Books about everything to do with Australia

March 3, 2008 1:59 PM

Crikey! I'm going on exchange to Brisbane! I'd like a comprehensive reading list of books about Australian history, politics, culture and nature that will tell me everything I need to know about Australia. Pass the Foster's!

I am looking forward to this more than I can tell you. I've never been to Australia, and the prospect of spending five or six months there is a dream come true. I'm going to be studying in Brisbane next February-June, though I imagine I'll arrive in Australia in January for some travelling beforehand. I've got lots of time to read up, so I'd like a good list of books that will get me well-versed in all the sorts of things that Australians know just by growing up in Australia. (Anything particular to Brisbane would also be welcome.)

I've going to begin my reading with Bill Bryson's In A Sunburned Country. Beyond that, I await your advice.

posted by Dasein to travel & transportation (43 comments total)

First up, nobody in Australia drinks Fosters. Nobody.
posted by cholly at 2:14 PM on March 3 [5 favorites]

When I was going to Australia for the first time I read Hell West and Crooked by Tom Cole which is a bit of a bush tale/journal about a guy in more frontier times heading in to the outback to be a cowboy of sorts. It's a pretty engaging read and a bit dated (i.e. a little more overtly racist than I'd expect nowadays) as a read but it gave me a real feel for a part of Australia and a culture that I didn't really se much of travelling between the big cities. Enjoy your trip!
posted by jessamyn at 2:15 PM on March 3

You should probably read Hughes' "The Fatal Shore", although a lot of people say his scholarship is a little suspect.

Also, nobody drinks Fosters in Queensland. Despite what stupid ads tell you, Australians don't all drink the same beer. Just as in other places, taste in beer is regional.

I do hope you're not going to turn up in Australia making Roo Steak and Crocodile Dundee jokes. I'd advise you to get that out of your system early!
posted by AmbroseChapel at 2:16 PM on March 3

First up, nobody in Australia drinks Fosters.

I'd just like to draw your attention to my last tag - please don't take me seriously. I can just imagine an Australian showing up in Canada saying, "Pass me a Canadian and a Moose Burger, eh?" I will not be doing the equivalent in Australia, I promise.
posted by Dasein at 2:20 PM on March 3

They speak the truth. Foster's is pretty much only made for the export market; the locals don't touch it.

If you're interested in reading some Australian fiction, I'd suggest Cloudstreet by Tim Winton and Illywhacker by Peter Carey, both of which are brilliant novels that have a real sense of place. You could read some Nick Earls - who is sort of the Australian Nick Hornby - his novels are set in Brisbane (personally I can't stand him, but tastes differ).
posted by hot soup girl at 2:21 PM on March 3

He Died With a Falafel in His Hand would be worth a look. It's by a Brisvegas local.
posted by pompomtom at 2:34 PM on March 3

If you want a bit of a laugh there are some novels written by two Brisbane authors that 1) amuse me no end and 2) actually incorporate quite a few of the local pubs, shopping centres, etc that many UQ / Uni students end up in! Rebecca Sparrow and Nick Earls have some hell funny books - especially The Girl Most Likely but then I'm a girl...

Also some of the Australian things we were forced to read in high school english include:

My Brilliant Career
The Mayne Inheritance

You can always have a flick through this occasionally Brisbane News

I hope you enjoy your time in our sunny city!
posted by latch24 at 2:43 PM on March 3

I'm sure I will, and I hope that a meetup will be adding to my enjoyment. (A Foster-free meetup, no doubt.)
posted by Dasein at 2:51 PM on March 3

The Culture Shock series is pretty good for learning cultural thingies, typically written from an outsider's perspective.

Also Let Stalk Strine, if you can find a copy - classic satire of the Aussie lingo.

You might also want to MeMail web-goddess; she's an ex-American, now a proud citizen, living in sunny Sydney. I understand she read a whole bunch of stuff to learn about our anti-culture. She's a bewdy bonza sheila*, too, and probably more than willing to point you in the right direction.

* nobody actually uses these terms
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:57 PM on March 3

oh, and see if you can get hold of some Kath & Kim DVDs - a startlingly accurate depiction of suburban life & values.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:04 PM on March 3

Brisbane is not Australia. It's a place where children of corrupt bastards go to die of skin cancer.

Ok ok it's not that bad. In fact I don't know what I am really talking about anymore. I left there when it was run by an utterly corrupt dictatorship and never looked back. And yes, back then it was that bad. (I watched that documentary yesterday and it literally made me ill to think I grew up there. Definitely worth a watch. Just keep reminding yourself that things have changed in 20 years.)
posted by zaebiz at 3:23 PM on March 3

If you're interested in politics and culture, it might be worth subscribing to The Monthly and The Quarterly Essay. I'm a long-term expat who just spent a couple of weeks at home and I was astounded at the degree to which these - both published out of Black Inc. - have raised the level of the public debate.

