‘Praiseworthy’ by Alexis Wright

Hello, I'm Bob, and I adored this wild, sprawling and endlessly inventive novel.
My review mostly talks about the book as a whole, rather than specific plot points, so should be fine even if you have not read the novel!
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[@lynbobo9]

Thank you for your clarity. I am an Aboriginal woman so my opinion takes on more and different perspectives..I love the book for taking on the huge array of politics, feelings and complexities experienced by our people fighting for Sovereignty. Our Spiritual Beliefs connect us to our traditional lands and now the recent science is finally catching up with Spirituality and Gaia. We are the oldest living culture for good reason and Alexis Wright is a fine example.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Ah, thank you for sharing! Really good to have your perspective on this! And yes, such an ambitious reach of a book, and like you said, I love how she integrates those beliefs and ideas into a narrative and really pushes against the more ‘standard’ Western approach to narrative.

[@janethansen9612]

I have struggled to read Alexis Wright in the past, her writing is so dense (I think I got half way through Tracker), but as an Australian I feel almost obliged to read Praiseworthy. Our indigenous stories are so important, and not just those set in the past. Melissa Lucashenko is another excellent indigenous author who is worth a read.

[@kimswhims8435]

Try the audiobook, I read along with listening to it. Brilliant! I also tried 3 times to read The Swan Book by her but couldn't do it until I listened to the audiobook. Her work really lends itself to oral storytelling.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Thank you for the recommendation! And yes, I’ve heard the audio is amazing for this book!

[@janethansen9612]

@@kimswhims8435 Thanks. By way of update, I've now started the physical book, about 75 pages in so far which is too early to have an opinion.

[@TheDiscoKingOfficial]

HUUUGE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE

[@BobTheBookerer]

YOURS IS BLOODY GREAT

[@kimswhims8435]

Such a great review Bob! I'm always in awe of Alexis Wright's writing. Give her her Nobel Prize Now! I had been trying to read Praiseworthy since it was first released a year ago and when the audiobook became available, I finally felt able to tackle it. It still took me a month to read and had won The 2024 Stella Prize and even though it didn't win the Dublin Literary award, I suspect it will win The Miles Franklin. I loved how darkly sharp-witted it was. Aboriginal Sovereignty is talked about so much around Indigenous issues in Australia. It really is bold to use as an individual character's name and how he and others in his community view him. I can't stop thinking about it. She has really played around with characters names to raise questions about all sorts of issues. I don't think I've ever seen that done before?

[@BobTheBookerer]

Yeah, I definitely don’t think I’ve seen it done like that before. Some characters using it for fun (one author using the character of ‘Nothing’ for fun jokes for example) but not in so bold and inventive way as this. It’s such an assured and bold book- I really admire the absolute ambition of it all. I can’t wait to read more of hers!

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

This shows why you’re a reviewer and I am not! I read this last month, and would have no idea how to possibly talk about it or explain the hypnotic experience of reading it, but you expressed it perfectly. What an extraordinary book. I hope papers (or Spark Notes?) are written so I can more fully understand what I read.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Ahh, that’s very kind of you! I still feel like I maybe only understood about 20% of the book, but it still wowed me! And I would love to read papers about it, because there must be so much more hiding in plain sight!

[@CalebBedford]

I JUST got a copy of this one and am really intrigued. I need to get to it soon or it’ll float into that black hole that is my bookshelf… I’ll come back when I finish and watch this!

[@BobTheBookerer]

Aha, I know that situation well! Good luck!

[@ianp9086]

It would be amazing to see this on the Booker longlist this year - I presume it would be eligible as I think the UK publication was in November. And then who knows? If it lends itself to multiple rereads it could go further!

[@BobTheBookerer]

Yes! The publishers mentioned they submitted it- I really think it could get on the list!

[@josephlastname]

between this and The Great Undoing it would be criminal for there not to be any Australian rep on the Booker list this year!

[@BobTheBookerer]

Ooh, I hadn’t heard of that, but I ended up ordering it because of this- thanks!

[@tam876]

Sold!

[@steventregilgas5016]

Hi I have read Carpentaria by Alexis Wright I enjoyed it at times and was completely lost at other times I think Praiseworthy maybe similar but I will give it a go at some point

[@BobTheBookerer]

Aha, from what I hear of people reading Wright’s books, ‘completely lost’ sounds about right! But with Praiseworthy, I almost didn’t want to not be lost!

[@dqan7372]

Ah. Found this book on my wishlist the other day and wondered how it got there. Not sure you are the reason for its initial existence there, but you're the reason it is staying.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Ahah, I’ve gone on about it a lot, so it might be me! 😂

[@Itismebruna]

Hi Bob! It seems to be an amazing book but I feel very ignorant about the theme. Have you used any support materials that you would recommend? Thanks!

[@BobTheBookerer]

I have to admit I don’t know a great deal other than what I’ve picked up occasionally from friends or from the news, but I will have a look and share what I find!