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His Illegal Self

By Peter Carey
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,529 ratings, 394 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
His Illegal Self by Peter Carey is a gripping tale set in the 1970s about a young boy named Che who is whisked away from a comfortable urban life into the rural backwoods of America. This story follows his unexpected journey filled with the themes of identity, family, and belonging as he searches for truths about his parents amidst a backdrop of political and social upheaval. It's a beautifully crafted narrative exploring the bonds and tensions between a child and an unlikely guardian.
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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?

You might enjoy this compelling tale if you appreciate stories of complex relationships and unique characters. Written by Peter Carey, this novel delves into themes of identity, rebellion, and the search for belonging, all set against a vivid backdrop from the 1970s. It offers an intriguing journey through a young boy's eyes, filled with unexpected twists and emotional depth.

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His Illegal Self

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

Peter Carey is at his inventive, brilliant best in His Illegal Self, a novel about a family who, once met, will never leave you.

Che is the precocious son of radical student activists at Harvard in the late sixties. Raised in isolated privilege by his New York grandmother, he yearns for his famous outlaw parents. Soon, Che too becomes an outlaw—fleeing down subways, abandoning seedy motels at night, he is thrust into a journey that leads him to a hippie commune in the rainforests of Queensland.

Here, he slowly and bravely confronts his life, learning that nothing is what it seems. Who is his real mother? Was that his real father? If all he suspects is true, what should he do?

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

His Illegal Self by Peter Carey is generally praised for its vivid storytelling and compelling characters. Critics often highlight the novel's exploration of identity and the 1970s counterculture, appreciating Carey's ability to weave a complex narrative with emotional depth. Some reviews note the book’s intricate structure and engaging prose, though there are mixed opinions on its pacing and resolution.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760896508

Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 March 2020

Country: Australia

Imprint: Penguin Random House Australia

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 266g

Pages: 288

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Peter Carey

About the Author

Peter Carey was born in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, and now lives in New York. He is the author of fourteen novels (including one for children), two volumes of short stories, and two books on travel. Amongst other prizes, Carey has won the Booker Prize twice (for Oscar and Lucinda and True History of the Kelly Gang), the Commonwealth Writers' Prize twice (for Jack Maggs and True History of the Kelly Gang), and the Miles Franklin Literary Award three times (for Bliss, Oscar and Lucinda and Jack Maggs). He is an officer of the Order of Australia and a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

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