What's up, my totseans from down under? As I woke this morning I realized the only thing I've ever actually read from Australia are the miscellaneous adventures of Mark Brandon Read which I'm pretty sure doesn't sum up your country as a whole. I would like to expand my horizons so what are some Australian classics or interesting Australian writers that I should check out? I could google it but I'm sure I would just come up with a list of complete shite and I respect enough of you to at least give me a few good reads.

Thanks in advance. Oh and Ed Lister, I'm looking at you. I know you know some. Share the wealth.

James Clavell stands out in my mind.

They have some quality crime novels, if I remember right.

I didn't realize clavell was a roo, mainly because none of his books have anything to do with australia. good books anyway.

Personally, as a kiwi I would recommend "Once Where Warriors", its about New Zealand but a great book all the same.

P.S. nice tags

I don't think they have intellectuals in Australia.

I like Andrew Hutchinson. Tim Winton is supposedly good but I've never actually read any of his stuff. I find Australian literature to be mostly crap.

Peter Carey for instance. Maybe someone can explain to me how his work isn't complete crap. He's this multi-award winning writer but his writing just sucks balls. I borrowed from the library a book of short stories that he'd written and only read one. Essentially the plot involved a character and a drive in theatre. At the end the character turned into a truck. Turned me off him forever.

Mentally noted.

http://fanzone50.com/Julian/Nig_lg/Nig_b76.jpg

Once were warriors is indeed a classic. It unfortunately has nothing to do with Australia. Thanks though.


I have met many a smart Australian.


I'll check out Hutchinson and avoid Carey like the plague. Gracias.

Patrick White is the most famous Australian writer, but a lot of people don't consider his work to be all that Australian.

Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson are very famous for their Ballads.

It really depends what you're looking for. Do you want to know about the "Australian Story" i.e. shit like Gallipoli and the stolen generation which we're all supposed to care about but don't? Or do you want to get a more contemporary view of Australia. What it's like to live in the cities, the outback, lower socioeconomic areas etc...

Anyway,

I just read A Fortunate Life by A.B. Facey which is considered a classic here. It's really only interesting from a historical point of view, however, so it might not be what you're looking for.

He Died With a Felafel in His Hand by John Birmingham
Dopeland by John Birmingham

That last one is supposed to be about the cannabis culture in Australia. It's kind of inspired by Gonzo Journalism I think. Never got around to reading it and I've lost my copy of it but Birmingham is a funny writer so it's probably worthwhile.

There's lots of books based around racism and other issues relating to Australia's so-called multiculturalism. We read these in school so I can't remember any except for "Follow The Rabbit-Proof Fence" which was made into a movie a few years back. Actually, that's about Aborigines not immigrants. Still deals with racism I guess. Over The Top With Jim is a well-known autobiographical novel about some crazy kid from Russia.

Too much to mention really.

If you're after a contemporary novelist who captures "Australia" and shoves it neatly into a good read, then it's hard to go past Tim Winton.

I can't say I ADORE his books but I have read them all, and I did enjoy each one. Unfortunately I was introduced to Winton via high school a few years back and that ridiculous dissection of Cloudstreet destroyed what would have been an incredibly enjoyable read...but my girlfriend loves his books so I read through them after she gets them and, credit where credit is due, they're great reads.

I really enjoyed all the Patrick White books I've read but I agree with above that they don't capture the Australian spirit like Winton.

Garth Nix is pretty good although he likes to write about 14 year olds boning

He wrote the Abhoresion Trilogy, it's good if you like fantasy, and even if you don't

Morris West