First published 2004
Paul Rayment's comfortable life is shattered when a cycling accident leads to the amputation of his leg. Humiliated and withdrawn, he hires a nurse named Marijana, with whom he shares a European childhood. But their relationship is complicated by the sudden arrival of celebrated novelist Elizabeth Costello, who threatens to upend the direction of Paul's life and heart. Slow Man is a poignant exploration of suffering, care, and the complex bonds that shape us.
Genres: fiction, drama, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, slice-of-life
Setting: Australia
264 pages · Paperback · Penguin Publishing Group