/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.19864765]

This is my first foray into Australian lit and it's already in my top 10 or even top 5 favorite books.
Why don't we hear more about the books from the land down under? This was beautiful.

[Anonymous No.19864854]

Cultural cringe numpties want to perpetuate the idea that Australia has no culture or intellectual tradition to justify their own smelbournite ennui because a bogan on a train called them a poof for reading once.

[Anonymous No.19865500]

>>19864765
I am going to write the novel that defines Australian culture for the next 100 years

[Anonymous No.19865511]

>>19864854
hey melbourne is okay, leave it out of this

[Blarty Hongo !H0lVGXJNm6 No.19865516]

>>19864765
I found "Voss" borderline unreadable.

[Anonymous No.19865780]

one of my favourite Australian novels

[Anonymous No.19865783]

>>19865780
A more dignified cover from the German translation kek

[Anonymous No.19865836]

>>19865780
Do you know where I might find a copy of this? Library Genesis doesn't seem to have it. I live in Australia myself if that matters.

[Anonymous No.19865844]

>>19865836
I got a copy off abebooks

[Anonymous No.19865936]

>>19865516
You were always stupid.

[Anonymous No.19865962]

>>19864765
Aus culture was in its infancy when it was swamped by American (international) anti-culture and population replacement led to writhing hives known as Sydney and Melbourne where most live. You will find Aus culture in the regions. Check out the bush poets, DH Lawrance...if you want something modern check out Tim Winton

[Anonymous No.19866069]

>>19864765
>Why don't we hear more about the books from the land down under?
Some reasons are: Australians have a notorious tall poppy syndrome, a pretty low population, and a generally anti-intellectual culture with a provincial inferiority complex in many parts of life. As a consequence, serious Australian literature probably doesn't get the critical mass of audience and appreciation needed to be discussed and celebrated outside of small networks of people and interested individuals, so it doesn't permeate into the Australian public and build up enough interest, excitement, or momentum to reach global awareness. (I think there can also be a mutual hatred, pettiness and resentment from Australian writers and artists as well, who have their own ossified sense of class snobbery and bad attitudes toward the unappreciative Australian public or whatever. Just an impression I get.)

Another point is that a uniquely Australian culture took some time to develop, and has almost always had to struggle with the existence of vastly more powerful countries who speak the same language and wield more cultural clout even in Australia among the Australian people, as well as writers and artists. Look early enough and Australian writers will be following European and British traditions as classicists and the like. Look late enough and it's copy/pasting American cultural conflict templates into the Australian context. An Australia with greater confidence in itself culturally would be good to see, but a complex thing to change.

[Anonymous No.19866107]

>>19866069
I read that book

[Anonymous No.19866114]

I would strong recommend reading The Tree of Man soon, it has the same kind of tone and is also a superb work of literature. A lot of White's other works are well worth your time, as is David Marr's superb biography of the man. There are plenty of worthwhile authors from Australia but White is a clear step above all of them.

[Anonymous No.19866611]

>>19865836
I bought this book from a man in Brussels
He was six foot four, and full of muscle

[Anonymous No.19868201]

>>19864765
Praise by Andrew McGahan is for me the definitive modern Australian novel. It perfectly captures the "nothing ever happens" vibe of Australian life as well as the quiet sadness, desperation and all pervasive use of alcohol and drugs to self medicate.

[Anonymous No.19868211]

>>19864765
Australians don't appreciate their own cultural heritage so you sometimes really have to dig and hunt around for classic novels but they are there. Pic related

[Anonymous No.19868537]

Any love for Riders in the Chariot?

[Anonymous No.19868684]

I really liked Voss and found it reminiscent of Joseph Conrad. I've got A Fringe of Leaves and might give that a go soon.
Has anyone read pic related, the original aussie classic?

[Anonymous No.19868707]

>>19865516
Yeah, being illiterate would suck. You have to learn to read first.

[Anonymous No.19868813]

Has anyone read The Vivisector? I've heard it's good.

[Anonymous No.19868816]

>>19865836
RRP is $12.95 mate
https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/the-young-desire-it

[Anonymous No.19869296]

>>19865500
Sorry, you will have to wait until 2060 when "The Lucky Country" is no longer dominating that spot.

[Anonymous No.19870586]

>>19865836
Zlibrary

[Anonymous No.19870589]

>>19868813
Got it on my bookshelf but haven't read it. I liked The Twyborn Affair

[Anonymous No.19870593]

Any Moorhouse chads?