Cracking the Spine: Ten Short Australian Stories and How They Were Written

by Julie Chevalier (Editor)

'Cracking the Spine is not just a deftly curated overview of the contemporary Australian short story, including pieces by ten of the best practitioners at work today. The auto-critical essays that accompany each work gesture even more widely. Literature, life, landscape, history: the whole gamut of Antipodean experience may be gleaned from its pages. An ideal resource for those interested in Ozlit, Cracking the Spine is also a pure pleasure to read.' - Geordie Williamson

Genres: Short Stories

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a worthwhile endeavour. I didn't enjoy all the stories, and I didn't agree with all the approaches the authors outlined in their essays. But every single story and essay was worthwhile, and they all taught me something. Whether you're an analytical reader or a struggling short story writer (I'm a lazy reader, but really want to learn more about writing), there will be something in here for you. I think I actually said out loud at the end, 'Oh. Is it over?' (I was reading on Kindle and hadn't seen it coming): I hope there will be a second volume one day. (And how good it is it when someone - in this case, Marion Halligan - says they're reading EJ Howard's Cazalets series? So good.)

[Anne Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this fascinating reading, not so much for the short stories which varied widely in appeal (to me at least) but because of the interspersed essays from the authors on how they came to write them, what inspired the tale, the extent to which they drew on autiobiography, etc. I recently read in the book "Show Your Work: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Noticed" by Austin Kleon the very valid point that despite the commonly tossed around axiom that our work should speak for itself, it doesn't necessarily. We write to connect with readers and readers have a natural curiosity about where things came from and how they came into being. When they get an insight into this, it adds to the value of the work to them and may even enhance their appreciation of the work as a result. This book is an excellent example of this. As noted in the blurb, it would make an excellent educational resource for teachers of the short story form and I'm sure has been used as such.

As far as the stories go, I loved "Twilight in Caeli-Amur" by Rjurik Davidson - an experiment in what he calls "slow fantasy", "What I Didn't Put in my Speech" by Claire Aman - her essay was a brilliant discourse on her particular method of creating a short story, and Andy Kissane's "Good Rubbish". Patrick West's "Nhill" left me cold, despite his well reasoned argument about his protracted creative process in writing it.

A rewarding read for short story lovers and aspiring writers alike.

[Kylie Moppert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into writers' thinking and process of writing. Ten very different authors share their stories and how and why they wrote them.
A great read for anyone interested in how stories happen. From a vague idea to a fascination for a crucible. This collection and the essay's fed my hunger for an inkling into writers' heads.

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent anthology for teaching purposes that combines some very good short stories with an essay on each written by the author where they discuss their approach to writing it. A fascinating read for anyone interested in the craft, not just for teachers.

[Gemimah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half were stories that appealed to me. I thought 3 were really quite good. One of which rather cruelly made me cry, one made me believe it and the last that begun by annoying me I ended up loving the most, and finding a new friend in the author.

[Rhianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for Univeristy my creative reading and writing class. I really enjoyed the story Good Rubbish my Andy Kissane. That was brilliant the rest were standard.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great idea, to have the stories as well as the writers' comments on their process. Recommended.