PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- A very interesting attempt to portray a country town (I read: Tamworth) through a chorus of interlinking voices and small episodes that build a larger picture of rural life. There's tragedy, and hope, hard work and shattered dreams, small moments of possibility and crushing defeat. I admit I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book more than the last part, which at times lost the thread and didn't always weave together neatly. But the writing is always fresh and immediate and well worth the reading for the many moments of deep perception and acute recognition. Lindy
'The real deal.' - Favel Parrett, author of Past the Shallows and There Was Still Love
Yumna Kassab is a writer from Western Sydney. She studied medical science and neuroscience at university. Her first book, The House of Youssef, was listed for prizes including the Victorian Premier's Literary Award, Queensland Literary Award, NSW Premier's Literary Award and The Stella Prize.
ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- A very interesting attempt to portray a country town (I read: Tamworth) through a chorus of interlinking voices and small episodes that build a larger picture of rural life. There's tragedy, and hope, hard work and shattered dreams, small moments of possibility and crushing defeat. I admit I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book more than the last part, which at times lost the thread and didn't always weave together neatly. But the writing is always fresh and immediate and well worth the reading for the many moments of deep perception and acute recognition. Lindy
'Rare it is to read a voice as crisp and authentic as Kassab - the stories captured in Australiana show our country in all its complexity, mess and glory.' -- Zoya Patel 'Kassab creates an eerie sense of place as the reader is drawn into myriad perspectives and geographies. Without doubt Australiana is an unnerving contribution to contemporary novel writing in this continent.' -- Timmah Bell * Books + Publishing * The real deal. * Favel Parrett, author of Past the Shallows and There Was Still Love * The unadorned style and unobtrusive realism of this book mask, at first, how experimental and original it is in other ways. * Sydney Morning Herald * Kassab's prose is unsparing and frank yet unstinting. * Australian Book Review *
