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Boy, Lost: A Family Memoir

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Boy, Lost: A Family Memoir by Kristina Olsson is a poignant story of loss, separation, and eventual reunion. Set against the backdrop of mid-20th century Australia, the memoir explores the author's mother's harrowing ordeal of having her young son taken from her. Through a deeply personal lens, Olsson delves into themes of identity, resilience, and the enduring bond of family as she pieces together her family's history.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This heartfelt memoir may appeal to you if you're interested in emotive stories of family, loss, and reconciliation. It unfolds a deeply personal journey, tracing the ripple effects of a long-lost brother on a family, capturing a powerful exploration of love and resilience. Readers who appreciate beautifully written narratives with poignant themes will find this book compelling.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An unforgettable story of the legacy of grief and guilt across generations, and the power of memory and faith.

Kristina Olsson's mother lost her infant son, Peter, when he was snatched from her arms as she boarded a train in the hot summer of 1950. Young and frightened and trying to escape a brutal marriage, she was not prepared for this final blow, this breathtaking punishment. She did not think she would see her son again.

Kristina was the first child of her mother's second, much gentler marriage and, like her siblings, grew up unaware of the reasons behind her mother's sorrow, though Peter's absence resounded through the family. Yvonne dreamt day and night of her son, while Peter grew up a thousand miles and a lifetime away, dreaming of his missing mother. Thirty-six years later he arrived at her front door.

Boy, Lost tells an unforgettable story of the legacy of grief and loss across generations, and is a tribute to the power of memory and faith.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780702266058

Publisher: University of Queensland Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 January 2023

Country: Australia

Imprint: University of Queensland Press

Edition: 2nd ed.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 35.0mm

Width: 160.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 216g

Pages: 276

About the Author

Kristina Olsson is the author of the novel In One Skin (2001) and the biography Kilroy Was Here (2005). Her second novel, The China Garden (2009), received the 2010 Barbara Jefferis Award for its empowering depiction of women in society and was also shortlisted for the Kibble Literary Award. Kristina's non-fiction work Boy, Lost- A Family Memoir won the 2013 Queensland Literary Award, the New South Wales Premier's Literary Award, the Western Australian Premier's Literary Award, and the Kibble Literary Award. It has been shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award, Stella Prize, Australian Human Rights Commission Literature Award and The Courier-Mail Book of the Year People's Choice Award. Kristina's journalism and non-fiction have been published in the Australian, the Courier-Mail, the Sunday Telegraph and Griffith REVIEW. She has worked extensively as a teacher of creative writing and journalism at tertiary level and in the community, and as an advisor to government. She lives in Brisbane. Her latest novel is Shell.

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