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Victoria's Top Summer Read Announced

Ann Blainey's I am Melba has been named the top Victorian book of the summer in the State Library of Victoria's 2008 Summer Read program.

The best five Victorian summer reads as voted by the public were announced by ABC broadcaster and TV host Alan Brough at a State Library awards ceremony on Friday.

Jarad Henry's St Kilda-based crime novel Blood Sunset came in second after Blainey's biography of Dame Nellie Melba. Radical Melbourne, a history of the city's political struggles by Jeff and Jill Sparrow, was third-favourite.

Two books by first-time novelists, Addition by Toni Jordon and Beaten by a Blow by Dennis McIntosh, rounded out the top five.

Now in its third year, the Library's Summer Read program invites readers to choose from a list of 20 recommended books to enjoy over summer, all set in Victoria or written by a Victorian, and vote for the one they like best.

Some 34 readers won prizes for voting, from a complete set of the 20 shortlisted books to Best Western accommodation vouchers.

Since the beginning of summer last year, readers have been conversing with Summer Read authors and each other on the Reading Victoria blog and attending author visits and related events across Victoria.

Discover more about the top five summer reads of 2008 >

Find out more about the 2008 Summer Read program >