Australia’s independent
booksellers have selected the four short listed titles for their
major new prize, The Indie Award. The $19,000 prize will honour an
Australian author for the best book of the past twelve months, with
the winner to be chosen by independent booksellers and announced on
Monday 6th October 2008.
The shortlisted titles are:
Debut Fiction - Addition by Toni
Jordan
Judges Comments: It’s a love story with a difference, sensitive and
bold in its approach to mental illness, it is both entertaining and
thought provoking. This remarkable novel is cleaver, funny and
tender; it ticks all the right boxes and will appeal to a broad
readership. I believe Jordan is a fresh, brave and clever new voice
in Australian literature who will continue to bring quality work to
the reading public.
Non-Fiction - American Journeys by Don
Watson
Judges Comments: Watson’s American road trip is all you would
expect – immensely readable, witty and acerbic – all recorded with
a fine ear and a sharp pen. A wonderful, witty insight into what
makes American the country we love and hate, I think this is
Watson's best book…Through his wonderful prose Watson really draws
us into his experiences and brings to life the many contrasts of
what it is that makes America the nation it is, warts and all.
Fiction - Breath by Tim Winton
Judges Comments: The rhythm of breathing and ebb and flow of the
ocean pervade every sentence of Winton's recent masterpiece. We
watch, mesmerized, with baited breath, the unfolding of a warm,
dark drama as age and youth, fear and courage, friendship and
bitter anger play out in an elemental story amongst cave sized
waves and intense human encounters that engulf and churn souls in a
blinding spray.
Children's Book - Tales From Outer
Suburbia by Shaun Tan
Judges Comments: The text and the illustrations have a depth that
will reach a wide audience on many different levels making it
perfect and satisfying for not only children but also young adults
and grown ups alike. The words and images blend seamlessly to
create luminous tales that weeks later still make the reader
smile…
