Aussie Lit

[Copernicus]

As an Aussie expat, I go through the occasional bout of homesickness. I'll be making a trip home for the first time in seven years in July, and thought now might be a good time to get some recommendations about classic Aussie books to take home with me, or maybe some lesser known books that are still a cracking yarn and have that Aussie atmosphere.

Let me know why you like them, too. Cheers.

 

[CLUBMEDhurst]

As an Aussie expat, I go through the occasional bout of homesickness. I'll be making a trip home for the first time in seven hours in July, and thought now might be a good time to get some recommendations about classic Aussie books to take home with me, or maybe some lesser known books that are still a cracking yarn and have that Aussie atmosphere.

Let me know why you like them, too. Cheers.

Wake In Fright - Kenneth Cook's dystopian vision of outback Australia is a genuine classic. The main character loses his money, dignity and his mind in a harsh, nightmarish novel. Great film from 1971.

Peter Temple - The Jack Irish series. Hard-boiled crime Melbourne-style. If you're from Melbourne Copernicus, you'll find the places instantly recognisable. Temple is as good a crime writer as anyone in the world and Jack is a great character (Ex-lawyer, ex-alcoholic, punter, footy-fan and finder of people).Truth and The Broken Shore are also great reads.

 

[Z_K]

I've read Peter Temple's 'Truth'. It's over the top in it's Melbourn-ness on occasions, but it's a good enough read. I enjoyed it.

 

[medusala]

Peter Temple - The Jack Irish series. Hard-boiled crime Melbourne-style. If you're from Melbourne Copernicus, you'll find the places instantly recognisable. Temple is as good a crime writer as anyone in the world and Jack is a great character (Ex-lawyer, ex-alcoholic, punter, footy-fan and finder of people).Truth and The Broken Shore are also great reads.

Temple is brilliant.

Truth is multiples better than those bland Swedish crime novels every bloke and his labrador seem to be in to.

The one novel based in Europe (name escapes me) wasnt much though.

 

[sydney eagle]

Well if your taste runs to S F /Fantasy (as mine does) you might like to try the "Tom Rynosseros" books by Terry Dowling ("Rynosseros", "Blue Tyson", "Twilight Beach" and "Rynamon") I haven't read the last of these but the other three are great; Science Fiction with an Australian setting.

 

[bradrowe#32]

"On The Beach" by Nevil Shute.

 

[Gough]

Tim Winton's books are very evocatively Australian.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Wake In Fright - Kenneth Cook's dystopian vision of outback Australia is a genuine classic. The main character loses his money, dignity and his mind in a harsh, nightmarish novel. Great film from 1971.

Peter Temple - The Jack Irish series. Hard-boiled crime Melbourne-style. If you're from Melbourne Copernicus, you'll find the places instantly recognisable. Temple is as good a crime writer as anyone in the world and Jack is a great character (Ex-lawyer, ex-alcoholic, punter, footy-fan and finder of people).Truth and The Broken Shore are also great reads.

saw this thread and immeadiately thought of Peter Temple - although I must admit that I've only read the one book (one of the Jack Irish ones) - I really have to dig a little deeper and read more of his stuff because he is a phenomenally clever and entertaining writer - I seriously laughed more than I ever have before reading the book, often due to the humour of Temple's characters but just as often in delight at his sheer brilliance ..

 

[BomberGal]

I read a couple in high school that I really enjoyed. They both involve teenage protagonists so could be seen as young adult fiction, but I think they both provide a lot to think about and are beautifully written:

Maestro - Peter Goldsworthy. Falls into the bildungsroman category. Family moves from SA to Darwin, teenage boy is a 'prodigy' piano player but meets a Viennese piano maestro who forces him to face a lot of uncomfortable truths. Beautiful prose, evokes potent images of Darwin, along with its very true to life account of being a teenager.

The Divine Wind - Garry Disher. Short, sad in places, sweet in places. Less obviously a bildungsroman. Teenage boy living in Broome, falls in love with Japanese girl during the raids on Broome in WW2 but his love is 'transfigured by enmity and fear' (seriously, I still remember quotes from this book). Deals with racism (the Japanese most obviously, but also the Aboriginal population), love, war & fear.

