Friday, August 26, 2011

Reading Lists: Australian Fiction

Welcome to this week's installment of our newest feature here at The Blue Bookcase: Reading Lists. Every week either one of us or a guest blogger will post on one of his or her favorite topics and provide a list of books he or she is familiar with on that topic. At the end of each post we will invite you to throw out any suggestions of books, fiction or non-fiction, that you have read or know about on that topic and we will add them to the list on that post.

These lists are not comprehensive by any means, but may be useful in helping you find your next read. Enjoy!

This week, Lucia is compiling a list on Australian Fiction.

The questions of what Australian is and what it means to be Australian are asked multiple times a day. I consider myself Australian because I, along with my parents, was born here, I speak English as my first language, my passport says so, and I've never called anywhere else home. On the other hand, I, like an extreme number of others in Australia, have European ancestry. But what about Indigenous Australians or our connection with Asia? Tricky questions, no doubt. I have only very recently begun to actively pursue the reading of Aus fiction, because up until recently I didn't know what it felt like to be homesick for my comparatively quiet state capital . So, in terms of Australian literature and fiction, I've decided to go with books written by Australians which include an opinion about something significant to Australia.

Possum Magic by Mem Fox. Probably the most famous Australian children's book, this is the story of Hush who has been turned invisible by Grandma Poss. Their quest to make Hush visible again takes them all around Australia, discovering icons in Aussie food. “Once upon a time, but not very long ago, deep in the Australian bush, there lived two possums. Their names were Hush and Grandma Poss. Grandma Poss made bush magic…”

The Boat by Nam Le. Le is a Vietnamese author who migrated to Australia. The Boat is a collection of the most beautiful short stories, with the title story addressing one of the biggest issues in Australia today: boat people. One of my favorite stories was Waiting For Elise, about an ill and aging painter, mourning the loss of his lover and the daughter he doesn't know. Somehow, impossibly, the voice of the story is unbiased towards the situation of the narrating character. I believe that this reflects the title of the story, in that the central character is waiting as opposed to actually doing, and he knows this. I think the reader can sympathise with this because at the heart of the story is a commonly felt fear. Read the rest of my review here.

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta. As I've mentioned, many people (including myself) come from a European background, and this young adult novel deals very realistically and often hilariously with this. The story is a wonderful twist; Josie Alibrandi is caught between a gaggle of gossiping Italians and the backdrop of Aus culture.


People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. I love love this book, although it's hardly set in Australia (and I think I've gushed about it on several posts before, though not actually written a review). Brooks is Australian, though, and she is brilliant. The references to Aus come up like jewels in the plot. An ancient Jewish prayer book, supplies the core of this novel. When an Australian restorer is asked to work on the book after it is found in broken Sarajevo for the first time since World War II, her discoveries form the stems to the different segments which compile Brooks' text. Capturing diverse societies and covering several centuries, Brooks expertly draws together the pieces and people who became part of the book. The way in which she moves through the centuries and countries is evident in the colloquialisms and style of prose. Brooks' observations contributing to this are impressive; her use of modern day Australian language to everything from conversational tones of the Inquisition, to that of ancient African slaves. Her diversity is astounding.

And I hope to read so much more classic Australian fiction soon!


