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Boy Swallows Universe by [Dalton, Trent]

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Boy Swallows Universe Kindle Edition

by Trent Dalton (Author)

107 customer reviews

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The bestselling novel that has taken Australia, and the world, by storm.

'Without exaggeration, the best Australian novel I have read in more than a decade ... A rollicking ride, rich in philosophy, wit, truth and pathos' Sydney Morning Herald

Brisbane, 1983: A lost father, a mute brother, a mum in jail, a heroin dealer for a stepfather and a notorious crim for a babysitter. It's not as if Eli's life isn't complicated enough already. He's just trying to follow his heart, learning what it takes to be a good man, but life just keeps throwing obstacles in the way - not least of which is Tytus Broz, legendary Brisbane drug dealer.

But Eli's life is about to get a whole lot more serious. He's about to fall in love. And, oh yeah, he has to break into Boggo Road Gaol on Christmas Day, to save his mum.

A story of brotherhood, true love and the most unlikely of friendships, Boy Swallows Universe will be the most heartbreaking, joyous and exhilarating novel you will read all year - an instant Australian classic.

'Marvelously plot-rich ... filled with beautifully lyric prose ... the characterization, too, is universally memorable, especially that of Eli and August. At one point Eli wonders if he is good. The answer is "yes," every bit as good as this exceptional novel.' Booklist

'Trent Dalton is the most extraordinary writer - a rare talent. A major new voice on the Australian literary scene has arrived.' Nikki Gemmell

'An astonishing achievement. Dalton is a breath of fresh air - raw, honest, funny, moving, he has created a novel of the most surprising and addictive nature. Unputdownable.' David Wenham

'I couldn't stop reading from the moment I started, and I still can barely speak for the beauty of it. Trent Dalton has done something very special here, writing with grace, from his own broken heart.' Caroline Overington

'Stunning. My favourite novel for decades. Left me devastated but looking to the heavens.' Tim Rogers

'One of the best Australian novels I've ever read' The Guardian

Length: 480 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Page Flip: Enabled	Audible Narration: Audible Narration Switch back and forth between reading the Kindle book and listening to the Audible narration. Add narration for a reduced price of $12.99 after you buy the Kindle book. Ready	Language: English

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Product description

Review

‘Joyous. Simply joyous. I hugged myself as I read it. My heart raced, swelled, burst; my eyes leaked tears; my stomach ached from laughter. Boy Swallows Universe is – I can't think of a word more apt – magical. This vibrant, vital, altogether miraculous coming-of-age novel marks the debut of an exquisitely gifted storyteller … and what's more, it's transformative: after reading Trent Dalton's book, you won't be the same as you were before’ AJ Finn, author of The Woman in the Window

‘Chock full of magic and what it really means to be a good person. The Bell brothers will stay with me for a very long time’ Rachael Brown, Guardian

‘Marvellous … filled with beautifully lyric prose … exceptional’ Booklist (Starred Review)

‘The best Australian novel I have read in more than a decade' Sydney Morning Herald

‘The most extraordinary writer – a rare talent' Nikki Gemmell

‘Unsuspectedly joyous… sad, warm, witty’ The Australian

Book Description

An utterly wonderful novel of love, crime, magic, fate and coming of age, set in Brisbane's violent working class suburban fringe – from one of Australia's most exciting new writers.

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Product details

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 857 KB
Print Length: 424 pages
Publisher: 4th Estate (1 July 2018)
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers (AU)
Language: English
ASIN: B078QRFRZX
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

X-Ray:

Not Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Average Customer Review: 107 customer reviews
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #12 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #2 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction
- #7 in Kindle Store > Whispersync for Voice

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107 customer reviews

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Pamela Mawbey

thumbs down for BSU

18 November 2018

Verified Purchase

I did not like this book at all and would not recommend it to anybody. By page 12 it felt 'contrived' and I wanted to stop reading it then. But I had to read it for a book club, but only managed to go half way. After our discussion, I then had a quick sneak peak at the end of the book but that did not make me feel any friendlier towards it. I did not like the matter. Found it tedious and heavy going. My working life has involved dealing with crims and druggies and I'm over it. Not a novelty for me. I thought the author was trying to capitalise on having rubbed shoulders with one of the country's most notorious criminals, but not wanting to sound like he was big noting himself about it. The best part of this book in my view was its captivating creative colourful cover.

4 people found this helpful

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Annette Lawless

A little bit too long winded.

17 January 2019

Verified Purchase

I’m torn between loving & hating Boy Swallows Universe. I did enjoy the writing style but on the other hand I felt it became a little too bogged down in it’s descriptiveness (if that’s a word?). I feel the characters would still have been developed enough in a shorter amount of time. I think that’s why, for me,the lead up to the conclusion would have been a bit more exciting if we had of gotten to it a bit sooner. I almost gave up on it as I just wanted it to finish about 3/4 of the way through. Also, I found aspects of the ending a bit silly compared to how the story was told at the beginning of the book.

2 people found this helpful

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Fresh and Hugely Entertaining

15 September 2018

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I found this book a little hard to get into, it took a while for the plot to develop. However I understand that we needed to develop the characters so that we could come to love them. It is funny, witty, sad and uplifting all at once and a real cliff hanger towards the climax of the book where all the ends weave beautifully into place. Absolutely loved the Australianism of the book.

One person found this helpful

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sharyn

Astonishingly good book

5 January 2019

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Part semi autobiography, part roman a clef, with a bit of mysticism to keep it surreal. This book is entirely brilliant, from the characters to the narrative and pacing and the beauty of the writing itself. Gritty and in parts brutal, engaging and loving without mawkishness. I hope the author has many more stories to tell.

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marilyn kelly

Boy Publishes Love Story

6 November 2018

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An amusing and powerful read ... a kind of 'holiday page turner' for literary readers. It is quite deliciously modern, stylistically, yet solid and well constructed. Gritty, but with a touch of whimsy. The characters, including the protagonist, are strongly developed. I especially liked Slim and Gus. I enjoyed the metaphors, like the moon pool and found that kind of imagery to be a gentle balance to the violent maelstrom of the basic storyline. It has the 'larger than life' quality of a comicbook and it made me laugh to learn, at the end, that the writer has a day job as a journo. On one level, Eli, (and Trent Dalton as this work is highly biographical) is like Jimmy Olsen, the cub reporter character from Superman. On another level, the work resembles Shakespearean tragedy in the intensity of the daily life experienced by young Eli and his drug addicted, working class Australian family.

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Wendy Rae Sekuloff

What a Ride!

31 December 2018

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I am not really sure what I was expecting, as I hadn't read any reviews prior to purchasing this book. I had just heard it was good. So I dived in...and couldn't stop! A heavy topic, two young boys living in a world of adults dealing in drugs. Dalton has done an amazing job, a very talented writer. I was even smiling, laughing in places. Very cleverly written.

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Jewels

Girl loses herself

30 December 2018

Verified Purchase

Having lived in many suburbs of Brisbane over 20 years I felt like I could have been part of this story but even with my crazy imagination I didn't have any idea of what was coming. I recognised the suburb names and places but had absolutely no clue where I was being taken from one chapter of this astonishing journey to the next. I get tired of reading review headlines that a book is "unputdownable" as I've put plenty of them down never to pick up again but Trent's story is a beautiful exception. Inspiring. Troubling. Heartwarming. Human. Trent, please keep sharing your gift with the world and taking your readers to places they never knew existed - here or there.

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Kim R

Stunning, brilliant writing

24 November 2018

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I have never left a book review before, but I couldn’t put this book down, although I found it hard to get into at the very beginning. It is the story of Eli Bell growing up in a heroin-soaked Brisbane surburb, surviving the trauma of his past. It is a story of love and loyalty, abuse and violence. It is immensely amusing and horrifying. It is beautifully written - it’s all in the details so lovingly crafted by the author. Eli’s story sweeps you along with him through his young life. Highly recommended, in fact, I go so far as to say it’s the best book I’ve read for a long time . Do yourself a favour and read it.

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