I have some David Malouf books sitting around that I intend to read some day...just to throw a name out there.

A couple I tried to read for a book club this year which were TERRIBLE were The Spare Room by Helen Garner (set in Melbourne, but she sure liked to let you know about it - hackneyed, unshocking-trying-to-shock slop - thinks she can write but can't), and The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas (worst book I've ever read, didn't finish it, only didn't burn it because I got it from the library. Again, thinks he can write, thinks he can REALLY write - but can't).

 

[sydney eagle]

I don't know about Disher or Temple but, if you like your Aussie crime, you might try Peter Corris, Robert G Barrett or Marel Day.

 

[Cursed Cat]

I've read Peter Temple's 'Truth'. It's over the top in it's Melbourn-ness on occasions, but it's a good enough read. I enjoyed it.

have read both 'Truth' and 'Broken Shore' recently and thoroughly enjoyed both.
Truth was quite grim, Broken Shore quite melancholy, but both had moments of levity ..
I have a sneaky feeling my gf may be getting me the Jack Irish books for xmas, fingers crossed ;-)

 

[CLUBMEDhurst]

For those who enjoy the Jack Irish series, the ABC is currently shooting the first 2 (i think) starring Guy Pearce as Jack. Quality cast, can't wait for it to air!

 

[LANGFORDandSON]

Wake In Fright - Kenneth Cook's dystopian vision of outback Australia is a genuine classic. The main character loses his money, dignity and his mind in a harsh, nightmarish novel. Great film from 1971.

Just finished this, brilliant read. It's been a long time since I have been so immersed and therefore (due to the subject matter) so uncomfortable reading a book, highly recommended.

 

[kickazz]

For those fans of Wake In Fright - check out the movie, rare case of movie stacking up to the book. Donald Pleasance's portrayal of Doc Tydon is just wonderful. The cinematography is marvellous too.

Paper Nautilus by Nicholas Jose is a reasonably easy read, set in country SA, somewhat nostalgic tale about two friends, the war, fate.

 

[raskolnikov]

As an Aussie expat, I go through the occasional bout of homesickness. I'll be making a trip home for the first time in seven years in July, and thought now might be a good time to get some recommendations about classic Aussie books to take home with me, or maybe some lesser known books that are still a cracking yarn and have that Aussie atmosphere.

Let me know why you like them, too. Cheers.

A bit late but when I was an ex-pat I loved the Bill Bryson book In a Sunburned Country, a book by an American about his impressions when visiting Australia. Funny and witty but at the same time really encompasses the uniqueness of Australia.

 

[sydney eagle]

For those who enjoy the Jack Irish series, the ABC is currently shooting the first 2 (i think) starring Guy Pearce as Jack. Quality cast, can't wait for it to air!

I watched the first one of these and was very impressed. In fact I went out and bought all four of the books that I could find. (Might not read them for a wjile however)

 

[Roobs321]

Not really lit, but A.B.Facey's auto A Fortunate Life should be mandatory reading. Gives a real aussie flavour as well.

 

[d33my]

Subbed to the thread. Very interested in reading some more Australian stuff.

As for recommendations, The True History of the Kelly Gang was a very enjoyable read, and as has been mentioned Wake in Fright is remarkable. The Two Up gambling scene toward the start, well I've never been a gambler and generally can't see the point but that scene made me understand how people become addicted. I think that's a very good indication of superb writing.

For the Term of His Natural life is also a must read if you're into colonial Australia.

 

[checkraiseulite]

Read a couple of Australian novels over the holidays.

Praise by Andrew McGahan which seemed to have received good reviews was a boring, predictable and ordinary book IMO. Struggled to get to the end of it. 5/10.

Disco Boy by Dominic Knight (from the Chaser team) was a great read. Highly amusing and I could instantly relate to the characters & story. 8/10. One of the best Australian books I've read.