The winner of the 2018 Miles Franklin Award was announced today: congratulations to Michelle de Kretser who has won the award for the second time with her novel The Life to Come.
My review is here. and here’s more about it from an author event that I attended at Beaumaris Books.
To see what was a very fine shortlist, click here, and for the longlist, see here.
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All I can say is Wow. I have not read it but have heard a lot about it. Were you surprised this won?
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By: TravellinPenguin on August 26, 2018
at 5:34 pm
I wouldn’t have been surprised if any of them won: it was such a bumper year of OzLit last year – so many wonderful books published and all of them potentially worthy winners.
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By: Lisa Hill on August 26, 2018
at 5:49 pm
Just too many books to get to all of them.
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By: TravellinPenguin on August 29, 2018
at 6:38 am
I am delighted this won. Such a wonderful novel about contemporary Australian life! But it was a super strong shortlist. I’ve read them all now and there wasn’t a dud on it.
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By: kimbofo on August 26, 2018
at 5:46 pm
That’s right, an amazing year for OzLit and all I can say is, let’s hope the brilliance of this crop of authors inspires others to write as well as they have.
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By: Lisa Hill on August 26, 2018
at 5:50 pm
From the outside looking in, Australian literary fiction appears to be in fine fettle. All those awards help and initiatives like the Readings prize for debut writers are great for inspiring people to either read or write, I would think.
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By: kimbofo on August 26, 2018
at 5:57 pm
Let’s hope so!
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By: Lisa Hill on August 26, 2018
at 6:18 pm
Lisa,
I learned of the author Michelle de Kretser while reading one of your blog entries. I read her novel, Questions of Travel. I agree with your assertion that Kretser warrants her readers to pay critical attention to details. The event featuring the author seemed very engaging. Her approach to writing craft in terms of plot, characterization, and setting is thought-provoking. As a poet, I’m interested in how characters and events collide in the midst of challenging predicaments. Is what makes literature compelling to read and gain insight from.
It’s wonderful that she won the 2018 Miles Franklin Award. There is an interesting Books & Arts podcast featuring Kretser reading from and discussing the novel- http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/booksandarts/michelle-de-kretser-the-life-to-come/9013966
The Life to Come is available in the United States so I as soon as I find free time, I will read it.
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By: smaxine27 on August 27, 2018
at 6:01 am
I think you’ll find it compelling … I suspect that many of the issues raised are also relevant in the US.
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By: Lisa Hill on August 27, 2018
at 12:50 pm
Well done and well deserved, CHINA
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By: CHINA ALEXANDRIA, AUTHOR on August 28, 2018
at 2:11 pm
Yes indeed, I love it when we get wonderful books to read like this one:)
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By: Lisa Hill on August 28, 2018
at 6:23 pm