Review:
Read by David Tredinnick
Louis Braille Audio, 2007
ISBN 978-0-7320-3285-2
Age 14 plus. Drunk and fed-up with his life, 18 year old Adam leaves Splitters Creek after crashing his ute. Unable to deal with the police and his difficult home life, he travels to Melbourne to find his mother who has left her family 'for a rest'. The continual chore of looking after Simon, his brain-damaged older brother, has proven to be too much for her. In the city he discovers a job, an older woman who fancies him and a whole new set of friends. He also has to come to grips with his mother's desertion of the family. Then a tragedy forces him to re-evaluate his aspirations and his family.
This is an engrossing story about a young man who has to decide what is important in his life. David Tredinnick's dramatisation of this fast moving and engrossing story is superbly done. He really captures the voice of Adam, his warmth, uncertainties and desires and his gradual realisation that problems can't be left behind and that there are advantages to living in the country. Other characters, such as his best friend Bull-Ant and Simon's ex-girlfriend Tory, are skillfully and sympathetically portrayed. The sly humour in the book is a delight to listen to and the listener is rivetted by the story.
A quality audio production, this will appeal particularly to boys who will relate to the themes of drink driving, family responsibilities and homophobia but girls will enjoy it as well. Highly recommended.
Pat Pledger
Jun 04 2007
Gravity by Scot Gardner
Read by David TredinnickLouis Braille Audio, 2007
ISBN 978-0-7320-3285-2
Age 14 plus. Drunk and fed-up with his life, 18 year old Adam leaves Splitters Creek after crashing his ute. Unable to deal with the police and his difficult home life, he travels to Melbourne to find his mother who has left her family 'for a rest'. The continual chore of looking after Simon, his brain-damaged older brother, has proven to be too much for her. In the city he discovers a job, an older woman who fancies him and a whole new set of friends. He also has to come to grips with his mother's desertion of the family. Then a tragedy forces him to re-evaluate his aspirations and his family.
This is an engrossing story about a young man who has to decide what is important in his life. David Tredinnick's dramatisation of this fast moving and engrossing story is superbly done. He really captures the voice of Adam, his warmth, uncertainties and desires and his gradual realisation that problems can't be left behind and that there are advantages to living in the country. Other characters, such as his best friend Bull-Ant and Simon's ex-girlfriend Tory, are skillfully and sympathetically portrayed. The sly humour in the book is a delight to listen to and the listener is rivetted by the story.
A quality audio production, this will appeal particularly to boys who will relate to the themes of drink driving, family responsibilities and homophobia but girls will enjoy it as well. Highly recommended.
Pat Pledger
© Pledger
Consulting, 2007