James B. Young reveals the best books on central Australia

The Alice Springs-based shoemaker and outfitter employs the stories and materials of his desert home in his signature work. He talks to AFR Magazine for our regular What I am Reading column.

James B. Young likes to read about central Australia because of the mythology projected onto it.

Nicole Abadee

Aug 21, 2019 – 12.00am

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You read fiction and non-fiction. Tell us about the fiction first.

Recently I have been rereading Haruki Murakami’s Sputnik Sweetheart and The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. I find his writing helps me to break away from more rational ways of thinking, because you're never really sure what the book's actually about. There's always some uncertainty about the esoteric or supernatural aspects of the story that challenge your expectations of what might happen. His books take you on an emotional journey.