ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- Set in the Grampian region of Victoria, and stretching over four decades, this tells the story of Lawrence and Paul. Their father died in the war, and their mother, who is distant and strict but not unloving, works hard to provide for them. When her long-lost brother comes to stay, the boys react differently. Lawrie, the oldest and gifted at art, basks in the attention of the older man, but Paul, who has always looked up to Lawrie, doesn't need a father figure and is suspicious of the uncle and his motives. When an unspeakable act occurs, Lawrie falls ill, develops a debilitating stammer and becomes socially isolated, finding solace in his painting. It isn't until 40 years later, when a family moves into the neighbouring farmhouse and upends his solitary existence, that Lawrie makes a friend of 10 yo David - and an enemy of his older sister... A powerful, wrenching and unforgettable novel of damage and redemption, of seeing the world as no one else does, of brotherly love and tolerance, and of the loneliness of a man whose childhood was stolen from him, but who never learnt to become an adult. Lindy
Sofie Laguna's first novel for adults, One Foot Wrong, was published throughout Europe, the US and the UK, was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Award. Her second novel for adults, The Eye of the Sheep, won the 2015 Miles Franklin Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Stella Prize and longlisted for the International Dublin IMPAC Award. Sofie Laguna's third novel, The Choke, won the 2018 Indie Book Award for Fiction, and was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award, the Voss Literary Prize, the Australian Literary Society Gold Medal and the Australian Book Industry Award, and longlisted for the Stella Prize, the Kibble Award and the International Dublin IMPAC Award. Sofie's many books for young people have been published in the US, the UK and in translation throughout Europe and Asia. She has been shortlisted for the Queensland Premier's Award, and her books have been named Honour Books and Notable Books by the Children's Book Council of Australia.
ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- Set in the Grampian region of Victoria, and stretching over four decades, this tells the story of Lawrence and Paul. Their father died in the war, and their mother, who is distant and strict but not unloving, works hard to provide for them. When her long-lost brother comes to stay, the boys react differently. Lawrie, the oldest and gifted at art, basks in the attention of the older man, but Paul, who has always looked up to Lawrie, doesn't need a father figure and is suspicious of the uncle and his motives. When an unspeakable act occurs, Lawrie falls ill, develops a debilitating stammer and becomes socially isolated, finding solace in his painting. It isn't until 40 years later, when a family moves into the neighbouring farmhouse and upends his solitary existence, that Lawrie makes a friend of 10 yo David - and an enemy of his older sister... A powerful, wrenching and unforgettable novel of damage and redemption, of seeing the world as no one else does, of brotherly love and tolerance, and of the loneliness of a man whose childhood was stolen from him, but who never learnt to become an adult. Lindy