by David Malouf
First published 2012
A young man prepares to leave for war, questioning where he truly belongs in the world he must abandon. Nearby, a composer's domestic life unfolds like an intricate musical composition. A hunting accident creates consequences its victim never could have anticipated. An Italian poolside becomes the setting where a woman recalls her former happiness. At Ayers Rock, a widow struggles to maintain control over her existence. A funeral ceremony produces surprising effects on one of its attendees. Malouf's characters exist in a paradox of togetherness and isolation, each seeking something they believe they missed or lost along their path. Set against Australia's distinctive landscapes and social realities, these stories examine the private worlds that simultaneously divide and connect us.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, intimate
Setting: Australia, Ayers Rock, Italy
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
280 pages · Paperback · Albin Michel