Australian Women Writers Challenge discussion

To celebrate The National Year of Reading, First Tuesday Book Club has compiled, with your help, an all-Australian reading list, the 10 Aussie books you must read before you die.

Chosen were:

Cloudstreet - Tim Winton
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
A Fortunate Life - A.B. Facey
The Harp in the South - Ruth Park
The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
Jasper Jones - Craig Silvey
The Magic Pudding - Norman Lindsay
The Slap - Christos Tsiolkas
The Secret River - Kate Grenville
Picnic at Hanging Rock - Joan Lindsay

What do you think?

I don't know what I'd displace, so call this the classics I'd include in my top twenty: My Brilliant Career, The Getting of Wisdom, Seven Little Australians, Year of Wonders, My Place, Puberty Blues. And if I were to rec some more recent books - The Fine Colour of Rust, Sea Hearts, Liar, The Rabbits, The Arrival, Possum Magic, Am I Black Enough For You?

I must admit to being underwhelmed when I watched the show but I don't really imagine I'd do any better even though my list would have different books in it.

I guess it's not as "old white guy writing about rural Australia" as it might have been (given that tends to be the focus of a lot of the literary awards over the years) so that's some kind of progress but it's hardly a diverse list of authors - only 3 women and only 1 of those is still alive and writing whereas 4 of the male writers on the list are still going strong and a fifth only died a few weeks ago), no indigenous authors.