50 Books You Can’t Put Down 2009

Posted by Susan Whelan Sep 6, 2009

I love lists, books and anything that promotes reading, so Books Alive appeals to me on several levels. Running from 26 August to 30 September 2009, the current campaign promotes “50 books you can’t put down” including both Australian and international titles from various genres and styles.

Books Alive is an Australian Government initiative developed through the Australian Council for the Arts. Each year, a guide is available at bookstores and online recommending 50 books across a range of genres.

From self-help titles like Peter Walsh’s It’s All Too Much to the Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlisted title The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, the Books Alive 2009 booklist includes something to appeal to every reading preference.

Non-fiction fans will find a selection of biography and autobiography titles, including the story of aviatrix Nancy Bird (My God! It’s a Woman), surfer Mark Occhilupo (Occy), renowned celebrity interviewer Michael Parkinson (Parky) and British comedienne Dawn French (Dear Fatty). War, true crime and history titles are also included.

Fiction titles range from general fiction, YA, sci-fi/fantasy, crime and literary fiction and a small number of children’s titles including Neil Gaiman’s popular The Graveyard Book.

The Guide, a full list of books included in the Books Alive 2009 campaign can be found at The Guide link on the Books Alive website or printed copies are available at participating bookstores.

How can I get involved in Books Alive 2009?

Readers who purchase Books Alive titles at participating bookstores will receive one of two exclusive titles for free with their purchase.

10 Short Stories you Must Read this Year – short stories by ten of Australia’s best writers (I’ve included links to titles by these authors that I have already reviewed at Suite101): Robert Drewe

Anita Heiss

Toni Jordan

Tom Keneally (The Widow and Her Hero)

Kathy Lette

Monica McInerney

William McInnes

Melina Marchetta (Finnikin of the Rock – A Books Alive 2009 title)

Jack Marx

Peter Temple

Grug Learns to Read by Ted Prior – a brand new title in this much loved classic Australian children’s picture book series.

A range of author events are being also being held throughout Australia. Full details are available at the What’s On link at the Books Alive website.

A Books Alive 2009 Reading Challenge is being hosted by the Book Thingo blog. Running from 7 – 30 September, participants are encouraged to read as many of the 50 titles as they can during the Challenge. Full details are available from at Book Thingo Books Alive 2009 Reading Challenge.

Books Alive is also on Twitter (@Books_Alive) for those wanting to keep up with campaign news and connect with others promoting the campaign and completing the reading challenge.

Reading Great Books

I’m a big fan of anything that brings more great authors and titles to my attention. If you have read any of the Books Alive 2009 books, I’d love to know what you think. Feel free to leave a comment here if you have any titles you would particularly like to recommend. I've listed below Books Alive 2009 titles that I have read and can recommend and will update these as I read further titles, which I am hoping to do in the coming weeks as part of the Books Alive 2009 Reading Challenge.

Dear Fatty by Dawn French

Parky by Michael Parkinson

1788 - The Brutal Truth of the First Fleet by David Hill

The True Story of Butterfish by Nick Earls

A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman