Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in
its own way.'
Tolstoy wasn't thinking specifically of George and Matthew Harrison
when he wrote those words, but maybe he should have been. George
Harrison is twenty-six, he lives with his brother Matthew, works in
a bowling alley and is afraid of the dark. Reeling from a broken
heart, still coping with the trauma of a childhood home invasion
and boasting a dysfunctional family history to rival The
Simpsons, he spends his days working in a bowling alley and
finds rare solace in the giant painting of an alien that sits
outside his room. And his brother Matthew is not much better off;
he has his own demons to deal with. He recently lost the love of
his life in a car accident (one that he was lucky to survive
himself), and he finds his solace in constant sleep - and dreams of
Magda.
The winner of the 2007 The Australian/Vogel Literary Award,
this is a quirky, left-field, yet deeply felt and wholly engaging
story of families, love, loss and grieving.
'Quirky, well-observed, genuinely funny. This writer's gift for
comedy is matched by his compassionate portrayal of oddball
characters.' - Marele Day
'Truthful and surprising, fluid and deeply engaging. - Charlotte
Wood
