Man Booker Prize winner, 2011.
Man Booker Prize for Fiction shortlist, 2011.
Julian Barnes has been shortlisted three times previously for this award:
In 2005 for "Arthur and George ",
In 1998 for " England, England ,
and in 1984 for "Flaubert’s Parrot ".
Carol Birch was previously longlisted for this award in 2003 for "Turn again home".
The two first time novelists are Stephen Kellman and A.D. Miller.
The six books selected from the longlist of 13, are:
"The sense of an ending" by Julian Barnes.
"Jamrach’s Menagerie " by Carol Birch.
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick De Witt.
"Half Blood Blues" by Esi Edugyan.
"Pigeon English" by Stephen Kelman, a first time novelist.
"Snowdrops" by A.D Miller, a first time novelist.
The winner of this prestigious award will be announced on 18 October, 2011. Who do you think will win?
Man Booker Prize Longlist, 2012
Julian Barnes - The Sense of an Ending
Sebastian Barry - On Canaan's Side
Carol Birch - Jamrach's Menagerie
Patrick deWitt - The Sisters Brothers
Esi Edugyan - Half Blood Blues
Yvette Edwards - A Cupboard Full of Coats
Alan Hollinghurst - The Stranger's Child
Stephen Kelman - Pigeon English
Patrick McGuinness - The Last Hundred Days
A.D. Miller - Snowdrops
Alison Pick - Far to Go
Jane Rogers - The Testament of Jessie Lamb
D.J. Taylor - Derby Day
Do you think the judges got it right so far? The shortlist will be announced Tuesday 6th September, followed by the announcement of the winning book on 18th October, 2011.
Prime Ministers Literary Awards, 2011.
Congratulations to the following winners:
The fiction prize was awarded to Traitor by Stephen Daisley.
The non fiction prize winner is The Hard Light of Day by Rod Moss.
The young adult fiction prize was presented to Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley.
The children' s fiction prize was received by Shake a Leg by Boori Monty Pryor and Jan Ormerod.
2011 Prime Ministers Literary Awards Shortlist has been announced
The shortlisted titles are as follows:
Fiction
“Glissando” by David Musgrave
"Notorious" by Roberta Lowing
“That deadman dance” by Kim Scott
“Traitor” by Stephen Daisley
“When Colts ran” by Roger McDonald
Non Fiction
“How to make gravy” by Paul Kelly
“Sydney” by Delia Falconer
“The hard light of day” by Rod Moss
“The party” by Richard McGregor
“Claude Levi-Strauss by Patrick Wicklen
Young adult fiction
“About a girl” by Joanne Horniman
“Good Oil” by Laura Buzo
“Graffiti Moon” by Cath Crowely
“The Pipers son” Melina Marchetta
“The three loves of Persimmon” by Cassandra Golds
Childrens fiction
“April Underhill, tooth fairy" by Bob Graham
“Why I love Australia” by Bronwyn Bancroft
“Shake a leg”by Boori Monty Pryor and Jan Ormerod
“Now” by Morris Gleitzman
“Flyaway” by Lucy Christopher
Who do you think should win?
Aurealis Awards 2011. The winners are...
The winners of the Aurealis Awards, 2011, were recently announced at a glittering ceremony at North Sydney's Independent Theatre. The awards were selected from around 600 entries across thirteen categories. They represent the best of Australian fantasy, horror and science fiction as judged by a panel of their peers.
Childrens fiction – told primarily through words
The Keepers, Lian Tanner
Childrens fiction – told primarily through pictures
The Boy and the Toy, Sonya Hartnett (writer) & Lucia Masciullo (illustrator)
Young Adult short story
‘A Thousand Flowers’, Margo Lanagan, Zombies V Unicorns
Young Adult novel
Guardian of the Dead, Karen Healey
Illustrated Book/ Graphic Novel
Changing Ways, Justin Randall
Collection
The Girl With No Hands, Angela Slatter
Anthology
Wings of Fire, edited by Jonathan Strahan and Marianne S. Jablon
Horror short fiction
‘The Fear’, Richard Harland, Macabre: A Journey Through Australia’s Darkest Fears
Horror long fiction
Madigan Mine, Kirstyn McDermott
Fantasy short fiction
‘The February Dragon’, LL Hannett & Angela Slatter, Scary Kisses and
‘Yowie’, Thoraiya Dyer, Sprawl
Fantasy novel
Power and Majesty, Tansy Rayner Roberts
Science Fiction short fiction
‘The Heart of a Mouse’, K.J. Bishop,
Science Fiction novel
Transformation Space, Marianne de Pierres,
Peter McNamara Convenors’ Award
Helen Merrick
Congratulations to all the winners!
2011 NSW Premier's Literary Award Winners Announced!
Notable winner's included Alex Miller, who took out both the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and the People's Choice Award for his novel, Lovesong; Malcolm Fraser and Margaret Simons, winners of both the Douglas Stewart Prize for non-fiction and Book of the Year for Malcolm Fraser: The Politcal Memoirs; and Libby Gleeson, who received the Special Award for her contribution to children's literature.
