With humour, vivid writing and wry observations about the very different approach and pace of life in rural Australia this book is a real gem of a read. Loretta Boskovic is a single mother with two kids and day-dreams of a better life. She is also passionate about saving the school in her small town Gunapan, in North West Victoria and protecting it from rapacious developers.
The Fine Colour of Rust is a glorious, life-affirming novel about friendship, love and fighting for the things that matter most in life no matter how small they are. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Sarah Broadhurst Sarah Broadhurst spent her early working life in the book trade in both retail and wholesale until the arrival of children forced her to look for freelance work she could do from… More reviews by Sarah Broadhurst
About The Fine Colour of Rust
If you loved A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, you'll love The Fine Colour of Rust. Single mother Loretta Boskovic may have fantasies about dumping her two kids in the orphanage and riding off on a Harley with her dream lover, but her reality is life in a dusty country town called Gunapan. A self-dubbed 'old scrag', Loretta's got a big heart and a strong sense of injustice.
If you loved A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, you'll love The Fine Colour of Rust. Single mother Loretta Boskovic may have fantasies about dumping her two kids in the orphanage and riding off on a Harley with her dream lover, but her reality is life in a dusty country town called Gunapan. A self-dubbed 'old scrag', Loretta's got a big heart and a strong sense of injustice.
So, when Gunapan's primary school is threatened with closure, and there's a whiff of corruption wafting through the corridors of the local council, she stirs into action. She's short of money, influence and a fully functioning car, but she does have loyal friends who'll do whatever it takes to hold on to the scrap of world that is home. In Loretta Boskovic, Paddy O'Reilly (writing as P.
A. O'Reilly) has created a truly endearing heroine who gives us all permission to dream.
'Delightful, laugh-out-loud funny and unforgettable. I love this book' Toni Jordan, author of Addition
'O'Reilly is funny and touching by turns and her style has a spare intelligence that reminded me of another of my favourite authors, the great Laurie Graham' DAILY MAIL
'A delight ... The author has a wryly-humorous touch and, once I started reading, I found it hard to put down. It's peopled with characters who are quirky but credible, and universally recognizable' NEW BOOKS MAG
'Can anyone write the story of a whirligig single mother gamely and hilariously fighting development of her small town better than Paddy O'Reilly? No, and nor should they try' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'O'Reilly displays a deft poetic touch that elevates the prose from functional to transcendent...This is a story about love: where we look for it, what we do with it and how it shows up in the most unexpected packages. It is warm, moving and funny' BIG ISSUE, AUSTRALIA
Author
About P. A. O'Reilly
Paddy O'Reilly is a writer from Victoria, Australia. Her work has been published and broadcast widely both in Australia and internationally. Her short story collection The End of the World garnered much review coverage in Australia and was shortlisted for several awards. Her debut novel, The Factory was broadcast in fifteen episodes as the ABC Radio National Book Reading in 2009. She has also written screenplays. Paddy has spent several years living in Japan, working as a copywriter and translator.
If you loved A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, you'll love The Fine Colour of Rust. Single mother Loretta Boskovic may have fantasies about dumping her two kids in the orphanage and riding off on a Harley with her dream lover, but her reality is life in a dusty country town called Gunapan.
The Fine Colour of Rust features in the following genres: Family Drama, Debut Books of the Month, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Book Club Recommendations, eBooks of the Month, Fiction, Recommendations, General Fiction
Paperback, Hardback. Not Available.
The Fine Colour of Rust was written by P. A. O'Reilly and published by Blue Door an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
The Fine Colour of Rust has 249 pages
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