My Brilliant Career” by Miles Franklin is a classic Australian novel that follows the life and aspirations of the spirited young protagonist, Sybylla Melvyn. Set in rural New South Wales during the late 19th century, the novel provides a glimpse into the challenges and limitations faced by a young woman with aspirations beyond the traditional roles prescribed by society. The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from books editor Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday . Published in 1987, My Place is an Australian classic and one of the earlier pieces of indigenous Australian literature: “Looking at the views and experiences of three generations of indigenous Australians, this autobiography unearths political and societal issues contained within Australia’s indigenous culture. Sally Morgan travelled to her grandmother’s birthplace, starting a search for information about her family. She uncovers that she is not white but Aborigine – information that was kept a secret because of the stigma of society.” The White Earth” by Andrew McGahan is a haunting and complex novel that delves into the intersections of history, power, and the supernatural in the context of Australia’s colonial past. Set in Queensland during the early 20th century, the story follows the experiences of William and his interactions with the land, the Indigenous people, and the forces that shape his destiny. Part one is an introduction to Australia’s Indigenous culture and covers precolonial and post colonial history, as well as detailing cultural awareness for visitors.

It’s your classic love tale. Nora loves Javo. Javo loves drugs. As a consequence, their relationship is fractured and frustrating. Throughout the book, you’ll learn all about what’s gone on between the United States and Australia and how a lot of Australians think regarding the USA. What’s so great is that Jamieson is actually married to an American, so a lot of it is about his own thoughts and what he’s been through!

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Anh Do’s family fled Vietnam on a small fishing boat, enduring a treacherous journey at sea before eventually arriving in Australia as refugees. The book explores their struggles to adapt to a new culture, language, and way of life, as well as Anh’s own journey to find his passion and carve out a career in comedy and entertainment. You know when you finish a book and you’re like ‘wow, that book not only has changed my life but the way I see the world’? Bryson is one of my favourite writers, and this book is probably my favourite of his. A warm, funny, and wonderful look at my home country from an outsider’s perspective. Seems to be the flavour of most European ‘explorers’ of this era, when you consider the fate of contemporaries like Burke and Wills. This is one of the best books about Australian travel I have read – although it is a memoir, it inspires adventure.

For a more relaxing option, take a trip along the world’s largest Virtual Solar System Drive. The dome of the Siding Springs Observatory represents the sun, with scaled model planets stretching the whole 200km to Dubbo. 10. Light up your time in Sydney at the Vivid festival Bruny’s protagonist Astrid or ‘Ace’ is a New York-based UN mediator, returning to the homeland she made every effort to escape. This is easily my favourite of these books about Australia and by one of my favourite travel writers. It can be challenging to define the bush, as Watson himself notes, ‘it is, by many accounts, the source of the nation’s idea of itself’.Highlights include “The Basin”, a family- friendly seawater pool, and the 20m Wadjemup Lighthouse on the island’s highpoint. Wadjemup is a Noongar word meaning “place across the water where the spirits are” – rather apt, given at least 373 unmarked graves hold the victims of a harsh and cruel prison for Aboriginal people operating during the 1800s. 19. Catch the Manly Ferry across one of the world’s greatest harbours With a witty and irreverent tone, Hunt navigates the twists and turns of Australia’s history, from its Indigenous roots and early European encounters to its transformation into a modern and diverse nation. He believes he is doing ‘the right thing’, although he would be displacing yet another Indigenous child.

My Place” by Sally Morgan is a powerful memoir that weaves together personal narrative, history, and identity to explore the author’s journey of self-discovery as an Aboriginal woman in Australia. The book traces three generations of Morgan’s family, revealing the challenges, struggles, and resilience of her Indigenous heritage.

Yet the stories are just so damn good. It’s one of those books, where you carry the characters with you, after reading. Essential pre-departure information including Australia entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more. Flanagan’s narrative weaves together different perspectives, jumping between different timelines and characters’ viewpoints. The title of the book references a famous haiku by the Japanese poet Bashō, and it serves as a metaphor for the deep introspective journey that the characters undertake in the midst of the horrors of war.

SEE IT! From Port Douglas it’s a 20-minute drive west to Mossman Gorge, and a 40-minute drive to the Daintree River Ferry. 8. Set sail for Kangaroo Island’s wilderness and wildlife No book this year moved me half as much as Emma Do and Kim Lam’s brilliant history of outwork in Australia. Written by Do and illustrated by Lam, it tells a story of Australia during the 80s and 90s, when Vietnamese migrants and refugees struggling to find regular employment became outworkers.White is one of this country’s most lauded authors. Not only is he the inaugural recipient of the Miles Franklin award, he’s the only Australian to have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Particularly Gloria, matriarch of the family, who wouldn’t know what a boundary was if it hit her in the face.