A Day in Carlton: Alice Pung in conversation with Jason Steger

Join us at Readings' A Day in Carlton, 24 hours celebrating books, culture and community

Readings are thrilled to host Alice Pung in conversation with Jason Steger the impact of sharing her story in Unpolished Gem, and the significance of this seminal memoir even now, 20 years on.

In a wonderland called Footscray, a girl named Alice and her Chinese-Cambodian family pursue the Australian Dream – Asian style. Armed with an ocker accent, Alice dives head-first into schooling, romance and the getting of wisdom. Her mother becomes an Aussie battler – an outworker, that is. Her father embraces the miracle of franchising and opens an electrical-appliance store. And every day her grandmother blesses Father Government for giving old people money.