Your Suggestions:
(Let us know in the comments and we'll add them to the list!)
The White Earth
by Andrew McGahan (recommended by Beachreader)
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey (recommended by Ellie and mummazappa)
(YA) Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix and Children's Illustrators Robert Ingpen and Shaun Tan, and YA writers Markus Zusak and P.L. Travers (recommended by Befabian)
Sorry by Gail Jones (recommended by L)
Breath by Tim Winton (recommended by mummazappa)
Red Queen by Honey Brown (recommended by mummazappa)
How It Feels by Brendan Cowell (recommended by mummazappa)
Anything by Kirsty Eager (recommended by mummazappa)
I for Isobel by Amy Witting (recommended by Christina)
The Tomorrow Series by John Marsden (recommended by SarahSparrow)
Rhubarb by Craig Silvey (recommended by BookLoverBookReviews)
Wanting by Richard Flanagan (recommended by BookLoverBookReviews)
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (recommended by BookLoverBookReviews)
The Chicken Thief by Fiona Leonard (recommended by BookLoverBookReviews)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (recommended by Becky at Page Turners)
Gould's Book of Fish by Richard Flanagan (recommended by Becky at Page Turners)
My Brother Jack by George Johnson (recommended by Becky at Page Turners)
Swords and Crowns and Rings by Ruth Park (recommended by Becky at Page Turners)
The Households Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide (recommended by Becky at Page Turners)
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay (recommended by Becky at Page Turners)
Ransom and An Imaginary Life, both by David Malouf (recommended by Susan at Reading World)
And the Ass Saw the Angel and The Death of Bunny Munro, both by Nick Cave (recommended by ParrishLantern)

Do you consider yourself particularly well-read on a certain topic? Or maybe you find yourself drawn to books about specific people, places, or things? We would love to have you write a Reading List post for us! If you are interested please email us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com.

Comments (11)

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The White Earth by Andrew McGahan was one of my best books read in 2010. It take place in the Australian Outback and won tons of awards.
I don't read much Australian fiction but Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey would go on my list. I think it really highlights certain prejudices that were around in most countires in the 50s (I think that's when it was set, definitely in the past not too long ago).
I DEVOUR anything and everything by Melina Marchetta. Jellicoe Road is on my Top 5 favorite books EVER list. It's a little hit-and-miss with Geraldine Brooks, for me, but I did love her Year of Wonders and the historical pieces of People of the Book. And of course I also love and recommend everything Mem Fox has ever written.

As for people you haven't mentioned, as children's literature is my expertise, here are a few names: Garth Nix writes fantastic fantasy for young adults, among them Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen, known as the Abhorsen trilogy. Robert Ingpen is a phenomenal children's book illustrator, and let's not forget the famous Shaun Tan and Markus Zusak - though very different, equally lauded writers (and Shaun Tan as an illustrator, too). And my personal favorite - P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, was actually born in Australia.
This is a great feature, and thanks for the recommendations. I have found immense satisfaction with every Australian author I've come across, the most recent being Gail Jones and her novel Sorry (via Europa Editions) [to borrow from Wiki] Sorry "explores the major themes of Australian Aboriginal-White relations, the isolation and despair of farm life, the Stolen Generations, and life in World War II in Australia." The Title's meaning is steeped in Australian history/culture. Besides providing insight and awareness, the writing is just plain beautiful.
Wow, I had to really struggle not to make this the longest comment ever with my suggestions, so I've limited myself to these ones: Breath by Tim Winton, Red Queen by Honey Brown, Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, How It Feels by Brendan Cowell and everything by Kirsty Eager. I really like your picks, especially People of the Book, it's one of my fave reads of all time.
Oooh, how about I for Isobel? The author (Amy Witting) is Australian and it takes place there. I loved it.
SarahSparrow's avatar

SarahSparrow · 698 weeks ago

The Tomorrow series takes place in Australia and is written by Australian author John Marsden.
Great post! I am almost finished listening to Brook's People of the Book right now and have loved every minute of it too.

On recommendations, geez, where to start... I loved Craig Silvey's Rhubarb, Wanting by Richard Flanagan, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, Dreams of Speaking by Gail Jones and another great novel by an Australian author I just read called The Chicken Thief.

You can find links to 130+ reviews of Australian fiction at my Aussie Author Challenge page: http://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2011-aussie-a...
What about The Book Thief by Markus Zusak? Here's a list of some of my other favourites. Goulds Book of Fish by Richard Flanagan. My Brother Jack by George Johnson. Swords and Crowns and Rings by Ruth Park. The Households Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay.
Ransom by David Malouf is awesome. I went out and bought An Imaginary Life (with every intention of reading it soon.)
What about Nick Cave, although predominantly known as a singer, he has written to great books The ass saw the angel & my personal favourite The death of Bunny Monroe.

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