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*In a Sunburned Country, by Bill
Bryson. A good read – humor mixed with serious
examination of Australian life.
*A Secret Country,
by Aussie journalist John Pilger. A great overview of
Australian history and political mindset.
*The Road From Courain,
by Jil Ker Conway. The heartbreaking
story of growing up on a cattle station. For a more
historical perspective of sheep station life from a
pioneer woman’s viewpoint, read Jeannie Gunn’s We of
the Never-Never, or Dame Mary Durack’s
Kings in Grass Castles.
*Travelers Tales Guide: Australia,
True Stories of Life Down Under.
Edited by Larry Habegger. A new book, wonderful
compilation of fiction and non-fiction.
*The Fatal Shore,
by Robert Hughes. The story of the Australian prison
colonies – even if you only read a third of it, this is
the definitive book.
*Aboriginal Australia & the Torres
Strait Islands: Guide to Indigenous Australia. A
Lonely Planet guide.
*The Future Eaters,
by Tim Flannery. Covering Australia, New Zealand and
New Guinea, Flannery describes the loss of species due
to mankind’s intrusions.
The Archeology of the Dreamtime,
by Josephine Flood. The latest discoveries about
geology of Australia.
The Lucky Country,
by Donald Horne. The best explanation of why Aussies
think and act like they do!
*My Place,
by Sally Morgan. The “Roots” book of Australia, the
story of a young woman’s discovery that she is
Aboriginal – one of the thousands of the “stolen
generation” who were taken from home to be raised
“white” in missions.
The Law of the Land,
by Henry Reynolds. A popular historian, this is perhaps
the best of Reynolds’ many books on how the Aborigines
lost their country.
Don’t Take Your Love to Town,
by Ruby Langford. Autobiographical story of an urban
Aboriginal woman.
A Fortunate Life,
by A. B. Facey. A homeless boy growing up in the
desolate areas of Western Australia, a story of courage
and determination.
* A River Town,
by Thomas Keneally. A wonderful novel that offers keen
insight to small town life in Queensland. |
