Readers back The Dry

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Readers rallied to propel The Dry into the ABC Book Club's Five of the Best for 2016.

More than 3000 people cast their vote for their favourite book of the past 12 months to round off the TV show's final episode for the year.

Host Jennifer Byrne said The Dry was one of two books to "blitz" the audience poll, with readers describing it as "edgy and thrilling".

"It's going to be huge," Byrne said. "The book has done brilliantly."

Director of the Wheeler Centre Michael Williams praised the imagery of The Dry, saying: "It's an amazing debut."

The Dry was also named by booksellers as one of 2016's best sellers, with readers responding enthusiastically this year to work by Australian women.

Jane said she was delighted readers had voted for The Dry.

"A lot of people have worked really hard to get this book into people's hands this year, not least the publishers Pan Macmillan and all the booksellers who have supported it from the start," she said.

"But most of all, I'm grateful to all the readers who have picked it up and been willing to give a debut Australian novel a chance, and I'm so glad they have enjoyed it."

Other titles in the Book Club audience's Five of the Best were: Clementine Ford – Fight Like a Girl; Nathan Besser – The Man in the Corner; Hannah Kent – The Good People and Helen Garner – Everywhere I Look.

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