Best Modern Australian Literature (562 books)

What are the best books in the modern Australian literary canon (whatever that may mean)? Want to know more? Visit Goodreads "Aussie Readers" group

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1	The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 2,895,447 ratings score: 14,064, and 142 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Cloudstreet by Tim Winton 4.01 avg rating — 28,310 ratings score: 8,358, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute 4.16 avg rating — 62,098 ratings score: 6,829, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough 4.25 avg rating — 365,651 ratings score: 6,746, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Tomorrow, When the War Began (Tomorrow, #1) by John Marsden 4.04 avg rating — 60,758 ratings score: 5,680, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally 4.34 avg rating — 166,032 ratings score: 4,602, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 481,456 ratings score: 4,527, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Picnic at Hanging Rock (Hanging Rock, #1) by Joan Lindsay 3.66 avg rating — 31,140 ratings score: 4,498, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Secret River by Kate Grenville 3.81 avg rating — 25,350 ratings score: 4,487, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	A Fortunate Life by A.B. Facey 4.25 avg rating — 9,967 ratings score: 3,853, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey 3.73 avg rating — 21,865 ratings score: 3,807, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey 3.83 avg rating — 24,344 ratings score: 3,704, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas 3.26 avg rating — 33,252 ratings score: 3,599, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	On the Beach by Nevil Shute 3.98 avg rating — 49,946 ratings score: 3,575, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 43,646 ratings score: 3,550, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 240,977 ratings score: 3,376, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Breath by Tim Winton 3.91 avg rating — 25,994 ratings score: 3,332, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding by Robert Hughes 4.09 avg rating — 10,425 ratings score: 3,072, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Dirt Music by Tim Winton 3.88 avg rating — 15,681 ratings score: 3,049, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin 3.80 avg rating — 7,752 ratings score: 2,966, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Rosie Project (Don Tillman, #1) by Graeme Simsion (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 596,679 ratings score: 2,545, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 25,622 ratings score: 2,538, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Gifts of the Peramangk by Dean Mayes (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 87 ratings score: 2,490, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Jessica by Bryce Courtenay 4.26 avg rating — 11,851 ratings score: 2,340, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	My Place by Sally Morgan 3.99 avg rating — 6,788 ratings score: 2,284, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 51,728 ratings score: 2,279, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Eucalyptus by Murray Bail 3.49 avg rating — 5,780 ratings score: 2,207, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 170,257 ratings score: 2,138, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan 4.04 avg rating — 63,644 ratings score: 2,104, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz 4.14 avg rating — 24,598 ratings score: 1,978, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Potato Factory (The Potato Factory, #1) by Bryce Courtenay 4.16 avg rating — 11,356 ratings score: 1,932, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish by Richard Flanagan 3.70 avg rating — 5,900 ratings score: 1,908, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 239,505 ratings score: 1,844, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Harp in the South by Ruth Park 4.02 avg rating — 4,869 ratings score: 1,805, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 125,420 ratings score: 1,757, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Year of Living Dangerously by Christopher J. Koch 3.91 avg rating — 1,945 ratings score: 1,722, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 176,100 ratings score: 1,715, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 1,121,618 ratings score: 1,612, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington 3.69 avg rating — 9,006 ratings score: 1,591, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Being Lucy: The Story of a Mountain Recluse by Dale Lorna Jacobsen (Goodreads Author) 4.88 avg rating — 26 ratings score: 1,500, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Voss by Patrick White 3.79 avg rating — 3,608 ratings score: 1,497, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Jack Maggs by Peter Carey 3.69 avg rating — 4,445 ratings score: 1,417, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	I Can Jump Puddles by Alan Marshall 3.91 avg rating — 2,871 ratings score: 1,386, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Tree of Man by Patrick White 3.96 avg rating — 2,243 ratings score: 1,348, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Carpentaria by Alexis Wright 3.74 avg rating — 2,106 ratings score: 1,343, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Monkey Grip by Helen Garner 3.68 avg rating — 8,342 ratings score: 1,233, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Broken Shore (Broken Shore #1) by Peter Temple 3.86 avg rating — 7,386 ratings score: 1,223, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Tim by Colleen McCullough 3.86 avg rating — 5,506 ratings score: 1,214, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Bliss by Peter Carey 3.76 avg rating — 3,597 ratings score: 1,179, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	My Brother Jack by George Johnston 3.94 avg rating — 2,731 ratings score: 1,160, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Vernon God Little by D.B.C. Pierre 3.62 avg rating — 33,846 ratings score: 1,159, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Turning