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Appreciation
Everything in this world has a price. A great work of art is no exception. And what fortune was ever built without a little subterfuge?Oli Darling is a queer artist from the country – it says so right at the top of every press release. His art has brought him fame, money, fashionable substance abuse issues and only a little imposter syndrome. But then he goes on live TV and says the one thing that can get a rich white guy cancelled.With his reputation in tatters, nobody is buying Oli’s schtick or his art. That’s a problem for all the people who’ve invested millions in him. Powerful, dangerous people. To save his own skin, Oli will need to restore his public image. Together with a ghostwriter, he must do the most undignified thing he will have to write a memoir.So begins a journey through the underbelly of modern celebrity that sees Oli confront the consequences of his own ruthless mythmaking – lies he’s told others, lies he’s told himself. Perhaps he was right to feel like an imposter. And maybe the only way out is to take a good hard look at himself.Outrageous satire of the highest order, Appreciation sets its sights on the question of authenticity in a time where image trumps talent, narcissism rules, and no canvas is so tarnished it can’t be painted over.Praise for Appreciation‘Made me laugh gleefully, and also made me squirm. Pieper’s pen is a sharply honed blade – there’s a hell of a lot of truth in this deceptively jaunty satire. I gulped it down.’ Christos Tsiolkas‘A clever, wry and utterly hilarious impaling of Australian culture. A worthy successor to Oscar Wilde.’ Kris Kneen‘Smart and daring, witty and incisive. A work of genius.’ Jessie Stephens'A deft skewering of contemporary values – as hugely entertaining as it is piercingly relevant.’ Nick EarlsPraise for The Toymaker‘Hugely memorable.’ Hannah Kent‘Bold and compelling.’ Peter Pierce, Weekend AustralianPraise for Sweetness and Light‘Crackling with a tension that doesn’t let up.’ Jay Daniel Thompson, Australian Book Review‘A high-stakes, self-aware literary thriller.’ Elke Power, Readings
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First published March 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 21, 2024
I’ve really dithered over writing this review, unable to find the words to coherently review Appreciation instead of just gush about it. I absolutely loved this novel; it was sharply funny and smartly satirical. It was our book club pick for March – my selection – and overall, everyone enjoyed it.
It’s one of those novels that would translate very well to the screen. Liam Pieper is a force that knows no comparison. His writing just doesn’t miss a beat and is so clever in terms of the way he unfolds his story in both the immediate and the long game. There is just so much in this novel to enjoy, to grimace over, to nod about, to make you discomfited, and to give you cause to just laugh out loud and shake your head about.
‘Pushing forty now, Oli feels about young people the same way he does about modern cinema: wonderfully entertaining, but everything takes an hour and a half longer than it needs to.’
So good. One of my top reads of the year so far.
It’s one of those novels that would translate very well to the screen. Liam Pieper is a force that knows no comparison. His writing just doesn’t miss a beat and is so clever in terms of the way he unfolds his story in both the immediate and the long game. There is just so much in this novel to enjoy, to grimace over, to nod about, to make you discomfited, and to give you cause to just laugh out loud and shake your head about.
‘Pushing forty now, Oli feels about young people the same way he does about modern cinema: wonderfully entertaining, but everything takes an hour and a half longer than it needs to.’
So good. One of my top reads of the year so far.
June 2, 2024
The blurb promises Appreciation is “a wild romp through Australian celebrity that’s as bold and scathing as it is hilarious”, and I can tell you it definitely delivers. This book is sharp as hell, a brutal critique of Australian arts culture and the media-managed shrink-wrapped nature of ‘authenticity’ as a brand.
My full review of Appreciation is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of Appreciation is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
April 9, 2024
Such a GOOD BOOK!
Not only is this book funny, with so many excellently observed moments- it is brilliantly plotted & I couldn’t bear to put it down. Whilst it’s set in Sydney & Melbourne & the art world (great subjects in themselves), it’s the funny, poetic observations of life that make Pieper such a great writer - from the antics of his agents cat, to the strange personality of his hire car… best book I’ve read in years.
