Books by Peter Polites

WINNER OF THE NSW PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARDS MULTICULTURAL NSW AWARD 2020The satire in Peter Polites' The Pillars is sharp and jagged, full of acutely observed moments on the streets and in the loungerooms of Sydney. - ABC Radio National, The BookshelfDon't worry about the housing bubble, she would say. Don't worry about the fact that you will never be able to afford a home. Worry about the day after. That's when they will all come, with their black shirts and bayonets, and then you will see the drowned bodies and slit necks. And I would stand there and say, But Mum, why are you telling me this when I'm ten years old.Working as a writer hasn't granted Pano the financial success he once imagined, but lobbying against a mosque being built across the road from his home (and the occasional meth-fuelled orgy) helps to pass the time. He's also found himself a gig ghostwriting for a wealthy property developer. The pay cheque alone is enough for him to turn a blind eye to some dodgy dealings - at least for the time being.In a world full of flashy consumerism and aspiration, can Pano really escape his lot in life? And does he really want to?A novel of dark desires and moral gray areas, THE PILLARS is an extraordinary new novel from one of Australia's most exciting contemporary voices.Praise for DOWN THE HUME:'DOWN THE HUME [is] essential reading in these times of "e;border protection"e;' - The Saturday Paper'DOWN THE HUME's propulsive rhythm feels like entering a strong current. Its fast pace and escalating plot are typical of the noir genre, but it is also filled with unexpected and precise turns of phrase, which can shift quickly from the menial to the lyrical.' - The Guardian'DOWN THE HUME should rightly take its place alongside the fiction of Christos Tsiolkas [and] Maxine Beneba Clarke... as work that reflects the reality and occasional ugliness of Australia's multiculturalism.' - Australian Book Review'DOWN THE HUME is a robust study of ethnic, class and sexual identities in contemporary Australia.'- The Weekend Australian

SHORTLISTED FOR NSW PREMIERS LITERARY AWARDS MULTICULTURAL NSW AWARD 2018'tough and compelling' - Christos Tsiolkas 'He touched my face. When his hand went along my bruised top lip and my almost broken nose, I winced from the pain. His fist went into a deep denim pocket. Pulled out a Syrinapx bottle, twisted the cap off and handed me two light blue pills.'How did Bucky get here? A series of accidents. A tragic love for a violent man. An addiction to painkillers he can't seem to kick. An unlikely friendship with an ageing patient. Drugs, memories and the objects of his desire are colluding against Bucky. And when it hits him. Bam. A ton of bricks ... The shadowy places of Western Sydney can be lit up with the hope of love, but no streetlight can illuminate like obsession.A novel of addiction, secrets and misplaced love, this is an Australian debut not to be missed.'Down the Hume [is] essential reading in these times of "e;border protection"e;' - The Saturday Paper'Down the Hume's propulsive rhythm feels like entering a strong current. Its fast pace and escalating plot are typical of the noir genre, but it is also filled with unexpected and precise turns of phrase, which can shift quickly from the menial to the lyrical.' - The Guardian'Down the Hume should rightly take its place alongside the fiction of Christos Tsiolkas [and] Maxine Beneba Clarke... as work that reflects the reality and occasional ugliness of Australia's multiculturalism.' - AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW'Down the Hume is a robust study of ethnic, class and sexual identities in contemporary Australia.'- The Weekend Australian