by Tim Winton 4.01 avg rating — 6,373 ratings score: 1,116, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 727,700 ratings score: 1,113, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas 3.69 avg rating — 9,403 ratings score: 1,060, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Riders in the Chariot by Patrick White really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,020 ratings score: 1,053, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Dry (Aaron Falk, #1) by Jane Harper (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 268,432 ratings score: 1,014, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Johnno by David Malouf 3.74 avg rating — 1,480 ratings score: 963, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Truth (Broken Shore, #2) by Peter Temple 3.77 avg rating — 3,809 ratings score: 958, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Morgan's Run by Colleen McCullough 4.02 avg rating — 5,941 ratings score: 955, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Perlman 4.01 avg rating — 5,231 ratings score: 951, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Man Who Loved Children by Christina Stead 3.57 avg rating — 4,682 ratings score: 949, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Sound of One Hand Clapping by Richard Flanagan 3.78 avg rating — 5,543 ratings score: 931, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Riders by Tim Winton 3.62 avg rating — 7,919 ratings score: 906, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard 4.01 avg rating — 5,165 ratings score: 904, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	The Boat by Nam Le 3.62 avg rating — 6,079 ratings score: 903, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Twyborn Affair by Patrick White 3.96 avg rating — 604 ratings score: 840, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	The White Earth by Andrew McGahan 3.71 avg rating — 1,917 ratings score: 837, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 33,383 ratings score: 826, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Death of a River Guide by Richard Flanagan 3.93 avg rating — 2,941 ratings score: 815, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Holding the Man by Timothy Conigrave 4.41 avg rating — 6,576 ratings score: 783, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott 3.63 avg rating — 1,587 ratings score: 782, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Cocaine Blues (Phryne Fisher, #1) by Kerry Greenwood 3.84 avg rating — 29,455 ratings score: 777, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	They're a Weird Mob by Nino Culotta (Pseudonym) 3.76 avg rating — 1,128 ratings score: 746, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 125,921 ratings score: 739, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Remembering Babylon by David Malouf 3.48 avg rating — 3,794 ratings score: 738, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The First Man in Rome (Masters of Rome, #1) by Colleen McCullough 4.14 avg rating — 24,481 ratings score: 736, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	All That I Am by Anna Funder 3.83 avg rating — 10,637 ratings score: 703, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Seven Little Australians (Woolcots, #1) by Ethel Turner 3.89 avg rating — 4,867 ratings score: 698, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith by Thomas Keneally 3.68 avg rating — 1,851 ratings score: 686, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton 4.34 avg rating — 99,348 ratings score: 686, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld (Goodreads Author) 3.61 avg rating — 14,783 ratings score: 672, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Four Fires by Bryce Courtenay 4.29 avg rating — 5,004 ratings score: 662, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Grand Days by Frank Moorhouse 3.73 avg rating — 902 ratings score: 652, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	To the Islands by Randolph Stow 3.84 avg rating — 327 ratings score: 645, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park 3.96 avg rating — 5,481 ratings score: 643, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Out of Ireland by Christopher J. Koch 3.98 avg rating — 242 ratings score: 631, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 515,562 ratings score: 631, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Great World by David Malouf 3.88 avg rating — 824 ratings score: 625, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey 3.44 avg rating — 7,612 ratings score: 606, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	That Eye, the Sky by Tim Winton 3.53 avg rating — 2,134 ratings score: 601, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	The Moon Gate by Amanda Geard (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 2,789 ratings score: 600, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	White Walls by H.M.C. (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 110 ratings score: 599, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	The Mary Smokes Boys by Patrick Holland (Goodreads Author) 3.51 avg rating — 127 ratings score: 596, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	The Aunt's Story by Patrick White 3.49 avg rating — 652 ratings score: 596, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Colombiano by Rusty Young (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 1,866 ratings score: 592, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Shiver by Nikki Gemmell 3.64 avg rating — 903 ratings score: 581, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Illywhacker by Peter Carey 3.78 avg rating — 3,106 ratings score: 572, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Caesar's Women (Masters of Rome, #4) by Colleen McCullough 4.29 avg rating — 7,775 ratings score: 564, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville 3.68 avg rating — 5,781 ratings score: 558, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Candy by Luke Davies 4.15 avg rating — 7,991 ratings score: 557, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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562 books · 671 voters · list created September 14th, 2009 by Tim Watts (votes) .

