Great author, great Australian Tim Winton writes as others speak. Naturally. Paralysed for choice, potential readers are often intimidated by this astounding man’s body of work, but we here at Pelican are happy to help, and have compiled a list of the author’s novels, ranked in order of least to most.
10 An Open Swimmer
Stunning, superb, Shakespeare weeps with envy. Just a few words that have been written about this book.
9 Eyrie
“I really liked how Tim Winton wrote this book” – Once overheard on a train.
8 Shallows
Objectively good.
7 That Eye, The Sky
Slightly better than objectively good.
6 Blueback
This is a good one.
5 Breath
This book weaned me off heroin.
4 Lockie Leonard series
“Here you are son.” My father handed to me the Complete Lockie Leonard and we locked eyes. I could see that we were gonna be all right. Things hadn’t been the same since Mum died, and then with Dad’s drinking and gambling, well. But with this, with this one selfless gesture. I knew he still loved me. Oh and I forgot to mention we’re middle class and at the beach.
3 The Riders
Still good.
2 Dirt Music
I fashioned a crude canoe from this book and today travel the world spreading its message.
1 Cloudstreet
Phwoar, what a page-turner!
Words by Thomas Rossiter