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Australian/New Zealand Literature

Discussion in 'Booktalk' started by Uytuun, Nov 13, 2007.

  1. Uytuun Gems: 25/31
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    Does it exist?

    No, really, are there famous authors/books/scholars that deal with this type of literature? I've never been confronted with anything Australian/New Zealand during my three and 1/2 years of uni so far, so I was wondering...
     
    Uytuun, Nov 13, 2007
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  2. Elfen Lied

    Elfen Lied The Bird of Hermes is my name, eating my wings to

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    not quite sure what your getting at.

    ive read plenty of stuff from New Zealand authors, Once Were Warriors, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted, Jake's Story (sorry couldnt remember the name of the 3rd one).

    I think it depends on the genre, there isnt too much New Zealand sci fi/fantasy stuff, and most of it is for kids, not your average IWD trilogy/LOTR fan (unless they read well above their age level).

    havent read much auzzie stuff though.
     
    Elfen Lied, Nov 13, 2007
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  3. Uytuun Gems: 25/31
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    Well, I mean the more literary novels, not really sci-fi/fantasy stuff. ;)
     
    Uytuun, Nov 13, 2007
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  4. Elfen Lied

    Elfen Lied The Bird of Hermes is my name, eating my wings to

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    aah. like i said it exists but in small doses.

    i listed 3.

    most of it is about life in New Zealand for a certain group of people, Maori (kinda like the indiginous people of New Zealand), or those who have chosen to go live in bushland areas.
     
    Elfen Lied, Nov 14, 2007
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  5. Aikanaro Gems: 31/31
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    Um, nothing really comes to mind. Well, except for 'bush poetry' - there's plenty of that and it was thusly crammed down our necks at school, but there weren't really any Australian literary novels that we were forced to endure.

    In fact, the only notable Australian author that comes to mind is John Marsden, which seeing that you're after 'literary' things, he probably doesn't count given that his books are written with teenagers in mind. OTOH, The Tomorrow Series is very good, and does have a distinctly Australian tone to it.

    I'm sure that there are great works of Australian literature out there, but apparently no one cares about them. Sorry :p

    (I know that New Zealand has something of a magical realist movement going though. Never read any of it and don't know any works or authors, but it might be something to look into)
     
    Aikanaro, Nov 16, 2007
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  6. Montresor

    Montresor Mostly Harmless Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder

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    Colleen McCollough ("The Thorn Birds") is Australian. :)
     
    Montresor, Nov 16, 2007
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  7. Uytuun Gems: 25/31
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    Thanks for the info. Strange that no one should care, very strange indeed.
     
    Uytuun, Nov 19, 2007
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  8. Aldazar Gems: 24/31
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    Thomas Kenneally is Australian, and though it isn't Australian-themed he wrote Schindler's Ark after meeting Poldek Pfefferberg (sp?) in iirc a dry-cleaners. The only other work I can think of that he wrote is The Chant Of Jimmy Blacksmith which I have been led to believe is based on a LOT of research into early colonial Australia. Does this count?
     
    Aldazar, Nov 22, 2007
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  9. Aikanaro Gems: 31/31
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    Aha - got one! :)

    On the Beach by Nevil Shute. One of those perfectly depressing post-apocalyptic books...
     
    Aikanaro, Dec 2, 2007
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