Not only is this book funny, with so many excellently observed moments- it is brilliantly plotted & I couldn’t bear to put it down. Whilst it’s set in Sydney & Melbourne & the art world (great subjects in themselves), it’s the funny, poetic observations of life that make Pieper such a great writer - from the antics of his agents cat, to the strange personality of his hire car… best book I’ve read in years.
May 29, 2025
this book was so excellent, so sharp and witty and funny, but also full of heart. one of the most unique narration choices I've ever seen and a bold swing but the author pulled it off brilliantly.
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April 9, 2024Hiliarious, rollicking and wild, I loved this book start to finish. The language is sharp, fresh and funny, with the main character, the bad boy of the Australian art work Oli Darling, vividly real: acerbic, egotistical, vain - and insecure. The many asides about the art world, the way artworks are reviewed and commodified, are not only thought-provoking, but often laugh out loud funny.
Best of all, this is also a tightly plotted page turner that keeps apace as it ducks and weaves through the disintegration of Oil's life, constantly throwing up unexpected delights and asides, as it careers to a satisfying conclusion.
Best of all, this is also a tightly plotted page turner that keeps apace as it ducks and weaves through the disintegration of Oil's life, constantly throwing up unexpected delights and asides, as it careers to a satisfying conclusion.
March 31, 2024
I opened this not quite knowing what to expect. What a delight. Highly original, laugh-out-loud funny with twists and turns every few pages, and a beautifully crafted set of flawed characters. Won't be everyone's cup of tea but I absolutely loved it.
August 1, 2024
rollercoaster of opinions on this one
August 6, 2024
Review to come
October 24, 2024
well written but fell a bit flat for me. like it was trying to be very deep but didn’t really end up saying much at all
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January 3, 2025Why I read it: It's been on my to-read list for so long, I've forgotten why I wanted to read it in the first place -- the blurb, I guess? I wanted (and still want) to read some queer fiction that wasn't specifically romantic, and this was hot and new and I just bought it for the Kindle as soon as it came out. Well, I've finally read it because I'm trying to get through some of my ebooks before I buy more.
Thoughts: What the hell, this was so good. My surprise is not that this was good in general, but that it turned out to be so moving and good after I very nearly DNFed it about 30% in. It was good from the get go -- the style is sharp, easy, jaunty, enjoyable -- but I hated Oli Darling so much, I simply couldn't deal with the fact I had to be with him for 300+ pages. But then the more I read, the more I wanted to know how he was going to get out of his predicament. And then the more I read, as I waited to see how he was going to get out of his predicament, the more the author pulled back the curtain on who Oli Darling really is. His story, his trajectory through life -- I didn't really feel more sympathy for him than I would for any other queer person who grew up in conservative environments. Potentially, I felt less sympathy for him because of how he leveraged his personal history and played it up to benefit him. His soundbites were insufferable, his wilful ignorance and naivete were grating. But the author did a very clever thing, really, by revealing Oli's true self via gradual returns to his youth, until the myth of Oli was stripped all the way back to the real source of his talent and success. The more of that happened, the more Oli became terribly sad and pitiable to me, and the more I was invested. By the time one of the last shoes dropped at about 70% (this is a novel full of shoe and penny drops), I was all in.
Much of the commentary about Australia and the state of the arts in Australia rings true to me, even though I've only ever been on the margins of it all. It's also one of the things that made me saddest as I was reading this, and also somewhat glad I never went for the fine arts degree I wanted as a teenager.
It also has to be said this is one hell of a funny story and that's probably why I stuck with it to 30% in the first place. I very quickly lost track of how many sentences and turns of phrase and clever little twists made me snort or outright laugh. The second half of the novel became even funnier as I finally bought into the plot and began to work out what sort of character Oli was. And, of course, after the front end of the novel sets up a lot of threads and characters, the back end is where they all come together, with some surprising twists. It's kind of like a Guy Ritchie movie, only with marginally less crime (but only marginally, just because there's not a heist), and more commentary on Australian (rather than British) culture. I highlighted a bunch of passages, but I often had to make myself stop doing that because I had a feeling I'd end up with a good half of the novel in my highlights.
Finally: the ending was perfect.
Would I read more from this author: Yes.
