Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

Our Book Club’s choice for September and what a great debut novel from the author, Trent Dalton.

Eli Bell and his mute brother August are growing up in a small Brisbane suburb in the 1980s. His mother is a junkie and in jail, his father is nowhere to be found, and his stepfather is a drug dealer.  The other adult in his life is Slim, a former prisoner who holds the record for the most escapes from gaol.

While on the surface this should be a harrowing story, the mystical elements give it a different feel. The beautiful prose and engaging characters make this a compelling read. Even more so when I found that it is based on the author’s true story.

Eli is 12 years old when we meet him but has a way with words that reflect an adult heart and mind. He feels responsible for the adults in his life and does his best to protect them. His life is complicated and chaotic, and school is a challenge, He wants to be a journalist, he wants to fall in love, and he wants to be a good man, better than those he has in his life. Through it all, Eli sees that there are two paths to follow and although the wrong may be the easier, he knows he’ll never recover if he takes that path.

Growing up, as circumstances change, the boys have to live with their father. He is a damaged man but the sympathetic and understanding way the boys deal with this is very special as they lead him to a better life.

This is a unique book and the story is totally absorbing. I enjoyed it except for the ending which spiralled a bit into a “Boy’s Own” tale. But, other than that, it is a compelling and satisfactory read.