NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2016 shortlists

Posted on 15 April 2016 by admin

The shortlisted titles in each of the categories are listed below.

Christina Stead Prize for Fiction

Ghost River (Tony Birch, UQP)

Locust Girl: A Lovesong (Merlinda Bobis, Spinifex Press)

Clade (James Bradley, Hamish Hamilton)

The Life of Houses (Lisa Gorton, Giramondo)

A Guide to Berlin (Gail Jones, Vintage)

The World without Us (Mireille Juchau, Bloomsbury)

You can participate people’s choice for this category on http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about-library-awards-nsw-premiers-literary-awards/christina-stead-prize-fiction-peoples-choice

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2016 Miles Franklin Award Longlist Announced

Posted on 8 April 2016 by admin

The Miles Franklin Literary Award is Australia’s most prestigious literature prize. Established through the will of My Brilliant Career author, Miles Franklin, the prize is awarded each year to a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases.

First presented in 1957, the Award helps to support authors and to foster uniquely Australian literature. Miles Franklin believed that “Without an indigenous literature, people can remain alien in their own soil.” She also had first-hand experience of struggling to make a living as a writer and was the beneficiary of two literary prizes herself. A short biography and synopsis of each title in the longlist can be found here. Click on any title below to reserve your copy now.

Ghost River – Tony Birch
Coming Rain – Stephen Daisley
Hope Farm – Peggy Frew
Leap – Myfanwy Jones
The World Without Us – Mireille Juchau
The Hands: an Australian pastoral – Stephen Orr
Black Rock White City – A.S. Patric
Salt Creek – Lucy Treloar
The Natural Way Of Things – Charlotte Wood

And the Mountains Echoed

Posted on 4 April 2016 by admin

And the Mountains Echoed

Khaled Hosseini

Summary

Ten-year-old Abdullah would do anything for his younger sister. In a life of poverty and struggle, with no mother to care for them, Pari is the only person who brings Abdullah happiness. For her, he will trade his only pair of shoes to give her a feather for her treasured collection. When their father sets off with Pari across the desert to Kabul in search of work, Abdullah is determined not to be separated from her. Neither brother nor sister know what this fateful journey will bring them. And the Mountains Echoed is a deeply moving epic of heartache, hope and, above all, the unbreakable bonds of love.

Comments

The groups opinions were divided. Half really liked the book and the other half didn’t really enjoy it. All agreed it was well written and most people like the characters.

Read by – The Last Thursday Book Group

Paper chains – a Book Club Review

Posted on 31 March 2016 by admin

Paper chains – Nicola Moriarty

Summary

A heart-warming story of love, friendship and forgiveness – and the crazy twists of fate that shape our lives…Hannah and India are new best friends. Although true friendship means always telling each other the truth, doesn’t it…? Hannah, you see, is running from her life back in Sydney. Now in London, she’s trying to put the past behind her, and finding this amazing new friend is a positive step forward. If only she could stop punishing herself for what she did. India knows Hannah is hiding something big, and she’s determined to figure it out. Fast. Because India has a secret of her own… One that is currently sealed in a love letter that’s making its journey across Europe in the most unconventional way. Before it reaches its destination, can India help Hannah learn to forgive herself? And will Hannah wake up and realise that India needs rescuing too …?

Comments

A story of two friends, hiding two very big secrets from each other. While India is helping Hannah, Hannah is unknowingly helping India, in turn, face her demons too.

A great, easy, holiday break read. Another believable plot with well written characters that pull you in from the start. As a group, we all related to Hannah’s story. We found it a very realistic, honest, thought-provoking storyline that we could all relate to on some level. Another writer that, for us, writes everyday, suburban Australia extremely well, without cliches and kitsch.

Rating – 8/10 Read by – Cultcha Club Book Club