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The Labyrinth: Winner of the 2021 Miles Franklin Literary Award

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( 6,292 ratings, 641 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
The Labyrinth by Amanda Lohrey follows Erica Marsden, who grapples with grief and a desire for solace after a family tragedy. She retreats to a coastal town where she becomes fixated on creating a labyrinth, finding unexpected connections and healing in the process. It's a story about confronting loss and discovering resilience through art and community.
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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're drawn to tales of personal transformation and redemption, woven with rich symbolism and introspective exploration. It may appeal to readers who appreciate beautifully crafted prose and a contemplative narrative, as it gently examines themes of grief and healing within the human condition.

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A moving tale of grief, community and the possibility of starting over, by an award-winning Australian author

A moving tale of grief, community and the possibility of starting over, by an award-winning Australian author.

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

Erica Marsden’s son, an artist, has been imprisoned for homicidal negligence. In a state of grief, Erica cuts off all ties to family and friends, and retreats to a quiet hamlet on the southeast coast near the prison where he is serving his sentence.

There, in a rundown shack, she obsesses over creating a labyrinth by the ocean. To build it—to find a way out of her quandary—Erica will need the help of strangers. And that will require her to trust, and to reckon with her past.

The Labyrinth is a hypnotic story of guilt and denial, of the fraught relationship between parents and children, that is also a meditation on how art can both be ruthlessly destructive and restore sanity. This multi-award-winning bestseller shows Amanda Lohrey to be at the peak of her powers.

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?

The Labyrinth by Amanda Lohrey has been praised for its profound literary artistry and exploration of complex themes such as loss, self-understanding, and the human condition. The novel is noted for its elegant, hypnotic, and beautiful prose, skillfully intertwining elements of realism and romance. Lohrey's storytelling is described as masterful, subtle, and evocative, resonating with a haunting narrative that is both contemplative and compelling. The book's exploration of art and creation offers a sense of hope and redemption, presented through a nuanced and deeply meditative narrative.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922330109

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 August 2020

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Amanda Lohrey lives in Tasmania and writes fiction and non-fiction. She has taught at the University of Tasmania, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Queensland. Amanda is a regular contributor to the Monthly magazine and a former senior fellow of the Australia Council’s Literature Board. She received the 2012 Patrick White Award. The Labyrinth (2021), her eighth work of fiction, won the Miles Franklin Literary Award, a Prime Minister’s Literary Award, a Tasmanian Literary Award and the Voss Literary Prize.

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