For literature, I worship at the feet of Patrick White, David Malouf and Helen Garner. David Marr's biography of White is revelatory. I quite like Peter Carey and Richard Flanagan but not with the same white-hot fervor. Oh, and I adore Neal Drinnan and Kate Crawford but they're personal friends, so take that with a grain of salt.

Poetry: Les Murray is an insane redneck but he's also an honest-to-God genius, one of the two or three best living poets, up there with Derek Walcott and Seamus Heaney. For reals. I love Judith Wright, and Oodgeroo Noonuccal - formerly Kath Walker - is the best-known of the Aboriginal poets.

There are two well-known writers on Aboriginal history: Henry Reynolds, who is leftist, scholarly and reputable, and Keith Windschuttle, who takes the view that the Aboriginal genocide wasn't all that bad really. I tend to disagree fairly furiously with Windschuttle, but I should disclose that I did some research work for him back when he was excoriating concentration of media ownership, and before he became Howard's racist shill. Your mileage may vary.

Don't forget film - the recent Ten Canoes blew my socks off, and The Dish remains one of my top ten movies of all time. And music. Midnight Oil was, in my opinion, the greatest Australian rock band ever. I also really like Christine Anu, Paul Kelly and Tiddas.

Above all, have a blast. Make the most of your time there. It's an amazing country at an amazing point in its history. Brisbane is within easy striking distance of the Glass House Mountains and Fraser Island, two of the most gorgeous places I have ever been. Don't miss Sydney. Get to Tasmania if you can, and Melbourne, and Adelaide...
posted by rdc at 3:29 PM on March 3

This might help clear things up a bit:

Pissed = drunk
Pissed off = very annoyed
Taking the piss = pulling your leg
Piss = Fosters Lager, or more generally, any cheap alcoholic beverage
Get on the piss = drink copiously
Having a slash = urinating

Actually I think you would be better off ignoring the history and whatnot and learning to surf and snorkel. Or scuba dive. The barrier reef isn't too far north of Brisbane and south of that is beaches and surfing. As for culture, check out some movies: Muriel's Wedding, The Castle, Bliss, (adapted from the Peter Carey novel), Strictly Ballroom, The Boys, The Club. Dunno where you'd get The Club outside of 'Straya though. Mad Max. Gallipoli, Japanese Story. Ned Kelly. Mullet. Malcolm. Chopper. Wolf Creek. But especially The Castle. See if you can find the comedian who impersonates Chopper Read doing the weather on youtube. Find out what Schoolies is. Learn how to bowl medium pace or leg spin and the locals will be amazed.

And find out what potentially lethal animals are local to the places you are visiting.
posted by Tixylix at 3:39 PM on March 3

nthing Cloudstreet" and "Dirt Music" by Tim Winton, although they are about Perth not Brisbane.

"He died with a Felafel in his Hand", and "The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco" are great books (mostly set in Brisbane) by John Birmingham, who also wrote an awesome tome called "Leviathan" about the history and growth of Sydney from the time of the first European Settlers to now - which again doesn't really help you as you'll be in Brisbane not Sydney.

Queensland is a relaxed slow region, compared to the rest of Australia. Brisbane is probaby the fastest place you can find in Queensland, but will still feel pretty slow compared to the other major cities. Try to check out Sydney or Melbourne too, while you're down here.

And, enjoy the beer, but stay clear of Fosters. Try the Coopers Pale Ale instead, it's got a high alcohol content (compared to other beers) but has little or no preservatives in it so people tend not to get bad hangovers from it.
posted by robotot at 4:25 PM on March 3

If you haven't already, get The Lonely Planet Australia. It has lots of information on what books to read and a good introduction to the history.

Also, you can check out 4ZZZ which is Brisbane's excellent community radio.

Nick Earls is a Brisbane writer who writes books set in Brisbane that are reasonably. Popular. Some are quite good, others less so.

Listen to some Go Betweens for some good Brispop.

Check out Australia's online papers for more info about Australian culture. The Age and the SMH are good. The Courier Mail, Brisbane's major paper is not as good but it is the main one there.

Perhaps reading some Geoffrey Blainey would be worthwhile. The Tyranny of Distance and the Rush that never ended might be the ones to start with.
posted by sien at 4:28 PM on March 3

Here's a couple of (centre-left) group blogs that are Australian (and mostly but certainly not exclusively politics) focused: Larvatus Prodeo; Club Troppo.