Would I recommend it: Yes.
Would I reread it: You know what, I think I probably would, one day in the maybe-distant future. Knowing how Oli ended up the man he is might make the first 30% read differently now.
Thoughts: What the hell, this was so good. My surprise is not that this was good in general, but that it turned out to be so moving and good after I very nearly DNFed it about 30% in. It was good from the get go -- the style is sharp, easy, jaunty, enjoyable -- but I hated Oli Darling so much, I simply couldn't deal with the fact I had to be with him for 300+ pages. But then the more I read, the more I wanted to know how he was going to get out of his predicament. And then the more I read, as I waited to see how he was going to get out of his predicament, the more the author pulled back the curtain on who Oli Darling really is. His story, his trajectory through life -- I didn't really feel more sympathy for him than I would for any other queer person who grew up in conservative environments. Potentially, I felt less sympathy for him because of how he leveraged his personal history and played it up to benefit him. His soundbites were insufferable, his wilful ignorance and naivete were grating. But the author did a very clever thing, really, by revealing Oli's true self via gradual returns to his youth, until the myth of Oli was stripped all the way back to the real source of his talent and success. The more of that happened, the more Oli became terribly sad and pitiable to me, and the more I was invested. By the time one of the last shoes dropped at about 70% (this is a novel full of shoe and penny drops), I was all in.
Much of the commentary about Australia and the state of the arts in Australia rings true to me, even though I've only ever been on the margins of it all. It's also one of the things that made me saddest as I was reading this, and also somewhat glad I never went for the fine arts degree I wanted as a teenager.
It also has to be said this is one hell of a funny story and that's probably why I stuck with it to 30% in the first place. I very quickly lost track of how many sentences and turns of phrase and clever little twists made me snort or outright laugh. The second half of the novel became even funnier as I finally bought into the plot and began to work out what sort of character Oli was. And, of course, after the front end of the novel sets up a lot of threads and characters, the back end is where they all come together, with some surprising twists. It's kind of like a Guy Ritchie movie, only with marginally less crime (but only marginally, just because there's not a heist), and more commentary on Australian (rather than British) culture. I highlighted a bunch of passages, but I often had to make myself stop doing that because I had a feeling I'd end up with a good half of the novel in my highlights.
Finally: the ending was perfect.
Would I read more from this author: Yes.
Would I recommend it: Yes.
Would I reread it: You know what, I think I probably would, one day in the maybe-distant future. Knowing how Oli ended up the man he is might make the first 30% read differently now.
August 11, 2024
4. 5 stars
Genuinely hilarious and Aussie readers will enjoy the satire and references. It’s fast paced and I enjoyed the twists and turns.
I loved the audio book and am going to go back and read the actual book now.
Genuinely hilarious and Aussie readers will enjoy the satire and references. It’s fast paced and I enjoyed the twists and turns.
I loved the audio book and am going to go back and read the actual book now.
April 10, 2024
Simply brilliant. Would give it 6 starts if I could. Loved the knowing and caustic voice of the narrator (who is revealed late in the book). Loved the character development of Oli Darling. Loved everything about this book - the pacing, dialogue, plot. Wonderfully written. Brilliant satire of the arts and capitalism more broadly. Highly recommended for anyone - how could anyone not love this book!
July 15, 2024
Full disclosure. I’m a bit of a fan of Liam. His novel “Sweetness and Light” was so very good, despite what others have said about its abrupt and shockingly cruel ending. (This widely complained about ending is even sidebar-referenced in “Appreciation”) for the record. I adored the ending, so unexpected so counterintuitive .
Appreciation is wry and often hilarious book about artists and the worth of a piece of art, commenting on fame and notoriety, inauthenticity and openness, moral judgements and broken moral compasses. I enjoyed the audio version, beautifully read.
To be honest there were a few times when the narrative seemed tangential and I felt itchy for something to happen. But it rallied about 3/4 the way in. And absolutely romped home with the speed and punch of “Sweetness and Light” and to do so without sacrificing any character’s emotional truths is no mean feat.
