Around the World discussion

In no particular order and in consultation with my wife who is far better read than I, here's some good contemporary Australian authors and books of theirs to consider.

Kate Grenville - "The Secret River", "The Idea of Perfection"
Alex Miller - "Journey to the Stone Country"
Helen Garner - "The Children's Bach"
Murray Bail - "Eucalyptus"
Tim Winton - "Breath"
Nam Le - "The Boat"
Peter Carey - "True History of the Kelly Gang"
David Malouf - "Fly Away Peter"

Some older ones.

Nevil Shute - "A Town like Alice"
Sally Morgan - "My Place"
Miles Franklin - "My Brilliant Career"

Happy reading!

Thank you, Peter, I've added a few to my "to-read" shelf.

I read a lot of Australian fiction (also some non-fiction), but tend to avoid the classics. Here is a selection of some of my top reads, most if not all of which would have been written in the past 20 years. I've chosen titles that really showcase an Australian location.

Nine Days - Victoria, historical fiction
When the Night Comes - Tasmania, contemporary
Maestro - Northern Territory, contemporary
The Better Son - Tasmania, contemporary
Tracy - Northern Territory, non-fiction
The Dry - Victoria, crime/thriller
Why You Are Australian: A Letter to My Children - New South Wales, non-fiction
Flames - Tasmania, literary fiction
Mr Wigg - New South Wales, contemporary (although '70s is bordering on historical now!)
Scrublands - New South Wales, crime/mystery
The Lost Man - Queensland, crime/mystery
Salt Creek - South Australia, historical fiction
Leap - Victoria, contemporary
Cairo - Victoria, contemporary
The Monsarrat Series, starting with The Soldier's Curse - mainly New South Wales, historical crime/mystery

Andrea wrote: "I read a lot of Australian fiction (also some non-fiction), but tend to avoid the classics. Here is a selection of some of my top reads, most if not all of which would have been written in the past..."

Great list, only ones I’ve read are the Jane Harper ones - have to check the rest out - thanks!

Peter wrote: "In no particular order and in consultation with my wife who is far better read than I, here's some good contemporary Australian authors and books of theirs to consider.

Kate Grenville - "The Secre..."

I've read several Peter Carey (he was on a Booker Prize win streak for a while there!) and Tim Winton, who does an amazing job with place (I also loved his non-fiction Island Home because it's about Western Australia, a region we hardly ever hear about.)

I also think the Phryne Fisher mysteries are loads of fun and lighter reads than some of these, Melbourne in the 1920s. Woohoo!

I also would like to recommend the Books on the Go podcast because they are located in Adelaide and read a lot of general literary fiction but also a considerable amount of Australian fiction and non-fiction, often reading titles we don't see in the USA until 2 more years, if at all.

My favorite book from an Australian author but isn't set in or about Australia is The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose. I can't wait to see what she does next.