The Stella Prize is an Australian literature award. Each year, Stella celebrates women in writing. In March, they announced the Stella Prize Longlist.
All the books on this list are powerful examples of Australian writing that explore themes such as love, colonisation and the Australian environment. In this blog post, we are highlighting a few of the longlisted books that are available to borrow at the PMI Victorian History Library. Let’s have a look!
Peripathetic by Cher Tan
Inga Simpson’s book explores the story of a young woman in a futuristic world that, arguably, is not so different from our own. The protagonist, Fin, must help restore the natural world to what is once was as the environment has been damaged by human neglect and carelessness. This story is set in Australia and, through her writing, Inga not only creates a detailed portrayal of the Australian landscape but also draws parallels between this and astronomy. Inga uses the symbolism of the stars to speak about themes of loss, memory and culture. This is what makes it apart of the Stella Prize Longlist 2025.
This book of essays sheds light on the things we often don’t think about. Each essay pushes the boundaries of everyday life. There is more to life then just the mundane and Cher puts forth the notion that we do not live properly until we reject the ordinary. Cher Tan is well known for essays and criticism and is a well celebrated writer in Australia. Her powerful and thought-provoking work pushes the boundaries and leaves the reader thinking about the world and culture we live in right now. The Stella Prize judges describe this book as ‘funny and strange and breathing so fast’.
Always will Be by Mykaela Saunders
Always will Be by Mykaela Saunders
Dr Mykaela Saunders is a Tweed Goori writer who imagines a world where the Goori people reassert their sovereignty. This speculative fiction is located in the Tweed, in northern New South Wales. It is a collection of stories about a future version of the Tweed and the people who live there. Each character reflects the importance of community and resistance to colonialism. They grow and flourish in a world that is not made for them. This book was chosen for the Stella Prize Longlist 2025 because these stories reflect Mykaela’s own experiences and echoes her vivid and alive imagination.
The Burrow by Melanie Cheng
This story explores around the lives and experiences of Amy and Jin Lee, their daughter, Lucie, and Amy’s mother, named Pauline. Melanie Chang writes about an adopted pet rabbit and a family secret that is uncovered when Pauline comes to stay. Most of the story is based during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it an important reflection of that time. The Stella Prize judges describe this book as one that sticks with who long after you finish it. Melanie Cheng’s previous work has won both the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Fiction.
Translations by Jumaana Abdu
Jumaana Abdu writes of the Australian bush through a different lens. She writes about Aliyah and her daughter, who move to a property in rural New South Wales. Alijah is a Muslim woman who is trying to make a new life for herself. This was longlisted because it challenges assumptions and ‘sidesteps every stereotype expected of the Australian bush narrative’. It explores friendship, faith and family with the backdrop of the unpredictable Australian landscape.
Interested in checking out some of the other books longlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize? You can do so here.