Description
The world ends 20 years before this book starts.
There are some tough scenes, but only one that’s violent. It’s not really dystopian, but cosy dystopian sounds stupid.
It’s about Finn, a young man who’s spent his life alone with his father in an isolated valley. He decides to explore the dead world and discovers it’s very much alive.
And it’s a book about Father. He stays home and worries himself to madness.
It’s sad enough to make you cry, but you’ll laugh out loud too. You get to spin through the universe on a magic mushroom trip, meet the mysterious child, Button Up Buttercup, who sews buttons on her clothes like armour, and Akiva, the half-naked, tattooed girl. You’ll brush up against Winchester, the last prime minister of Australia, who’s hiding out in a bunker in the bush; Tatiana, the Russian mother you don’t want to get on the wrong side of, and Natalie, the librarian dedicated to saving books from the giant silverfish eating through human history.
Oh, and you’ll get to go on the last ever motorcycle ride with Uncle Taggart. Eat My Shadow is like that, a wild ride you’ll never forget. Like one reviewer said…
‘Don’t expect to emerge unchanged.’ Christina Urso Cale
‘A road trip, archaic words, the best and worst of humanity and the world’s bravest dog – what’s not to love?’ Lisa Hall
‘A stunning cast of characters that populate a tightly plotted world that made me laugh and cry. Neither of which happens to me very often.’ Alex Taylor
‘Eyes up, take a breath. Remember, it’s just a book. A literary gem. Evocative. Intense. Profound.’ E.Brodie – Bookclubber
‘Sleep became a secondary consideration.’ Katie Devenish
‘This was a book that needed to be read, savoured, digested, and go back for seconds.’ Linda Woodrow
Emma W –
“Eat My Shadow” follows Finn, in a near future southern Tasmania. I enjoy dystopian fiction, and this book gripped me, but it is just as much a road journey and an exploration of Finn’s relationship with his father and coming of age. The depiction of a future collapsed and fragmented society feels real and detailed. Finn has lived a quiet life with Father in a remote valley for 20 years, but is drawn to leave and undertake a dangerous journey to the derelict city of Hobart. We follow his journey through wild terrain, and encounters with scattered individuals and groups who survive. The depiction of how people have lived and grown and the evolution of language and culture as seen through Finn’s eyes is fascinating. I found myself pondering parts of the book at odd moments for many months after first reading. While the subject matter sounds grim, there are light moments, and the book ends with a feeling of hope. I’m looking forward to the sequel!
Jane Shearer –
Compelling apocalyptic climate fiction. The words that come to mind for me are ‘prior elegy’ in its description of a future that we are likely to inhabit. The characters and scenes are very well drawn and I am left with a narrative of strong images of Tasmania in rack and ruin. However, there is also light shown in the darkness. I read it in three days – be warned that once you start reading you won’t want to put it down!