Have you read any of these winners? And do you agree with the judges?
Christina Stead Prize for Fiction: Alex Miller - Lovesong
Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction: Malcolm Fraser and Margaret Simons - Malcolm Fraser: The Political Memoirs
Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry: Jennifer Maiden - Pirate Rain
Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature: Cath Crowley - Graffiti Moon
Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature: Sophie Masson - My Australian Story: The Hunt for Ned Kelly
Script Writing Award: Debra Oswald - Offspring
Play Award: Patricia Cornelius - Do not go Gentle . . .
NSW Premier's Translation Prize & PEN Medallion: Ian Johnston
Community Relations Commission Award: Ouyang Yu - The English Class
UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing: Stephen Daisley - Traitor
Book of the Year: Malcolm Fraser and Margaret Simons - Malcolm Fraser: The Political Memoirs
Special Award: Libby Gleeson
People's Choice Award: Alex Miller - Lovesong
Aurealis awards shortlist for 2010.
YOUNG ADULT Novel
Merrow, by Ananda Braxton--‐Smith.
Guardian of the Dead, by Karen Healey.
The Midnight Zoo, by Sonya Hartnett.
The Life of a Teenage Body--‐Snatcher, by Doug MacLeod.
Behemoth (Leviathan Trilogy Book Two), by Scott Westerfeld.
HORROR Novel
*After the World: Gravesend, by Jason Fischer.
*Death Most Definite, by Trent Jamieson.
*Madigan Mine, by Kirstyn McDermott.
SCIENCE FICTION Novel
Song of Scarabaeus, by Sara Creasy.
Mirror space, by Marianne de Pierres.
Transformation Space, by Marianne de Pierres.
FANTASY novel
The silence of Medair, by Andrea K Host.
Death most definite , by Trent Jamieson.
Stormland rising, by Glenda Larke.
Hearts blood, by Juliet Marillier.
Power and majesty, by Tansy Rayner Roberts.
If you would like to read the full list of thirteen categories, please click here.
Congratulations and good luck to all the finalists. Who do you think should win? The overall winner will be announced at the Aurealis Awards ceremony on the 21st May, 2011.Commonwealth Writers Prize, South East Asia and the Pacific Regional winners 2011
The overall winners will be announced on 21st May, 2011.
"Reading Madame Bovary" by Amanda Lohrey (Australia)
"That Deadman Dance" by Kim Scott (Australia)
"Time’s Long Ruin" by Stephen Orr (Australia)
"Hand Me Down World" by Lloyd Jones (New Zealand)
"Notorious" by Roberta Lowing (Australia)
"Gifted" by Patrick Evans (New Zealand)
Best first book
"21 Immortals" by Rozlan Mohd Noor (Malaysia)
"A Man Melting" by Craig Cliff (New Zealand)
"The Graphologist’s Apprentice" by Whiti Hereaka (New Zealand)
"The Body in the Clouds" by Ashley Hay (Australia)
"Traitor" by Stephen Daisley (Australia/New Zealand)
"A Few Right Thinking Men" by Sulari Gentill (Australia)
Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2010 Shortlists announced
So why not have a read of some of these great titles and tell us what you think:
Fiction
Summertime by J. M. Coetzee
The Book of Emmett by Deborah Forster
The Lakewoman by Alan Gould
Dog Boy by Eva Hornung
Ransom by David Malouf
Lovesong by Alex Miller
As the Earth turns Silver by Alison Wong
Young Adult Fiction
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
The Winds of Heaven by Judith Clarke
Confessions of a Liar, Thief and Failed Sex God by Bill Condon
The Museum of Mary Child by Cassandra Golds
Swerve by Phillip Gwynne
Jarvis 24 by David Metzenthen
Beatle meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams
Non-Fiction
The Water Dreamers: The Remarkable History of our Dry Continent by Michael Cathcart
Strange Places: A Memoir of Mental Illness by Will Elliott
The Colony: A History of Early Sydney by Grace Karskens
The Life and Death of Democracy by John Keane
The Blue Plateau: A Lanscape Memoir by Mark Tredinnick
The Ghost at the Wedding by Shirley Walker
Children's Fiction
Cicada Summer by Kate Constable
The Terrible Plop by Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrator Andrew Joyner
Just Macbeth by Andy Griffiths and illustrator Terry Denton
Mr Chicken goes to Paris by Leigh Hobbs
Running with the Horses by Alison Lester
Star Jumps by Lorraine Marwood
Mannie and the Long Brave Day by Martine Murray and illustrator Sally Rippin
Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children by Jen Storer
Harry and Hopper by Margaret Wild and illustrator Freya Blackwood
Man Booker Prize 2009 Shortlist Announced
The Children's Book by A. S. Byatt
Summertime by J. M. Coetzee
The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Book Week Awards: Winners Announced
- Book of the Year : Older Readers
Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
A collection of short stories that use Shaun's trademark illustrative style to increase meaning and enjoyment.
