Gleaner March 2022

Australian Literature

Son of Sin by Omar Sakr ($30, PB)

In this extraordinary work, Omar Sakr deftly weaves a multifaceted tale brimming with angels and djinn, racist kangaroos and adoring bats, examining with a poet’s eye the destructive impetus of repressed desire and the complexities that make us human..

Happy Stories, Mostly by Norman Erikson Pasaribu ($26.95, PB)

The first book of fiction by young queer Indonesian writer Norman Erikson Pasaribu. Happy Stories, Mostly is a playful, charged and tender collection of twelve stories – a blend of speculative fiction and dark absurdism, often drawing on Norman Erikson Pasaribu’s Batak and Christian cultures.

The Sorrow Stone by Kari Gislason ($33, PB)

In a society where betrayals and revenge killings are rife, all Disa has is her pride and her courage. Will it be enough for her and her son to escape retribution?

Dramatic and urgent in its telling, The Sorrow Stone celebrates one woman’s quest, against the dramatic backdrop of the Icelandic countryside. In this gripping novel, the co-author of the bestselling Saga Land takes a sidelined figure from the Viking tales and finally puts her where she belongs – at the centre of the story.

The Islands by Emily Brugman ($30, PB)

The Islands is the sweeping story of the Saari family: Onni, an industrious young man, grappling with the loss of a loved one; his wife Alva, quiet but stoic, seeking a sense of belonging between the camps of the islands and the suburban lots of the mainland; and their pensive daughter Hilda, who dreams of becoming the skipper of her own boat.

As the Saari's try to build their future in Australia, their lives entwine with those of the fishing families of Little Rat, in myriad and unexpected ways.

Home and Other Hiding Places by Jack Ellis ($33, PB)

A clear-eyed, big-hearted work of literary fiction, Home and Other Hiding Places is a stunning portrait of a boy navigating the world of adult secrets. When Finn returns to Sydney to spend Christmas with his Gran, he discovers that his new home is a harsh and unfriendly space. As the life he has known crumbles around him, Fin learns that no-one is coming to his rescue, and he sets off on a journey to find his way home.

The Competition by Katherine Collette ($33, PB)

Katherine Collette, author of the hilarious The Helpline, returns with another sharply observed comedy of manners and a cast of loveable underachievers, headed for self-improvement despite themselves – set against the backdrop of the SpeechMakers annual national conference and public-speaking competition.