2m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 4:02am
#20: The Secret River by Kate Grenville (2005)
Great to see this Aussie classic in the top 20 – and one of my votes!
(Text Publishing)
9m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:54am
Ian McEwan’s still got it
Published in 2001, Atonement was McEwan‘s eighth novel.
He’s now up to novel 18 — and by all accounts it’s a cracker.
The Book Show host Claire Nichols gave his latest novel, What We Can Know, a glowing write-up in the latest edition of ABC Arts’ monthly books wrap:
“What We Can Know is an inventive and compelling page-turner about art and love, and an urgent call to protect the natural world. It’s a stunner.”
Read the full review (and plenty of others) here:
11m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:53am
What fans say of Atonement
Atonement is also a major fan favourite.
“I put this as my number one because I think it was my first foray into literary fiction … and it was my first encounter with reading something that was so exquisitely written that I would catch myself finishing a sentence and then going back to the start.” — Elise from Brisbane
“Ian McEwan is my favourite author and I think this is his best book. It spans so much in the way of human emotion, and the depth and nuance of its depictions of its characters and their inner lives especially is extraordinary.” — Will from Melbourne
“I voted for it because I think it’s a really good story. The characters are interesting and you want to know more about them. And for those who haven’t read it — I won’t tell you what the twist is — but it has a killer twist at the end.” — Rochelle from Perth
11m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:52am
#21: Atonement by Ian McEwan (2001)
(Penguin Books Australia)14m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:50amBingo time!
I know what you’re thinking. If only someone had created a bingo card for the Top 100 countdown.
Fear not! Play along below.*
(* Prizes include a reinvigorated love of reading and the pride of a game well played.)
15m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:48amA second Khaled Hosseini novel voted in
This bestseller from 2003 transports the reader to Kabul in the 1960s, where two young boys spend their days kite fighting, while violence unfolds around them.
The novel sold a whopping 7 million copies in the US alone, and has inspired several stage adaptations, a graphic novel and a feature film.
Hosseini says he’s “touched and honoured” to have two books in the Top 100 — the first was A Thousand Splendid Suns, which came in at number 49.
“I remember working as a doctor in the early 2000s and getting up each day at 4.30am to work on this manuscript,” he says.
“I wrote for the joy of writing and the joy grew as I became more and more attached to these characters.
“I never imagined this book would be published, let alone become a widely read novel that’s taught in schools and is for many readers a window into Afghan life, history, and culture.”
18m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:46am
#22: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003)
(Bloomsbury Publishing)
23m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:40am
A surprise hit among Aussie readers
Gabrielle Zevin has told ABC Radio National that when she first landed in Australia to promote Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow in 2023, she had no idea what the reception would be.
But she quickly got a sense of just how popular her book was among readers here when she encountered the large and enthusiastic crowds who turned up to her sessions at writers festivals around the country.
(Penguin Books Australia)
It turns out the feeling was mutual.
“I was amazed by how vibrant and exciting literary culture seemed to be in Australia, how many people were reading and were really excited about books, so it feels particularly meaningful to me to have had the readers of Australia pick Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow out of all the books they could have chosen from this century.”
25m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:38am
#23: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2023)
(Penguin Books Australia)
31m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:33am
Another Silvey novel!
And would you look at that! Another Craig Silvey novel makes the list.
This time, it’s Jasper Jones, a novel published in 2009. Like Honeybee, it also follows a young person finding themselves, and seeking out light among the darkness.
“I’m a bit speechless. How extraordinary. I mean, what are the odds?” Silvey says.
“I’m strangely quite moved by the fact that these two books are side by side.
“I’m not sure why, but I quite like the thought of them being companions and keeping each other company.”
31m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:32am
#24: Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey (2009)
Making Silvey the first author to snag back-to-back spots in the poll!
(Allen & Unwin)
35m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:29am
The countdown so far
We’ve jumped into the final 25 books of the countdown — but what about the 75 books we’ve heard so far?
I’ve been ticking off my favourites (five and counting!).
Find the live list here:
37m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:27amCraig 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.”
(Supplied)
40m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:24am
#25: Honeybee by Craig Silvey (2020)
(Allen & Unwin)
41m 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.
46m agoSun 19 Oct 2025 at 3:18amWelcome 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!