Crikey! was only used by one person in Australia, and he died (BTW he's much less popular here than in the USA).

If you do want a 'roo steak, well plenty of decent eateries will serve you one, it's not exactly exotica.

Hope you can make it south.

Most parts of Australia will be bloody hot in January. Your profile says you're from Nova Scotia. Please, remember to wear sunscreen and stay in the shade if it's a 40+ degrees scorcher.

And if you do go north, well it's mostly only yank* tourists who get eaten by crocodiles. And Irukandji may limit your swimming options from time to time.

Also, let me apologise in advance for all of the people you will meet who don't like your President and may want to tell you so.

* yank isn't an insult in 'strine.
posted by wilful at 5:05 PM on March 3

(Oh and sorry for thinking that Nova Scotia was in the USA - I just looked at the map a bit harder, found the border. Don't worry, most Aussies will think you're a yank based on accent, but at least you've got a comeback re George Bush.)
posted by wilful at 5:09 PM on March 3

Try the Coopers Pale Ale instead, it's got a high alcohol content (compared to other beers)

Lies!

Coopers Pale (aka Coopers Green) is lowish, at around 4.3%. robotot is probably thinking of Coopers Sparkling (Coopers Red), which is about 5.4%. These are about the only good things that have ever come from South Australia.

As we are now getting to the meat of the cultural issue, and doing away with all that literary dross, here are some recommendations that should be available almost everywhere:

Anything by Matilda Bay, a midsized boutique brewery near Perth. Particularly recommended are Little Creatures Ale, Redback wheatbeer (especially with a wedge of lime) & Bohemian Pilsener.

Anything by James Squire, a similar kind of setup from inner-west Sydney. Personal faves are the pilsener, the India Pale Ale, Golden Ale & Amber Ale.

Actually, something else good from South Australia: Southwark Old Stout, nicknamed "insanity stout" in some circles, because it weighs in at 7.4% and has something in it that does strange things to your brain.

That should get you started. There are boutique breweries popping up every week (Barons & Bluetongue spring to mind), so there's always something new to try. Matilda Bay, James Squire et al also put out limited edition brews for each season, and if you look around you can find great Canadian beers like Maudite, le Fin du Monde, Blanche de Chambly etc, too.

ps - wilful: Canada doesn't have a President, you great galah. Their head of state is the King of France.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:24 PM on March 3 [1 favorite]

Thanks for the name-check, Ubu. I poked my head in this morning when the question was posted, but both my answers (the Bryson and the Birmingham) were already mentioned. I didn't actually do much research before I got here; most of my Aussie knowledge has been gained by simply co-habitating with one of youse. :)
posted by web-goddess at 5:29 PM on March 3

Nthing Nick Earls as a not-so-bad lad lit writer who might get you a bit up to speed in terms of contemporary culture (doona=duvet? am I remembering that right?). Easy read. Bachelor Kisses is set in Brisbane, I know.

Robert Hughes has a relatively recent memoir out.

My big regret from travels around Australia was missing out on the mine tour in Mt. Isa, which is inland in Queensland. Underground tour of a working mine. And on the way you can stop in Winton where there is an animatronic billabong, which is always fun to say.
posted by yarrow at 5:42 PM on March 3

Just to try and start a fight or something*... XXXX - named for the first word uttered anytime anyone tries it. As a Brisvegan, you'll be more exposed to it than is desirable.

Actually all of the massmarket aussie beers are shit. VB, Carlton, Tooheys whatever, boags, if it's sold in a can (as well as a stubby) it's awful. Coopers is reliable but nothing special. I'm sure you'll make do.


* which reminds me, if you're looking for something a bit different that gives a 'musical' (piss)take on Australian culture, check out TISM. You may or may not get the joke.
posted by wilful at 6:01 PM on March 3

If I had to recommend one book to someone about to do a few months in a Brisbane university it would be the previously mentioned He Died With a Falafel in His Hand. Probably 20 years out of date by now since I'm pretty sure Birmingham was at uni in the 80s, but a great read.
posted by markr at 6:14 PM on March 3

Don't worry, it unlikely to be 40+ in Brisbane during summer. It'll just be 30+°C & 90+% humidity.

The two Birminghams - John, as mentioned above, and Billy - between them encapsulate almost everything you'll need to know about the Australian, and particularly Brisbane, attitude and sense of humour.

Kath & Kim is the second most revolting piece of television to be produced in this country. Many people love it. This explains a lot.

As a nation, we don't take criticism well. Beware of that.

