There are some good Australian authors but they are few and far between. My point about the demographics of book clubs is that is what publishers target so that anything different, serious literature or not middle of the road doesn't get published. The market is too small to run the risk of going outside the square. They think Tsiolkas's gay writing is challenging when it's just plain boring. They think Australians can't handle anything beyond a Winton.
Illywacker was Carey's best. David Ireland is an underrated Australian author - try the Unknown Industrial Prisoner. Johnno is the only good book Malouf wrote. Goldsworthy is ordinary. Should stick to medicine. Winton a lightweight (but a decent yarn teller) and Tsiolkas garbage (apart from the first two sections of the Jesus Man).
Steve Toltz is a recent Australian author who is entertaining. But there hasn't been a great author since Patrick White, Christina Stead, Henry Handel Richardson or Xavier Herbert. Robert Drewe and Peter Carey come close.
I get more enjoyment from Nabakov (Pnin is also good), Bellow, Amis, McCarthy, Waugh or Richard Ford than Australian authors. There are probably better writers out there who struggle to be published in this country.
Amis was tolerable up to Experience but I have not enjoyed Yellow God or The Pregnant Widow.
In isolation I thought The Slap to be an excellent novel and I enjoyed Dead Europe up to the last chapter or two where Tsiolkas seemed hell bent on living out his own bizarre fantasies. Some of his other stuff has made me wish I could slap him. Hard.
As part of my ongoing education in Australian literature (for which I have my wife to thank - the best way to learn about a country is to read as much as you can of its literature), I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Wintons (Dirt Music my favorite) and really enjoy Peter Carey and David Malouf. Thanks for the tips, Spewn I'll get hold of David Ireland and some of the other authors you mention.
I though Tolz's Fraction of a Whole was absolutely superb but didn't care much for his second novel (The title eludes me).
Big fan of JM Coetzee and most of Ian McKewan's work.
Last three books read:
Damon Galgut - The Good Doctor (Saffer writer - Booker nominated. Love his books.)
Craig Silvey (Aussie author) - Jasper Jones. Very enjoyable.
Johnny Steinberg (Saffer - investigative journalist who has done some hairy stories) - Little Liberia (fascinating book about Liberia and the lives of Liberians in New York).
Currently reading The Stones Keith Richards' boigraphy. Very entertaining.
Great thread. Keep it going.
