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'In The Best Australian Stories 2015, Amanda Lohrey, winner of the Patrick White Award and author of the acclaimed novel A Short History of Richard Kline, curates twenty pieces of exceptional short fiction.
'In this wide-ranging collection, there are stories that will surprise, unsettle and beguile readers. Familiar subjects are examined from new perspectives: a teenage girl sneaks into director Jean-Luc Goddard's study and steals his diaries; the life of Picasso is reimagined in miniature vignettes. And new life is breathed into the most universal of experiences: birth, death, love and loss. The mother of a girl with hearing difficulties watches her child grow into increasing independence. A young woman makes a poignant voyage to the site of her brother's suicide.
'Elegant, accomplished and evocative, these short stories move, delight and inspire.' (Publication summary)
Contents
- Introduction : The Best Australian Stories 2015, single work essay (p. vii-ix)
- The Pilgrim's Way, single work short story (p. 1-20)
- Picasso : A Shorter Life, single work short story (p. 21-32)
- 2 or 3 Things I Know About You, single work short story (p. 33-35)
- Puppet Show, single work short story (p. 37-49)
- The Three Treasures, single work short story (p. 51-59)
- Little Toki, single work short story (p. 61-70)
- On Ice, single work short story (p. 81-89)
- The Level Playing Field, single work short story (p. 91-97)
- How Great Is Your Life?, single work short story (p. 99-112)
- Supernova, single work short story (p. 113-121)
- Alphabet, single work short story (p. 123-129)
-
Into the Woods,
single work
short story
Jolene gives birth to a baby girl, Georgette, who she quickly discovers is deaf. Jolene struggles to understand Georgette's limitations, pushing her towards cochlear implants and learning to speak. Georgette, feeling isolated, drifts apart from her mother; she eventually finds a deaf family that exclusively signs. She leaves home to be with the deaf community that Jolene denies.
- Something Wild, single work short story (p. 141-149)
- Better Things, single work short story (p. 151-161)
-
Aokigahara,
single work
short story
'I phoned my father when I arrived. He said, Your mum's just round at Aunty El's, in such a awy that I knew she wasn't; that she'd left the room with her hand to her mouth when he'd first said, Hullo love, and I felt so sorry for us all.' (Introduction)
- The Same Weight as a Human Heart, single work short story (p. 177-182)
- Vital Signs, single work short story (p. 183-193)
- Twenty Dollars, single work short story (p. 195-209)
- Manyuk, single work short story (p. 211-218)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
March in Fiction
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Overland [Online] , March 2016;
— Review of The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story ; Fever of Animals 2015 single work novel ; The World Without Us 2015 single work novel -
Sticking to the Familiar
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Rochford Street Review , January - March no. 17 2016;
— Review of The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story -
Well Read
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 23 January 2016; (p. 27)
— Review of The High Places 2016 selected work short story ; The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story -
Transgressions
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , January-February no. 378 2016; (p. 16)
— Review of The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story -
Jewels in the Firmament - and Some of Them Are Stars
2015
single work
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 19-20 December 2015; (p. 29) The Saturday Age , 19-20 December 2015; (p. 25)
— Review of The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story
-
The Best Australian Stories 2015 Review – Short Sharp Hits of Homegrown Fiction
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 18 November 2015;
— Review of The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story -
Contextualising the Nation
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 12-13 December 2015; (p. 24-25)
— Review of The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story ; The Best Australian Poems 2015 2015 anthology poetry ; The Best Australian Essays 2015 2015 anthology essay -
Jewels in the Firmament - and Some of Them Are Stars
2015
single work
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 19-20 December 2015; (p. 29) The Saturday Age , 19-20 December 2015; (p. 25)
— Review of The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story -
Transgressions
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , January-February no. 378 2016; (p. 16)
— Review of The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story -
Well Read
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 23 January 2016; (p. 27)
— Review of The High Places 2016 selected work short story ; The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015 anthology short story -
Introduction : The Best Australian Stories 2015
2015
single work
essay
— Appears in: The Best Australian Stories 2015 2015; (p. vii-ix)