Bushwalk Australia

Between mid december and Mid July, i'll be on the road in Australia on either bicycle or foot. (on foot in the Australian Alps)

I intend to make time to read and just had the idea of loading up my kindle with some great Australian Literature. Preferably novels. Can you help me find some you've loved.

I've just bought The Bush which is not a novel but a travel book by Don Watson but that's the sort of quality I'm hoping for on the whole.

There was a book reviewed on The Book Club recently called Relativity which is probably not quite up with Don Watson but it sounded worth a shot.

I admit, i've struggled with Richard Flanagan although that could be due to life's distractions. But anyway, he's not going to be on the list.
I should probably try a Tim Winton - which was your favourite.

I don't want them to be too heavy but should be a real pleasure to read and relatively easy to keep going once in. I'm probably making it sound rather awkward so i'd best shut up.

I recently read The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman and enjoyed it a lot.

Robyn Davidsons "Tracks" was enjoyable

"Cloud Street" by Tim Winton

"A Fortunate Life" by AB Facey

"The damage done" by Warren Fellows. It will really make you appreciate your trip all the more.

This is a good start, please give me more. I'm looking to buy up to 10 books. I should also mention, I'm looking for books set in australia.

I just also though tof something else, though i'm not sure what its called. Its a book by or about Matthew Flinders. Somebody's cat i think its called. I'd probably enjoy that.

Here are some I've read in teh past and enjoyed:

The Service of Clouds - a bit dry and heavy for this trip but I enjoyed it at the time.
For the term of his natural life - loved this and this sort of quality of book and historical fiction is ideal.
Illywacker - enjoyed this.

I'm wondering if i should read the kelly gang? Is it tough going? or a gripping read? Anyone can tlel me. I like gripping reads mostly for my tour.

For the Term of His Natural Life - Marcus Clarke

Robbery Under Arms - Rolf Boldrewood

Both really good adventure, outdoors, ripping good yarns set in Oz.
Oops, should have read the above post more thoroughly. I've read For the Term... 3 times since I was a kid. Read it again.
Oscar and Lucinda is another Peter Carey book worth reading, or his "True History" of the Kelly gang.
Tim Winton is always good value but you can't beat Cloud Street, his masterpiece.

I think that "Mathew Flinders Cat" is the actual title

'Wake in fright' was one of my early favorites.

Moondog55 wrote:I think that "Mathew Flinders Cat" is the actual title

"Trim" was the cat's name, I think.

+1 for Tracks.

Down Under by Bill Bryson is quite enjoyable for light reading, not one of his best but entertaining.

A Secret Country (non-fiction)

Having just ventured into Flanagan territory, I think I'd choose Winton. Must expand my Oz reading repertoire !

Must expand my Oz reading repertoire !

Yes that's what i'm doing. I've resisted it for quite a long time. But i know this will have a positive impact on my trip and this is the ideal time for me to focus on oz lit. I love to combine travel with that countries literature.

And I found out that Trim is the name of the book i'm after too. Matthew Flinder's Cat is by Bryce Courtney and I"m not sure if I want to spend any money on BC.

Higher country - Oh yeah i've read Oscar and Lucinda too and that's what i actually meant when I wrote the Illywacker! Its so long ago i read an austrlian novel...

True History of the Kelly Gang is possibly Carey's best.

It's a pity you don't 'get' Flanagan. The Narrow Road to the Deep North is superb (like all of his writing).

I agree with NNW about Richard Flanagan. However, I sometimes wonder if being a Tasmanian helps to 'get' him. I did find the Tasmanian-centric elements in his novels to be... novel. Ie, there are many small incidental Tasmanianisms that I can relate to - places, events, etc. Although the international literature prize givers seem to like him too.

north-north-west wrote:True History of the Kelly Gang is possibly Carey's best.

It's a pity you don't 'get' Flanagan. The Narrow Road to the Deep North is superb (like all of his writing).

I have begun that book and I would have kept going but I had to stop reading because I was going over seas and couldn't take the book with me. I was doing alright until then but because I wasn't "gripped" I haven't been motivated to pick it up again. Maybe I will give it another shot one day. I bought that book in hard copy so am also unwilling to buy it for kindle.

I did live in Tasmania for a few years but that may not be enough to enjoy the tasmanianisms. I am not sure if i got the point of discovering any. I can't remember much.

I'm not criticising him.

Son of a Beach wrote:I agree with NNW about Richard Flanagan. However, I sometimes wonder if being a Tasmanian helps to 'get' him. I did find the Tasmanian-centric elements in his novels to be... novel. Ie, there are many small incidental Tasmanianisms that I can relate to - places, events, etc. Although the international literature prize givers seem to like him too.

I think it adds an extra level, but it isn't necessary in order to appreciate him.

Like in Narrow Road, when he does the '67 fires - having lived through all that, it makes the effect even more intense (maybe too much so), but people would still get caught by the drama and tension of the depiction without that personal connection with it.

