*Winner of the Orange Prize 2001*

Found on the Barmy Badger Backpacker hostel bookshelf.

Harley Savage is 'a woman with a dangerous streak'. Of a certain age and as solid as a brick wall. She heads to small town Australia to set up and open a Heritage Museum. Douglas Cheeseman is a bit of a weasel of a bloke who is sent to repair the bent bridge in the same small town. A series of events mean that their paths cross and another series of awkardnesses means that their paths want to stay crossed. Both of them bring the grit, dust and tenacity of the Australian bush surrounds their story is set in and their quiet brooding 'romance' is capably supported by the curious, desperate and neurotic inhabitants of Karakarook.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book. Reading it in central London on various tube journies, I was transported to the middle of the Australian Bush. I could practically breathe in the dust and the eucalyptus. I have met and known many of the characters portrayed in the story. They are solid and tangible as smalltown Australian characters. I will actually miss them all now that I've finished reading the book.

RELEASE NOTES:

Left in an ancient prison cell in the Spanish Fortress which overlooks the deleriously beautiful island of Hvar