{"title":"Elspeth Muir","description":"\u003cp\u003eElspeth Muir is a compelling voice in contemporary Australian literature, known for her poignant and personal storytelling. Her work primarily delves into the realms of biography and memoir, offering readers an intimate glimpse into her life and the larger societal issues she explores.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMuir's most notable book, \u003cem\u003eWasted\u003c\/em\u003e, is a powerful memoir that examines the impact of alcohol on her family and broader Australian culture. Through her eloquent and candid writing, she shares the deeply personal journey following the tragic loss of her younger brother. This emotional exploration is not just a family memoir but also a broader commentary on the drinking culture pervasive in Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders who enjoy honest, reflective, and thought-provoking narratives will find Elspeth Muir's work profoundly moving. Her ability to weave personal experiences with larger cultural observations sets her apart as a significant figure in contemporary memoir writing.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"wasted-by-elspeth-muir-9781922182135","title":"Wasted","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2009, Elspeth Muir's youngest brother finished his last university exam and went out with some mates to get drunk. Later that night, he wandered to the Story Bridge. He put his phone, wallet, T-shirt, and thongs on the walkway, climbed over the railing, and jumped thirty metres into the Brisbane River below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThree days passed before police divers pulled his body out of the water. When Alexander had drowned, his blood-alcohol reading was almost 0.3. Why do some of us drink so much, and what happens when we do? Fewer young Australians are drinking heavily, but the rates of alcohol abuse and associated problems—from blackouts to sexual assaults and one-punch killings—are undiminished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIntimate and beautifully told, \u003cem\u003eWasted\u003c\/em\u003e mixes memoir with reportage to illuminate the sorrows, and the joys, of drinking. Muir traces her own history with the bottle. She speaks with the father of a boy who died in a drunken attack, and returns to Schoolies on the Gold Coast. And she tries to make sense of her much-loved brother's death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46380318884076,"sku":"9781922182135","price":34.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/10232473482872.jpg?v=1744854164"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/elspeth-muir.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}