1m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:27am
Craig Silvey: ‘It’s extraordinary’
Craig Silvey’s 2020 novel Honeybee is kicking off the top 25 of the countdown.
It’s a coming-of-age story about transgender 14-year-old Sam Watson, and how they navigate a world of petty theft, extortion plots, botched bank robberies, daring dog rescues and one spectacular drag show.
Silvey is joining us now.
“Oh my goodness, it’s extraordinary. It means the world to me,” he says.
“I’m so proud of this book and I’m very, very grateful that readers have embraced it with such open hearts. It’s extraordinary. I’m very appreciative.”
4m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:24am
#25: Honeybee by Craig Silvey (2020)
(Allen & Unwin)
5m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:23am
Thanks for joining us!
I’m Anna, and I’m thrilled to be hanging out with you this afternoon as we count down to Australia’s top-voted book of the 21st century.
All you need to know about me can probably be gleaned from my own voting card. I love books from all over the world — especially Ireland. Will any of these make it into the top 25, I wonder?
And don’t forget, you can tune in live to the Top 100 countdown on Radio National on your radio or via the ABC listen app.
10m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:18am
Welcome to our live coverage of ABC Radio National’s Top 100 Books of the 21st century
Hello to all the bibliophiles out there!
I’m Nicola Heath and together with Anna Levy from Radio National, we’ll be taking you through the final 25 of the inaugural Top 100 Books countdown.
The action kicked off yesterday and it’s been a literary extravaganza.
We’d love to know what books you voted for and which book you think will take out the top spot. Will it be a Tim Winton classic? Or an international prizewinner like Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall? (Yes, both in my top 10!)
Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to use the Reactions on each post to get involved!