It’s always really difficult to single out books for lists like this – but here – in reverse order of reading them – are the books that stood out for me this year. My one 5-star read was N, by John A Scott, an unforgettable novel with all sorts of interesting twists and turns.
- Navigatio by Patrick Holland – see my review
- The Golden Age by Joan London – see my review and a Sensational Snippet
- To Name Those Lost by Rohan Wilson – see my review
- The Cupboard Under the Stairs by George Turner – see my review
- A Million Windows by Gerald Murnane – see my review and a Sensational Snippet
- The Family Men by Catherine Harris – see my review
- The White Woman by Liam Davison – see my review
- The Wonders by Paddy O’Reilly – see my review and a Sensational Snippet
- After Darkness by Christine Piper – see my review
- Baby No-eyes by Patricia Grace – see my review
- The Memory Trap by Andrea Goldsmith – see my review and a Sensational Snippet
- The Neighbour by Julie Proudfoot – see my review
- N by John A Scott – see my review
- Thicker Than Water by Judith Colquhoun – see my review
- Riders in the Chariot by Patrick White – see my review and the Opening Lines
- The Bright Side of My Condition by Charlotte Randall – see my review
- The First Week by Margaret Merrilees – see my review
- The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan – see my review and a Sensational Snippet
- Just-a-girl by Kirsten Krauth – see my review
- Shame and the Captives by Tom Keneally – see my review and a Sensational Snippet
I’m pleased to note that this list – without the slightest bit of manipulation from me – has resulted in an almost equal split along gender lines.
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
If one could judge a book by its cover, they all look wonderful. I wish we had access to a wider range of Australian novels here in Canada.
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By: roughghosts on December 23, 2014
at 8:34 pm
We need to be better at marketing them – we get quite a few Canadian novels here. I must read The Orenda before long!
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By: Lisa Hill on December 23, 2014
at 10:16 pm
Interesting list as always Lisa … I think my list will be quite different, partly because I’ve not read many of the books on your list!!
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By: whisperinggums on December 23, 2014
at 9:30 pm
It was hard work to whittle them down, I read 60 Australian novels this year…
I read some interesting NF this year too, more than I usually do.
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By: Lisa Hill on December 23, 2014
at 10:25 pm
I think if you choose well what to read, it’s always hard to whittle them down isn’t it?
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By: whisperinggums on December 24, 2014
at 7:48 am
LOL You know, of course, that I started out with the intention of choosing the Best Ten, which became 12, then 15, and then….
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By: Lisa Hill on December 24, 2014
at 1:44 pm
Fortunately we are bloggers and we can decide to have whatever we like as our top number can’t we?
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By: whisperinggums on December 24, 2014
at 11:26 pm
How lovely to read a “books of the year” post that doesn’t look like everyone else’s! I’ve only read a couple from your list; the others I will make a note of.
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By: kimbofo on December 24, 2014
at 5:27 am
I wonder what my list would look like if I included the international fiction and translations I read this year? I read some great books from Africa, I loved every one of Zola’s, and I discovered Marguerite Duras and a new Hans Fallada, and Stoner was brilliant.
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By: Lisa Hill on December 24, 2014
at 1:49 pm
This is not good Lisa, I have to add 9 more books to my TBR list. I am in Hobart for the month and will not have access to my library! Thanks for the list as I always like to check out your reads. Have a wonderful Christmas.
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By: Meg on December 24, 2014
at 6:10 am
Thank you , Meg, and have a lovely time in Hobart. One of my favourite places to be, and of course you know about the excellent bookshop behind the Salamanca market, you won’t be short of books!
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By: Lisa Hill on December 24, 2014
at 1:50 pm
I certainly know it – and rely on it! My Hobartian brother and partner are big readers and I know that if I give them a book that they’ve read, this shop will pretty much always exchange it for them. I’ve only been to it a few times myself but I’m a BIG fan!!
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By: whisperinggums on December 24, 2014
at 11:33 pm
A wonderful list and love the slideshow, what beautiful covers! Great to see a list of titles from downunder, a wonderful reference to all your reviews. ‘N’ sounds fascinating, I hope it gets a wider audience. Ok, off to read some more of the reviews. :)
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By: Claire 'Word by Word' on December 24, 2014
at 5:08 pm