by Tim Winton
First published 2007
Biggie, a country boy, embarks on a chaotic desert journey where he discovers unexpected love. His story interweaves with other Australians caught at life's crossroads. Alison carries a facial birthmark that makes her the forbidden dream of schoolmates who can never reach her. Raelene raises two daughters alone in a trailer, moving toward a violent and bloody fate. Max terrorizes his family with brutal rages while his brother Frank, once a celebrated football star, faces his own spectacular downfall. These lives intersect across Australia's vast terrain of beaches and deserts, coral reefs and abandoned mines, suburbs and major cities. Each person confronts pivotal moments that will reshape their existence. Their stories reveal a world where hopes crumble, disappointments accumulate, deaths occur, and transformations emerge from the wreckage of broken dreams.
Genres: fiction, drama, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, intersecting-storylines
Setting: Australia
384 pages · Paperback · Fazi
Content warnings: domestic-violence, violence