There are a number of established Aussie authors whose novels I always buy, for two reasons. The first is because they’re terrific authors and I know that I’ll enjoy reading the book, and the second is that I want to encourage them to write another one. In no particular order, these are the authors whose books may not be reviewed immediately but their latest books are on my TBR as soon as I can get my hands on them:
- Alex Miller
- Richard Flanagan
- Joan London
- Kate Grenville
- Cate Kennedy
- Andrea Goldsmith
- David Ireland
- David Foster
- Rodney Hall
- Kim Scott
- Marion Halligan
- David Malouf, and last – but definitely not least…
- Paddy O’Reilly.
And that is how I came to have a second copy of Paddy O’Reilly’s beaut new book – because her publisher, Affirm Press, very kindly sent me a review copy while I was waiting impatiently for the copy I’d pre-ordered to arrive. So, you lucky readers, you have the opportunity to get your hands on Paddy’s beaut new book because I’m giving the second (i.e. unread) copy away.
This is the blurb from Affirm Press:
What happens when three otherwise normal people undergo radical medical treatments that make them international curiosities? They become wonders. Leon has a small visible mechanical heart; Kathryn has been cured of a rare genetic disorder but is now covered in curly black wool; while performance artist Christos has metal wings implanted into his back. Brought together by a canny entrepreneur, ‘The Wonders’ are transformed into a glamorous, genre-defying, twenty-first-century freak show. But what makes them objects of fascination also places them in danger. Challenging our ideas about celebrity, disability and the value of human life, The Wonders is a boldly inventive, acute and moving novel from one of Australia’s finest authors.
Here’s a Sensational Snippet, and you can read my enthusiastic review here.
HOW TO ENTERBe in it to win it! Anyone with an Australian postal address is eligible. Please indicate your interest in the Comments box below and I’ll select a winner using a random generator by the end of August.
All entries from readers with an Australian postcode will be eligible but it is a condition of entry that if you are the winner, you must contact me with a postal address by the deadline that will be specified in the blog post that announces the winner. (I’ll redraw if this deadline isn’t met).
Good luck!
PS BTW, for those who count these things, my list of Must-have Authors is a 7/6 male/female split, and I listed those authors in the order that I thought of them with no deliberate attention to gender, ok?)
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
No point in me entering – I bought a copy as a result of your review. Loving it so far!
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By: Lynne Kelly on August 20, 2014
at 10:15 pm
You could give it to someone you love!
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By: Lisa Hill on August 20, 2014
at 10:48 pm
Good idea! Count me in!
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By: Lynne Kelly on August 21, 2014
at 10:59 am
I’d like to enter please!
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By: residentjudge on August 20, 2014
at 10:39 pm
Good luck, Janine:)
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By: Lisa Hill on August 20, 2014
at 10:50 pm
I’ve not read any Paddy O’Reilly but would love to so please enter me for the chance to win a copy of The Wonders.
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By: margaret on August 20, 2014
at 10:49 pm
I’m happy to do that, Margaret: good luck!
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By: Lisa Hill on August 20, 2014
at 10:55 pm
I’d love to read/win this, your review made me search for it – unavailable as yet in the UK BUT if I should be lucky enough to win I could give you my son’s Australian address and pick it up when I get to visit to him next February. We can’t trust the mail, the last packet I sent him (in March) arrived back here on Saturday, mouldy Easter chocolate and all.
And I’ve already told him about my Paddy O’Reilly fascination too!
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By: Carol S on August 21, 2014
at 2:17 am
Hi Carol, that’s frustrating about the mail, it’s disappointing when you’ve sent something with love and it never reaches its destination.
I wonder if the packet was returned by customs because of the food in it? There are very strict regulations about bringing food into Australia because we are keen to protect our disease free crops.
I think you can bring chocolate in, but it has to be declared…
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By: Lisa Hill on August 23, 2014
at 4:29 pm
I did declare it on the customs form. couldn’t understand the mail abbreviations/code that probably explained the non-delivery. I’ve dared to send a recorded delivery packet today, with extra birthday cards ie for this and sort of next year, no chocolate, but a memory stick of film, here’s hoping.
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By: Carol S on August 24, 2014
at 7:58 am
It’s all so complex, isn’t it?!
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By: Lisa Hill on August 24, 2014
at 12:01 pm
Hi, I would like to enter as well. I really enjoyed The Fine Colour of Rust and am keen to read this one , thanks.
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By: Cherie on August 21, 2014
at 6:50 am
Thanks for the give-away Lisa. Your review made me keen to read this book.
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By: robinandian2013 on August 21, 2014
at 7:29 am
Good luck, Robin and Cherie:)
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By: Lisa Hill on August 21, 2014
at 8:32 am
Hello,
I would like to enter the Wonders giveaway.
Many thanks for your excellent blog – I have been thoroughly enjoying it for many years now!
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By: Michelle Stockley on August 21, 2014
at 9:22 am
You’re welcome, Michelle – good luck with the giveaway:)
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By: Lisa Hill on August 21, 2014
at 10:22 am
Count me in too, please. Although I can’t believe Helen Garner isn’t on your list – she’s definitely on mine. Shame there isn’t a word for ‘Authors Whose Work Must Be Read Immediately Upon Publication.’ German is a great language for those sorts of words. Perhaps a German speaker could cobble one together for us?
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By: MST on August 21, 2014
at 2:43 pm
Will certainly count you in, MST, but no, I won’t ever be adding Helen Garner to my list. Her latest title, IMO, is beyond distasteful.
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By: Lisa Hill on August 21, 2014
at 3:14 pm
Ooohhh, please count me in, too, I can put it next to my signed copy of The Fine Colour of Rust that I picked up from the Stonnington talk that you chaired earlier in the year.
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By: sharkell on August 21, 2014
at 4:48 pm
Hi Sharon, may I suggest that you bookmark November 23rd? My lips are sealed, and I won’t respond to guesses, but here’s a little hint: http://tinyurl.com/9ogpm8h
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By: Lisa Hill on August 21, 2014
at 5:03 pm
Ok, it’s in my diary, I will wait with anticipation….
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By: sharkell on August 21, 2014
at 8:45 pm
*smile*
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By: Lisa Hill on August 21, 2014
at 8:48 pm
Yes count me in I would love to read this book, it sounds great.
Thanks…Cris
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By: Cristina Abeyratne on August 22, 2014
at 4:34 pm
Happy to do that, Cristina, good luck!
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By: Lisa Hill on August 22, 2014
at 7:06 pm
Hello Lisa,
I loved ‘The Fine Colour of Rust’ and am looking forward to ‘The Wonders’
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By: Margaret Tranter on August 23, 2014
at 4:21 pm
Hi Margaret, nice to hear from you – good luck!
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By: Lisa Hill on August 23, 2014
at 5:14 pm
I love the sound of this book. I am always on the lookout for something different to read. Support the Aussie aswell.
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By: Lea Greene on October 7, 2014
at 5:56 pm
Hello Lea, I liked its originality very much so I hope you like it too.
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By: Lisa Hill on October 7, 2014
at 6:03 pm