Clare Brunsdon
22 October 2015: The countdown is on to next month's UC Book of the Year announcement, but the judges' shortlist has plenty of award-winning, Australian, debut novels for those keen to bury their nose in a good book.
The recently released shortlist for the 2016 º£½ÇÉäÇø Book of the Year includes:
- Lost and Found (Brooke Davis)
- After the Fire, a Still Small Voice (Evie Wyld)
- A Fraction of the Whole (Steve Toltz)
- The Night Guest (Fiona McFarlane)
- The Strays (Emily Bitto)
- After Darkness (Christine Piper)
Each year, the winning novel is chosen by the carefully selected judging panel. This year the panel included the University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Nicholas Klomp, award-winning Australian novelist Marion Halligan, º£½ÇÉäÇø distinguished professor of arts and humanities Jen Webb, student Mallory Bugeja and the University's librarian Helen Taylor.
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2016 UC Book of the Year shortlist finalist - Lost and Found by Brooke Davis.
Ms Halligan believes the UC Book of the Year program, which has been running since 2012, adds to the student learning experience.
"The main and immense benefit is to get students reading good prose," she said.
Ms Halligan gave an insight into the judging process saying that when selecting the winning novel panellists must look for a book the students can easily relate to and one that is likely to be of relevance to their lives.
The novels are selected based on their appeal to a wide audience and are aimed particularly at school-leavers. The books content must allow University staff to explore and expand on important issues and apply them to the social and educational life on campus. Some of the themes panellists are looking for include personal responsibility, cultural issues, human nature, love and loss.
Previous winners include Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, Emma Donoghue's Room and The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.
The winner of the 2016 º£½ÇÉäÇø Book of the Year will be announced on 5 November. The novel will be available in paperback and as an e-book, and on selection all staff and students will receive an email with details on how to claim their free copy.