Book reviews
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These are the 8 winning titles of "Our Story", that have been chosen to represent each state and territory during the National Year of eading 2012.
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New South Wales Title: The idea of home Author: John Hughes Genre: Non Fiction A collection of autobiographical essays in which John Hughes reflects on growing up in Cessnock, in a household rules by memories of the Ukraine, which his mother and grandparents had to flee during the Second World War. |
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Western Australia Title: Jasper Jones Author: Craig Silvey Genre: Adult Fiction Jasper Jones is a coming-of-age narrative with an intervening murder. Charlie is the typical unlikely hero: geeky, frail and far too introspective. His transition from awkward pre-pubescence to adolescence, learning the hard lessons of small-town social mores, parental restrictions and burgeoning love, is sensitively drawn. |
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Northern Territory Title: Listening to Country Author: Ros Moriarty Genre: Non Fiction Listening to Country is written with a sense of respect and hope. Respect for the past, what has been lost, and wrongs that will never be righted. The sense of hope she weaves through her narrative comes from her obvious admiration for the Aboriginal culture and community which she feels has welcomed and embraced her. |
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Australian Capital Territory Title: Smoke and Mirrors Author: Kel Robertson Genre: Crime Fiction Smoke and Mirrors is a worthy entrant in the happily increasing list of humorous Australian Crime Fiction. The reader is treated to a humourous, exciting and surprisingly plausible plot - given Robertson's Canberra seems to have Russian Mafia and South African heavies lurking behind every second shrub. |
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South Australia Title: Time's Long Ruin Author: Stephen Orr Genre: Adult Fiction Time's Long Ruin is troubling and compelling fictional reworking of the mystery of the missing Beaumont children. This story is Orr's eloquent, unusual, bold but responsible retelling of a veritable urban nightmare that still haunts the Australian imagination. |
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Tasmania Title: Wanting Author: Richard Flanagan Genre: Adult Fiction Richard Flanagan is an exemplary case in point. Through his fiction, flat, conformist portraits of individuals become rich and three-dimensional, new witnesses provide fresh testimony about the past, and Tasmania’s silences resound with voices. |
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Victoria Title: Well Done Those Men Author: Barry Heard Genre: Biography Barry Heard didn’t consider he’d had a worse time in Vietnam than any other patriotic veteran. But years after the war was over, it just about destroyed his life. Well Done, Those Men, is the inspiring story of his recovery. |
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Queensland Title: The White Earth Author: Andrew McGahan Genre: Adult Fiction This is a passionate, powerful, and beautifully written story which contains all of the elements of good fiction, and is the culmination of a skill which has been growing with each of McGahan’s exceptional novels. |
Page last updated: 30 Apr 2012