Commonwealth writers

[havrelina]

Hi
I've tried to search for novels on the internet that are written by commonwealth writers, but I don't know what is good or which one to choose.

I would most likely appreciate novels about the colonization in Australia and the aboriginal people. But if the plot is really good it could counterbalance if it's not about that.

Have you ever read such a novel and liked it? Do you have any tip for me? Or do you know any site with these books?

Have a nice day! :)

/ Lina

[sixsmith]

Hi Havrelina,

Xavier Herbert's 'Poor fellow, my country' is a seminal work on the effect of colonisation on the Aboriginal people. It is, however, quite long (1400 +) and not a particularly easy read. Thomas Kennealy's 'The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith' is similarly embedded into the Australian landscape. It tells the tale of a young aboriginal man exploited by his white masters. I think it was nominated for a Booker and is a decent read.

Kate Grenville's 'The Secret River' might be a good place to start. I haven't read it but it focuses on the confrontation between settlers and an indigenous community. It was very well received here in Aus and was on the Booker short list.
Alexis Wright is an indigenous author whose 'Carpenteria' also won much critical acclaim. I've not read it though I believe its focus is an indigenous community.

On a less 'literary' note Sally Morgan's 'My Place' is possibly the first widely read Aboriginal memoir. (read it as a kid but can't remember much of it now)

If you're really keen, Patrick White's 'Voss' is based on the life of a Prussian explorer who disappeared in the outback and from recollection there are ruminations on indigenous spiritituality etc. A shipwrecked character (can't recall her name) is also rescued from Aborigines in White's 'A Fringe of Leaves'. Not sure if you've read White before but he can be a real slog - stream of consciousness with little action.

Aside from that, the Aboriginal people and Aboriginal culture figure prominently in a number of novels. Tim Winton's 'Cloudstreet' and Peter Carey's 'True History of the Kelly Gang' spring to mind. The short stories of David Malouf might also be worth a look. (Aboriginal concerns aside, they are most certainly worth a look)

Also might want to have a look here
http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/lit.html

Hope that helps

[Whifflingpin]

Patrick White a slog? Well maybe, but a very worthwhile slog, and author of the sort of books that you can re-read again & again.

Colleen McCullough has written some fine novels about Australia - Morgan's Run, Thornbirds etc.

And Keri Hulme is worth a look, if you don't mind crossing the straits to New Zealand.

[blazeofglory]

Post colonial writers like Salmon Rushdie are impressive and I suggest his Midnight' s children is worth reading. I feel he is very impressive and as a matter of fact through his books you can have plenty of ideas.

[sixsmith]

Patrick White a slog? Well maybe, but a very worthwhile slog, and author of the sort of books that you can re-read again & again.

Colleen McCullough has written some fine novels about Australia - Morgan's Run, Thornbirds etc.

And Keri Hulme is worth a look, if you don't mind crossing the straits to New Zealand.

I suppose i should be trying to sell White seeing as he is little read. I probably am being a little harsh. My last encounter was with the 'The Solid Mandala' and i cannot, in good conscience, characterise that as anything less than an almighty slog. But you're right. 'Voss' is very readable.

[Virgil]

Other than Rushdie and V.S. Naipaul I don't know all that much on commonwealth writers. I wish I could know more. Can people list their favorite novels?

[kratsayra]

For India, there is also The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.

I could list many for Africa, although the original poster has asked for Australia, of which I know almost nothing.

I love Derek Walcott's Omeros, but most of the other Caribbean and Latin American stuff that I know is in French or Spanish. And the plot is difficult to tease out, so that may not be good for the original poster.

For Africa, I think the top of the list for writers from countries colonized by England includes Ngugi wa Thiong'o. My favorite of his is Devil on the Cross (originally written in Kikuyu). His first novel Weep Not, Child is a less complex book but it is also a straightforward and engaging tale of a young boy growing up during Kenya's struggle for independence.

Another favorite of mine is Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga.

Edit: I apologize because I guess some of what I've just recommended is not technically in the Commonwealth of Nations. But Kenya is and India is, so we're good there.

[Virgil]

Thank you Kratsy. I read The God of Small Things last year and found it interesting. Not great, but certainly interesting.

[FalseReality]

Things Fall Apart- Achebe

About Africa but worth it.

[kratsayra]

Thank you Kratsy. I read The God of Small Things last year and found it interesting. Not great, but certainly interesting.

I'm glad you didn't entirely detest it at least. :)

[prendrelemick]

Doris Lessing's The Grass is Singing. A bleak tale of life on a farm in southern Africa during colonial times, written by someone who had been there and done that.


Have you come across Austrailian writer Peter Carey? I have only read his, True History of the Kelly Gang. But he has written many more novels and is well regarded.

[blazeofglory]

Salmon Rushdie is unbeatable.

[meh!]

It's not commonwealth, post colonial though, but as someone posted Things Fall Apart is very good. Very moving.