Tags: australia, australian, author-by-country, literature

165 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (671)

Tim 547 books
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Lobstergirl 5819 books
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Thom 6022 books
293 friends

Stuart 285 books
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Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) 546 books
365 friends

booklady 5956 books
486 friends

ღ Carol jinx~☆~☔ʚϊɞ 4177 books
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Jaap 353 books
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Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-35 of 35 (35 new)

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message 1: by Thom (new)

Sep 13, 2009 06:17PM

The Thornbirds doesn't make the list ?

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message 2: by Tim (new)

Sep 13, 2009 06:24PM

I haven't read it Thom - but feel free to add it yourself!

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message 3: by Tim (new)

Sep 13, 2009 07:39PM

Canary wrote: "Thom wrote: "The Thornbirds doesn't make the list ?"

I added it as it is the only one I have read. Was Picnic at Hanging Rock also a book? I have only seen the done for TV thing which is very ..."

Yes - it was a book too. Haven't read it though...

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message 4: by Thom (new)

Sep 14, 2009 03:36AM

Tim wrote: "Canary wrote: "Thom wrote: "The Thornbirds doesn't make the list ?"

I added it as it is the only one I have read. Was Picnic at Hanging Rock also a book? I have only seen the done for TV thing w..."

Don't know about Picnic, but I have a paperback of Walkabout, but it may be about Walkabout, the movie.

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message 5: by Thom (new)

Sep 14, 2009 07:13PM

Could someone do the honors and add Nevil Shute's On the Beach , and his In the Wet. The latter is futuristic.

I do wish I could vote twice more for Dirt Music !

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message 6: by Lobstergirl (new)

Sep 14, 2009 10:10PM

Thom wrote: "Could someone do the honors and add Nevil Shute's On the Beach , and his In the Wet. The latter is futuristic.

I do wish I could vote twice more for Dirt Music !"

Added.

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message 7: by Thom (new)

Sep 15, 2009 07:35AM

Canary wrote: "I added it as it is the only one I have read. Was Picnic at Hanging Rock also a book? I have only seen the done fo..."

Oh, I liked Walkabout too! Isn't that where the father drives with his t..."

Somewhere out there is a book about David Gulpalil and the other aborigines that worked often with Peter Weir and other Aussie film makers...and Hey ! Aren't there studies, I mean popular books, ABOUT the great Australian films and filmmakers ?

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message 8: by [deleted user] (new)

Oct 08, 2009 06:46PM

Sometimes I get On the Beach and Alas Babylon mixed up but Alas Babylon is mostly in FL.

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message 9: by Thom (new)

Oct 08, 2009 07:07PM

Let me check

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message 10: by Thom (new)

Oct 08, 2009 07:14PM

Canary wrote: "Sometimes I get On the Beach and Alas Babylon mixed up but Alas Babylon is mostly in FL. "

Right. Alas Babylon, by Pat Frank, an American writer moves through a bombed out America....I remember the Old Folks in Fla just basically starved and during the rebuilding someone offered "a small canned ham" for a set of Britannica.
Today you couldn't GIVE a Britannica Ency. away !

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message 11: by [deleted user] (new)

Oct 08, 2009 07:33PM

Thom wrote: "Canary wrote: "Sometimes I get On the Beach and Alas Babylon mixed up but Alas Babylon is mostly in FL. "

Right. Alas Babylon, by Pat Frank, an American writer moves through a bombed out America....."

What a good memory! We have read that book twice but I didn't recall that.

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message 12: by Liane (new)

Oct 29, 2009 11:22PM

I wish I could find 1915, unfortunately it doesn't appear on the list.

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message 13: by Thom (new)

Oct 30, 2009 03:59AM

Liane wrote: "I wish I could find 1915, unfortunately it doesn't appear on the list."

1915 ? Who wrote it ? N. Shute ? Pat Frank ?

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message 14: by Liane (new)

Oct 30, 2009 03:39PM

Liane wrote: "I wish I could find 1915, unfortunately it doesn't appear on the list."

No, neither of those. I'm beating my brain trying to remember who wrote it. I have a copy, and of course now I can't find it. I've seen it on my bookshelf recently, and so murphy's law now comes into play so that it has myseriously disappeared!!

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message 15: by Lisa (new)

Jul 10, 2010 12:34AM

Liane wrote: "Liane wrote: "I wish I could find 1915, unfortunately it doesn't appear on the list."

