Since 2016, Meanjin has published an occasional series called “Australia in Three Books”, which invites contributors to nominate three titles that speak to an idea of Australia for them – what it was, what it is, what it could be, and everything in between.
Sometimes they nominate a clear top-three reads; other times it’s a triptych that speaks to a reading childhood, the research underpinning a project, or three contenders in a current reading pile.
The combinations produced in these instalments do the great work reading always does: opening doorways, unlocking connections, creating those wholes that are greater than the sum of their parts.
For this first Meanjin reading trail in support of the ABC’s hunt for the Top 100 Australian books, we hope you’ll enjoy this selection from “Australia in Three Books” spanning fiction, non-fiction and poetry. You can also use these stepping stones to head deeper into the Meanjin archive, through other work by some of the writers who are nominated here.
Shakira Hussein on David Malouf, Melissa Lucashenko, and Ellen Van Neerven
Julianne Schultz on Ross Gibson, Marilynne Lake and Henry Reynolds, and Marcia Langton
Maks Sipowicz on Kenneth Slessor, Ania Walwicz and Evelyn Araluen
Fiona Wright on Beverly Farmer, Dorothy Hewett, and Dorothy Porter
Hannah Kent on Elizabeth Jolley, Colin Thiele, and Jordie Albiston
Robert Lukins on Barbara Hanrahan, Andrew McGahan, Alexis Wright
Kerryn Goldsworthy on Jessica Anderson, Dymphna Cusack and Florence James, and Alexis Wright
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