I get it; it’s February in New York City, and it can be a bit bleak after the excitement of the holidays, and the short days/cold weather/endless dry skin are all taking their toll. If you’re feeling a bit homesick for that hot summer weather, warm up that mug of Milo (4 tablespoons is the perfect amount) and lose yourself in a good Aussie book. I’ve got 10 great recommendations (for all tastes) to get you started!
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
No Aussie book list would be complete without something from Tim Winton. Cloudstreet follows the lives of two working-class families in Perth from the 1940s to the 1960s. It’s pacey, gripping, and paints a vivid picture of the struggles, complexities and magic of everyday life over several generations. You’ll feel that Western Australian sun beating down on your shoulders as soon as you open the cover.
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
You’ve probably seen the Netflix series advertised (hello to our pals Bryan Brown and Simon Baker), but the book plunges you deeper into the life of Eli Bell, a young boy who is coming of age in a violent and crime-ridden working-class Brisbane. Full of nostalgia and Aussie culture, Boy Swallows Universe will make you wish you could run out and grab a Chicko Roll and Chocolate Moove.
Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko
A gritty and darkly hilarious novel—and winner of Australia’s 2019 Miles Franklin Award—that follows a queer, First Nations Australian woman, Kerry Salter, as she returns home to face her family and protect the land of their ancestors. Too Much Lip isn’t a light-hearted read, but it explores the complexities of modern Indigenous life and overflows with raw love and dry humor.
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
My Brilliant Career is a classic coming-of-age novel which takes us into the life of Sybylla Melvyn, a young woman in 1897 colonial Australia, trying to carve her path while combating the restrictions placed on women at the time. Sybylla is fierce, funny and brilliant, and a character who’ll live with you long past your reading. The 1979 award-winning film directed by Gillian Armstrong and starring the amazing Judy Davis and our adopted Aussie son Sam Neill is also definitely worth a watch.
The Dry by Jane Harper
This Australian-noir story is perfect for all the crime and thriller buffs. You’ll feel the tragic desperation of a community as it battles with the worst drought of the century alongside the shock deaths of a local family. The Dry isn’t a feel-good book, but the Aussie landscape plays such a central role in the narrative that you will be able to smell the dry eucalyptus leaves behind every page. The Dry was made into a film starring another one of our Aussie pals, Eric Bana, and the follow-up Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is out this month.
Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
Many of us probably read Looking for Alibrandi at school, and I remember it fondly for its depiction of inner-west Sydney in the 1990s and the tales of Josie and her coming of age. We get to experience her first love, and the discovery of the secrets of her family’s past against the backdrop of her big, messy Italian family. Every time I re-read the book, it feels like a big, juicy nostalgic hug. Looking for Alibrandi was also made into a movie in 2000 with Aussie darlings Greta Scaachi and Anthony LaPaglia (when he still had an Australian accent).
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
Set during the Vietnam War, Jasper Jones is the story of Charlie Bucktin, a bookish thirteen-year-old who is startled one summer night by an urgent knock on his bedroom window. His visitor, Jasper Jones, is an outcast in their small mining town, and he has come to ask for Charlie’s help. Secrets and stories abound, taking on a life of their own and replace facts with suspicion, prejudice and myth. The book will keep you on your toes, and you can also find the film directed by Rachel Perkins and starring superstars Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving.
Dark Emu: Black Seeds: Agriculture or Accident? by Bruce Pascoe
Dark Emu is a much discussed book that argues for a reconsideration of the “hunter-gatherer” tag for pre-colonial Aboriginal Australians and attempts to rebut the colonial myths that have worked to justify dispossession. Bruce Pascoe provides compelling evidence from the diaries of early explorers that suggests that systems of food production and land management have been understated in modern retellings of early history, and that a new look at Australia’s past is required. Dark Emu is a thought-provoking and enlightening read that has sparked important conversations about our history’s narratives.
Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park
This is probably another one of the “I had to read that in school” books you’re familiar with. It’s a thrilling adventure story for children and adults as we follow Abigail Kirk who finds herself transported from Sydney in the 1980s to the 1870s due to a strange game. Blending historical fiction and time-travel, Playing Beatie Bow is great for wrapping yourself in the nostalgia of re-reading an Aussie classic and reminding yourself of when you first fell in love with Ruth Park’s writing.
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
You’re probably familiar with American author Bill Bryson and his humorous views of culture, life and travel experiences. With his signature dry wit (earning him an honorary spot on our Aussie book list), In a Sunburned Country shares his wry anecdotes as he explores Australia from city life to the remote outback. It’s an easy read that captures the essence of the country’s beauty, quirks, and charm, making you feel like you’re right there with him, soaking up the sun and the familiar homegrown spirit.
Did we miss your fave Aussie book? Let us know in the comments.
AWNY | Australian Women in New York 