Australia’s Top 100 Books Revealed

Australia’s Top 100 Books Revealed

If you ask a room full of readers to name their favourite book, don’t expect to get another word in. We’re a nation of avid readers, passionate about the books we love and not shy about telling other readers about them.

Each year, Better Reading asks Australian readers and their families that very question and this time around, over 9,000 booklovers happily joined in and had their say. The results reveal an interesting new trend in book publishing with an upsurge of interest and pride in local writing talent.

Going by the results, Australian readers love Australian authors and Australian stories. As in previous Better Reading polls, Australian icons Tim Winton, Tom Keneally, Judy Nunn and Bryce Courtenay rank in the Top 100. Interestingly – and for the first time ever – debut Australian fiction authors made their mark, big time.

The inclusion of Holly Ringland’s The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe, Christian White’s The Nowhere Child, Dervla McTiernan’s The Ruin, Chris Hammer’s Scrublands, and Lauren Chater’s The Lace Weaver reflects a new and growing appetite for debut Australian authors.

“We constantly see readers jumping on to our Facebook page recommending books to each other,’ said Better Reading’s Cheryl Akle. ‘More often than not it’s Australian authors, both established writers and those new to the scene, that our readers are most excited about.”

The survey also revealed:

– More than half the Top 100 are by Australian authors

– Australians enjoy a diverse mix of literary and popular fiction

– The gender balance of authors was almost equal at 51% female and 49% male

– General fiction is the most popular genre followed by crime/thriller and classics

– Australians enjoy a mix of international and home-grown authors – The Book Thief by Australian author Marcus Zusak took out the #1 spot and three of the top 10 positions were taken out by Australian authors. However, the top 10 also included classics and modern classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

– Liane Moriarty was revealed as the most popular Australian author, closely followed by Tim Winton, Jane Harper, Matthew Reilly, Di Morrisey, Judy Nunn and Bryce Courtney, with numerous titles of theirs on the list.

– Australians are loving debut home grown authors.

Akle initiated the annual poll in the hope that it would inspire Australians to read and give them some ideas for books they might like.

“People are always telling me how hard it is to find the right book,” says Akle. “With so many new releases every month, plus the not so new ones we haven’t read yet, making a decision can be overwhelming. No one has time to read everything – or the money – so when you do pick up a book, you want to know it’s a book you’re going to love.”

“Readers love to share their favourite titles,” added Akle, “and this year’s Top 100 list will be a great way for people to select some of the best books to read over the next few months.”

Better Reading compiles the Top 100 list annually, and expects it to be a great resource for libraries, gift-givers and readers in general.

Better Reading’s Top 10 reads:

  1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  2. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  3. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
  4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
  5. Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
  6. The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons
  7. The Trip of a Lifetime by Monica McInerney
  8. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
  9. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
  10. The Dry by Jane Harper

 

Thank you to all who voted, and a huge congratulations to our Top 100 winners! The following people will be receiving a copy of each title on the Top 100 list. Happy Reading!

1. Cath Fryer, QLD

2. Christy Clayton, SA

3. Jacqui Williams, VIC

4. Belinda Sammut, NSW

5. Cassie Acosta, WA

6. Priscilla Caragh, ACT

7. Brooke van Ruiswyk, TAS

 

Download the full list here

COMMENTS

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  1. margaret stapleton says:

    My favourite book was Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer but now my favourite author is Anna Jacobs and I find it difficult to buy her books in shops, I can only get her books online. I have enjoyed her books immensely.

  2. Sandra McGowan says:

    I have read 52 of these books – The Ruin and Scrublands being my two favourites. Interesting that Michael Robotham didn’t make the list – he is probably my favourite Aussie author.

  3. Veronica says:

    I’ve only read 11 but have another 19 books on my shelf to be read. I agree with Sandra, Robotham is a great author.

  4. Janice Hannagan says:

    It’s a great list, thank you, but I was surprised that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo didn’t make it.

  5. Karen Jubb says:

    I have read quite a lot of these books, thanks to you for I won the top 100 2017.
    You have introduced me to some wonderful new authors ( new to me at least). Jane Harper is great and I am just about to read her 3rd book “lost man”. Kristin Hannah is another new favourite and I absolutely loved “the Nightingale”, particularly as we had recently done a road trip around the coast of Brittany and came across some very dark reminders of the time in France of the German occupation. I have since read 4 of her books ! Thank you

  6. Tanya says:

    I’ve read 24 books on the list. There are probably about 10 I’d like to read and the rest hold no interest. Love that Australian authors dominate the list.

  7. Janine says:

    Great list!
    Be great to have this list so we can tick off and total what we’ve read (or haven’t read).

  8. Jennifer says:

    I’ve read 55 of these, and have another 10 (or so) on my TBR list.

  9. Doreen Stevenson says:

    I love your list and have read many of them. I would like to add Anne Clancy to your list of Aussie writers I found her books all though a novel just good reading.

  10. Edith Bailey says:

    I have read 30 or so of these authors. However, I preferred other titles by the listed authors much more than a lot of these titles. There seems to be a trend of hard realism, depression and darkness to many of these.

  11. Claire English says:

    “The Elegance of the Hedgehog ” so enjoyable.

  12. Marilyn Inglis says:

    Wonderful list I have read some of the books but lots more to read. It will a great reference to keep and tick off as I read them. Currently reading Scrublands Chris Hammer. Recently read The Dry and The Lost Man. Love your page.

  13. Phi Phi Carr says:

    SADLY, only 8.

  14. Preeya Rook says:

    Are you on the goodreads app? If so can you put the list there so we can add them to our TBR list? Thank you!

  15. Wendy says:

    I have read 54 and hope to read many more of them!

  16. Shirley Walden says:

    Read 4-5 books a week and enjoyed 26 of your list. Lot of others didnt finish reading as didnt like📚📚💕