Melbourne by the book...
Melbourne by the book…
As a UNESCO City of Literature, it’s no secret that Melbourne has a literary soul.
There’s something special about reading books set amongst the streets and sights that you know best. Below some of our staff share their favourite books set in Melbourne.
Loaded by Christos Tsiolkas (chosen by Suzy)
“The first novel by the author of the runaway Melbourne-set bestseller The Slap, Loaded follows Ari, a young gay Greek-Australian man, over 24 hours. Split into different areas of Melbourne (East, North West and South) we get an insight into a city, a culture, a country. Brutal and visceral, this book is a bit punk in its no holds barred attitude and it caused quite a stir when it was first published.”
Monkey Grip by Helen Garner (chosen by Kat)
“It may be the obvious choice, but I can’t go past Helen Garner’s Monkey Grip as the quintessential Melbourne novel. From the sun-soaked concrete by the Fitzroy pool, to the dingy terrace share houses, Garner’s novel about living, loving and letting go evokes a Melbourne that isn’t always beautiful, but feels oh so real.”
Truth by Peter Temple (chosen by Lindsay)
“Temple was one of Australia’s best mystery writers. In Truth he is able to bring together the unique heat of a Melbourne summer, the city’s corruption and his detective’s personal demons. This Miles Franklin winner is deftly written and features Melbourne’s familiar streets throughout.”
The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson (chosen by Cam)
“I loved this story about a young country girl sent to boarding school in the bustling Melbourne of more than 100 years ago. This is an early example of the coming-of-age novel, and you will love witnessing Laura learn and grow into a young adult.”
Helen Garner, The House of Grief (chosen by Jaye)
By one of Melbourne’s literary legends, the inimitable Helen Garner, The House of Grief is a heart-wrenching chronicle of the aftermath of an unimaginable crime.
“Garner gives an unflinching account of a devastating travesty that viscerally impacted all Victorians. The least we can do is bear witness.”
More fantastic Melbourne based reads:
Foreign Soil by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Maxine Beneba Clarke’s luminous short story collection Foreign Soil gives voice to people living ordinary lives, oftentimes on the margins of society. Two are set in Melbourne, and all are beautifully written and incredibly poignant. Buy the book…
Born-again Blackfella by Jack Charles
Jack Charles is a Melbourne icon, a familiar sight on both the stage and screen. A formidable character of both great humour and charm, his life story isn’t always easy to read. Taken from his mother and put in an institution as a baby, the charismatic thespian overcame addiction and incarceration to reclaim his stolen identity as a proud Aboriginal man.
The Phryne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood
Kerry Greenwood’s dazzling sleuth, the effervescent Phryne Fisher, is the perfect guide to take you into both the seedy underbelly and ritzy high society of 1920s Melbourne. This series provides both tantalising mysteries to keep you turning the pages, and also a real feel for a what living in the Melbourne of yesteryear might have been like.
Unpolished Gem by Alice Pung
This warm, funny memoir chronicles the life of a Chinese-Cambodian family pursuing the Australian dream in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray. Alice Pung is such a wonderful writer, she absolutely takes you along for the journey as she vividly describes her youth.
The Trauma Cleaner by Sarah Krasnostein
Sandra Pankhurst is a trauma cleaner. Interspersed between chapters chronicling the Sandra’s incredible life story, this book takes you behind the shiny veneer of suburban Melbourne, into the houses that she cleans and the stories of trauma and disenfranchisement that lie just beneath the surface.