Miles Franklin award: All that I am.

Anna Funder’s debut novel All That I Am has won yet another award. This time it’s the valuable and prestigious Miles Franklin Award.

In an interesting move this year the judges broadened the selection criteria to include books that weren’t necessarily depicting some aspect of Australian life. If it hadn’t been for that, All that I am would not have been eligible according the original wording of the award.  Which is not to take anything away from the book.  It is very good indeed.

We have stock currently, and more will be arriving tomorrow.  $22.95

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

Butterfly by Sonya Hartnett, PB $24.95

Ordinary situations written in an extraordinary way is the best description of the 2010 Miles Franklin short listed book ‘Butterfly’.

Written mainly from the perspective of 14 year old Plum, it is the familiar and very honest story of a girl trying to grow out of that awkward teenage phase and find out who she is going to be. Plum’s dealings with her school friends, embarrassing family and mysterious neighbour provide a complete view of a girl who is adrift and doesn’t know who to put her faith in.

Hartnett writes beautifully with deep and complex characters that while being undeniably strange, are somehow completely relatable. While it is not a light read and sometimes downright uncomfortable, it is well worth delving into and seeing the world from the point of view of a variety of characters.