Tuesday 4 December 2012

10 Aussie Books to Read Before You Die

Our Australian government funded broadcaster, ABC, has an interesting monthly book group, The First Tuesday Book Club. Tonight for the final show of 2012, they presented the 10 Aussie Books to Read Before You Die, as voted by the Australian Public. And now I have a new list to read.... these books I should have read already.

10 Joan Lindsay - Picnic at Hanging Rock (see my review)

9 Kate Grenville - The Secret River

8 Christos Tsiolkas - The Slap (see my review)



7 Norman Lindsay - The Magic Pudding (see my review)

6 Craig Silvey - Jasper Jones (I have read this and loved this, but sadly didn't blog it)



5 Bryce Courtney - The Power of One

4 Ruth Park - The Harp in the South

3 AB Facey - A Fortunate Life




2 Markus Zusak The Book Thief




1 Tim Winton Cloudstreet (well I've half read it. I gave up half way through! I did attempt to read it the year I was working nights,and perhaps I need to try it again. It's always number 1 on these lists after all)



45% is better than I normally do in lists. The books I've read are in red.

August 2013, I'm now up to 65%.

The full 50 Aussie Books to Read Before You Die is now up.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this Louise as I missed the first half of the show and IceTV failed to record it though it should have. I was going to check their website but came here instead. Interesting list - I've read all but 3, 5 and 7. I was cranky that Patrick White wasn't even on their list you could vote for so I added him in ... I'll be interested to see if he makes the top 50.

Louise said...

I'm sure it will be on iview Sue, or viewable through the firsttuesday website at some stage. There was some interesting debate about the books. Some almost heated. I'm not surprised that Patrick White didn't make the top 10, but it is a bit surprising that he wasn't on the list to vote from. I suspect he will be in the Top 50. Interesting that Peter Carey didn't make the top 10 either.

Hannah said...

Magic Pudding, Harp in the South, Cloudstreet, The Book Thief. I don't feel like I did entirely well at this!

Anonymous said...

sorry to comment here, but I don't see any contact me on your blog, and no twitter or facebook account, or email address.
I was checking all the people who signed up for for my Books on France challenge, curious to see what books. you gave the link to your homepage, not to your post on that. and when I tried to click on the Books on France banner you put in your right bar, I realized it had no link.
I tried to search your blog with "books on France", but it did not point to anything in 2012.
have you written any post yet on the books you plan to read? just curious. thanks!

Anonymous said...

sorry to comment here, but I don't see any contact me on your blog, and no twitter or facebook account, or email address.
I was checking all the people who signed up for for my Books on France challenge, curious to see what books. you gave the link to your homepage, not to your post on that. and when I tried to click on the Books on France banner you put in your right bar, I realized it had no link.
I tried to search your blog with "books on France", but it did not point to anything in 2012.
have you written any post yet on the books you plan to read? just curious. thanks!

MedicatedMoo said...

Woo hoo - read 'em all.

But hated The Slap. Hated it!

Sim Carter said...

You did quite well! I feel like a complete ignoramus as I think The Book Thief, Jaspar Jones and Picnic at Hanging Rock are the only ones I've heard of. And I haven't read any of those either. Where should I start in Aussie Lit 101?

Louise said...

Hannah I think you did pretty well. 40% is a pretty good effort in one so young. You have plenty of time to get them all done. I feel like I need to get a wriggle on.

Emma, sorry I don't participate in all that many reading challenges, and am not fully up with the etiquette. I haven't written an introductory post, do I need to? I have a vast array of Books on France in my TBR, and haven't picked any definite reads. I'd forgotten to link the banner but have done that now. I'm looking forward to participating. I'm going to France next year and looking forward to doing reading.

Legendary effort Kath!

Sim, it depends on what genre you like most. Jasper Jones is my favourite of the top 10. Otherwise Tim Winton or Peter Carey or Kate Grenville. There is something for everyone there though. And the top 50 list is out now too, even more choice. Picnic at Hanging Rock has a movie....

Marg said...

I've read 6 of the 10, which I thought was a fair effort. There's a couple I have been meaning to read!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I might be wrong but Picnic at Hanging Rock could be a 1001 Children's Book.

Louise said...

Well done Marg. I'm planning on getting a few more read in the next year.

It certainly is Deb. Expect to see it on the schedule in the second half of 2013.....This list is actually why The Magic Pudding made it on for the next schedule. An easy way to get 2 of these read.