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Garden Book

By Brian Castro
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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
Garden Book by Brian Castro is a reflective and intricate narrative that explores the intersections between identity, history, and memory. Set against the backdrop of the lush gardens of the Dandenong Ranges, the story delves into the life of a jaded novelist who is navigating personal and artistic turmoil. Through a weave of dream-like sequences and introspective passages, the novel immerses readers in a rich tapestry of language and human experience.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy exploring intricate narratives that intertwine personal and historical events with a poetic touch. Brian Castro crafts a deeply evocative tale that delves into themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of existence, making it a captivating read for fans of reflective and thought-provoking fiction.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Set in the Dandenongs between the Depression and World War II, this book revolves around Swan Hay, the daughter of a Chinese schoolteacher, and her relationships with brutal bushman Darcy Damon, and an American aviator and adventurer.

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

Brian Castro's novel is set in the Dandenong Ranges in the years between the Depression and the Second World War. The story revolves around Swan Hay, born Shuang He, daughter of a country schoolteacher, her marriage to the passionate and brutal Darcy Damon, and her love affair with the aviator and architect Jasper Zenlin.

Fifty years after her disappearance, Norman Shih, a rare book librarian, pieces together Swan's chaotic life from clues found in guest house libraries, antiquarian bookshops and her own elusive writings. But what exactly is his relationship to her?

The Garden Book is about loneliness, addiction, exploitation; it is about the precarious nature of Australian lives, when gripped by fear and racial prejudice. Yet underlying the story, and commanding it, there is the assured beat of Castro's prose, evoking an ideal world beyond these fears, full of richness and power.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781920882105

Publisher: Giramondo Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 May 2005

Country: Australia

Imprint: Giramondo Publishing Co

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 250g

Pages: 324

Collections

Brian Castro Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

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