Black Rock White City by Alec Patric: 3 Feb, 2017

Black Rock White City is a novel about the damages of war, the limits of choice, and the hope of love. It’s the story of Australia’s suburbs and the attempts of two Serbian refugees— Jovan and Suzana—as they try to reclaim the hopes of a life left behind.

It was awarded the 2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award.

Alec Patric will join us for a Q&A on Friday, 3 February between 10 and 11am. Please leave any questions you have below. (And discuss the book at your leisure!)

Want to buy Black Rock White City? Receive 10% off when purchasing it from Readings at State Library Victoria. To receive the discount online, enter the promo code BOOKCLUB in the promo code box during online checkout. To receive the discount at our State Library bookshop, simply mention the Thursday night book club at the counter.

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Hey Alec,
The book focuses on some really interesting themes and concepts. When you are writing a new work, do you begin with the themes you would like to address? Or the story you want to tell? Or something else entirely?

Hi Matthew,

I like to think of myself as a pure storyteller, and by that I mean that the first and last consideration is the story. But for a story you need compelling characters, and the deeper you go into developing those lives the more they draw out of your own life. All your hopes and fears, experiences, philosophies, love of art and literature, etc, etc, your entire existence gets drawn into the vortex of a story.