Here’s the shortlist for the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction 2019! The prize recognises exceptional new contributions to local literature.
The winner will be announced in October and chosen by a judging panel of booksellers, Readings managing director Mark Rubbo and guest judge and former Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction winner Jennifer Down. The winner receives $3000 in prize money.
Once again I have proven that I would make a hopeless prize judge: nothing that I nominated has been chosen. But I have read and reviewed two of them…
The six books are:
A Constant Hum by Alice Bishop, see Kim’s review at Reading Matters
Inappropriation by Lexi Freiman, see Theresa’s review at Theresa Smith Writes
The Flight of Birds by Joshua Lobb, (update 18/9/19) see my review
A Superior Spectre by Angela Meyer, see my review
This Taste for Silence by Amanda O’Callaghan and
The Glad Shout by Alice Robinson. see my review
(Links go to Readings Bookstore).
Congratulations to all the authors, editors and publishers!
PS FWIW my (somewhat long) shortlist when we were asked to nominate titles on Twitter were:
The Trespassers by Meg Mundell, see my review;
The Returns, by Philip Salom, see my review;
Little Stones by Elisabeth Kuiper, see my review;
Daughter of Bad Times by Rohan Wilson, see my review;
Invented Lives by Andrea Goldsmith, see my review;
The War Artist by Simon Cleary, see my review;
Driving Into the Sun by Marcella Poilain, see my review; and
Into the Fire by Sonia Orchard, see my review.
Which proves, I reckon, that this is a good year for OzLit!
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
Thanks for the link… it’s an interesting list. I had originally interpreted the New Australian Fiction title as being for debut writers only, but it seems I’ve got that wrong…
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By: kimbofo on August 20, 2019
at 2:59 pm
Yes, I thought that too, or emerging writers at least (whatever that means!)
I’m pretty sure someone has reviewed Inappropriation, but I can’t remember who. Hopefully, a hand will go up!
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By: Lisa Hill on August 20, 2019
at 3:04 pm
Wah! I haven’t read any… need to get busy (after the MWF).
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By: Kate W on August 20, 2019
at 4:35 pm
Like Kate, I’ve read neither their shortlist nor yours. I think I’d better stick to the last century where at least I keep afloat.
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By: wadholloway on August 20, 2019
at 4:46 pm
Yup, I’m drowning too:)
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By: Lisa Hill on August 20, 2019
at 5:11 pm
My first thought was debut, but then I read the descriptions again and the focus seems not the author (as in new author) but the writing as in something new about the style or approach? Also, how local is local!
Nice to see Angela Meyer’s book listed. An interesting book that qualifies as “new”?
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By: whisperinggums on August 20, 2019
at 6:09 pm
I don’t know. I get the Readings magazine and I’ve probably read the rules somewhere, but I can’t remember…
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By: Lisa Hill on August 20, 2019
at 6:42 pm
I guess I could research it if I really needed to know!
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By: whisperinggums on August 20, 2019
at 10:02 pm
I have reviewed Inappropriation:
https://theresasmithwrites.com/2018/08/07/new-release-book-review-inappropriation-by-lexi-freiman/
I much prefer A Superior Spectre though!
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By: Theresa Smith Writes on August 20, 2019
at 8:25 pm
I knew I’d seen it somewhere!
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By: Lisa Hill on August 20, 2019
at 10:04 pm
I think you might have mentioned it once before in a review of a different book. A comparison of sorts.
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By: Theresa Smith Writes on August 20, 2019
at 10:46 pm
Yes, the title is familiar to me, but I don’t know why – maybe just from reading your review?
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By: Lisa Hill on August 20, 2019
at 11:01 pm
I just checked back and you did comment on it but also mentioned it in your review of Decadence by David Weir, because there’s a ping back there for it.
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By: Theresa Smith Writes on August 21, 2019
at 11:37 am
Gosh, that was cheeky of me, considering I hadn’t read it!
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By: Lisa Hill on August 21, 2019
at 11:41 am
😁
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By: Theresa Smith Writes on August 21, 2019
at 11:45 am
Haha, that’s you Lisa – cheeky!
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By: whisperinggums on August 21, 2019
at 11:38 pm
[…] Prize for New Australian Fiction shortlist was announced yesterday. I haven’t read any (but Lisa has) – I have a couple on reserve at the […]
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By: Bookish (and not so bookish) Thoughts | booksaremyfavouriteandbest on August 21, 2019
at 10:12 pm
[…] among the shortlisted books for the 2019 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction, was a book by an author entirely new to me. Joshua Lobb is senior lecturer in creative writing […]
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By: The Flight of Birds, by Joshua Lobb | ANZ LitLovers LitBlog on September 18, 2019
at 8:35 am