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10 Short Stories You Must Read in 2011
Tempting tales by some of Australia's best writers...
Travis is going to be a big know in the door business... Lucy's love life becomes Jude's pinata... A minion makes a meal of Robert 'Nancy' Mitford...
Whether you like a comedy, romance or something quite different, you'll find plenty to enjoy in this all-new collection exclusive to Get Reading!.
Travis is going to be a big know in the door business... Lucy's love life becomes Jude's pinata... A minion makes a meal of Robert 'Nancy' Mitford...
Whether you like a comedy, romance or something quite different, you'll find plenty to enjoy in this all-new collection exclusive to Get Reading!.
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
7 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Larissa Behrendt
30 books163 followersLarissa is the author of three novels: Home, which won the 2002 David Unaipon Award and the regional Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book; Legacy, which won the 2010 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Indigenous Writing; and After Story. She has published numerous books on Indigenous legal issues; her most recent non-fiction book is Finding Eliza: Power and Colonial Storytelling. She was awarded the 2009 NAIDOC Person of the Year award and 2011 NSW Australian of the Year. Larissa wrote and directed the feature films, After the Apology and Innocence Betrayed and has written and produced several short films. In 2018 she won the Australian Directors’ Guild Award for Best Direction in a Documentary Feature and in 2020 the AACTA for Best Direction in Nonfiction Television. She is the host of Speaking Out on ABC radio and is Distinguished Professor at the Jumbunna Institute at the University of Technology Sydney.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 28, 2012
Passage by Caroline Overington
This is the fictional story of Paul Bannerman, who became a member of the Jesus People when a teenager, and spent seven years with them, praying and working, near Euroa in Victoria, back in the mid ‘70’s.
Paul had no idea what to do with his life, and one day, when he was wandering into town from uni, dissatisfied with life, he came across Brother Ruhamah, and in the ensuing 24 hours, was convinced to leave with him, and make his way to the commune, where he was welcomed and set to work.
Paul tells the story 30 years after leaving the commune, when he is married to Ruth, with 3 beautiful children, and is also a politician, and very much in the public eye. He was asked by a reporter ‘Do you miss the life, Paul?’
A short, interesting and easy little read by Caroline Overington.
One of the 10 short stories in this little book...
This is the fictional story of Paul Bannerman, who became a member of the Jesus People when a teenager, and spent seven years with them, praying and working, near Euroa in Victoria, back in the mid ‘70’s.
Paul had no idea what to do with his life, and one day, when he was wandering into town from uni, dissatisfied with life, he came across Brother Ruhamah, and in the ensuing 24 hours, was convinced to leave with him, and make his way to the commune, where he was welcomed and set to work.
Paul tells the story 30 years after leaving the commune, when he is married to Ruth, with 3 beautiful children, and is also a politician, and very much in the public eye. He was asked by a reporter ‘Do you miss the life, Paul?’
A short, interesting and easy little read by Caroline Overington.
One of the 10 short stories in this little book...
January 9, 2012
I'm not into horror and gore so Birmingham's story, while sharp and even oddly funny, wouldn't have made my top ten.
Jessica Rudd's piece was delightful, in a quirky, poignant and clever way.
Cate 's tale made me smile more than once, and reminded me of teenage volunteering i'd done in a nursing home. It was well structured with vivid, real characters.
Bradley's was intense and hard-hitting. I found it disturbing, but an admirable piece of writing.
More to come.
Jessica Rudd's piece was delightful, in a quirky, poignant and clever way.
Cate 's tale made me smile more than once, and reminded me of teenage volunteering i'd done in a nursing home. It was well structured with vivid, real characters.
Bradley's was intense and hard-hitting. I found it disturbing, but an admirable piece of writing.
More to come.
September 14, 2022
As 2011 draws to a close, I just managed to squeeze this one in. Always a great introduction to new authors, this short story collection is part of Get Reading!, Australia’s largest annual celebration of reading and books. There are some fabulous Australian authors included in the book; some established, some newbies. Check it out. It is well worth a read.
The book programme is an Australian Government initiative aimed at promoting books and reading amongst all Australians. It is now in its 10th year. Part of the campaign is the production of a guidebook that lists 50 recommended books to read and offers people who purchase any on the list a complementary book.
10 Short Stories You Must Read in 2011
The book foreword by Sandra Yates, the Chair of Get Reading!, highlights the importance o showcasing Australian writers, some of them up and coming, others well established, all producing great stories across a multitude of genres.
Authors in the collection include Cate Kennedy, Jessica Rudd, Charlotte Wood, Bill Condon, Larissa Behrendt, James Bradley, John Birmingham, James Phelan, Miranda Darling and Caroline Overington.