Aa as
I mark it down for one aspect- The trope of the gay boy who comes out in a small country town, although it may be painful and valid even in authors life experience, I’m just a bit bored with. We’ve heard this story for many years now in so many iterations. What is new to say about it? Not much. How much more interesting would it be to have a parents who adored their out and proud son in a country setting and the conflict coming from a different place in the boys life?
Still a fine read. Fun as well as casting dark shadows amid the nature of art and how we receive and value it.
Appreciation is wry and often hilarious book about artists and the worth of a piece of art, commenting on fame and notoriety, inauthenticity and openness, moral judgements and broken moral compasses. I enjoyed the audio version, beautifully read.
To be honest there were a few times when the narrative seemed tangential and I felt itchy for something to happen. But it rallied about 3/4 the way in. And absolutely romped home with the speed and punch of “Sweetness and Light” and to do so without sacrificing any character’s emotional truths is no mean feat.
Aa as
I mark it down for one aspect- The trope of the gay boy who comes out in a small country town, although it may be painful and valid even in authors life experience, I’m just a bit bored with. We’ve heard this story for many years now in so many iterations. What is new to say about it? Not much. How much more interesting would it be to have a parents who adored their out and proud son in a country setting and the conflict coming from a different place in the boys life?
Still a fine read. Fun as well as casting dark shadows amid the nature of art and how we receive and value it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2024
Two and a half stars. This is a perfect eaxample of reading with expectation after seeing reviews which were mostly positive and described this as a biting satire, and if the blurb on the back is to believed, according to Kris Kneen "A worthy successor to Oscar Wilde" and Jessie Stephens "A work of genius". Respectfully both were wrong.
Half way through I was completely underwhelmed and so did a Google on Liam Pieper and in an interview in The Guardian he revealed that he had more success as a ghost writer than under his own name. Pieperr points out that at one time he had 4 oor 5 of the books that were best sellers at the time but alas he couldn't tell anyone.
Once armed with that piece of information the novel makes sense. The biggest problem is that the main protagnist Oli is simply someone you don't care about, he is dull. It is possible to create a loathsome character and find yourself invested (see the movie A Real Pain currently showing), and there are glimpses of wit ("Oli is a dab hand at pointilism but is slow to join the dots"), and most Australian readers will recognise some of the players.
For a true laugh out loud satire of cancel culture try John Boyne's The Echo Chamber, or even A Ladder To The Sky.
Meanwhile, I'm sure its not all bad being a Ghost.
Half way through I was completely underwhelmed and so did a Google on Liam Pieper and in an interview in The Guardian he revealed that he had more success as a ghost writer than under his own name. Pieperr points out that at one time he had 4 oor 5 of the books that were best sellers at the time but alas he couldn't tell anyone.
Once armed with that piece of information the novel makes sense. The biggest problem is that the main protagnist Oli is simply someone you don't care about, he is dull. It is possible to create a loathsome character and find yourself invested (see the movie A Real Pain currently showing), and there are glimpses of wit ("Oli is a dab hand at pointilism but is slow to join the dots"), and most Australian readers will recognise some of the players.
For a true laugh out loud satire of cancel culture try John Boyne's The Echo Chamber, or even A Ladder To The Sky.
Meanwhile, I'm sure its not all bad being a Ghost.
September 19, 2024
Very funny with many sharp observations of Australian arts and letters and society in general. The story follows Oli Darling, a highly commercialised contemporary artist in the style—if you can call it that—of Basquiat et al who is “cancelled” after a disastrous performance on the television show (it is not named but it clearly is) Q&A. The only thing, of course, that can get you cancelled is to criticise the Gallipoli/Anzac mythos which he calls a death cult and in one of the funniest observations in the book goes on to say, “It’s become this weird death cult for a generation of Australians who think they are resilient but have never faced any hardship except a very mild recession. It’s because we can’t put up statues about making mortgage repayments the one time interest rates were double digits, which was Gallipoli for Baby Boomers.”
Good stuff.
After this fiasco our hero must embark on the process of writing a memoir to try to recover his ailing financial situation and confront some of the ghosts of his past. Along the way the commercial art world is skewered along with many aspects of Australian life.
Overall: very funny; recommended.
Good stuff.
