Six of the 12 recommended books that are definitely worth taking a look.
Every year I present a list of books that have been sidelined or maybe underappreciated in the mad scrum of publication; this year I’ve decided to do things a bit differently. Every title is by a PoC author – a subset of literary contribution that’s been historically marginalised in Australia after all.
Dirt Poor Islanders, Winnie Dunn (Hachette) Dirt Poor Islanders is about growing up in a big, chaotic family. It’s a rarity in the book scene: an autographical fiction (auto-fiction) that explores the complicated push and pull of being Australian-Tongan. Winnie Dunn does a wonderful job of describing the web of familial and community interactions in Mount Druitt, NSW. The book is a joy to read: tender, honest and funny. Read ArtsHub‘s review.
Thuy On is the Reviews and Literary Editor of ArtsHub and an arts journalist, critic and poet who’s written for a range of publications including The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Sydney Review of Books, The Australian, The Age/SMH and Australian Book Review. She was the Books Editor of The Big Issue for 8 years and a former Melbourne theatre critic correspondent for The Australian.
Her debut, a collection of poetry called Turbulence, came out in 2020 and was released by University of Western Australia Publishing (UWAP). Her second collection, Decadence, was published in July 2022, also by UWAP. Her third book, Essence, will be published in 2025.
Threads: @thuy_on123 Instagram: poemsbythuy