And Tooheys Old, because they don't make Hunter's Old Brown any more...
posted by Pinback at 6:17 PM on March 3

Also, let me apologise in advance for all of the people you will meet who don't like your President and may want to tell you so.

wilful - I thought you were making a joke there. I'm sure you're right, though - I'll get mistaken for an American. Happens in Europe, too. At least by the time I'm there, George Bush will be out of office.

UbuRoivas -thanks for all the beer info. I'm really looking forward to getting acquainted with proper Australian beer.

Please keep the suggestions coming. Is there anywhere that I can read about all the animals in Australia that want to kill me so I can identify them? Any good histories of post-war politics in Australia?
posted by Dasein at 6:19 PM on March 3

As a nation, we don't take criticism well. Beware of that.

God, I'm a Canadian. You can't possibly be more insecure than we are.
posted by Dasein at 6:20 PM on March 3

You will encounter lots of goon. Basically box wine. It is pretty much the official drink of an Australian uni student. Also common (for some weird reason) is mi goreng - South-East Asian instant noodles. It's about as common here as ramen is in the US.

I have a friend who was one of the "exaggerated" profiles in He Died With A Felafel In His Hand. So the book's based on truth, but rather inflated.

Visit the Brisneyland LJ community; they are full of awesome, and there has been a few posts from people moving into Brisbane that may interest you.

I moved to Brisbane two years ago and got some great Mefi help.

What are you into? I am super active in Brisbane and can lead you to some great resources if you're interested.
posted by divabat at 6:44 PM on March 3

Are you calling us insecure? We are so not insecure. We don't have to prove ourselves to anybody, not when the greatest player in the history of cricket was Australian. I bet New Zealand could never produce a player like The Don. Haha! Kiwis are so lame! There's only, like, two million of them & they speak in funny accents & are too scared to join the Coalition of the Willing.

Back to the topic, here's a handy link on all the critters out to kill you upon arrival.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:45 PM on March 3

Any good histories of post-war politics in Australia?

None that I'm aware of. There are quite a few biographies of leading Labor lights - the (formerly) left wing major party are inclined to celebrate their heroes. But the Libs don't do biographies very well, some may say they don't do inspiring leaders and that's the root cause.

Most of the Australian fauna wants to kill you. Taipans are the worst snakes in the world, we've got oodles of horrific spiders, drop bears will terrify you if you're camping in the bush, it's frightening out there. Just go to the zoo.
posted by wilful at 6:49 PM on March 3

drop bears will terrify you if you're camping in the bush, it's frightening out there. Just go to the zoo.

I would love to spend some time in the Outback. In fact, I plan on asking a question later on about how to get out there for a couple of weeks.

Also, that was a nice try, but "drop bears" don't survive five seconds on Google.
posted by Dasein at 6:55 PM on March 3

Well, one book that matches perfectly is The Little Aussie Fact Book. It's actually quite good.

Also: Australia is big. No, really. it's big. From Spain to the edge of Russia, and from italy to edge of UK. It's just smaller than mainland US. So if you want to travel, plan ahead.

Bill Bryson's book is a good one. Also look for 'Down Under', which is similar.

As to Brisbane (since that's where I am just now) try http://www.ourbrisbane.com.au.

Others have mentioned that Australia has a bunch of things out to get you: animals and sun being the top two. Believe it. You'll burn in about 10-15 mins out int he sun here, and sunscreen will only save you for a short time. As for the animals... just check before moving boxes or cleaning out understairs, or anything like that. But it's all good, I love it here!

To really do something all Aussies do growing up: try vegemite. :)
posted by cofie at 7:01 PM on March 3

How and why Australia is so geologically and zoologically odd: The Future Eaters: An Ecological History of the Australasian Lands and People by Tim Flannery.
posted by Canard de Vasco at 7:19 PM on March 3

i'm a yank in melbourne; been here for 1.5 years.

here's my advice:
1) learn the rules of cricket
2) read one for the road. skip the Fatal Shore. it's interesting but more than most people need or want to know.
3) bring as much top shelf alcohol as you can with you. selection here sucks.
4) watch some modern Aussie films: Noise, Kenny, the Dish, the Proposition, Lucky Miles all good. Older films like the Castle are great, but might be better watched once you're here and will get more of the in-jokes.
5) look into Tiger Air flights. it's a huge country but Tiger Air (just started flying out of Melbourne) has extra-cheap flights around the country.

good luck
posted by xz at 7:33 PM on March 3

Thanks for all the answers so far - they're all great. Please keep them coming.

divabat, thanks for the offer. I'll be in touch.
posted by Dasein at 8:44 PM on March 3

xz, what top shelf alcohol can't you get here?
posted by wilful at 9:13 PM on March 3

If you're interested in Brisbane's history, you might enjoy Johnno - a staple of Queensland highschool English.
posted by backOfYourMind at 6:06 AM on March 4

Welcome!!
Brisbane... a small town with tall buildings.

