Aussie Readers discussion

Being a non-Aussie and not exposed to any Aussie literature, I'd love if you could recommend me Aussie books that you really, really love and would be desperate to make me read. I've been a member here for quite some time but could never participate in any discussions because I didn't have access to the books you were reading - so I thought I could ask you for recos and may be get started that way to participate here more fully.

It's a really warm group, and would love to be active here. :)

Here are a few from my Aussie shelf -

An Imaginary Life by David Malouf
Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems of Bruce Dawe till 2005
Dirt Music by Tim Winton
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak (his Underdog series is also excellent, although it's YA)
The Pagan Chronicles - Catherine Jinks (YA, rather angsty but funny)
Winter - John Marsden (again YA, slightly dated)
The Sevenwaters books -- Juliet Marillier
The Harp in the South - Ruth Park
The Red Tree- Shaun Tan

That's all I can think of atm! I've tried to include a good mix because I'm not sure what your tastes are.

Thanks a lot! I read all genres, except I haven't ever tried YA so I'll try it :)

Hi Lit Bug, here is a very good thread to check out if you want recommendations.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

Tanvi wrote: "Here are a few from my Aussie shelf -

An Imaginary Life by David Malouf
Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems of Bruce Dawe till 2005
Dirt Music by Tim Winton
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak (his Und..."

An Imaginary Life by David Malouf
Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems, 1954 1982 by Bruce Dawe
Dirt Music by Tim Winton
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Pagan's Crusade by Catherine Jinks
Winter by John Marsden
Daughter of the Forest, Son of the Shadows, Child of the Prophecy all by Juliet Marillier
The Harp In The South by Ruth Park
The Red Tree by Shaun Tan

I just linked them for you Tanvi (and Lit Bug) It's much easier for someone to check the books out when they're linked:)

Thank you so much Brenda :)

You're welcome:)

Mish wrote: "Hi Lit Bug, here is a very good thread to check out if you want recommendations.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9..."

How did I miss that! Thanks, I will watch it closely :)

The Tomorrow When the War Began series are excellent.

Liam wrote: "The Tomorrow When the War Began series are excellent."

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

I'm heavily interested in crime non-fiction, especially the kind of work Ann Rule aka Andy Stack writes. I first came across her through the Book Bonus section of Readers' Digest - about her book The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story in which she talks about her charming ex-colleague, serial killer Ted Bundy, who working with her on suicide hotlines, was himself killing girls at the same time.

I quite like crime true-stories - not fictionalized ones, and was wondering if folks in this group too read such stuff and could recommend some more to me.

Sins of the Brother: The Definitive Story of Ivan Milat and the Backpacker Murders by Mark Whittaker is one you might like Lit Bug. A truly evil man! And now his nephew has been convicted of doing the same thing!! To a mate, no less!

Brenda wrote: "Sins of the Brother: The Definitive Story of Ivan Milat and the Backpacker Murders by Mark Whittaker is one you might like Lit Bug. A truly evil man! And now his nephew has been convicted of doing ..."

I haven't read the whole book, but a condensed version of it appeared in the Book Bonus section of Readers' Digest! Thanks for the reco - I really found the condensed version very intriguing - can remember one of his intended victim's name too - Paul Onions

I wouldn't say it's a recommendation, as I haven't read it, and wouldn't...but that's the true crime sort of thing which you seemed to mean:)

Yes, it is exactly what I was looking for - it was really unnerving - and it I'm not wrong, these happened in Australia.

Yes, NSW, Australia. My home state!

Aww.. But anyway, bad stuff happens everywhere.

I'm afraid so, we wish it didn't but there are evil people out there everywhere!

I agree - and I read in RD that NSW wasn't a crime-infested notorious place when this happened - it was an unlikely place for such gruesome murders to have taken place.

That's right, it was a beautiful state forest where it happened:(

Not non-fiction, but for crime fiction my mum (heh) can't go past Michael Robotham.

Liam wrote: "Not non-fiction, but for crime fiction my mum (heh) can't go past Michael Robotham."

I love crime fiction too when it's well-written - any particular favorites of your mother? Michael Robotham seems to be a prolific writer :)

Not Australian, but she can't get enough of all the Scandinavian authors; Jo Nesbø, Stieg Larsson, Camilla Läckberg are the names I hear most often (and by "hear" I mean "am told to keep an eye out for on the shelves at work"). There's probably a dozen others, though.

I don't intend to limit myself to Australian authors - I'm just fond of well-written books - what I asked was if your mother liked any particular book by Robotham - he has a long list of published books and I have no idea which of them to pick first, so inquired if your mother had any favorite book from Robotham's publications :)

*shudder* Ugh, ugh, Milat. :(

@Lit Bug There's one called the Australian Book of True Crime (sorry - on the app and it's hard to link!).

Herp, read that as "favourite authors of your mother".

She liked Say You're Sorry and Shatter, both of which are part of a series I believe. Probably not necessary to read them in order or anything though.

Tanvi wrote: "*shudder* Ugh, ugh, Milat. :(

@Lit Bug There's one called the Australian Book of True Crime (sorry - on the app and it's hard to link!)."

Thanks still - and I'm not looking particularly for Australian cases - so feel free to recommend any good crime non-fiction you see - The Australian Book Of True Crime

Michael wrote: The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir by Anh Do"

I hear nothing but good things about this.

Yes, this went in my shelf titled "top among to-reads" :)

Michael wrote: "It's a wonderful read Liam and i would also recommend Benjamin Laws one as it is funny as. :)"

Is Benjamin Laws a book? I didn't find a relevant match :(

Lit Bug wrote: "Michael wrote: "It's a wonderful read Liam and i would also recommend Benjamin Laws one as it is funny as. :)"

Is Benjamin Laws a book? I didn't find a relevant match :("

The Family Law by Benjamin Law

Yes, I just smiled when I saw you doing the same thing Michael ;D

Thanks both Michael and Brenda... I'll really try to get this - it does sound interesting and when someone recommends it more than once, it quite often turns out to be great!

LOL turns out it already is in my to-read list, maybe someone else too might have recommended it to me sometime ago - now transferred it to my top-among-to-reads shelf :) All the more reason to get hold of it.

Enjoy Lit Bug:)

Maybe you could help me out with this - have you read Sue Monk Kidd's books? Which would you recommend me?

I haven't Lit Bug, but I have heard several comments on The Secret Life of Bees with lots of 5 star reviews:)

Thanks - I was thinking of starting with that book for a book-challenge in another group - The Indian Readers group, but thought I'd ask you folks first :)

Let us know what you think if you read that one Lit Bug, won't you:)

Sure Brenda :) I love this group, it is very friendly - only I don't participate a lot because I haven't got the books you read, but I do follow most discussions. I do feel I belong here, not withstanding my minimal contribution. :)

Of course you belong here Lit Bug!! You're most welcome in our group!! :)

I'm curious how you celebrate Christmas in Australia. It's summer then, right? I've only imagined Christmas in snow, thanks to Hollywood.

Do you folks have Santa Claus legends? Or is it confined to Europe and USA only?

We definitely have Santa Claus Lit Bug:) Our traditional hot Christmas lunch is difficult here, as the temperature is usually extremely hot. But most people still have the traditional lunch:)

Yes :) I was just wondering since lots of Indians settle or study in Australia, but few bother to immerse themselves in a culture alien to their own - so we hardly ever know what Australia is like.