Best Australian fiction of 2022
Every year our staff vote for their favourite books of the past 12 months. Here are the best Australian fiction books of the year, as voted for by Readings’ staff, and displayed in alphabetical order by author.
Limberlost by Robbie Arnott
When Ned’s two brothers are away at war, and his older sister and reserved father are his only company, he finds himself hunting for rabbits to sell their pelts; partly an endeavour for distraction, somewhat an attempt to do his part in the war effort, but mostly, a bid to fulfill his dream of owning a boat. This summer will shape Ned’s life to come.
Robbie Arnott has crafted a quiet coming-of-age story that closely follows the seemingly disparate threads of a life, while exploring family, masculinity and love. Limberlost is another gem in Arnott’s already outstanding body of work.
Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au
Jessica Au’s extraordinary book was the winner of this year’s Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction, the latest accolade in an already long and enviable list of award shortlistings and wins for Au’s sophomore novel.
At just under 100 pages, the premise of the book is deceptively simple: a mother and daughter travel a rain-misted Japan together, revealing gaps in their ability to communicate. Into these gaps, Au writes tenderly of mother-daughter relationships, of the immigrant experience of dislocation and of a profound love and appreciation for the transformative qualities of art. With its exquisite prose and hypnotic pace, Cold Enough for Snow is a cool, measured sip of water – a restorative tonic that refocuses our attention on the small, treasured details of connection and history.
Sunbathing by Isobel Beech
A young unnamed woman has a quietly transformative stay at a friend’s family villa in Italy. Initially suffocated in a looping web of devastation over losing her father to suicide, the narrator spends her days washing dishes, picking vegetables from the garden, and walking the sun-dappled Abruzzo landscape. Within the contained space of this small Italian refuge, she starts to heal.
Sunbathing is a sensitive and lyrical work of great care that manages to find the words for an otherwise inconceivable experience.
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning Australian writer Geraldine Brooks, Horse is a remarkable work of historical fiction based on the real-life story of the legendary race-horse, Lexington.
In 19th century Kentucky, an enslaved groom forges a bond with a bay foal who will go on to make a string of record-setting victories across America's South. Nearly 200 years later, an Australian scientist and a Nigerian-American art historian find themselves unexpectedly connected through their shared interest in the horse.
This lyrical and deeply moving novel offers a powerful exploration of racism and the legacy of enslavement.
Exiles by Jane Harper
Exiles is the third and final book featuring Aaron Falk, the charismatic federal investigator from Jane Harper's monumentally bestselling debut, The Dry.
Visiting friends on holiday, Falk becomes caught up in the mystery of a woman who seemingly abandoned her newborn child and disappeared into the crowds at the local food and wine festival. Falk's own experience of small towns and the secrets that lie beneath the surface leave him conflicted about becoming involved, but it becomes quickly apparent that it might take an outsider to discover what lies at the heart of the mystery.
Set against the bucolic background of South Australian wine country, Exiles is a captivating read, and a deeply satisfying send-off for a well-loved literary protagonist.
Salonika Burning by Gail Jones
One of our foremost fiction writers Gail Jones dazzles again with this latest novel about four volunteers from Australia and the UK – including Stella (Miles) Franklin and artist Stanley Spencer – whose lives intersect and converge in the Greek city of Salonika (Thessaloniki) during the First World War. After witnessing a catastrophic fire that engulfs the city, these four figures attempt to create meaning and hope from the fragments of destruction around them.
Jones’ psychological acuity as a writer is on full display, showing the everyday lives that make up vast waves of social and artistic upheaval. Readers who relish fiction inspired by – but not beholden to – history will be enthralled by this moving work from an author at the height of her powers.
The Lovers by Yumna Kassab
Told as a fable, Yumna Kassab’s The Lovers poetically explores the universality yet singularity of a love story. On the surface there’s the spark, the seismic shift of falling in love, and everything that follows when the dust settles and life creeps in. But this romance is quietly unpicked from the seams and as the tale unspools before us, we begin to explore the ongoing nature of love; love as a verb, an action, an ongoing choice that constantly pulls us in new, often unexpected, directions. This is not a tale of linearity or conclusion, but how could it ever be?
Kassab’s writing is lyrical, intimate, and the novel’s questions will linger longer after the final page.
All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
In the wake of her brother’s murder at a local restaurant, Ky Tran returns to Cabramatta where she learns her parents know very little about the circumstances surrounding his death. She becomes determined to interview the dozen or so witnesses to find the truth of what happened. What she uncovers however is a journey into her own family and community’s past – their secrets and what people had to do to survive.
Tracey Lien’s extraordinary debut mixes gripping drama with unforgettable characters to create a textured, considered examination of family trauma and community relationships.
Iris by Fiona Kelly McGregor
The charge is murder, though we don’t know the truth or circumstance. Until now Iris – our daring protagonist – has evaded both gangsters and police as she’s sought to stay independently afloat. Before we learn Iris’ fate, we’ll be taken on an exquisite romp through the underbelly of 1930s Sydney. This powerful character study is based on true events and the real life figure of Iris Webber. Webber, a fascinating woman whose grit and ambition is captivating, is destined to become a new literary hero for many.
A luscious read for those who enjoy vivid historical novels, chewy dialogue and dramas such as Deadwood.
Willowman by Inga Simpson
Batmaker Allan lives a quiet life where the static sound of cricket over the radio is his most cherished companion. Taught his craft as a young boy in England, Allan reveres the solace and craftsmanship of creating cricket bats from a singular piece of willow; there is an intangible magic to the process. When Allan discovers a young batsman with great potential, he decides to craft a bat specifically for him from a prized piece of willow that he has been saving. This single act is the catalyst for Simpson's shimmering story of love, family, ambition, and – of course – cricket.
This novel will almost certainly become a new Australian classic.
