9. Australia

 The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

My first impression was that this novel seems a bit like an episode for Neighbours or Far & Away if those shows had sex and swearing in them (I have since discovered there have been two television shows based on this novel, one Australian and one American). Later in the book there are some profound insights into love, marriage, infidelity, parenting, secrets and the lies we tell others and ourselves.

At a barbecue for family, friends and work colleagues, the host's cousin slaps a very badly behaved child. This is horrifying to some, while some feel the child deserved it. 

The novel follows eight perspectives, each one covering the person's view of the event and a look into their lives.

The Slap won the Commonwealth Writer's Prize in 2009 and was longlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize.