Aussie Readers discussion

I've noticed Carmel seems to be our go to mod for anything YA; so I decided I wanted to take on a genre (so to speak) that I'm passionate about and hope to get some good recommendations from as well as any news or new releases from the Literary Fiction world. (yes, it is all part of my plan to be a Literary snob)

For the purpose of defining the genre; Literary Fiction is often a term that refers to pieces of work that hold literary merit. Often complex, literate, multilayered novels that wrestle with universal dilemmas.

The thing I love about literary fiction is the lyrical poses and the in-depth characters in a story that often focuses on their inner story.

I would love to know any books that you love or are excited about that might fall under this genre.

My top picks for June are;

The Red House: A Novel by Mark Haddon
The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Talulla Rising by Glen Duncan

Great thread Michael...I'll have to think on that one! I'd be interested in reading the second one on your list, after you prodded me towards The Shadow Of The Wind which I loved!

Now It's Time To Say Goodbye - an acquired taste but i love this, one of the 3 books i have read more than once, actually at 4 reads on this one

The Unusual Life Of Tristan Smith - not a book i like but there is a lot going on in this one

Atonement - the only mcewan i like, Atonement is brilliant and pulling it apart after reading it is a pleasure

Waterland - just a pleasure

Dreams Of Leaving - it's flawed in parts but spectacular in others, and i adore the final paragraph

shit, for this topic the list would be endless

Brenda wrote: "Great thread Michael...I'll have to think on that one! I'd be interested in reading the second one on your list, after you prodded me towards The Shadow Of The Wind which I loved!"

Thanks Brenda, I still need to read The Angel's Game first but I'm curious to know why Mish didn't like it

Thanks Sandyboy, I know the list is endless that is why we needed this thread. I have to admit that I've not read any of those books; yet.

Michael wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Great thread Michael...I'll have to think on that one! I'd be interested in reading the second one on your list, after you prodded me towards The Shadow Of The Wind which I loved!"

..."

Didn't know about that one...it sounds good, if a little similar to the first. I've added it to my TBR list.

Brenda, I've written a brief review on The Angel's Game you're welcome to have a look at it....(Michael, you've already seen it)

I forgot to mention that it can read as a stand alone book. So perhaps The Prisoner of Heaven will be the same and you won't need to read The Angels Game (that if you decide not to)

I thought The Angel's Game was more of a prequel so The Prisoner of Heaven should be alright to read without reading The Angel's Game but personally I'll be reading them in order of release

That's fair enough

Thanks Mish, it's a good review...good to know what you thought when reading it.

For those who have read and liked Chris Cleave's The Other Handor Incendiary would be interested to know of his new release in June called Gold: A Novel

I finished The Red House: A Novel, it was interesting

Review up; http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

ABIAs Award for Literary Fiction Book of the Year: All That I Am by Anna Funder (Penguin)

All That I Am: A Novel by Anna Funder

Wonderful news:)

Not long now till the orange prize is announced :)

The Orange Prize winner for 2012 The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller


http://www.readings.com.au/news/the-s...

Anyone read any good Literay fiction lately?

I recently read Gold which I highly recommend

Michael wrote: "Anyone read any good Literay fiction lately?

I recently read Gold which I highly recommend"

Wonderful! I'd like to read Gold.

I've already mentioned this to you but I'll say it here. Chris Cleave's other book The Other Hand(also called Little Bee) is very good too

Michael wrote: "Anyone read any good Literay fiction lately?

I recently read Gold which I highly recommend"

Yes I've read Talulla Rising - Excellent but you need to read The Last Werewolf first - 5 stars

Animal People another good one - 4 stars

I'm Not Scared gripping - 4 stars

I'll be reading another Chris Cleave soon! Thanks Mish

The 2012 Prime Minister's Literary Awards were announced this morning;

http://literary-exploration.com/2012/...

