This is my mandatory round-up post about the Australian Women Writers’ Challenge 2016. I undertook to read 10 books by Australian women writers. I read 14, which ranged from revelatory and richly entertaining to definitely meant for readers who aren’t me. Here they are. I’ve tried to be clever with the lay-out. My apologies if it shows up on your screen as a jumble.
Poetry:
Eileen Chong
Painting Red Orchids
Antigone Kefala
Fragments
Colleen Burke
Home Brewed and Lethal
Pam Brown
Missing Up
x
Novels:
Margo Lanagan
Sea Hearts
Gail Jones
A Guide to Berlin
Charlotte Wood
The Natural Way of Things
Short Fiction:
Letter to Pessoa
x
x
x
x
x
x
Memoirs:
Not Just Black and White
x
x
x
x
x
x
A comic (that’s a graphic novel to those who think ‘comics’ means superheroes or Disney):
Ada Louise
x
x
x
x
x
Essays:
Laura Tingle
Political Amnesia
I’m signing up for the 2017 challenge.
My general gender stats: This year I read 39 books by men and 31 by women.This includes at least five (the Y: The Last Man series) that were jointly written by a man and a woman.
Me fail? I fly! 
Congratulations, Jonathan. I’ve read Sea Hearts, The Burial Writes and The Natural Way of Things. Three v. talented writers. Margo Lanagan’s collection Black Juice is also great if you’re after more Australian works for 2017.
And if you’re after overseas writers, although you’ve probably already read it, Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter is incredible.
And have a merry Christmas too!
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Thanks Anthony. I agree about those three writers. And you’ve just moved Nights at the Circus onto my mental TBR pile (actually an unbelievably long list in my phone) – Angela Carter is one of those writers I keep hearing about but have never read. Have a happy Christmas.
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It’s an incredible achievement – worth the time. Parts linger just after the opening, but after that it’s just amazing.
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wonderful year of reading congrats and thank u for your blogs/unable to read much eye trouble so u give me titbits(oops)women writers ) luvverly xmas to you and partner cheers
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Thanks Patricia. Happy to be of use. Have a great Christmas yourself.
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