takes place over the course of one day in Sydney:

Five Bells: A Novel

Rissreads @CarolynM I‘ve almost finished this! I‘m really enjoying it!

Between a Wolf and a Dog

Joanne1 @CarolynM @Lindy @Rissreads loved Between a wolf and a dog too. Emily Bitto‘s The Strays was another great novel with an arty flavour. Just did a shift at the library and shelved some Sofie Laguna and Hannah Kent books. Some more excellent Aussie writers. 5y

CarolynM @Joanne1 I found The Strays really frustrating because I thought there was a better novel in there struggling to get out. I felt as though the time shifts were only there to create interest in a story that was lacking in substance. A shame because there were some interesting ideas and situations to be explored. And I read it before it won prizes so I didn't have any particular expectations of it. I was really surprised when it won. 5y

Joanne1 @CarolynM it‘s true I only really enjoyed the part of the story set in the past. I didn‘t think the present day part was needed at all. But I remember parts of it so vividly, I was really swept up in the story of the two girls and the bohemian crowd they were surrounded by. 5y

Lindy @Joanne1 @CarolynM @Rissreads @BookNAround @MrsMalaprop Thanks for all the great suggestions. I shall use the hashtag #ozfiction henceforth. 😊 5y

MrsMalaprop @BookNAround I‘m a big Jolley fan. I had her as a lecturer at uni. 😍 5y

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