After this fiasco our hero must embark on the process of writing a memoir to try to recover his ailing financial situation and confront some of the ghosts of his past. Along the way the commercial art world is skewered along with many aspects of Australian life.
Overall: very funny; recommended.
January 12, 2026
By page 57 I'm wondering when the story actually gets going.
By page 86 I keep checking the blurb on the back cover because I'm getting the feeling they're not talking about the same book; they keep saying it's a riot, for a start...
There's an awful lot of authorial voice. It does go on quite a lot. Like, mmm, yes you're really into your own ideas aren't you. I feel an unneccessary bystander to your affection for the glory of your own ideas...
The main character is deeply unlikeable. The pacing reflects that of a rainy long weekend. The coyness of not giving the other characters their own names is, frankly, cringe.
Maybe it's funny if you're exactly the sort of ghastly shallow person he's allegedly taking the piss out of? I don't doubt that the MC would find the book hysterical. Sigh.
Unlikeable. DNF
By page 86 I keep checking the blurb on the back cover because I'm getting the feeling they're not talking about the same book; they keep saying it's a riot, for a start...
There's an awful lot of authorial voice. It does go on quite a lot. Like, mmm, yes you're really into your own ideas aren't you. I feel an unneccessary bystander to your affection for the glory of your own ideas...
The main character is deeply unlikeable. The pacing reflects that of a rainy long weekend. The coyness of not giving the other characters their own names is, frankly, cringe.
Maybe it's funny if you're exactly the sort of ghastly shallow person he's allegedly taking the piss out of? I don't doubt that the MC would find the book hysterical. Sigh.
Unlikeable. DNF
June 25, 2024
There is an artist. There is an artist pretending to be a writer. There is an artist of money laundering. There is a cat.
Oliver (Oli) Darling, ‘the queer artist from the bush’ is in the midst of a mid-career slump. Preferring to party, take drugs and have casual sex, he’s aware enough to know that his forthcoming exhibition is a load of old cobblers. Luckily for Oli his agent, and only friend, Anton, ensures that Darling paintings are sold to maximum profit.
Until Oli is ambushed by The Paperman on national television: Oli disses the ANZACS. Could there be anything more reprehensible?
Anton attempts to save the day, but our narcissistic hero fails to see the signs. The only avenue out of Oli’s morass is to pursue Anton’s original intentions. A course that will only lead to….
Pieper has written a brilliantly sustained piece of satirical fiction. No one, or no place escapes his hilariously funny scythe.
Oliver (Oli) Darling, ‘the queer artist from the bush’ is in the midst of a mid-career slump. Preferring to party, take drugs and have casual sex, he’s aware enough to know that his forthcoming exhibition is a load of old cobblers. Luckily for Oli his agent, and only friend, Anton, ensures that Darling paintings are sold to maximum profit.
Until Oli is ambushed by The Paperman on national television: Oli disses the ANZACS. Could there be anything more reprehensible?
Anton attempts to save the day, but our narcissistic hero fails to see the signs. The only avenue out of Oli’s morass is to pursue Anton’s original intentions. A course that will only lead to….
Pieper has written a brilliantly sustained piece of satirical fiction. No one, or no place escapes his hilariously funny scythe.
December 11, 2024
Really loved this book. Every page was a joy and the feelings it evoked stayed with me for weeks.
This is a book that truly feels like it belongs in contemporary Australia. Particularly as the writer has been a biographer and ghost writer for many big name Australian celebrities, much of the text felt based in real (bad) people.
The art industry (especially so on our isolated island at the edge of the world) is unreliable, vapid yet incredibly generous to those who make it. This book gave us a glimpse into that world in a fun, moving way. With writing so tender while building a world of colour so loud and obnoxious.
Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys art or Australian fiction.
This is a book that truly feels like it belongs in contemporary Australia. Particularly as the writer has been a biographer and ghost writer for many big name Australian celebrities, much of the text felt based in real (bad) people.
The art industry (especially so on our isolated island at the edge of the world) is unreliable, vapid yet incredibly generous to those who make it. This book gave us a glimpse into that world in a fun, moving way. With writing so tender while building a world of colour so loud and obnoxious.
Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys art or Australian fiction.
