Trent Dalton’s acclaimed novel, “Boy Swallows Universe,” has been voted the top book of the 21st century in Radio National’s inaugural Top 100 Books countdown. The literary event received the biggest response ever to an Australian literary prize, with 287,990 votes recorded by passionate readers from all over Australia. This annual fiction to non-fiction countdown celebrates the best of both worlds. It encourages Australians to explore the books they love and tell us what they think!
In practice, the countdown revealed a fascinatingly diverse body of literary work. It served to remind us how far literature has come in the last twenty years. Coming in behind Dalton’s novel, Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief” was the runner-up, a reflection of the classic literary work’s continued, widespread appeal. Coming in third, Amor Towles’ “A Gentleman in Moscow” enchanted readers with its masterful storytelling.
The top ten list features a blend of both celebrated and emerging authors, including Anthony Doerr’s “All the Light We Cannot See,” Bonnie Garmus’ “Lessons in Chemistry,” and Hannah Kent’s “Burial Rites.” Additionally, Pip Williams’ “The Dictionary of Lost Words,” Barbara Kingsolver’s “Demon Copperhead,” Hanya Yanagihara’s “A Little Life,” and Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall” rounded out the top ten selections.
This collaborative and successful initiative will start an annual Radio National tradition. Each year, the stations will focus on a new, book-inspired theme! The first edition celebrates the best nonfictions of the 21st century. It has certainly sparked the imaginations of visitors and literary lovers of all ages.
When the Academy named his book an honoree, Markus Zusak said he was humbled by the acknowledgement of his work, adding,
“I’ll celebrate by just reflecting on how the Australian people have taken on this book, written by this kind-of schmuck, down in the southern suburbs of Sydney more than 20 years ago.” – Markus Zusak
He went on to reinforce his faith in the survival of print, claiming,
“People have been saying books are dying ever since I got published, which was in 1999, and they’re not dead yet; I think they’re thriving more than ever.” – Markus Zusak
The countdown does a nice job of showcasing several of the most popular titles. It contextualizes the art and makes it accessible, allowing readers a deeper interaction with the body of work. With each iteration, participants will be able to vote on new themes, guaranteeing an ever-changing investigation into great literature.
