2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize shortlist has been announced.
The shortlist for the 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize – Adult Category is:
- Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray River of Dreams, by Anita Heiss (Simon and Schuster), see my review
- Our Shadows, by Gail Jones (Text Publishing), see Brona’s review at This Reading Life
- The Burning Island, by Jock Serong (Text Publishing), see my review
-
- 2020
The ARA Historical Novel Prize winners will be announced at the HNSA virtual conference on 22 October 2021
Links on the titles go to the publisher’s website.
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
I have Heiss’s book. I really will try to read it soon. And, I still have to read anything by Jones and Serong!
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By: whisperinggums on September 24, 2021
at 8:27 pm
LOL I have two of Gail Jones’s books on the TBR. I read something of hers ages ok, didn’t like the heavy-handed symbolism but bought another and liked it even less. But she niggles away at me, so many people admire her books, so I’ve bought the two I still have, out of guilt, I think!
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By: Lisa Hill on September 24, 2021
at 9:13 pm
I just have Five Bells here.
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By: whisperinggums on September 25, 2021
at 9:03 am
LOL it’s a race to see who reads it first!
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By: Lisa Hill on September 25, 2021
at 10:55 am
A slow race … geeeet reeaady …
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By: whisperinggums on September 25, 2021
at 11:52 am
I have yet to read ‘Our Shadows’, but I really like the other two.
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By: Jennifer on September 25, 2021
at 11:45 am
I am so torn… am I going to buy another by Jones and never get round to reading it?
No, but I’ve just put a reserve on it at the library…
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By: Lisa Hill on September 25, 2021
at 12:10 pm
If it helps you decide whether to read Our Shadows, you can read my response here – https://bronasbooks.com/2020/11/15/our-shadows-gail-jones-ausfiction/
but, I suspect it will only confirm your thoughts about her use of ‘heavy-handed symbolism’.
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By: Brona's Books on September 26, 2021
at 6:43 pm
Thanks for the link, Brona, I’ll add it above:)
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By: Lisa Hill on September 26, 2021
at 7:06 pm
I loved Our Shadows but I read it in Kalgoorlie, where it is set, and that might have had an impact on my opinion.
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By: kimbofo on September 28, 2021
at 5:48 pm
Well, I’ve just started it and I’m pleasantly surprised! Not super-excited, but it’s much better than what I last read of hers.
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By: Lisa Hill on September 29, 2021
at 11:30 am
She can be hit and miss. But I really enjoyed this one!
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By: kimbofo on September 29, 2021
at 11:38 am
I’ve been to Kalgoorlie too, back in the 1980s, so maybe that’s got something to do with it too.
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By: Lisa Hill on September 29, 2021
at 12:31 pm
[…] see the shortlisted authors, see here. and the longlist […]
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By: 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize winners | ANZ LitLovers LitBlog on October 23, 2021
at 12:00 pm