5 Australian Books That Are About More Than Just the Wildlife
Image from Tumblr
When thinking of Australia, it’s common to immediately envision sandy beaches, deadly creatures, and an endless barren outback. But despite what Crocodile Dundee might have convinced the world, there is much more to be offered beyond just a famous landscape. Brimming with a variety of cultures and inspiring individual stories, these books modernise the Australian narrative and aren’t shy to abandon the comfort of stereotypes. Both the good and ugly, here are five books that show an insider perspective of Australian life.
Too Much Lip - Melissa Lucashenko
“But Donna was all mouth, all the time. You couldn’t tell her anything. Ken survived because of basketball and footy. Black Superman, well, he went his own way, had his own battles to fight, different again that fella.”
Indigenous writer Lucashenko combines Australia’s reality with fiction in Too Much Lip. The country’s harrowing past of colonial violence lingers throughout the story, brought to life by the intergenerational trauma experienced by the characters. As the protagonist, Kerry, heads home to visit her dying father, she is drawn in by the land, by love, by suffering, which she must attempt to navigate, while also escaping the law. The brute honesty of Lucashenko’s writing, and her outspoken characters, act boldly as a voice for a community that has often been voiceless.
The Shepherd’s Hut – Tim Winton
“Perhaps it’s not childish nonsense to see stones as men walking, to behold the moon and feel a tinge of dread. A stone is a fact, a consequence. And the moon, it marks a man’s days, does it not? Another month gone, a reminder every cycle that your moment is waning. No wonder it catches in a little fella’s chest when he sees it. Mebbe lunatics are men who’ve remembered they’re just men, not angels.”
Granted, this story does follow a young man, Jax, who escapes into the bush after discovering his father’s dead body. But, the elements of survivalism aren’t just skin-deep. Beyond the navigation of a wild environment, Jax’s journey makes for a heart-aching read about self-discovery in a state of complete loneliness, grief, and longing. To learn trust amidst the unforgiving harshness of the countryside, The Shepherd’s Hut says a thing or two about the growing pains of adapting.
Room for a Stranger - Melanie Cheng
“Looking back now, Meg wished she had talked to people more - not small talk but proper conversations. Discussions about life and death and God and the universe. Instead she’d spent her entire life doing what everyone else seemed to be doing - what she and Helen had, in turn, spent years teaching Atticus to do. Talking without really saying anything.”
With more than 75% of Australians identifying as multicultural, it is refreshing to see that finally represented in the world of literature. Room for a Stranger explores the changing demographics of the country through the story of a Hong Kong international student staying with an elderly woman in Melbourne. Its beauty lies in the way Cheng manoeuvres the discussion of each culture’s differences and similarities, without the need to silence or favour either voice.
Candy - Luke Davies
"Candy is beside me, drenched in sweat. She's breathing gently, long slow breaths. I imagine her soul going in and out: wanting to leave, wanting to come back, wanting to leave, wanting to come back. The day will soon harden into what we need to do. But for now, we have each other. . ."
Now an award-winning film featuring Heath Ledger, Candy follows a couple’s dizzying fall into love, drugs, and self-destruction. Davies is fearless in his exploration of the damaging world of addiction, diving in head first, and taking the reader along with him. Based on the real life experience of Megan Bannister, this is an Australian tale that is both raw and thrilling. There is a darkness in this book that is not to be underestimated in its ability to draw out emotion which, paired with passages of poetry, make for a moving and impactful read.
Any Ordinary Day – Leigh Sales
“Ultimately, counselling is an act of hope. It’s the hope that something might get better, and for that to happen, it requires something to change.”
Despite what the title suggests, Sales’ book isn’t just a discussion on ordinary days, but seemingly ordinary days that happen to become the worst day of someone’s life. Drawing on her experiences as an ABC journalist covering stories on terrorism, natural disaster, and accidents, Sales has met trauma and death in a way that not many people have. Her insight into the realm of bad news and life-changing moments, paired with her own experiences, creates a body of work that encourages self-reflection and elicits hope.
About Roumina Parsamand
Roumina is a journalism and finance student from Melbourne, Australia. She is a filler of journals with words and drawings, and an obsessive reader. Always happy to chat books, pet dogs, and drink tea. You can find her on Instagram at @nami.reads