The idea behind promoting a collection of diverse short stories is to appeal to many and introduce new authors to those readers who have their regular favourites and genres that they stick to. Here are some of the gems in the book:
Laminex and Mirrors by Cate Kennedy
Laminex and Mirrors by Cate Kennedy is the story of a seventeen-year-old teenager working as a cleaner in a hospital for six weeks to save up enough money to travel through Europe. She forms a sweet friendship with a dying Mr Moreton who doesn’t eat and would kill for a smoke, but she is chastised for her fraternising because she is only a cleaner. It is a wonderful short story about being content in the moment and for a brief time, feeling that the perfection of that moment will go on forever.
The Space Between Us by Larissa Behrendt
This is the heart-breaking story of a couple whose daughter has been murdered and must face up in court each day to relive the details of what has to be a parent’s worst nightmare. Told from the woman’s point of view, it looks at how each of them deals with their grief and anger, and questions how they can go on as a couple with this “space” that now exists between them.
Piñata by Jessica Rudd
The discovery of new writers is one of the joys of a short-story collection like this book. I will definitely be adding Rudd’s two novels to my list after reading Piñata. It is the story of Jude, once a well-known sculptor, who now custom makes piñatas for children’s parties. It is a messy business, and the story is a wonderful look at what goes on behind closed doors in the world of an artist; the strength that is needed to make something so lovely only to have it smashed to pieces in the blink of an eye.
There are many other wonderful stories in this collection so it comes highly recommend as a great introduction to authors you may not yet have read.
The book programme is an Australian Government initiative aimed at promoting books and reading amongst all Australians. It is now in its 10th year. Part of the campaign is the production of a guidebook that lists 50 recommended books to read and offers people who purchase any on the list a complementary book.
10 Short Stories You Must Read in 2011
The book foreword by Sandra Yates, the Chair of Get Reading!, highlights the importance o showcasing Australian writers, some of them up and coming, others well established, all producing great stories across a multitude of genres.
Authors in the collection include Cate Kennedy, Jessica Rudd, Charlotte Wood, Bill Condon, Larissa Behrendt, James Bradley, John Birmingham, James Phelan, Miranda Darling and Caroline Overington.
The idea behind promoting a collection of diverse short stories is to appeal to many and introduce new authors to those readers who have their regular favourites and genres that they stick to. Here are some of the gems in the book:
Laminex and Mirrors by Cate Kennedy
Laminex and Mirrors by Cate Kennedy is the story of a seventeen-year-old teenager working as a cleaner in a hospital for six weeks to save up enough money to travel through Europe. She forms a sweet friendship with a dying Mr Moreton who doesn’t eat and would kill for a smoke, but she is chastised for her fraternising because she is only a cleaner. It is a wonderful short story about being content in the moment and for a brief time, feeling that the perfection of that moment will go on forever.
The Space Between Us by Larissa Behrendt
This is the heart-breaking story of a couple whose daughter has been murdered and must face up in court each day to relive the details of what has to be a parent’s worst nightmare. Told from the woman’s point of view, it looks at how each of them deals with their grief and anger, and questions how they can go on as a couple with this “space” that now exists between them.
Piñata by Jessica Rudd
The discovery of new writers is one of the joys of a short-story collection like this book. I will definitely be adding Rudd’s two novels to my list after reading Piñata. It is the story of Jude, once a well-known sculptor, who now custom makes piñatas for children’s parties. It is a messy business, and the story is a wonderful look at what goes on behind closed doors in the world of an artist; the strength that is needed to make something so lovely only to have it smashed to pieces in the blink of an eye.
There are many other wonderful stories in this collection so it comes highly recommend as a great introduction to authors you may not yet have read.
November 19, 2011
A fairly decent collection of short stories with a nice variety of genres, though it was a bit mixed in terms of quality. The best stories were in the first half – my favourites were Laminex and Mirrors (the first one and my favourite of the lot, I think), Big Knobs, and Piñata. My least favourite was Trust, which was like a rather bad short-story version of The Bourne Identity – I didn’t care a jot about any of the characters in it, because I didn’t know anything about them – it was just all very clichéd action. The rest were a bit so-so. Laminex and Mirrors, though, was a beautiful little slice-of-life, about a teenage girl working as a cleaner in a hospital to save money for travelling around Europe, and she befriends an old man who’s dying. Wonderfully written, somehow it’s just right - it sits beautifully in itself.
April 10, 2014
This was a waste of time also a fair amount of errors.
May 15, 2020
None of the stories really stood out for me. In fact, it was quite an odd collection of stories for an "Australian Government initiative" to try to get more people into reading. There were a few stories about Australian life, sure, but there were also stories set in far-off places - seemingly included only because they were written by Australians, or perhaps had an Australian protagonist (who wasn't really Australian apart from the fact that it was mentioned). A few stories had no ending, or even a climax. I got this book at Lifeline (second-hand book sale).
