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A Better Place

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( 138 ratings, 24 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Better Place by Stephen Daisley is set during World War II and follows the story of two Anzac soldiers whose deep friendship is tested by the violence and trauma of battle. As they navigate the ravages of war, the novel explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the quest for peace in a world torn apart by conflict. This poignant historical fiction captures the personal struggles of those caught in the tumult of history.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3800
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate evocative historical fiction that delves into themes of love, loss, and the complexities of war. Stephen Daisley's storytelling is known for its rich detail and emotional depth, bringing to life the struggles and triumphs of its characters against a dramatic backdrop. If you're drawn to narratives that explore the human condition and historical settings, this novel could be a compelling read for you.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In a novel of stark and lyrical beauty, award-winning author Stephen Daisley portrays the brutal effects of war on two New Zealand brothers.

People in the district would often say Roy Mitchell was not quite the same after he came back from the war. There was a twin brother, Tony, killed on Crete in 1941.

The hut he built when he returned was on a bit of flat ground above the Mangawhero Creek. He called it his whare. Corrugated-iron chimney on the south wall. Black maire firewood cut and stacked on the veranda. The kennels were north-facing with dry folded sacks for the dogs to sleep on.

In 1942, Roy had driven seventy-five miles through the North African desert to see a litter of ten pups. Just to see them. Someone from the 5th Field Artillery had told him about them. Drove back to the New Zealand lines after that.

From Stephen Daisley, winner of the Prime Minister's Literary Award (Australia) for Traitor and New Zealand's Ockham Prize for Coming Rain, a new novel of brothers at war. Beautifully written, brutal, tender and visceral, A Better Place is about art and violence, and love in its many forms.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922458681

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 July 2023

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 154.0mm

Height: 236.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 1

About the Author

Stephen Daisley was born in 1955 and grew up in the North Island of New Zealand. He has worked on sheep and cattle stations, on oil and gas construction sites and as a truck driver, among many other jobs. His first novel, Traitor, won the 2011 Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction. Coming Rain won the Ockham Prize in 2015. Stephen lives in Western Australia.

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