The World of Books - Australasia

Continuing our look at books from around the world, this week Books goes down under to explore the best of Australasia

The Book Thief Markus Zusak Doubleday

This is the first adult novel from one of Australia’s most treasured children’s writers. Set in Nazi Germany it concentrates on ordinary people.

Primarily it follows Liesel, a young girl who discovers the joy of books,

and who consequently begins stealing them. Narrated by Death, he proves a sympathetic and beautiful witness of accounts.

The Book Thief concentrates on the power of words, both the way they enthral and manipulate. Despite a volatile context and quirky commentary, this novel is filled with optimism and hope. Thought provoking and witty without being pretentious, this book is as enchanting as those that capture Liesel.
Felicity Whitton

Gregory Day The Patron Saint of Eels Picador

Gregory Day may be known for one of his many other talents, he is a playwright, poet, musician and artist, but it turn’s out he’s a dab hand at writing a novel too.

The Patron Saint of Eels won the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal in 2006. This moral tale examines an 18th Century monk who descends from Heaven to an Australian backwater town called Mangowak. Our narrator Noel tells the monk’s story as he endeavours to save some eels trapped in a ditch.

This is a very clear and precise piece of work with a strong backbone in its confident structure. It concentrates on the delights of small town living mixed with the heartfelt interest captured by the humorous miracle. Avalyn Beare

Kate Grenville The Idea of Perfection Vintage

Kate Grenville was the surprising winner of the 2001 Orange Prize for Fiction for her novel The Idea of Perfection.

Born and still living in Australia, her literature has become internationally acclaimed. She has written eight novels in total, all of which are worth a read. Her most recent is The Secret River.

The Idea of Perfection is based around the idea of bridges, metaphorically and physically. Grenville creates a beautiful narrative around this simplistic theme, and is also renown for her intimate characterisation and delicate humour. Avalyn Beare

Gail Jones Sixty Lights Harvill

Gail Jones is a writer and academic from Western Australia. Each of her novels and short story collections have stacked up a few Australian literary prizes and her fifth novel, Sorry is coming out this summer.

Sixty Lights, her second novel is an extensive reflection on photography and the haunting aspect of catching a lost moment in time.

The novel moves through a series of images, true to its context, following the story of Lucy Strange as she grows and learns about the world around her and her magnetic drawing to photography.

The delicate imagery and snapshot structure reminds the reader that the things that make us human, such as love and forgiveness cannot be seperated from human morality. Avalyn Beare