On my attempt to read the Stella Longlist

The stella longlist is a like a platter of canapes to those doing the Australian Women Writers challenge. Afterall, here are the top books by Australian women writers for the last year. Naturally I stuck my hand out to the passing plate and stuffed my gob. The result? Well to be honest I’ve overindulged on a string of reading that may have been made with different recipes but all used essentially the same ingredients. And I’m afraid I've got indegestion. Burp. Hiccup.  I’ve developed an intolerance to frustrated artistic mothers, mean mothers, teen girl point of view, hints of climate change and frankly I’m allergic to even traces of hippy communes.

And that is not to say the books are not good. They are! Just not to be taken all at once. And yet – what does it say? Is it coincidence?  Are these themes so central to female concerns? Is it about writing the past?  Writing as therapy? Working out issues? Is it zeitgeist? Fashion? Trend? 

Let’s look at the books I have read from the long list so far:

"The Other side of The World" by Stephanie Bishop – so devastating and beautifully written. Of all of the books this has been the most affecting and interestingly did not make it to the Stella shortlist. This book broke my heart. It was written with great tenderness toward the central characters – a couple at odds in their idea of happiness and their needs. A couple that can’t work it out for reasons of origin, identity, cultural background, ambition and the times. Central to the book is a frustrated artist mother, an immigrant to Australia, who is, at times, mean, neglectful and frustrated. Several times I flinched and wanted to avert my gaze from seeing elements of myself. The ending I found so sad I actually re imagined the whole thing in my head to erase the heavy helplessness that descended on me. This one is distinct in that it is set in the 50’s/early 60’s.

"Anchor Point" by Alice Robinson

For the first third (?) of the book the POV is that of a child/young teenager. A family broken, a mother neglectful mean (yes another frustrated artist with hippy past) also an immigrant to Australia (German) who abandons the family. There is a filter of climate change issues washed over the whole book, set in the bush, in the 80’s through to the future. While the book moved beyond the bad mother incident, the abandonment was central.  A lovely hook to the story was a Hardy-esque secret involving a destroyed letter which has (or should have had) deep consequences.This book broadens in scope, telling a story over decades, but in doing so many themes and tensions become diluted. The language was punchy and poetic. I enjoyed elements very much. Yet I still questioned the central character, plot and motives. There is little joy in this book.

"The World  Without Us" by Mirelle Juchau

A frustrated artist mother with a hippy commune past who is mean and neglectful. A dead sister, a teenage POV for part of the book (And I believe where the book was strongest voice) an immigrant Dad (German again!) and overtures of climate change. I actually found reading this book like trying to get through dense brush  with a rubber chicken instead of a much needed machete. There is no joy in this book, lots of sadness, cruelty and loss. Interestingly – it’s on the shortlist, very similat to "Anchor Point" and if I had to pick the better of the too it would be the Alice Robinson book.

"Hope Farm" by Peggy Frew

I wrote a more detailed review of this book here.

A teenage girl POV. A mother daughter relationship full of misunderstanding. And guess what? A neglectful frustrated mother (although not an artist NOR an immigrant! phew!) ) and a hippy commune. This book is kinder to the mother character, giving her a voice and past and an interesting technique where the reader is privy to information that illuminates the reasons why the mother has come to this point in her life while the daughter character remains in the dark – which heightens the tension and tragedy. Some terrific memorable descriptions and characters.Quite a conventional and accomplished novel. And it's made it to the shortlist.

So that’s my reading of the long list so far and I needed a break. So I'm reading  some international contemporary novels with less description more substance – also by women writers – and reflecting on why Australain Women writers are all writing the same book.

Australian Women Writers Challenge Completed!

If last year, through undertaking the Australian Women Writers Challenge, I became a convert to reading more Australian women authors, then this year it’s like I’ve been confirmed – or even taken my vows. This year I undertook the Miles challenge of reading six books and reviewing four. 

In 2015 I read in a more informed way. I was much more up with latest releases – thanks mostly to the AWW website which has connected me to authors, author blogs and reading blogs. In fact, all the books I reviewed for the challenge were published in 2014 or 2015.

The books I reviewed were:

Jane Rawson’s “A Wrong Turn at theOffice of Unmade Lists” and “Formaldehyde” 

Jenny Ackland’s “The Secret Son”

 and Peggy Frew’s “Hope Farm”

The other new releases I read were:

“One Life: My Mother’s Story”, Kate Grenville’s tender and astute evocation of her late mother’s life. I heard Kate Grenville speak at our local library and was in awe of her; sharp, erudite, considered and warm. It was a privilege to hear her speak about how she went about telling her mother’s story, celebrating her life in as honest and respectful way while also managing to write a wonderfully engaging and honest narrative.

“The Other Side of the World” by  Stephanie Bishop

This book is so well written. Bishop gets inside the two main characters, husband and wife, and explores their strengths and flaws tenderly, without judgement, but in doing so exposes the tragedy of their marriage and family. I was so affected by this book I actually had to reimagine the ending so I could be at peace with what happened. I know. It’s fiction! But I couldn’t live with the sadness.

“The Girl With The Dogs” by Anna Funder

A long short story? Short novella? Either way – engrossing and insightful and beautifully crafted.

“Peripheral Vision: Stories” acollection by Paddy O’Reilly

Paddy O’Reilly is one of Australia’s best short story writers. The stories are original, unexpected yet familiar. She builds these lean works with such tightness and strength that they take hold and stay with you.

“Danny Best: Full On!” by JenStorer – a new release rad for my kid’s books club, Barnaby Book club.

My kid’s book club, Barnaby Book Club, were unanimous in their praise for this book. It is jam-packed with stories, quizzes, fun random weird stuff in the margins like zombie possums and great characters like Danny Best and all of his friends. It is made up of several stories with so much to engage the kids they will most likely read it several times. 

The other books I read were:

“Lola Bensky” by Lily Brett

This is the first book by Lily Brett that I have read and I thought it was masterful – faultless. I liked everything about it – especially the structure and tone.

“Mateship With Birds” By Carrie Tiffany – made me laugh and cry. I could smell the bush while reading this.

“A Short History Of Richard Kline” by Amanda Lohrey.

“The Tall Man: The Death of Doomadgee” by Chloe Hooper – an extraordinarily important book , expertly navigated and crafted.

And I have just snuck in another with a few days before the end of the year -  Anna Funder’s “All That I Am”. What. A. Book. So impressed.

When I was a kid I remember thinking of the calendar year as very linear. I imagined a dark blank space of nothingness between December of one year and January of the next. It must have been to do with our wall calendar – the flipping of the pages for each month until the end. Then what? Nothing…until the next calendar was put up. Like falling off the edge of a flat earth I think I thought you could fall off time into some dark nothingness. What must I thought happened there? I don’t know. I just remember a time where I never thought of one year connecting straight to the next. Now I know all too well how years roll on, merge, chase and engulf one another. So, although I have completed my Australian Women Writers challenge for 2015 I am forging straight on to the challenge for 2016 - like a tumble turn at the end of one lap with a strong push off the wall.