#NSW Premier’s Award shortlist Trent Dalton
- Author: Trent Dalton
- Title: Boy Swallows Universe
- Published: 2018
- Trivia: Winner of Book of the Year 2019 Indie Book Awards
- Trivia: Shortlist NSW Premier’s Awards (2 prizes)
- Trivia: Shortlist ABIA Awards (2 prizes)
- List of Challenges 2019
- Monthly plan
- @NSW_PLA
- @HarperCollinsAU
Finished: 20.04.2019
Genre: novel
Rating: A+++
Conclusion:
- In this book that is 60% fact and 40% fantasy
- we get to know the story of Eli Bell.
- And whether you realize it or not, you also
- get to know the story of Trent Dalton..the author.
- The novel gradually narrows its focus from
- bizarre childhood, teen years with stepfather and
- ex-con babysitter….
- to Eli’s life long ambition journalism.
- The ending becomes a bottleneck from which
- character and reader feel they can’t escape
- …..being dragged
- into a macabre universe!
- The book was a delight to read
- ..a real roller coaster ride!
- I have read 3/6 of the nominees that appealed to me.
- I’m NOT reading The Shepherd’s Hut
- …Aussie vernacular is too foulmouthed for my taste.
- Boy Swallows Universe is MY CHOICE
- as winner of Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
- (NSW Literary Awards 2019)
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NancyElin.blog 
I can’t make up my mind whether I’m attracted by or turned off by a ‘macabre universe’ but it sounds like an interesting read!! Another book I’ve never heard of till now! Am impressed at the rate you read these shortlisted books… you get through more books in a week than I do chapters!!!
This is a great book, Col.
Macabre? not really…just a bit queezy.
Want to read more books? Turn off the TV! :)
Col…one exception TV watching…
Champions League AJAX vs SPURS!!
That is going one helluva match!
This is Mr Books favourite book right now too – he loved the theme of redemption and the idea of what it means to be a good man.
Reminded me of a quote by main character Eli Bell…and his idea of being a good man:
“Everyone wants to measure the adult men in my life by goodness.
I measure them in details.
In memories.
In the times they said my name.”
The book is well worth finishing, Brona!
The idea of being a good man was one of my favourite parts of the novel too.
I’m so glad you liked this Nancy. It didn’t get the Christina Stead, but it got a few other awards in April!
It felt like the book made a ‘clean sweep’ at NSW book awards”
New Writing – Peoples’ Choice…and IMO deserved the Fiction Award as well.
Then ABIA’s…another prize! Let’s hope Trent Dalton can survive the pressure to produce another winning book in the future!
Yes I hope so . He’s a good journalist but this book shows that he can win more than journalistic style doesn’t it?