Too Much Lip

Kerry Piper rides into her hometown of Durrongo on a stolen Harley Davidson with warrants out for her arrest. She returns only to say goodbye to her dying grandfather, but finds herself caught up in family conflicts and a battle over local land development. The novel explores indigenous Australian family dynamics, generational trauma, and the complexities of modern Aboriginal identity. Set in rural New South Wales, the story confronts issues of racism, land rights, and the impact of colonization on contemporary indigenous communities. Too Much Lip received the 2019 Miles Franklin Award and was shortlisted for multiple prestigious literary prizes including the Stella Award. The novel draws on author Melissa Lucashenko's Bundjalung heritage and knowledge of Aboriginal culture. Through dark humor and raw storytelling, the book examines how past violence echoes through generations and raises questions about belonging, family loyalty, and the fight for cultural preservation in modern Australia.

Readers appreciate the raw honesty and dark humor in depicting Indigenous Australian family dynamics and intergenerational trauma. The dialogue and Aboriginal vernacular feel authentic, with many noting the glossary helped their understanding. Fans highlight the complex female characters, especially Kerry's fierce personality and growth. Multiple reviews mention the effective balance of serious themes with moments of levity. Common criticisms include the pacing in the first third of the book, with some finding it difficult to engage initially. A portion of readers struggled with the number of characters and family relationships to track. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (450+ ratings) BookDepository: 4.3/5 (200+ ratings) "Raw and unflinching but also tender" - Goodreads reviewer "The dialogue crackles with authenticity" - Amazon reviewer "Took me 50 pages to get into it but then couldn't put it down" - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes overwhelming with characters but worth pushing through" - Amazon reviewer

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🔸 The novel won the 2019 Miles Franklin Literary Award, Australia's most prestigious literary prize, making Lucashenko the third Indigenous Australian author to receive this honor. 🔸 Melissa Lucashenko is of Bundjalung and European heritage, and her deep connection to Country significantly influences her storytelling and the novel's authentic portrayal of Indigenous perspectives. 🔸 The book's title "Too Much Lip" references a common criticism of outspoken Aboriginal women, challenging stereotypes and expectations of Indigenous female behavior in Australian society. 🔸 The story's setting, Durrongo, is inspired by the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, an area rich in Aboriginal history and ongoing land rights disputes. 🔸 The author worked as a martial arts instructor and cleaner before becoming a writer, experiences that inform her raw, physical writing style and authentic working-class character portrayals.