First Nations Reading Week 2022 at ANZ LitLovers
Cultural warning: Indigenous Australians are advised that some references throughout this blog include images or names of people now deceased.
8/6/22 Please note: this page has been edited to reflect its name change to First Nations Reading Week.
For information about FNRW 2022, click here.
Reviews
Thanks to everyone who is participating in 2022 First Nations Reading Week – I hope that hosting this celebration helps to make more people aware of First Nations writing!
You are welcome to add your review/s early (or late). I will be monitoring this page until the end of July.
When you are ready to share your reviews, please use comments below:
Include
- your name & the name of your blog (if you have one) and the URL where your review is posted (your blog, or your Goodreads or Library Thing account). If you know the name of the First Nation or language group of your author please include that too.
(Please do not add Amazon consumer reviews because they generate intrusive Amazon ads and I don’t care to support Amazon advertising).
- If you don’t have a blog or a Goodreads/Library Thing account, then please share what you thought about the book you read in the comments section at the bottom of this post.
- Or, if you’d like to write a review of greater length, contact me at anzlitloversATbigpondDOTcom about writing a guest review to be hosted on the ANZ LitLovers blog.
I will gather these links to generate a list which will be added under the headings below on this page. I will also add any new titles that crop up to the permanent First Nations Literature Reading List.
PS If you haven’t signed up to participate yet, or want to know more about ILW, click on the link at the top of this page.
2022 Reviews (in alphabetical order by author)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors
Evelyn Araluen, a Goorie-Koori woman from Wurundjeri Country in New South Wales
- Dropbear (2021)
Claire G Coleman who identifies with the South Coast Noongar people of Western Australia
- Lies, Damned Lies, see Bill’s review at The Australian Legend
Terri Janke is a Murri woman from Cairns and of Torres Strait descent with Meriam and Wuthathi heritage.
- True Tracks, Respecting Indigenous knowledge and culture, (2021) see my ANZ LitLovers review
Bruce Pascoe is a Yuin, Bunurong and Tasmanian man.
- Loving Country, a Guide to Sacred Australia, with Vicky Shukuroglou, see my ANZ LitLovers review
Adam Thompson is a Pakana man from Tasmania.
- Born into This, see my ANZ LitLovers review
Margaret Tucker, born in NSW of Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta descent.
- If Everyone Cared (1977), see my ANZ LitLovers review and for context, all readers are requested to read my post Decolonising a Blog… a work in progress #2: Learning about the emergence of Indigenous life writing.
Karen Wyld is of Martu descent, from people of the Pilbara region in Western Australia.
- When Rosa Came Home, (2013) see my ANZ LitLovers review
Children’s Books
- Somebody’s Land (Welcome to Our Country series) by Adam Goodes, an Adnyamathanha & Narungga man, and Ellie Laing. Illustrated by David Hardy who is a Barkindji man, author and artist.
- Ceremony, in the same series, also by Goodes, Laing & Hardy.
- Finding the Heart: A story about the Uluru Statement for young Australians, by Thomas Mayor and illustrated by Blak Douglas
- Miimi Marraal: Mother Earth by Melissa Greenwood who identifies with her mother’s a Gumbaynggirr heritage.
Maori and Pacific Authors
Whiti Hereaka, of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa and Pākehā descent.
- The Graphologist’s Apprentice, see my ANZ LitLovers Review
And from elsewhere…
Richard Wagamese, from the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations of One Man Lake, Swan Lake and Whitedog Ojibwe First Nation
- Indian Horse, see Emma’s review at Book Around the Corner
David Heska Wanbli Weiden, an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota nation
- Winter Counts, see Emma’s review at Book Around the Corner
Further reading
- Monday Musings on Australian Literature: First Nations Australian Poets, by Sue at Whispering Gums
- Black, White and Exempt, edited by Lucinda Aberdeen and Jennifer Jones with contributions from Ash Francisco, a Wiradjuri woman; Beth Marsden; Jessica Horton; Jennifer Jones; John Maynard, a Worimi man; Auntry Judy Wickes, a Kalkadoon and Wakka Wakka woman; Katherine Ellinghaus; Karen Hughes; Aunty Kella Robinson, a Wemba Wemba woman; Leonie Stevens; Lucinda Aberdeen;
This post was written on the traditional land of the Ngaruk-Willam clan, one of the six clans of the Bunerong (Boonwurrung or Boon wurrung) saltwater people of the Kulin nation.
[…] was the start of Lisa’s (ANZLitLovers) 2022 First Nations Reading Week which coincides of course with NAIDOC Week. As has become my practice, I’m devoting this […]
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By: Monday musings on Australian literature: First Nations Australian poets | Whispering Gums on July 4, 2022
at 10:59 pm
Hi Lisa, I have just reviewed ‘Am I Black Enough for You? 10 Years On’ by Anita Heiss. Link is here: https://readingmattersblog.com/2022/07/05/am-i-black-enough-for-you-10-years-on-by-anita-heiss/
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By: kimbofo on July 5, 2022
at 7:32 pm
Thanks, Kim, it’s such an excellent book, that one!
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By: Lisa Hill on July 5, 2022
at 8:47 pm
Yep, loved it
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: kimbofo on July 5, 2022
at 8:49 pm
[…] First Nations Reading Week 2022 is an annual reading event hosted by Lisa @ANZ LitLovers to coinincide with NAIDOC Week. The 2022 theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! One of their aims is to ‘amplify our voices’. […]
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By: First Nations Reading Week 2022 on July 8, 2022
at 9:15 pm
Here’s my annual picture book post :-)
https://bronasbooks.com/2022/07/08/first-nations-reading-week-2022/
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By: Brona's Books on July 8, 2022
at 9:30 pm
Thank you, Brona, I’ll be browsing these next time I’m in a bookshop!
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By: Lisa Hill on July 10, 2022
at 9:34 pm
[…] Written for Lisa’s First Nations Reading Week […]
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By: Evelyn Araluen, Dropbear (#BookReview) | Whispering Gums on July 10, 2022
at 3:59 pm
I have taken FOREVER on this 100 page book, but here is my post: https://whisperinggums.com/2022/07/10/evelyn-araluen-dropbear-bookreview/
I will have two others during the month, but both are books you’ve read. However, I’ll still add the here.
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By: whisperinggums on July 10, 2022
at 4:01 pm
Thank you for your contribution, Sue, and please do add the others when you are ready.
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By: Lisa Hill on July 10, 2022
at 9:35 pm
[…] Lisa’s (ANZLitLovers) 2022 First Nations Reading Week and this year’s NAIDOC Week officially ended yesterday. However, as I’ve done before, I’m bookending those events with Monday Musings posts – with this week’s topic being the pioneering publisher, Magabala Books. […]
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By: Monday musings on Australian literature: Magabala Books | Whispering Gums on July 11, 2022
at 11:45 pm
[…] last year, I also took part, to different degrees, in Lisa’s (ANZLitLovers) First Nations Reading Week, Bill’s (The Australian Legend) AWW Gen 4, Nonfiction November, Novellas in November (Cathy […]
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By: Blogging highlights for 2022 | Whispering Gums on January 1, 2023
at 8:01 pm