English Passengers, by Matthew Kneale
This is a stunning book. Kneale writes about the whole Vctorian period, summing up racial, social and religious beliefs of the time, through a journey from England to the colony of Tasmania. Parallel to the story of the journey is the story of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania and their brutal treatment at the hands of the colonists. This strand of the novel is shocking and incredibly sad, but this is balanced, and somehow emphasised, by the humour (at times of an almost slapstick quality) that is prevalent though out the book. This book made a lasting impression on me when I first read it 14 years ago, and I would definitely recommend it.
The Thorn Birds, by Colleen McCullough
I am sure that the seventies tv show did not do the reputation of this book any favours.... When you think of the Thorn Birds, most people think of a slightly trashy, overly romantic epic series that their mum used to watch and obsess about. However, if you can move past that, this is a fantastic book. I first read it as a teenager and I really fell in love with the Australia described by McCullough - the vast open spaces of the Outback where the family ranch lies. This book alone evoked a desire in me to visit Australia and see this incredible landscape imprinted in my mind from this beautiful book, and I am pleased to say that I travelled to Australia in 2000 and was indeed moved by its awesome landscape. A re-reading last year confirmed for me that the sense of place and the setting of the novel are the real stars of this book, but the plot of this epic family saga spanning several generations certainly makes for a gripping read. It is very long and there are very many characters (almost too many, as I felt at times that some of the characters were a little one-dimensional), but definitely worth reading, to totally lose yourself in another world- the beauty, splendour and isolation of the Australian Outback.
Red Dog, by Louis de Bernieres
Any dog lovers out there should definitely read this book, and have the tissues handy. It is a very short book recounting the life of Red Dog who travels around the unforgiving Pilbara region of north-west Australia (a little like the Littlest Hobo) and the relationships he forms with the various people he adopts. Louis de Bernieres manages to make both the landscape and the people come alive and he writes with a great deal of warmth and affection. A little gem of a book.
The Slap, by Christos Tsiolkas
This book is fairly controversial and has provoked polarised opinions in reviews. Personally, I thought it was great - uncomfortable to read, yes, and it does not do much to promote your faith in humanity but compelling none the less.
At a barbecue in suburban Melbourne, a 4 year old child is slapped by someone who is not his parent. The fallout from this is huge - a court case ensues and marriages, friendships and families are divided over which side to take.
There is a very large cast of characters and each chapter is told from the viewpoint of a different character so the reader views events in many different ways. Several of the characters are deeply unpleasant and their actions at times repellent, but in an almost voyeuristic way, you have to keep on reading.
This is a very thought-provoking novel touching on issues such as: identity, racism and how it feels to be an immigrant trying to integrate whilst holding on to your own culture and traditions; corporal punishment; different parenting styles and the right of people to parent in the way they see fit; and the difficulties of marriage and family life. I think it is definitely worth a read, but afterwards you may not be able to say that you "enjoyed" it.
Now for my 2 favourite Australian authors - I would pretty much recommend anything they have written, but describe a couple of favourites here....
Peter Carey:
True History of the Kelly Gang - this won the Booker prize in 2001 and it's easy to see why. It is a novel unlike anything else, where Carey completely transports the reader to the 19th Century and the life of the notorious bush ranger, Ned Kelly. Carey has written in the voice of Kelly, uneducated and barely literate and this is what helps to totally immerse the reader in the time and place, but also means that it can be hard to get into. A page turning adventure and a mind-blowing accomplishment from this talented author.
Oscar and Lucinda - Another Booker prize winner. This time an epic story of undeclared love between two very unusual characters (Oscar and Lucinda!) spanning two continents and most of the 19th century. It is the beautifully drawn characters that really make this novel. It is rather long, but stick with it, the writing is fabulous!
30 Days in Sydney: a wildly distorted account - Carey returns to Sydney after a seventeen year absence and writes about his experiences, trying to find the essence of the place. It is very readable and as someone who has visited Sydney at around the time he was writing this I found it very interesting. This short book is hard to categorise - it's not a memoir and it's not a travelogue or guidebook, but the personal stories share space with the history and geography of the city. Sydney is a unique city and this book manages to convey a real sense of the place and its diverse inhabitants.
Kate Grenville:
After reading The Secret River, I was hooked by Grenville's writing and went on to seek out as many of her other books as I could find. The Secret River and Sarah Thornhill are 2 of my favourite ever books. They deal with culture clashes between early white settlers and the the indigenous people on the banks of the Hawkesbury river in the18th and 19th centuries, and are described in detail here:http://thisreadingmummy.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/ten-books-i-would-recommend-to-everyone.html
I was then inspired to read Searching for The Secret River,which is Grenville's fascinating account of how she researched and wrote The Secret River and how the book grew from research about her own ancestors. It is not often that a reader gets a glimpse into the mind and process of a writer and this is a real treat, allowing a little understanding of how an idea becomes a novel. Very readable and enjoyable and compliments the novel perfectly.
The Lieutenant is another novel by Kate Grenville set in Sydney at the time it was first established as a British settlement. The eponymous lieutenant is Daniel Rooke, an astronomer sent out with the First Fleet, who is uncomfortable with the way his colleagues attempt to interact with the local Aboriginal people. The novel documents his burgeoning relationships with the Aborigines and how this is viewed by his military colleagues. It is interesting to learn that the character of Daniel Rooke is based upon the real person William Dawes.
With The Idea of Perfection Grenville proved to me that she could write about subjects other than the early colonisation of Australia. This novel tells the story of the unlikely romance blossoming between Douglas Cheeseman and Harley Savage, two people who have given up on love. The setting is an eccentric small town in rural NSW and both the setting and characters are wonderfully drawn. Grenville brings their awkwardness, embarrassment and affection vividly to life in this touching and gently humorous tale.
I'd love for you to comment and share your own Australian favourites.
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