Anyway,if you want something Australian - Xavier Herbert. Capricornia is usually regarded as his best, but I have a special affection for Poor Fellow My Country. Not easy reading perhaps, but an enthralling and sprawling story.
Then there's always Patrick White . . .

north-north-west wrote:Anyway,if you want something Australian - Xavier Herbert. Capricornia is usually regarded as his best, but I have a special affection for Poor Fellow My Country. Not easy reading perhaps, but an enthralling and sprawling story.
Then there's always Patrick White . . .

Incredibly, I have read Voss but I am sure I was too young and can't remember much of it but since i got to the end, i think it was a case of the good writing just drew me along to the end.

I've just bought Capricornia. It was only $4 so I didn't have to wait for budgetry reasons.

I also just found this which I'll post for others because it seems very handy. https://blog.booktopia.com.au/2011/01/11/50-must-read-australian-novels-as-voted-by-you-in-2010/

Earlier this year I read "Harp in the South" by Ruth Park. I was very surprised that I had never heard of it before I read it, because it is an Australian Classic (though Park was a Kiwi) that has apparently never been out of print since the late '40s. I am also surprised it wasn't on school reading lists either. I'd also not at all be surprised if Tim Winton had got at least some inspiration for Cloud Street from Harp in the South.

For all those readers who loved Richard Flanagan's Narrow Road to the Deep North, you may also like to read his brother Martin and father Arch's book, The Line: a man's experience of the Burma Railway; a son's quest to understand. I really did like Narrow Road, which Richard Flanagan wrote for his father, but reading The Line will give you a much greater understanding and appreciation of the whole ordeal.

Much like it helps to 'get' Flanagan if you're Tasmanian, it very much helps to be West Australian to appreciate Winton. I'm lucky as I love them both, because I am both possibly....Winton is more accessible, Dirt Music, The Riders, In the Winter Dark, Cloudstreet etc all good...

Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe (non fiction) - superb.

A +1 for Peter Carey's Kelly Gang yarn and Tracks by Robin Davidson. I also enjoyed Robert Drew's The Shark Net.

The "Riders" is Tim Wintons other great book; although I would not recommend reading it if recently separated from a spouse; it is that powerfully written.
Of Ruth Parks books i have always thought that "Poor Mans Orange" was the best and almost anything by her husband D'arcy Niland is worth reading even if his most well known book "The Shiralee" isn't in my opinion his best work, that is reserved for his collection of Australianised fairy tales such as "The Fat Bushranger and other Tales"

That Deadman Dance - Kim Scott

One of the best Australian novels I've read in a long time.
The Conversation did this write-up a couple of years ago;
https://theconversation.com/the-case-for-kim-scotts-that-deadman-dance-22162
A great book.

another vote here for A B Faceys A Fortunate Life. Great read.

Lizzy wrote:Robyn Davidsons "Tracks" was enjoyable

x2

G'day Stroller, I've got the hardback copy of "Tracks" you can have. Probably not ideal to lugg about on your journeys but it's light reading and you will probably knock it off over a couple of nights then you can simply bin it or burn it....because that's where I believe it belongs. Absolute garbage but yours if you want it.

Moondog55 wrote:I think that "Mathew Flinders Cat" is the actual title

"Matthew Flinders Cat" is a novel by Bryce Courtenay.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Matthew-Flind ... B006ONZ2XM

"Tracks" Kindle edition is $2.51 on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Tracks-Robyn- ... B0093K1M0A

Baal Belbora by Geoffery Blomfield is an interesting read, if not gruesome account of the Aboriginal population that occupied the mid north coast and how they were driven into the falls country.

I enjoyed it because as I've never been to that area so the description of land and people was appealing BUT be warned this book comes with a heavy portion of white guilt ready to be rammed down your throat (assuming your white?) and if not get ready to rage against the machine and rise up against the oppressors.

The author has an unapologetic and unabashed bias for the Aboriginal view (and after reading you can see why) but there is also great reading on the early white settlers plight and the problems they faced pioneering a new land.

Something for everyone really...read it, you'll like it.

Pteropus wrote:Earlier this year I read "Harp in the South" by Ruth Park. I was very surprised that I had never heard of it before I read it, because it is an Australian Classic (though Park was a Kiwi) that has apparently never been out of print since the late '40s. I am also surprised it wasn't on school reading lists either. I'd also not at all be surprised if Tim Winton had got at least some inspiration for Cloud Street from Harp in the South.

Yeah, I felt much the same when reading it.

Also a bit surprised no-one's mentioned We of the Never Never. I'm amazed when I find out how many people haven't read it.

Both Harp and Poor Man's Orange are absolute classics, I must revisit them. I could never get into Cloudstreet though. A more contemporary light novel is the Rosie Project authored by Graeme Simsion. I finished it on a recent trip and am now enjoying the sequel, The Rosie Effect. Another lightweight but thoroughly entertaining is Cricket Kings by WIlliam McInnes.

I'd go:

Cloudstreet, by Tim Winton because it is wonderful.
The Merry Go Round in the Sea, by Randolph Stowe, because it is also wonderful, and helps inform Tim Winton's confidence to write of and as a Westralian, I think. I'd love to hear his views on it actually.
My Brother Jack, by George Johnston