Hi everyone!

So, I'd like to know your thoughts/impressions about Australian literature. Whether you're from another country, or grew up down under, do you engage with Australian literature? If so, what texts? What are your impressions of it?

It's something I'm quite curious about. A common experience in aus is that people study it in high school for a bit and never look back. On the other hand, some people love it - they follow prizes like the Stella and Miles Franklin, attend local writers festivals, etc. I personally try to read at least a couple of Australian texts each year because we do have some truly great writing.

But I'd also like to know whether people read it much overseas. I get the impression that Australian literature only really circulates locally and does not often take the international stage. For example, I barely hear book influencers talking about Australian literature.

What are your thoughts?

What’s something in books that instantly makes you feel deeply unsettled? Like scary or just that weird creeping dread. For me it’s caves, deep water, outer space. I love horror books that have these elements.

Also pregnancy makes me deeply uncomfortable but not in a good way, I stay away from that trope 😭

I used to be a “one book only” type of reader but within the last couple of years I’ve become someone who needs variety. I constantly have 5+ books in rotation.

I have an audiobook that I listen to when I’m casually doing things around the house. I have a manga/graphic novel I read in the morning, like an old man who reads his daily newspaper 😅 I have my “big” book that i like taking my time with so I only read a chapter or 2 per session. Right now it’s The Lord of the Rings, next I’m planning on reading Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series. I have a reread of a favorite for when I have days where I’m in a slump. I have my library hold which is typically a new release or something that came out within the last 2 years. And then I have the odd ball read which are books I don’t typically gravitate towards but I was randomly interested in, like memoirs.

Each of my reads live in a different area of my house. Like my manga and reread live in my living room and I’ll read them while I’m drinking my morning coffee. My big book is in my “activity” basket and it goes with me all over the house. My nightstand has my odd ball reads.

Anyone else like this??