this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2023
15 points (85.7% liked)

Melbourne

1881 readers
81 users here now

This community is a place created for the people of Melbourne and Victoria. We are a positive, welcoming and inclusive community. We might not agree about everything, but we always strive to stay civil and respectful.

The focus of our discussions is based around things that affect Victoria, but we are also free to discuss our local perspective on wider issues. Or head to the regular Daily Random Discussion thread to talk about anything.

Full Community Guidelines

Ongoing discussions, FAQs & Resources (still under construction)

Adoption Certificate for Nellie, the Daily Thread numbat (with thanks to @Catfish)

Feedback & Suggestions

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I'm sick of reading American books. Would love some Aussie recommendations.

top 18 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher novels are set in and around Melbourne in the 1920's.

http://phrynefisher.com/books.html

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I never read these books but I loved the TV show adaptation!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I liked the books better than the tv version.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

I quite enjoyed On the Beach (1957). It's post apocalyptic, set heavily in Melbourne following a nuclear war.

Author is British though, but he wrote it after moving to Australia.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Power Without Glory by Frank Hardy . Based on real people and real events. The Sentimental Bloke by C J Dennis On the Beach by Nevil Shute The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I was going to say Caddy, but checked and it’s Sydney. Oops.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yes, Power Without Glory is great!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Absolute epic, this book.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Kerry Greenwood - the Corinna Chapman series for a more contemporary take than Phryne Fisher.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I quite liked The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume. The telemovie was good too.

[–] mishellaneous 4 points 1 year ago

Definitely second the Corinne Chapman series by Kerry Greenwood, so good!!! Also, if you like mysteries with some humour, 'Brunswuck Street Blues' by Sally Bothroyd was really enjoyable. Highly recommend

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

A million votes for the Corinna books. Also Eaglehawk by that author’s not-husband. Resurrection Man by Sean Williams has Melb but not in an especially recognisable way.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Picnic at Hanging Rock

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Murray Whelanseries by Shane Maloney - Murray is a political aide to a labour MP in state parliament who has to solve a murder before it (generally) brings down the government or he gets murdered. Also a series of films startting David Wenham (and directed by John Clarke)

Death in Brunswick by Boyd Oxlade - it's set in Brunswick and is a little weird to be honest and the main character is definetly not likable. Movie stars Sam Neill and John Clarke co stars

The Holiday Murders by Robert Gott - set in 1943, there's 4 books in the series (though by the end of the second book I was done with it). There hasn't been a movie about this one, presumably because John Clarke didn't read it

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've read death in Brunswick! Classic!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

The four months I spent in Melbourne last year were absolutely wonderful, so I was also looking for books set in Melbourne to bring home. The one novel that fit this category that I found was Almost a Mirror by Kirsten Krauth:

https://kirstenkrauth.com.au/almost-a-mirror/

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

How about young adult fiction set in Melbourne? Any titles we know of?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

The Bridge by Enza Gandolfo