ABR FAN Poll

February 12 2010 — JA

The results of the ABR fan poll were released this month, with literary titans Tim Winton and Patrick White dominating the Top 20. Each had three books apiece in there, with Winton’s epic Cloudstreet shouldering its way through as number 1, and White’s Voss at number 3. Also in the Top 10 were Peter Carey (Oscar and Lucinda), Murray Bail (Eucalyptus), Henry Handel Richardson (The Fortunes of Richard Mahony) and George Johnston (My Brother Jack), along with Kate Grenville (The Secret River) and Christina Stead (The Man Who Loved Children).

Spike also ran a similar poll in November last year and though there were differences (the ABR poll asked an open question to all its readers, whereas Spike polled group of literary voices on their favourite Australia fiction of the past decade, followed by a reader poll), it’s interesting to see the difference in results. The only book to make both lists was Christos Tsiolkas’ The Slap, which came in at number 20 with ABR, and joint number 3 here). Likewise, while both novels are I think quite brilliant Cloudstreet and Dead Europe, which was Spike’s number 1, are almost polar opposites. One is a lyrical, heartwarming tale of two families bound up in each others’ life and loss, while the other is a dark, brooding story that sings of loneliness, dislocation, racisim and bloodlust.

Perhaps this just goes to show how every poll is entirely subjective to its own nuances, and therefore can only ever give us a slice of what people are thinking at any given time. I wonder also if the results are indicative of demographics, and the different audiences for online an print. While there will always be some overlap, does taste differ depending on where the question is asked? Hopefully these efforts go towards creating a corresponding literary dialogue, but the idea of the favourite or best Australian novel seems to me to be still entirely undiscoverable.