It all depends on where exactly you plan to settle, as to what exactly you need to know...? There is a SBS show called Pizza. Although set in Sydney, the bogans shown on it are a fairly accurate depiction of those that may also be found up here, in some parts...

But wherever you end up - I recommend Banana Boat 30+ Suncreen (in a black tube, it is tremendous) and stay out of the sun between 10.30am-2pm. 10 minutes during 11am-1pm will leave a burn if you are pale.. trust me! And BAD burns should be avoided at all cost.. again trust me!!
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 11:10 AM on March 4

You can't possibly be more insecure than we are

How do you like it here? It's great, isn't it? It's better than your country, isn't it? Isn't it? Do you like the beach? Have you seen a kangaroo? You want to move here, don't you? TELL ME YOU LOVE ME.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 12:07 AM on March 5

Having been in Brissy two weeks ago (Melbourne native here) I can say that it's right up there on my list of places I would happily live. Being tropical everything is so alive, it's green and lovely and WARM. Just beautiful.

I can't help but launch into a defense of our wildlife: YES there are dangerous critters here, but frankly (as others have said) I'm more afraid of sunburn than anything else. Australia is no different to anywhere else in the world where things live that can kill/maim/poison/etc you. I spent most of my youth hiking in the bush/swimming in the ocean and have never had any bad experiences. It's all about common sense. Don't go swimming where there are crocodiles, keep a eye out for snakes in areas they like to live (yes, the nasty ones live in cities too) and don't leave your clothes on the floor for spiders to crawl into (if you live somewhere with fly wire on the doors and windows that isn't even an issue). Locals will give you the complete low down on local nasties once they realize that you're not taking the 'drop bears' crap seriously (that must be the oldest joke in the book).

Have an amazing stay, and for God's sake come and visit Melbourne!
posted by Rubyspicer at 1:24 AM on March 6

* ubu puts a hold on the macho aussie bollocks:

seriously, mate, only about one person a year ever dies from all the sharks & spiders & snakes & octopi & jellyfish & platypuses & dropbears & cassowaries & stingrays & quokkas.

just do as the locals do, and there'll be no worries.

(but take that advice seriously: up in the north, people don't swim in the ocean for a reason. that reason is three metre fucking saltwater crocodiles. and box jellyfish. just common sense: if people other than a trio of scandinavian backpackers are doing it, so can you)

oh, and a tip for snakes: they're only really around in summer, otherwise they are either too sluggish to move, or hibernating. when walking in the bush, *stomp* on the ground, or make like the blackfellas & carry a stick; you hit im stick on rock when you walk, old man snake, he afraid of you, old man snake, he know to keep away from whitefella & blackfella, he hear you comin thru vibration in ground, bigfella snake he go hide. you sneak up on old man snake, blackfella, whitefella, yellofella, anyfella: it no matter what you culture, anyfella - he bite!
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:53 AM on March 6 [1 favorite]

Don't call it Brisvegas. It'll piss off the locals. (I do it, but I'm perverse. Also, from Melbourne, which makes everything okay.)

I reckon it's time for a Brissie meet-up!
posted by indienial at 6:28 PM on March 6

Seconding what Ubu says above.

You'll stand out as a paranoid foreigner if you make mention of "all your deadly snakes and spiders". They really are not a big deal. And they are much more frightened of you than you are of them.

Saltwater crocs and box jellyfish are a significant risk but only if you enter their environment - the water - which people don't do in those areas.

Australia has a natural environment quite unlike anywhere else in the world. See as much of it as you can. Fortunately for you, Brisbane has an amazing range of habitats within a day-trip's journey. This includes the largest sand islands in the world just off the coast, mangroves verging paperbark forests, elevated sub-tropical rainforest with remnant antarctic beech and granite country with dry schlerophyl forest (gum trees). And more.

Oh and yes, Johnno by David Malouf.
posted by Sitegeist at 2:57 AM on April 5

My sister lived in Brisbane for a while a couple of years ago, and I've vacationed there. I went mid-winter and it was fucking hot; I can't even imagine what it would be like in February.

Not a book, but if you study up on Kath & Kim (Australia's equivalent of Trailer Park Boys; Video Difference probably has it), you'll be well on your way.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:51 PM on April 23

(And, yes, as unpopular as Foster's is, the beer you really need to avoid is that nasty-ass VB.)
posted by Sys Rq at 5:56 PM on April 23