May 23, 2024
Yeah, nah. Some clever writing and I get the line on the vacuous art industry but the constant telling rather than showing wears you out. Oli feels this, Oli feels that, Oli has always wanted, Oli has never wanted .... It's relentless and it makes the book feel like a draft before the hard work of showing all these qualities in the characters through action and dialogue is begun. Oli's final act is one of the rare moments we see him in the flesh and blood so to speak. Fast paced and engaging but ultimately forgettable.
June 17, 2024
“…the couple have just paid sixty two dollars for sardines on a crouton…and the threshold for what is or is not reasonable is highly subjective.” [comparing to jumping out of a car boot]
Clever.Scathing. Sarcastic. Perceptive. Satirical.
And reveals the bullshit the arts world [but am sure not limited to [think fashion -literary] delivers.
I have enjoyed LP's writing and long may he continue !!!
Clever.Scathing. Sarcastic. Perceptive. Satirical.
And reveals the bullshit the arts world [but am sure not limited to [think fashion -literary] delivers.
I have enjoyed LP's writing and long may he continue !!!
March 29, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. It had a great review in The Age and has been included in the line up for the Melbourne Writers Festival. Sadly it is grindingly tedious and snarky. Had to give up half way through.
April 2, 2024
I did lol twice, which was a little less than I was expecting. Easy to read, loved the descriptions of things in life relevant to painters, the twist in story, but all in all it felt a bit thin. If it were any harder to read I wouldn't have gotten through it.
May 5, 2024
A portrait of an unsteady artist, with some (fairly predictable) twist wallops. The prose is lovely, but in parts so thick that it interrupts flow. As Jackie French says, you can't let the writing get in the way of the reading.
June 26, 2024
Clever and funny in many parts, with lots of clever writing and descriptions... but still, I did not love it. Maybe because I found the main character \odious, and I couldn't bear to read about all the drinking and drug taking - so thin-skinned since I sobered up myself.
June 26, 2024
A delightful book on many levels. Never again will I feel ignorant and cowed by a pretentious review of an artwork or exhibition. Our protagonist Oli plays a role until it all comes crashing down. Are we ever truly ourselves or do we to morph to fit into our surroundings.
January 6, 2025
“Appreciation” is the chronicle of a narcissist and also a satire of cancel culture through an Australian lens. Oli Darling is a queer artist from the country, whose work has brought him fame, money and that trappings of celebrity that go along with it. After a live tv interview inadvertent attack on some of the nation’s sacred cows, he finds himself cancelled, having rebuild his reputation and deal with the those who have invested millions in his now-worthless art works. Not a lot happens really, and Oli is a bit of a dick, making it difficult to feel any empathy towards him, until things touch on the cost of fame. Indeed, it is sections where Oli returns to his regional hometown when things become more substantial as he reflects on his journey further and further from his small-town self long-ago left behind, and also the griefs that he aimed to leave behind with it. What is the novel’s standout, however, is not so much its personal story, but its bigger satire of familiar media types and an influential belligerent industrialist, and commentary on brand-building, the value of art, and storytelling.
January 4, 2025
This is a wonderful, wild ride! Is it too early to declare my favourite book of 2025?
This is funny, wise, satirical, brutal.
The writing sparkles with imagination.
LOVED it.
Like his previous novel, “Sweetness and Light”.
Read him.
This is funny, wise, satirical, brutal.
The writing sparkles with imagination.
LOVED it.
Like his previous novel, “Sweetness and Light”.
Read him.
January 25, 2025
Note to the author: if you're going to write a novel that attempts to satire the art world, at least do the minimum amount of research. The mistakes in this book were so jarring. The most obvious being that artists (at least those in Australia) don't have agents!
February 8, 2025
Although it will resonate particularly with Australian readers, this razor sharp satire on the monetisation (no, Goodreads spell checker, "s" not "z" is the correct spelling!) of art is brilliantly written and will have wide appeal.
November 5, 2025
I listened to this partially on audiobook and partially read it on kindle and I have to give kudos to the narrator bc she did a spectacular job of narrating this book. The prose of the book also really lends itself well to the audiobook.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews