Kenneth Slessor for his poems 'Five Bells', 'Five Visions of Captain Cook', 'Beach Burial' and a few others; Patrick White for 'Tree of Man' in particular. Charles Osbourne for his books on the operas of Verdi and Mozart. I have just read a very good book, long out of print, called 'Details Enclosed' by Ivan Chapman about his experiences as a soldier and POW in Europe in WWII.

Hi folks, Like to throw in my two bob's worth for some great Australian authors. I'm afraid my preference is for history so these are my favourites;

Colleen McCullough
Thomas Keneally
Les Carlyon
C. E. W. Bean
Paul Ham
Robert Hughes

My spelling aint top notch today - sorry.

oh yeah - and Thomas Keneally - how could I forget him?

Ainsley you took the words right out of my mouth: Collen McCullough, Bruce Courtnay and Peter Carey, although concerning Bryce, I must - reluctantly - agree.
For Sci-Fi fans I am proud to share my citizenship with one Greg Egan who lives in Perth: his compares well to the best modern sci-fi in the world.
For crime fiction fans, no-one seems to have mentioned Sydney author Peter Corris yet.
This is a bloody great thread I reckon, eh? (lol)

My favourite author is the poet, academic and critic, Christopher Brennan (1870-1932). Not only has he been a major influence on later Australian poetry, his major work, Poems, has a richness and depth to it that keeps me discovering new things and aspects of the Western esoteric tradition.

Other than that, I love a lot of the poets, especially Tranter, Kinsella, Maurray, Malouf, Zwicky, Tracy Ryan, Gig Ryan, and too many more than I can name in a single post.

My favourite would have to be Keri Arthur, definately

Nick Earls, Traci Harding, Bryce Courtenay, Isobelle Carmody... those are all that spring to mind. :-)

Tim Winton, Kate Morton, Robert Drewe, David Malouf, John Marsden, Gabrielle Lord.

I read Caroline Macdonald's The Lake at the End of the World and loved it.

Melina Marchetta (famous for Looking for Alibrandi)

Kate Constable, Juliet Marillier, Marianne Curley, and Garth Nix are fantastic fantasy authors.

And Elizabeth Honey has a fantastic writing voice- it's exactly like a kid's but full of detail and colour. She's this good: I'm almost seventeen and i still haven't grown out of her yet!

John Marsden and Matthew Reilly are fantastic as well.

i love trudi canavan and john marsden, both are amazing, oh and melina marchetta :)

I've recently just read Breath by Tim Winton, it's my favourtie of his books and he is one of my favourite Australian authors. I just love the way he describes and writes about Australia. I also really like Bryce Courtney, James Marsden, Andrew McGahan (might have the spelling wrong), Kate Grenville, Lian Hearn (love Otorio series). Oh and the lady who the Dressmaker. I can't remember her name. Loved the book thief by Markus Zusak. And Peter Temple's The Broken Shore was really good. I'm sure I've missed some others.

On the fantasy side of things Jane Routley is a great Aussie author, there are 3 books in her Mage Heart series. I enjoyed them worth a read.........
Di xxxx

On the fantasy side of things Jane Routley is a great Aussie author, there are 3 books in her Mage Heart series. I enjoyed them worth a read.........
Di xxxx

There are so many Neville Shute is great if you like
stories set in the 1940's plus. Di Morrisey writes
wonderful stories of Australia. Bryce Courtney some I like some I don't. Ruth Park of course
But in general I just love reading

I have so many, but my absolute favorite Australian author would have to be Markus Zusak.

Thank you so much Stuart & thank you for introducing me to Good Reads. To everyone on Good Reads, I should have placed Stuart at the top of my favorite authors, I have read stuarts book twice & always have it near to refer to when I need a bit of insperation, please take the time to read "Beyond my Control" you will be moved by the achievements of this man.

David, A very impressive list indeed! Which I would like to be second, and add a special tribute to the best (in my opinion) modern day poet alive. You! I have read both your books (more than once) and I strongly urge all to experience the magic of--David J Delaney.

Stuart

C.J. Dennis.
Henry Lawson.
Banjo Paterson.
Harry Morant.
Dorothea Mackellar.
Caroline Carleton.
Adam Lindsay Gordon.
& me David J Delaney.
& so, so many more.

Isobelle Carmody changed my world when I was younger I read her first book in the Obernewtyn chronicles when I was 12, 16 years later I am still hotly anticipating The Sending (finally) coming out...I may be in my thirties by the time it comes but I will still be first in line to buy my copy!

