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HerCanberra loves local. And loves reading.
So we asked best-selling local author Karen Viggers to compile the ultimate local guide to books – a literary lust list if you will.
She notes that any of these books would make great Christmas presents. They’re not all recent releases, so if you keen to track them down, it would be best to drop into your local bookshop or call ahead and ask whether they can order for you. Bookshops really need our support during this period; they are dedicated advocates of readers and writers, and Christmas is when they make most of their annual income.
Canberra author Karen Viggers
Words for Lucy by Marion Halligan
Marion Halligan has always been a special favourite with Canberra readers. Sadly, she died earlier this year, but she was a generous mentor and supporter of local writers. During her varied and interesting life, she was a prolific and highly-awarded novelist, but also wrote memoirs and essays. It’s hard to pin down a favourite book, but I’m going with her final work, WORDS FOR LUCY, a beautifully written and emotional collection of writings about her daughter, Lucy, who died aged 38 from congenital heart disease. Although there are moments of sadness, this book is a delightful and insightful celebration of Lucy’s life and all the wonderful details that make a person special and loved.
My Heart is a Little Wild Thing by Nigel Featherstone
Nigel Featherstone is another Canberra literary stalwart and mentor for other writers. For many years he was creative director at the former ACT Writers Centre, (now MARION Writers), where he inspired many writers. His latest book, MY HEART IS A LITTLE WILD THING, set on the vast spare plains of the Monaro, is a deeply-moving, beautifully written, and tender story of finding love, duty to parents, wildness, hope, and music. I especially loved the generosity of heart and the luminous detail in this book, as well as the elusive and symbolic presence of the tiger quoll.
The Anchoress by Robyn Cadwallader
Robyn Cadwallader’s acclaimed novel, THE ANCHORESS, set in medieval times, is the story of a young woman (Sarah) who dedicates her life to God by withdrawing from society and living in a cell beneath the local church where she prays for the villagers and advises the women. A compelling exploration of faith, isolation, desire, shame and fear, but also self-discovery and connection with others. The writing is sensual and evocative and draws you right into the challenges of Sarah’s life. Who would have thought that so much could happen in a small earthy cell?
Desire Lines by Felicity Volk
Do you remember the stressful, scary, bad old days when we were first locked down by COVID? Unfortunately, that was when Felicity Volk’s wonderful novel DESIRE LINES came into the world. We were all so obsessed with watching the daily COVID announcements that this beautiful book flew under the radar for many. Now is the time to seek it out. The story shifts from Longyearbyen in Svalbard, to England, Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and Canberra. It’s about a fascinating period when many of our national institutions were being designed and constructed, giving incredible insights into the evolution of our hometown. A gripping story of emigration, relationships, coming of age, learning, suffering, illumination, beauty, gardens, and ultimately love. A very special book.
Scrublands by Chris Hammer
Most Canberran lovers of Australian crime fiction will already know of Chris Hammer. But in case you don’t, go no further. Chris, a retired current affairs journalist and foreign correspondent, is the highly prolific author of seven crime novels. SCRUBLANDS was his first and has been adapted into an impressive and fast-moving mini-series on Stan. Book and series are two different experiences, so I’d recommend you do both. Chris’s second crime novel, SILVER, is currently being made into a mini-series.
Here Come the Dogs by Omar Musa
Omar Musa grew up in Queanbeyan and went to school in Canberra. He’s a rapper, poet, novelist, and visual artist. I love all of Omar’s work, but I especially adored his novel set in Queanbeyan, HERE COME THE DOGS. This is a story that gets inside the heads of young men trying to find their place in a difficult world of poverty, violence, drugs, and the dog races. Written in a stunning and seamless combination of prose and poetry, this book will open your eyes and hearts to disadvantages and the challenges of belonging and temptation. A really worthwhile read.
The Deed by Susannah Begbie
Susannah Begbie grew up in the country but is a long-term resident of Canberra. Her debut novel THE DEED came out earlier this year after having won the Richell Prize for an unpublished manuscript. In describing this book, the tagline says it all: Sibling Rivalry. A Shifty Lawyer. A Multi-million Dollar Inheritance. What Could Go Right? An entertaining read about four adult siblings who, after the death of their father, have 10 days to hand-make a coffin for him, or their inheritance will go to a local lawyer. This book is both insightful and humorous. A fascinating expose of human behaviour around the divisive territory of wills and inheritance.
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
For the romance readers out there, THE LAST LOVE NOTE by Emma Grey has all the ingredients to pull you in, break your heart, and put you back together again. It’s the story of a devasted young mother dealing with grief after the premature loss of her husband. Somehow, she must find a way to heal and re-engage with the world and the possibility of falling in love again. In writing this book, Emma Grey drew on elements of her own life but massaged and extended her personal grief into a love story. It’s romance, so you know how the ending will go, but the true enjoyment is in the journey.
The Breaking by Irma Gold
Irma Gold no longer lives in Canberra but was an important contributor to the local literary community for many years. Her debut novel THE BREAKING takes you to Thailand where a young female traveller volunteers her time to assist in caring for, and rehabilitating, elephants that have been poorly treated. This fictional story is drawn from Irma’s own insights gained from volunteer work with elephants. It’s a love letter to elephants, those stately, beautiful, powerful creatures, but it’s also a story of love, relationships, self-discovery, and activism.
The Third Chopstick by Biff Ward
Canberran, Biff Ward, is a renowned feminist (one of the original Brazen Hussies), and a social and environmental activist. She was a passionate protester during the Vietnam War, after which she became obsessed with Vietnam. Her recent book, THE THIRD CHOPSTICK, is a highly informative and intensely personal exploration of the war and its aftermath. In writing this book she bore witness to the war by interviewing returned Australian soldiers, and tenderly and respectfully weaving their stories with her own observations and love of Vietnam, its people, and culture. A very different and special perspective on this controversial war.
The Under History by Kaaron Warren
THE UNDER HISTORY is a shift in direction for local author Kaaron Warren, a highly awarded writer of horror fiction. This new book combines her eye for the unusual with a quirky story about Pera, the owner of a “haunted house” who runs tours of her family museum. It’s not horror at all, but when Pera, a woman in her 60s, has a group of dangerous prison escapees gate-crash one of her tours, she has to use all her wits and wisdom to avert them from killing her. A fun and highly original tale.
The Hangman series by Jack Heath
While we’re on the subject of quirky, I should mention Jack Heath’s trilogy about a cannibal detective (HANGMAN, HUNTER and HIDEOUT). Jack is a highly prolific local author, first published at age 19, who writes for both adults and kids. This series is most definitely NOT for kids, but it’s a detective series with a difference – usually investigators don’t get to eat the subjects of their investigations. Don’t be put off though. Jack’s black humour evolves throughout the series until you end up asking yourself Why am I laughing about this?
Sidelines by Karen Viggers
Oh, and my current favourite of my own novels (as a Canberra writer), is my latest novel SIDELINES: a story about teen sport and parents trying to help their kids live their dreams (whose dreams?). Told through the eyes of three parents and three teens, this book follows three families through the sporting season and touches on all the highs and lows of weekend sports and urban family lives. A story that gives voice to teenagers as well as adults, and reminds us that maybe winning and being the best isn’t so important after all.
Karen Viggers is a novelist, veterinarian, outdoors enthusiast and co-host of the Secrets From the Green Room podcast. She is the author of five internationally bestselling novels: The Stranding, The Lightkeeper’s Wife, The Grass Castle, The Orchardist’s Daughter and Sidelines. Karen lives and works in Canberra with her ecologist husband. When she’s not hiking or caring for animals (both domestic and wild), she’s either reading or writing.
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