Honour Books : Older Readers
Into White Silence by Anthony Eaton
A Rose for the Anzac Boys by Jackie French - Book of the Year : Younger Readers
Perry Angel's Suitcase by Gelnda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
The third book in the Kingdom of Silk series. Perry Angel arrives at the Kingdom of Silk clinging to his old battered suitcase. A beautifully written and sensitive story.
Honour Books : Younger Readers
The Wish Pony by Catherine Bateson
Then by Morris Gleitzman - Book Of the Year : Early Childhood
How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham
In a cool, grey, unfeeling city Will is the only person to notice a fallen bird. Follow him as he cares for the bird.
Honour Books : Early Childhood
Leaf by Stephen Michael King
Tom Tom by Rosemary Sullivan, illustrated by Dee Huxley - Picture Book of the Year
Collecting Colour by Kylie Dunstan
Olive's mother and aunty are traditional basket weavers in the Northern Territory. In this story she and her friend Rose learn about the roots and berries used as dyes in the process.
Honour Books : Picture Book of the Year
Home and Away by Matt Ottley, text by John Marsden, published by Lothian Children's Books, Hachette
The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness by Colin Thompson, published by Randon House Australia - Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Alive in the Death Zone by Lincoln Hall
In 2006, an Australian mountaineer was left for dead in the 'death zone' following a successful ascent of Mount Everest. A great account by him of his survival and the perils of such an extreme adventure.
Honour Books : Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
The Word Spy by Ursula Duborsarsky, illustrated by Tohby Riddle
Simpson and his Donkey by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frane Lessac
Tim Winton's 'Breath' Wins Miles Franklin Award
While Tim Winton couldn't attend the announcement of the winner in person he did prepare a video acceptance speech.
It was interesting to note that Tim Winton used his acceptance speech to defend Australian authors territorial publishing rights in light of the Productivity Commission's review of Copyright Restrictions on the Parallel Importation of Books. This has become quite a hot topic in the Australian book industry as a quick blog search shows.
What about you? Do you have an opinion on this issue? Does the promise of cheaper books outweigh the potential for reduced opportunities for Australian authors to be published, as many authors and book industry professionals have argued?
Premier's Literary Award Winners Announced
Read about all the winners inlcuding the judges comments on the Premier's Literary Awards site.
It Must be Awards Season - Miles Franklin Literary Award Shortlist
Breath by Tim Winton
Ice by Louis Nowra
The Pages by Murray Bail
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
Wanting by Richard Flanagan
People's Choice - Premier's Literary Awards 2009
The Spare Room by Helen Garner
The Good Parents by Joan London
The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz
Disquiet by Julia Leigh
Breath by Tim Winton
1st Time Novelist wins 2008 Man Booker Prize
Born in a village in heartland India, the son of a rickshaw puller, Balram is taken out of school by his family and put to work in a teashop. As he crushes coals and wipes tables, he nurses a dream of escape - of breaking away from the banks of Mother Ganga, into whose depths have seeped the remains of a hundred generations.The White Tiger was one of six shortlisted titles for the prize. Also shortlisted for this year's prize were:
The White Tiger is a tale of two Indias. Balram’s journey from darkness of village life to the light of entrepreneurial success is utterly amoral, brilliantly irreverent, deeply endearing and altogether unforgettable.
from: Man Booker Prize web site
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
The Clothes on Their Backs by Linda Grant
The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz
Book Week 2008 has Come and Gone
I hope you had the opportunity to join us for one of our Book Week storytimes or at least saw some of the wonderful displays in all of our libraries, such as this one from Engadine (see more photos at flickr).
To all those who participated in Book Week parades at their school I hope your costumes looked fabulous and you all had a great day.
Of course the major activity of Book Week is the awarding of the Children's Book of the Year winners by the Children's Book Council of Australia. This years winners were:
The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett (Older Readers)
Dragon Moon by Carole Wilkinson (Younger Readers)
Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey (Early Childhood)
Requiem for a Beast by Matt Ottley (Picture Book of the Year)
Parsley Rabbit's Book About Books by Frances Watts (Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
2008 Prime Minister's Literary Awards Shortlist Announced
Fiction
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Burning In by Mireille Juchau
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El Dorado Dorothy Porter
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Jamaica Malcolm Knox
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Sorry Gail Jones
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The Complete Stories David Malouf
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The Widow and Her Hero Tom Keneally
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The Zookeeper's War Steven Conte
Non-Fiction
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A History of Queensland Raymond Evans
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Cultural Amnesia Clive James
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My Life as a Traitor Zarah Ghahramani with Robert Hillman
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Napoleon: The Path to Power, 1769–1799 Philip Dwyer
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Ochre and Rust: Artefacts and Encounters on Australian Frontiers Philip Jones
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Shakespeare's Wife Germaine Greer
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Vietnam: The Australian War Paul Ham
Covers from LibraryThing where available.