‘For thousands of years, global narratives have had, as their explicit task, the expansion of the human heart.’
This timely collection of essays and journalism – published together for the first time – spans two turbulent decades. With her trademark wit and wisdom, Melissa Lucashenko reflects on being caught in a siege, on the marginalised lives of prisoners and the urban poor, on Blak identity, Australian literature and on meeting her writing idol. Her non-fiction, like her novels, is deeply engaged with politics, activism, culture and social (in)justice.
Not Quite White in the Head offers unprecedented access to one of the nation’s greatest writers as she invites us into the conversations that truly matter.
Melissa Lucashenko is a Goorie author of Bundjalung and European heritage. Her first novel was published in 1997, and since then, her work has received acclaim in many literary awards. Her sixth novel, Too Much Lip, won the 2019 Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Queensland Premier’s Award for a work of State Significance. Melissa is a founding member of human rights organisation Sisters Inside. She writes about ordinary Australians and the extraordinary lives they lead.
From the very beginning, Lucashenko’s sharp intellect and wholesome honesty pulls you in as she explores powerful themes of identity, justice and what it means to belong. Her voice is fierce, but also full of warmth, and there’s a raw clarity in how she shares complex ideas through each essay.
Whether reflecting on moments of danger, cultural resilience or the lives of those society often overlooks, Lucashenko’s writing is enamouring over the two decades of storytelling, you can feel her writing style evolve as the book progresses. Her humour shines through in the toughest of reflections, which makes the harder content land even more powerfully.
Not Quite White in the Head will open your eyes, make you think and make you feel. It’s years of lived experience, woven together through beautiful writing, clever humour and a powerful mix of creativity and activism. Lucashenko’s voice is bold, grounded and absolutely unforgettable. I’d recommend this book to anyone who cares about truth, justice and the kind of storytelling that stays with you long after the last page.
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, and how the first impression of any platform or content matters just as much as the first line of a great book. Thanks for sharing this list — it was a fun read revisiting these classics!