Some of my favourite Australian authors:
Peter Carey, Patrick White, Sonya Harnett
Martin Boyd - I love 'A Difficult Young Man'
SA Wakefield - Bottersnikes and Gumbles
Colin Thiele - Blue Fin and Storm Boy
George Johnston - My Brother Jack
and I have to admit I did love reading Carter Brown stories.
Also Kerry Greenwood - Phyrne Fisher mysteries

Hi Kate, I've just. I've spent the last couple of months reading almost only Aussie writers - just because they're fantastic. Steve Toltz - Fraction of the Whole; Michael Meehan - Deception; Steve Carroll - A Lost Life (exquisite); Kate Jennings - Moral Hazard (a gem!)/Snake; Debra Adelaide - A Household Guide to Dying; Tim Winton - Breath (Love EVERYTHING he writes including his short stories; David Malouf - The Complete Stories; Elizabeth Jolley - short stories (but have read a lot of hers in the past). Other favourite Aussie authors include Thea Astley; Robert Drewe (The Rip - short story collection fantastic); Peter Temple - have only read "The Broken Shore" but loved it; Kate Grenville; Olga Masters there are so many! Not Australian but have recently read and enjoyed by Joanne Harris - "The Lollipop Shoes" and "Blackberry Wine."

Children & Young Adult
Patricia Wrightson
Mem Fox
Norman Lindsay
J.C Burke


Adult
Richard Flanagan
Nerida Newton
Kate Grenville
Amy Witting
Elizabeth Jolley
Geraldine Brooks
Thomas Keneally
Neville Shute
Tim Winton

& Kate Lance for her nautical tales...

My favourite Aussie author is without a doubt Keri Arthur. Her urban fantasy stories are amazing. She hits the NY Times best selling lists all the time, but she's a Melbourne gal through and through. My fave series is the Riley Jensen Guardian series. Nothing like a good vampire story set in the familiar streets of Melbourne.

Debbie wrote: "I love Tim Winton, and I would also say Nikki Gemmell. Shiver and Cleave are two of my favourite books. I adore the way she writes."

Yes I'm a fan of Nikki Gemmell too - I loved Shiver and Bride Stripped Bare.

Debbie wrote: "I love Tim Winton, and I would also say Nikki Gemmell. Shiver and Cleave are two of my favourite books. I adore the way she writes."

nikki gemmell is great. i loved the bride stripped bare

Some favourite Australian authors: Tim Winton, Helen Garner, Lily Brett, Thomas Keneally, Monica McInnerney, Kate Grenville, Clive James and Olga Masters. Hesba Brinsmead's "Pastures of the Blue Crane", which I first in Grade 7, remains memorable for tackling issues happening around me at the time - "irresponsible property development ruining our coastline, and the casual racism, sexism and narrow-minded conformity of Australian society." Other favourite Australian titles include: "Journey to the Stone Country" by Alex Miller "The Waterlily: A Blue Mountains Journal" by Kate Llewellyn, "Come in Spinner" by Dymphna Cusack and Ruth Park's two novels set in Surry Hills, "The Harp in the South" and "Poor Man's Orange". OK, she was born in New Zealand. She did spend most of her life in Australia.

Two of my favourite novels are by Australian authors - Of A Boy by Sonya Hartnett and Murray Bail's Eucalyptus A Novel. I'm also a fan of JM Coetzee (the consensus seems to be that we're claiming him), Andrew McGahan and, when I was younger, Jackie French.

I love Tim Winton, and I would also say Nikki Gemmell. Shiver and Cleave are two of my favourite books. I adore the way she writes.

Reagan wrote: "haha, i'm one of the few who doesn't like tim winton. markus zusak and john marsden are amazing. geraldine brooks is pretty good too."


I'm with you there, Reagan. Markus Zusak is indeed fantastic, although Malouf is still my favourite, and John Marsden's Tomorrow series was just captivating for this old chook. Geraldine Brooks' books are both superb reading and so educational, so she is way up there also.

I've just been reading a newspaper interview with Malouf and see he has a new book out so that's going to the top of my must have list.

haha, i'm one of the few who doesn't like tim winton. markus zusak and john marsden are amazing. geraldine brooks is pretty good too.

I don't think anyone's mentioned Nick Earls yet. He's done some good teen/YA stuff.

And Matthew Reilly is definitely worth a read.

Hi all,

I'm new to this group, but have to jump in and say that I just love David Malouf's writing. Johnno is the book which introduced me to his beautiful style, but his stand-out is "The Great World". The book takes you from country NSW prior to WWII, to the fall of Singapore, the Burma railroad, and back to NSW, to modern-day Sydney. The writing is such at that times you just hold your breath so as not to break the spell. Wonderful stuff.

