Comments on cookin'/relaxin': Antipodean reading

Hi Tristan, Don't know if you're still in Australi...

2008-03-27T05:14:00.000Z

Hi Tristan,
Don't know if you're still in Australia, but an absolutely brilliant book about Sydney is Leviathan by John Birmingham.
It's billed as "An unauthorised biography of Sydney" and that pretty much hits the mark.
PS don't know if you're willing to do any radio/digital platforms talking while you're in Sydney, but I'd be interesting in meeting you if so. I'm working on digital radio for the ABC.

Bone People is excellent, read it myself while ont...

2008-01-20T19:31:00.000Z

Bone People is excellent, read it myself while onthe south island, and very atmospheric it was. I also enjoyed a little facinating non-fiction: New Zealand has some bizarre and startling geology, so I really enjoyed reading "the earth: an intimate history" by Richard Fortey. I guess this, or any other really well written pop sci geology tome would be worth taking along.

How lovely, well I am doing the exact opposite to ...

2008-01-20T12:45:00.000Z

How lovely, well I am doing the exact opposite to you, planning to leave Australia and travel in the UK. In terms of the ideal books to read about Australia I think it would be difficult without knowing what sort of experience you were after. If you stick to the cities then obviously the books about the outback etc won't really help. I would say the whole Tim Winton/Bryce Courtney is obvious.

Just don't watch Wolf Creek, or Home & Away or Neighbours for that matter. We aren't really like that.

If you go to Katooma, the three sisters, the scenic railway is probably were you would probably want to go.

Sorry I can't be of more help!

I've never read it but lots of people have recom...

2008-01-15T17:49:00.000Z

I've never read it but lots of people have recommended The Bone People by Keri Hulme. I have a copy on my desk if you'd like to borrow it.

english passengers - michael mannthe bone people -...

2008-01-15T15:45:00.000Z

english passengers - michael mann
the bone people - kerry hulme

oh, and watch 'once were warriors'

There's also Down Under by Bill Bryson, just to sc...

2008-01-10T11:17:00.000Z

There's also Down Under by Bill Bryson, just to scare you a bit :)

Thanks guys, I shall check those out

2008-01-09T09:24:00.000Z

Thanks guys, I shall check those out

For reading I'd recommend The Songlines by Bruce C...

2008-01-09T06:57:00.000Z

For reading I'd recommend The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin. For accommodation in the Blue Mountains Katoomba YHA is in a great location and is pretty nice as YHA's go.

I remember really enjoying: The Fatal Shore by Rob...

2008-01-09T06:53:00.000Z

I remember really enjoying:
The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes (colonial history)
The Future Eaters by Tim Flannery (mostly about climate change in oz)
The Secret River by Kate Grenville (historical novel)
Any novel by Tim Winton or Peter Carey

See also http://ask.metafilter.com/31084/Whats-the-Great-Australian-Novel

In Blue Mountains stay close to Katoomba/Leura Don't know accommodation but the Carrington could be an interesting experience (seen better days victorian style, unusual in australia probably expensive without facilities)

To eat if you can make it to Blackheath next town on railway along from Katoomba I can highly recommend Vulcans, but you may need to book a day or two ahead.