Clean & bright pages. Shelf wear & small repair on dustjacket. From Library

Clean & bright pages. Shelf wear & small repair on dustjacket. From Library Journal: One of Australia's leading writers, Jose (The Avenue of Eternal Peace, LJ 1/91) sheds light on the historical and contemporary dilemmas of his homeland through the intertwined fictional lives of eight men and women. From their privileged 1950s rearing to their adult professional lives, the childhood friends come together to celebrate successes, mourn losses, and explore irresistible attractions. Sometimes these recurring connections serve little purpose, but often they carry profound personal consequences, laden with meaning for the next generation and perhaps for the entire country. Most compelling is the story of Cleve, an Aboriginal stolen from his family by the government and raised apart from his culture during a shameful episode in Australian history. Cleve's lonely youth, his achievements, and his longing for his lost past bring breadth and depth to the plot. His moment of coming to terms with modern Australia is a believable and positive resolution worthy of cheers from the reader. Forcefully written and readable; recommended for public libraries. ? Starr E. Smith, Marymount Univ. Lib., Arlington, Va. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.