Past the Shallows
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
WINNER- The ABIA Award (Newcomer of the Year) 2012
WINNER- The Dobbie Literary Award 2012
Shortlisted for The Miles Franklin Literary Award 2012
Shortlisted for The ABIA Award (Book of the Year) 2012
Shortlisted for The ABIA Award (Literary Book of the Year) 2012
Shortlisted for The ABA's Bookseller's Choice Award 2012
Shortlisted for The Indies Award (Debut Fiction) 2012
Past the Shallows is the award-winning, bestselling debut novel from Favel Parrett recently named on Oprah's Book Club 2.0 as a 'Can't Miss New Paperback' and now including bonus material from her new book, When the Night Comes.
Everyone loves Harry. Everyone except his father.
Three brothers, Joe, Miles and Harry, are growing up on the remote south coast of Tasmania. The brother' lives are shaped by their father's moods - like the ocean he fishes, his is wild and unpredictable. He is a bitter man, warped by a devastating secret.
Miles tries his best to watch out for Harry, the youngest, but he can't be there all the time. Often alone, Harry finds joy in the small treasure he discovers, in the shark eggs and cuttlefish bones. In a kelpie pup, a big mug of Milo, and a secret friendship with a mysterious neighbour.
But sometimes small treasures, or a brother's love, are not enough.
'Wintonesque' - Hearald Sun
'that rare thing, a finely crafted literary novel that is genuinely moving and full of heart' - The Age
'an understated and beautifully penned story set on the Tasmanian coast, gives voice to two brothers as their lives are influenced by unpredictable forces....Parrett's writing is exquisite in its simplicity and eloquence, and her narrative is heart-rending.This poignant story resonates' - Kirkus Reviews, USA
'Beautiful, stripped-back prose...there is magic here. Like Cormac McCarthy, Parrett packs a huge emotional punch thanks to the elegant brevity of her style. Stark, but unforgettable...' - Marie Claire, UK
'If you read only one book this year make sure it's this' - The Sunday Times, Tasmania
'I loved Past the Shallows' - Kevin Powers, author of The Yellow Birds
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Australian newcomer Parrett's remarkable debut examines the bleak life of a broken family in Tasmania, in spare, unflinching prose. Traumatized by their mother's tragic and early death, three brothers struggle as their father tries to eke out a living from the sea. The focus is on Harry, the youngest brother, a guileless boy of seven who fears the water but loves to collect the flotsam and jetsam on the beach. Miles, the middle son, is envious of his older brother Joe's independence and burdened by his difficult father's need for help fishing, as well as by the responsibility of taking care of Harry. But even during the dark times when the father and his business partner are abusive to the boys, there are bright moments: Harry finds solace in a dog belonging to a strange but kind local outcast. Miles finds release in the exhilaration of surfboarding. And despite the desolate surroundings and depressing circumstances, a better life is within reach for these boys.
