There has been a bit going on this year in my neck of the woods: seeing The Weight of Light have its world premiere in Canberra and then performed in Goulburn and Sydney (plus two other music projects but more on these at a later date) and a final spit and polish of Bodies of Men before it heads into the world in April/May 2019. As always, reading has been the foundation. Stillness and immersion and revelation and depth: there will never be anything like it.
The following is not really a ‘best of’; it’s just a list of work that I have read that has got beneath my skin.
In Terra Nullius, Claire G. Coleman, a writer from Western Australia who identifies with the South Coast Noongar people, reveals the horrors and hypocrisies that underpin contemporary Australia. In a way, perhaps, the novel is speculative fiction, but the scenario is far too present to be ignored, as are the uncomfortable truths it reveals. This is one of the most unique novels I have read in years.
Speaking of unique, a work that I almost literally gobbled up is The Long Take by Robin Robertson. A verse novel, the narrative follows a D-Day veteran as he travels across the US so he can piece his life together. Rather surprisingly The Long Take is as much about urban planning and design as it is about war; there are also evocations of Hollywood. Disintegration appears to be the unifying theme, but this is not a grim read, nor is it inaccessible. Truly remarkable.
With her trademark lyricism, Robyn Cadwallader in Book of Colours brings to life the people and politics behind the making of a fourteenth-century prayer book; the novel is also about the making of art in general. It is fascinating – and highly moving – from first page to last. A beautiful novel in every way.
Also beautiful is Inga Simpson’s Understory, which is a chronicle of the author’s profound attachment to a small patch of Queensland forest. This is much more than a tree-change memoir: it is also about the desire to live a creative life and the need to find and survive love. Very moving.
Two poetry collections especially resonated: Melinda Smith’s Goodbye, Cruel and Kumukanda by Kayo Chingonyi. In the former, Smith once again displays her extraordinary range, moving seemingly effortlessly from the dramatic to the deep historic. In the latter, Chingonyi investigates music, masculinity and racism, in a tone that reads to me as muscular melancholia – it is wonderful. Both collections I have read more than once.
As others have said, Andrew Sean Greer’s Less is a surprisingly light read for a Pulitzer Prize-winner. It is a warm and accessible read, but it is ultimately a deeply yearning hymn to modern love in a global world. Although often hilarious, Less is also a broken-hearted novel and deserves to be read until the end for its full impact to be experienced.
A second heartbreaking novel from this year, though it is also brain- and soul-breaking, is Taboo by Kim Scott. Another writer of Noongar decent, Scott has created a deeply affecting story about race relations in Australia. In spare but lyrical – at times literally magical – prose, Scott writes about the layers of this country’s history that are far too often glossed over to tell a more appealing but largely false narrative. Taboo is powerful and very necessary.
I also thoroughly enjoyed The Life to Come by Michelle de Kretser and, though it took me a long time (years) to get to it, The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers, as well as On Patriotism by Paul Daley and No Country Woman: A memoir of not belonging by Zoya Patel.
Much of this year was dedicated to reading gay fiction, which I wrote about for Meanjin. I also loved All Being Equal from Griffith Review, because it includes a suite of novellas that explore the contemporary gay experience, and because the stories are deeply moving.
Finally, I was lucky enough to read advance copies of two wonderfully adventurous novels that will be released in 2019: The Artist’s Portrait by Julie Keys, which in a memorably unflinching voice reveals the complex and often fraught nature of creative identity; and Karen Viggers’ The Orchardist’s Daughter – told in the author’s typically unaffected prose, the novel explores the web of relationships and competing viewpoints that exist in and around a Tasmanian forest. Here’s hoping both novels will be much discussed and find a broad audience.
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December 22, 2018 at 9:16+00:00Dec
robyncadwallader
Thanks Nigel for such kind words about my little book. An honour to be in this company x
December 22, 2018 at 9:16+00:00Dec
Nigel Featherstone
My pleasure, Robyn. Your novel very definitely resonates, and (to my mind) it does so in such a gentle but determined way x
December 22, 2018 at 9:16+00:00Dec
viggerskarengmailcom
Thanks Nigel for mentioning my upcoming novel. I can’t wait for your beautiful book to hit the shelves in May. It was an honour to read it!
December 23, 2018 at 9:16+00:00Dec
Nigel Featherstone
My pleasure, Karen. Thanks for all YOUR support. Very much looking forward to seeing THE ORCHARDIST’S DAUGHTER out in the world from February onwards – no doubt this will be another novel of yours that will find an adoring readership.
January 13, 2019 at 9:16+00:00Jan
whisperinggums
How did I miss this when it was published? I know, probably because I was in a flap preparing for the arrival of daughter, and son, partner and new grandson for Christmas. That would have done it.
Great write-up Nigel, containing some books I know and loved too, some I’d like to read, and some I’m expecting to read this year. I always enjoy your perspectives on reading and books.
My biggest surprise of 2018 was all of my reading group, except me, not liking Terra Nullius. I still shake my head. Some, I could understand, but ALL of them? Some kindly said they were glad they’d read it – but … I wanted more than that.
Here’s wishing you a great (and succesful) 2019!
January 27, 2019 at 9:16+00:00Jan
Nigel Featherstone
Good to hear from you, Sue, as always. Here’s hoping you had a terrific break. No doubt you’ve got another busy year ahead.
I loved Terra Nullius, and still think about it often. It’s such an imaginative and gutsy take on Australia’s pre-colonial history. Wonderful that it’s found success both here and overseas. Sorry to hear you reading group didn’t take to it.
Here’s to another year of good reading. I’ll be sure to keep dropping in to Whispering Gums for more thoughtful commentary from you about books!
January 27, 2019 at 9:16+00:00Jan
whisperinggums
Thanks Nigel.
I still shake my head about that one. Next week we start for this year with Boy swallows universe. How will that go I wonder?