No, neither of those. I'm beating my brain trying to remember who wrote it. I have a copy, and of course n..."

1915 is by Roger McDonald. I haven't added it myself because I haven't read it yet.

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message 16: by J10 (new)

Aug 18, 2010 08:34AM

Can anybody remove Vernon God Little? That one is not remotely Australian.

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message 17: by Lisa (new)

Aug 18, 2010 11:57PM

Yes it is, Jentien.
Of course it depends how you define Australian, but DBC Pierre considers himself Australian because he lived here in his formative years. He was born in South Australia in 1961.

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message 18: by Cododa (new)

Nov 14, 2012 10:06PM

No Wake In Fright, whoa. Interesting popularist list but not definitive.

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message 19: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Nov 15, 2012 10:37AM

A Listopia list may be many things, but it is rarely definitive!

On the other hand, it's easy to add books to them; at the top of the page, at the tab next to "all votes."

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message 20: by Cododa (new)

Nov 16, 2012 05:05AM

Susanna wrote: "A Listopia list may be many things, but it is rarely definitive!

On the other hand, it's easy to add books to them; at the top of the page, at the tab next to "all votes.""

Gave it a try, unsuccessfully.

Like the film, maybe the book suffers from it's brutally honest portrayal of outback Oz like no other.

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message 21: by Steven (new)

Nov 18, 2013 12:51PM

You left out the only good book from Australia: Poor Fella My Country by Xavier Herbert.

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message 22: by Stop33 (new)

Jan 21, 2014 03:38PM

Nevil Shute was British.

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message 23: by Kelly (new)

Jan 23, 2014 11:12AM

Why is "Disgrace" on this list? It's a book by a South African author, set in South Africa.

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message 24: by Stop33 (new)

Jan 23, 2014 12:54PM

Kelly wrote: "Why is "Disgrace" on this list? It's a book by a South African author, set in South Africa."

It should not be on the list. I think it has been added because Coetzee became an Australian citizen in 2006. "Disgrace" was published in 1999 and is, as you say, wholly South African.

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message 25: by Adriana (new)

Jun 17, 2014 09:25PM

What about When Dreams are Calling

When Dreams are Calling by Carol Vorvain

?

I believe the author Carol Vorvain is Australian.

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message 26: by Paul (new)

Mar 09, 2015 09:31AM

Checked for duplicates: 7 books removed.

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message 27: by Paul (new)

Mar 09, 2015 09:35AM

Coetzee's 'Disgrace' (1999) removed: neither Australian nor set in Australia. Coetzee didn't relocate to Australia until 2002, or became a citizen until 2006.

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message 28: by Rebekah (new)

Jul 06, 2016 05:00PM

Dingoes at Dinnertime is the Best of Australian Literature? Better than the Ballad of Desmond Kale or The Thornbirds?

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message 29: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Jul 15, 2016 11:52PM

Thom wrote: "I do wish I could vote twice more for Dirt Music !"

Same here :-)

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message 30: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jul 16, 2016 12:03AM) (new)

Jul 16, 2016 12:01AM

Cododa wrote: "No Wake In Fright, whoa. Interesting popularist list but not definitive."

Wake in Fright is no longer missing from the list.

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message 31: by Ginny (new)

Dec 14, 2018 12:09AM

Horn-Horn by ADT McLellan - one of those few books that you will go from the last page immediately back to the first page. Like The Sixth Sense, reading it a second time is like reading it for the first time again. It's a completely different story once all of the twists are revealed.

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message 32: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Dec 14, 2018 07:17AM

Ginny wrote: "Horn-Horn by ADT McLellan - one of those few books that you will go from the last page immediately back to the first page. Like The Sixth Sense, reading it a second time is like reading it for the ..."

@Ginny
How many times did you place this comment...?

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message 33: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 03, 2021 10:30AM

The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding? Is that, as a history work, in the "literary canon"?

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message 34: by Fiona (new)

Sep 26, 2021 07:49PM

7 Powerful Questions to Discover Your Dream Life by Ngan H. Nguyen is not Australian and not what would normally be regarded as "literature". Should be removed.

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message 35: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Sep 26, 2021 10:36PM

Fiona wrote: "7 Powerful Questions to Discover Your Dream Life by Ngan H. Nguyen is not Australian and not what would normally be regarded as "literature". Should be removed."

Done.

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