Have to agree also that Geraldine Brooks' work is fantastic, particularly "People of the Book", and I am also rather a Peter Carey fan, and am currently reading "Maggs" by PC.

Must admit to being one of those totally "unAustrayan" people who really don't like Tim Winton's writing at all.

all of the above (and am v pleased to have discovered some I wasn't necessarily aware of) ...

but if i had to choose just one - Kim Wilkins

I Love Love Love Geraldine Brooks followed by Andrew Mcghan - Its a sign of a great author when each book they write is totally different.

Amongst kids fiction, I love Morris Gleitzman. 'Once' is as good as 'The Boy in Striped Pyjamas'.

Mine so far is Kim Wilkins. She has an amazing way of writing that makes your spine tingle. I also like Jane Routely - but I could be biased as she is a friend of my husband and lives across the road from us.

Sara Douglass - I can't put her books down once started but sometimes I get cranky with how she winds up her epics. I have thrown her paperbacks across the room more than once. However every time a new title hits the shelf all is forgiven :)

Tim Winton is a star. However, I've just read The Sinkings by Amanda Curtin (UWA Press). I highly recommend it. She's one to watch. There must be something in the water in Western Australia.

Tim Winton - everything.
Helen Garner's fiction
Richard Flanagan
Gabrielle Lord
Markus Zusak
Some of Peter Carey
Murray Bail, Eucalyptus

Jennifer Fallon!

I really like Tim Winton, Murray Bail, Helen Garner, Robert Drewe, JM Coetzee (let's include him), Brian Matthews, Isobelle Carmody (must declare my family connection here!), David Malouf - oh so many authors to catch up with, so little time. Thanks everyone for reminding me of books I love.

I really like kathryn Fox
she writes the same type of book as Kathy Riches.

Off the top of my head:
Michael Robotham
PD Martin
Adrian Hyland
Katherine Howell
Leigh Redhead
Leah Giarratano
Felicity Young

These are Australian mystery writers :)

My favourites are:

Tim Winton
Helen Garner
Peter Temple
Robert Drewe

Can JM Coetzee be included here ?!

Elizabeth Jolley is my favourite - virtually without question. The early plays of Williamson come very close, but then the scales must be tilted the other way by everything he has written since Travelling North.

If I was to choose one I would have to say Patrick White. ... I also like Elizabeth Jolly and Helen Garner, amongst others!

Being a huge crime fiction fan I thought I'd list some of my favourite local authors:

Leah Giarratano
Lindy Cameron
Phillip Gwynne
Peter Temple
Geoff McGeachin
Chris Womersley
Michael Robotham
Shane Maloney
Adrian Hyland
Katherine Howell
Leigh Redhead

I could go on :) :)

Sarah Douglass and Jack Dann are also very popular around here with the science fiction / fantasy reader in the house.

my fave aussie authors are:

Alison Croggon
Isobelle Carmody
Kate Forsyth
Traci Harding
Trudi Canavan

yep, all women & all wrote fantasy ;p

Lian Hearn for Tales of the Otori (pseudonym for Gillian Rubenstein.) I adore these books. It's set in feudal Japan and about young Takeo who lives in a small town that hardly anyone knows. But it's attacked by Iida Sadamu and Takeo loses his family and is almost killed himself. He is saved and adopted by the Otori leader, Lord Shigeru, who somehow seemed to be at the right place at the right time. The characters are so genuine, and heart-warming, and then you've got the truly brutal and unlikeable ones. But it's not as simple as that... there's so much depth and Lian Hearn weaves the story so wonderfully.

Sonya Hartnett, who is another talented writer. The Ghost's Child.

Then there's Isobelle Carmody who writes wonderful fantasy series', namely Obernewtyn and The Legendsong Saga. She has various other reads and if you like fantasy at all, she is a must.

I've read a few books by Bryce Courtenay, Jessica being my favorite. Absolutely wonderful author.

In my childhood, I enjoyed Emily Rodda, John Marsden and Paul Jennings.

So many good authors. And it can only improve.

Little tidbit I learned today - Markus Zusak, "The Book Thief", is Australian! I was very pleased to find that out. :)

Fav AU author is Matthew Reilly, Seven Wonders of the World and Six Sacred Stones are fantastic and I esp. cannot wait until his next book is released :-) I also loved AB Facey - A Fortunate Life is brilliant. Monica MacInerney is a delight and I loved Cosmonaut by Peter Mcallister.