From Publishers Weekly
Newton's second novel (following The Lambing Flat) follows eccentric, personable gimp Flinch, who ekes out an existence in 1975 while living in the lighthouse cottage of eastern Australia's Byron Bay. He's anguished by guilt for his accidental killing of his best friend, Nate West, 13 years before, and has painful memories of his autocratic, unhappy mother. His half-hearted diversions are caring for the semi-feral but always comical goats, surf fishing, and drinking his rum until he befriends the free-spirited commune girl Karma. Formerly a whale spotter on a fishing boat, Flinch introduces Karma to the graceful whales. Karma's abrupt trip to settle some family business reveals to Flinch how much she really means to him. Discernable echoes of E. Annie Proulx's The Shipping News don't detract from this novel's own memorable protagonist skillfully tied to his maritime setting.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Book Description
In a small seaside town, a young whaler, Flinch, is involved in a horrible accident that leaves a fellow whaler dead and a stunned Flinch holding onto a bloody knife. Trapped by his shame, Flinch grows into manhood as a recluse, unable to move beyond the fatal event. His town’s economy and stability also suffer from its bloody history as the ocean’s turbulent waves become barren and unyielding. Only after crossing paths with Karma, a girl living in a commune in the hills, does Flinch begin a journey toward wholeness that communicates one man’s desire for redemption despite a sea of misfortune and hardship.
About the Author
Nerida Newton is the author of The Lambing Flat, winner of the 2002 Queensland Premier's award for an emerging author.
