Winners of the Indie Book Awards 2017
The winners of the Indie Book Awards 2017 have been announced.
Each year, independent booksellers from around the nation get together and vote for their favourite titles in five different categories, as well as their favourite book overall. Here are the winners for each category, along with comments from our booksellers.
The Debut Fiction winner and the overall Indie Book of the Year winner is…
The Dry by Jane Harper
When Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk returns to Kiewarra to investigate a murder-suicides, he is loath to confront the people who rejected him 20 years earlier. But when his investigative skills are called on, the facts of the Hadler case start to make him doubt the truth of the story he’s been told. And as Falk probes deeper into the killings, old wounds start bleeding into fresh ones….
‘If you’re looking for a gripping page-turner to cosy up with on a cold winter’s night, this is the book for you.’ – Nina Kenwood, Marketing Manager
The Fiction winner is…
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith
In The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, Dominic Smith tracks a collision course between a rare landscape by a female Dutch painter of the Golden Age, an inheritor of the work in 1950s Manhattan, and a celebrated Australian art historian who painted a forgery of it in her youth.
‘An eloquent, well-crafted work.’ – Natalie Platten, Assistant Manager at Readings Doncaster
The Non-Fiction winner is…
Everywhere I Look by Helen Garner
Spanning fifteen years of work, Everywhere I Look is a collection of essays, reviews and diary entries from one of Australia’s greatest writers. It takes us from backstage at the ballet to the trial of a woman for the murder of her newborn baby. It moves effortlessly from the significance of moving house to the pleasure of re-reading Pride and Prejudice.
‘Helen Garner has a way of describing the world with such wisdom and candour and, sometimes, delight, that it takes one’s breath away.’ – Mark Rubbo, Managing Director
The Young Adult winner is…
Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
Words in Deep Blue is the story of two people who were best friends, but now they’re not. It’s the story of surviving terrible loss, even when the odds seem impossible. And it’s a story of how life changes despite all your best intentions.
‘I straight-up LOVED this book – it was funny, sad, heartwarming, fun, fast-paced, ridiculously romantic – in short, all of my favourite things about YA fiction.’ – Bronte Coates, Digital Content Coordinator
The Children’s winner is…
Circle by Jeannie Baker
Circle is a poetic, eco-conscious picture book thay explores the complex, interdependency of nature.
‘This is an exquisite depiction of a natural phenomenon and there are fantastic teacher notes available which contain an illuminating interview with Jeannie Baker. Not to be missed.’ – Alexa Dretzke, Children’s & YA Book Specialist at Readings Hawthorn