I'm glad Foal's Bread by Gillian Mears won! I will get to it one day;)

I also like this bit The most Interesting part of the award ceremony for me was when Luke Davies used his time to criticise Campbell Newman for scrapping the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, by saying “The clear message from Campbell Newman’s wrong-headed decision to eliminate the Queensland Premier’s awards is that reading is simply not important, not valuable to the greater culture and that celebrating excellence even less so”.

I'm glad All That I Am: A Novel didn't win

That's one of the main reasons I'm glad Foal's Bread won:)

I'm curious, why didn't you want All That I Am not to win? I have't read it yet, but I've heard it was meant to be good. Is it simply because it already won one earlier on?

I still can't believe that the Queensland Premier's Literary Award got scraped either.

Also have you read You or Someone Like You?

It's a good book but it's won everything else already

The Man Booker Long List was announced over night, click link to see what was nominated.


http://literary-exploration.com/2012/...

I've not read any of these - Has anyone?

I haven't either, but Michael (SA) is reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at the moment, and I've had it on my TBR to read for awhile:)

Great! It would be interesting to hear what he thinks :)

I've not read any either, but plan to read Bring Up the Bodies. Some of the books do look great

For easy reference; here is the list.

The Yips
The Teleportation Accident
Philida
The Garden of Evening Mists
Skios: A Novel
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Swimming Home
Bring Up the Bodies
The Lighthouse
Umbrella
Narcopolis
Communion Town

Thanks KL! Some good looking titles there:)

I really want to by The Teleportation Accident, just for the cover :P but seriously the book looks good too.

Hi everyone, I only joined this group recntly.

I've read Bring up the bodies - I really enjoyed it, even more than Wolf Hall. For one thing, it was easier to know whose voice was on - either I am used to her style or she made it a bit clearer than in the first volume. I also recently read A Place of greater Safety, about the french revolution - another good read, but it needed to be edited as it was too long.

I plan to read some of the others as my local library gets them.

PS, how do you link titles/authors to the GR copy? I'm more of an LT person :-)

Rdurie, in the top of this post box, click on 'add book/author', then put your title in the search box, and click search, find the correct title, and click 'add'. It will appear in this box:)

Hi Brenda, domestic blindness strikes again - many thanks, Rob

That's fine Rob, as long as you are not afraid to ask...we all have to learn;)

Rdurie wrote: "Hi everyone, I only joined this group recntly.

I've read Bring up the bodies - I really enjoyed it, even more than Wolf Hall. For one thing, it was easier to know whose voice was on - either I am ..."

I really liked Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies so I went on to read another of hers called Fludd. It was really wierd, totally different and great!

That book sounds really interesting.

Those who liked Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall might like her The Giant, O'Brien. She is a great literary writer and it's a fascinating read.

In Australia, David Malouf's An Imaginary Life and Ransom strike me as the epitome of literary works. Neither are remotely Australian, dealing with universal themes that are timeless and global. He is one of our finest writers.

The Man Booker Short list was announced a few hours ago; http://literary-exploration.com/2012/...


For easy reference; here is the list.

The Garden of Evening Mists
Swimming Home
Bring Up the Bodies
The Lighthouse
Umbrella
Narcopolis

What do people think about Bring Up the Bodies winning the Man Booker this year?

Hilary Mantel won for Wolf Hall in 2009 so it's a little weird to see the sequal winning too.

I just saw that too and I think it is well deserved. Both books were beautifully written and took an original approach to her theme. Plus they were very readable! Poor thing now has to write the third one. And we already know it has to end badly because she can't actually change history!
p.s. I have to admit I have not read any of the other short listed books.

Just saw Hilary Mantel on TV doing her acceptance speech. What a lovely lady! Said she waited years for the prize and then got two!

Very deserved winner. Just read and marvel at the experience. Wonderful writer. Just did her own thing when it was not popular, no eye for the market, but what a writer.

I highly recommend An Imaginary Life and Eucalyptus.

I'm about half way through a brilliant book, it's a little macarbe but beautifully written; The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

I plan to try and read Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace soon; who wants to join in :P

Wow the reviews for Infinite Jest are extremely positive! If my library has it, I'm game Michael!