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Favourite Victorian Novels Announced
22 February 2007
The top five favourite books set in Victoria, as voted by the public, were announced yesterday at the closing ceremony for the Library's summer reading program, Reading Victoria. From December to the end of January, readers from around the state were invited to read and comment on novels set in Victoria, and vote for their favourite.
Topping the list was Elliot Perlman's Three Dollars, a story of a man attempting to retain his humanity, his family and his sense of humour in hard times. Another contemporary novel, Rosalie Ham's The Dressmaker, was ranked second on the list by voters.
Classics among the Australian literary canon, My Brother Jack, by George Johnston, and Picnic at Hanging Rock, by Joan Lindsay, were voted third and fourth. Tony Birch's Shadowboxing came in fifth. The novels were part of a shortlist of 20 novels, selected by Reading Victoria to kickstart the summer reading program.
Reading Victoria coordinator Shirley Prescott is delighted Victorian readers have had the chance to support the stories they love. ‘There are a multitude of literary prizes judged by ‘experts’ and ‘people of note’ but very few opportunities for real, everyday readers to cast their vote. Reading Victoria created that opportunity and the readers have made their determination,’ she said.
Find out more about the Reading Victoria program >
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