May 16, 2025
I was only able to finish "The Space Between Us" and "The Existence of Women." The rest were so bad I couldn't get past the first page or so, mostly because the third-person narration felt off.
I really enjoyed "The space between us", while the ending of "The existence of women" I felt could have packed more of a punch.
So 2/10 = 1/5, hence the poor rating.
I really enjoyed "The space between us", while the ending of "The existence of women" I felt could have packed more of a punch.
So 2/10 = 1/5, hence the poor rating.
February 6, 2018
What a terrific collection of short stories! The last two weren't my cup of tea but, then, it's subjective, isn't it, so that doesn't mean much. They were well written, though, so no criticism there. You might love them.
November 15, 2023
I’ve never read a book of modern short stories before (classic authors, yes), so it was a pleasant surprise to read such a diverse group. My favourite was probably Passage, an account about a survivor of a hippy-style cult. Overall the stories were a fun read.
December 25, 2019
Ten short stories that were engaging enough to finish. None of them fantastic but good pick up/put down material.
February 27, 2021
I’m not one for short stories which is why this collection of 10 short stories languished on my shelves for 10 years. It’s a diverse collection and no doubt there’s something for everyone.
June 25, 2021
3.5 stars!
September 19, 2012
Very interesting to read a collection of short stories when I have written so many myself. Most of them, though, failed to grab me. Interesting and well written without any wow factor. These Australian authors shave achieved what I aspire to. I have been criticized for ending some of my stories too abruptly. Unsurprisingly, the stories I liked most in had somewhat abrupt endings, or slightly up in the air endings. My faves were Pinata and The Existence of Women. I can recommend this collection of quite long short stories.
October 20, 2012
I am becoming more & more a fan of short stories, much admiring the skill in writing a short cohesive story which grabs you quick & holds you rapt as these stories have done. My favourites from this selection from such a fine array of Australian authors would be "Trust" / James Phelan, "Pinata" / Jessica Rudd, "Passage" / Caroline Overington, & "The demons of Buttercrack County" / John Birmingham.
April 8, 2016
A mix anthology of Australian written short stories worth reading.
The genres, the authors, the style and the ability to captivate the reader varied throughout this anthology
I'd guess there was something for pretty much everyone and with only one exception, I enjoyed them all - some just more than others
I may even go and seek some of the authors out
The genres, the authors, the style and the ability to captivate the reader varied throughout this anthology
I'd guess there was something for pretty much everyone and with only one exception, I enjoyed them all - some just more than others
I may even go and seek some of the authors out
October 16, 2011
I enjoyed the book though I don't reckon these stories must be read. At least, some of them.
I like Laminex and Mirrors by Cate Kennedy, Big Knobs by Bill Condon, Pinata by Jessica Rudd, Nanoparticles by Charlotte Wood and Passage by Caroline Overington.
I like Laminex and Mirrors by Cate Kennedy, Big Knobs by Bill Condon, Pinata by Jessica Rudd, Nanoparticles by Charlotte Wood and Passage by Caroline Overington.
May 6, 2012
An interesting mix of genres, this anthology does what it sets out to do: provide a showcase of Australian short stories. The standouts for me were Cate Kennedy's 'Laminex and Mirrors' and Miranda Darling's 'The Existence of Women'.
December 4, 2013
These stories were engaging and well-written but not particularly challenging.
While I doubt any of them will stick with me, I would recommend this in a heartbeat to someone who doesn't read much for pleasure or finds reading slow or difficult.
While I doubt any of them will stick with me, I would recommend this in a heartbeat to someone who doesn't read much for pleasure or finds reading slow or difficult.
October 13, 2013
I liked Jessica Rudd's story. Mostly I was bored...
October 3, 2011
A real mix: funny stories, silly stories, teary stories, poignant stories, action, horror, romance ... A good diversion.
January 15, 2012
A mixed bag, I particularly loved pinata and big knobs... hmm that just sounds wrong...
November 7, 2011
Really enjoyed about half of them but I'm not a big fan of action short stories. A worthwhile read especially for fans of short stories.
November 13, 2011
I've decided I don't like short stories. These guys are all brilliant writers but just as you begin to really like one of the stories it ends :(
January 13, 2012
The first half of this collection is utterly miserable. It picks up half way through though with some interesting stories in the latter half.
February 25, 2012
Some stories were good, some were a waste of time.
December 27, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. Love a short story.
February 18, 2016
Great book. There's a few stores that I didnt like, but the others were amazing. Such great writers. They had amazing storylines. To me, a must have on the bookshelf!
October 29, 2013
A good selection of short stories by some of Australia's good authors :)
March 8, 2014
Some good, some not so good. Jessica Rudd should go back to Politics.
September 22, 2019
Snippets of longer stories - some good and some not so good. Good intro to current authors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews