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Wild Abandon

By Emily Bitto
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3.32 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,561 ratings, 198 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Wild Abandon by Emily Bitto is a compelling story set against the backdrop of 1980s New York. An Australian young man, seeking adventure and escape, finds himself drawn into the vibrant and chaotic art scene of the city. As he navigates the complexities of love, ambition, and identity, he encounters a series of transformative experiences that challenge his understanding of freedom and self-discovery.
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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?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to stories of self-discovery and transformation set against the vibrant backdrop of America. The narrative explores the life of a restless Australian artist navigating the complexities of freedom, creativity, and the pursuit of meaning in a foreign land. Engaging with eclectic characters and thought-provoking themes, this tale promises an insightful and immersive reading experience.

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A breathtaking new novel from the Stella Prize-winning author of The Strays.

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

In the fall of 2011, a heartbroken young man flees Australia for the USA. Landing in the excessive, uncanny-familiar glamour and plenitude of New York City, Will makes a vow to say yes to everything that comes his way. By fate or random chance, Will's journey takes him deep into the American heartland where he meets Wayne Gage, a fast-living, troubled Vietnam veteran, would-be spirit guide and collector of exotic animals. These two men in crisis form an unlikely friendship, but Will has no idea just how close to the edge Wayne truly is.

Wild Abandon is a headlong tumble through the falling world of end-days capitalism, a haunting, hyperreal snapshot of our own strange times. We read with increasing horror and denial as we approach the cataclysmic conclusion of Will's American odyssey, dreading what is galloping towards us, but utterly unable to look away.

This lyrical and devastating new novel from the Stella Prize-winning author of The Strays offers us startling and profound visions of the world and our place in it.

'Thrilling and heartbreaking by turns—a glorious novel.'
Michelle de Kretser

Wild Abandon made me fall in love with fiction again . . . Only a superlative can do it justice: this is a great novel.'
Christos Tsiolkas

'What a fearless talent . . . and what an exhilarating novel.'
Malcolm Knox

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Wild Abandon by Emily Bitto presents a vivid exploration of themes such as loss, freedom, and self-discovery. It has been praised for its rich, evocative prose and its ability to capture the complexities of human emotions and relationships. Many readers appreciate the novel's engaging narrative and the well-drawn characters, commending Bitto's talent for weaving in-depth personal journeys within a broader societal context.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760879136

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 September 2021

Country: Australia

Imprint: Allen & Unwin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 536g

Pages: 448

Collections

Emily Bitto Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

Emily Bitto is a Melbourne-based writer of fiction, poetry and non-fiction. She has a Masters in Literary Studies and a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne. Her debut novel, The Strays, was the winner of the 2015 Stella Prize. Her fiction, poetry and non-fiction has appeared in various publications, including Meanjin, The Age, the Monthly, the Saturday Paper, The Big Issue, and The Sydney Morning Herald. In 2018, she was awarded a six-month Australia Council International Residency in Rome, to work on her second novel and debut poetry collection. She has been teaching creative writing for over a decade, and is currently a tutor at the Faber Writing Academy. She is also the co-owner of Carlton wine bar Heartattack and Vine.

Also by Emily Bitto

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  • Wild Abandon
    In the fall of 2011, a heartbroken young man flees Australia for the USA. Landing in the excessive, uncanny-familiar glamour and plenitude of New York City, Will makes a vow to say yes to everything that comes his way. By fate or random chance, Will's journey takes him deep into the American heartland where he meets Wayne Gage, a fast-living,...
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  • The Strays
    In The Strays, Evan Trentham is the wild child of the Melbourne art world of the 1930s. He and his captivating wife, Helena, attempt to carve out their own small niche, to escape the stifling conservatism they see around them, by gathering together other like-minded artists. They create a utopian circle within their family home, offering these young artists a...
    By Emily Bitto
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    $2499
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