Winners of the Indie Book Awards 2016
The winners of the Indie Book Awards 2016 have been announced.
Each year, independent booksellers from around the nation get together and vote for their favourite titles in four different categories, as well as their favourite book overall. Here are the winners for each category, along with comments from our booksellers.
The Fiction winner and the overall Indie Book of the Year winner is…
The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
‘One of the best books I’ve read in years and one that will be dissected and praised for decades to come, Charlotte Wood’s fifth novel is a haunting vision of a dystopian present and an allegory of patriarchal complexities. Her rhythmic prose ties you to each page, mixing images of brutality, nurture, survival, and sex to paint a sincere portrait of the modern feminine condition.’ – Jemima Bucknell, Online Fulfilment Manager
The Non-Fiction winner is…
Reckoning: A Memoir by Magda Szubanski
‘Here is the honest account of a woman making sense of her history before it overwhelms her identity. It is the story of what happens when the curtains are opened, the door left unlocked and you are willing to listen. A wonderful tribute to the importance of understanding one’s own family dynamics.’ – Chris Gordon, Event Manager
The Debut Fiction winner is…
Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar
‘ Salt Creek is a very readable novel. The characters remain in the mind long after reading the final pages. Treloar has perfectly captured the sense of isolation and history that is still present in the Coorong today.’ – Sharon Peterson, Assistant Manager at Readings Carlton
The Young Adult winner is…
Cloudwish by Fiona Wood
‘Scholarship student Vân Ựớc is usually very practical, so when she wishes that gorgeous Billy Gardiner would notice her and he suddenly does, she is flattered but worried that it is an elaborate joke. You will fall in love with Vân Ựớc as she grapples with high school, romance and the truth of her Vietnamese parents’ history. Cloudwish is a sophisticated and contemporary story set in multicultural Footscray and Melbourne that is sure to become a classic.’ – Angela Crocombe, Children’s Buyer at Readings Carton
The Children’s winner is…
The Bad Guys, Episode 1 by Aaron Blabey
‘Who said the bad guys always have to be bad? Maybe they want to have a go at being good too. At least, that’s Mr Wolf’s plan when he rounds up his bad buddies Mr Snake, Mr Shark and Mr Piranha, but being the good guys isn’t as easy as it looks. Aaron Blabey’s graphic-novel style book is hilarious, and the perfect enticement to hook kids aged 6 and up on reading.’ – Holly Harper, Children’s Specialist at Readings Carton
