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Book Summary and Reviews of When the Night Comes by Favel Parrett

When the Night Comes by Favel Parrett

When the Night Comes

by Favel Parrett

  • Critics' Consensus (3):
  • Readers' Rating (4):
  • Published:
  • Apr 2015, 256 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

From the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of Past the Shallows comes a remarkable new novel that weaves together the lives of a young girl from Tasmania and a sailor in search of meaning, whose brief encounter leaves a lasting impact on both.

Isla is a lonely girl who moves to Hobart with her mother and brother to try and better their lives. It's not really working until they meet Bo, a crewman on an Antarctic supply ship, the Nella Dan, who shares stories about his adventures with them - his travels, bird watching, home in Denmark, and life on board the ship. Isla is struggling to learn what truly matters and who to trust; and this modern Viking is searching to understand his past and find a place in this world for himself. Though their time together is short, it's enough to change the course of both their lives. And what they give each other might mean they can both eventually find their way home.

Praised for writing that is "vivid and distinct" (Library Journal, starred review) and "exquisite in its simplicity and eloquence" (Kirkus Reviews), Favel Parrett delivers a stunningly beautiful novel about the bond forged between two unlikely and unforgettable strangers.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Starred Review. Readers will be caught up with Isla and Bo's lives as well as the Nella Dan and her world. A powerful work that is sure to stay with readers long after the last page." - Booklist

"Parrett's sometimes melancholy, always heartfelt novel is written in clean, straightforward prose that, in its understated way, successfully captures the moments and moods that constitute her spare but memorable story." – Booklist

"A soulful fictional homage to a beloved Antarctic vessel, from Australian author Parrett (Past the Shallows, 2014)." - Kirkus

This information about When the Night Comes was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

Favel Parrett Author Biography

Photo: Harrison Saragossi

Favel Parrett burst onto the Australian literary landscape with the heartbreaking debut Past the Shallows. She was discovered through the 2008 Hachette Australia/Queensland Writers Centre Manuscript Development Program and then in 2009 was a recipient of an Australian Society of Authors mentorship. Favel has had a number of short stories published in various journals including Griffith Review, Island and Wet Ink. Past the Shallows was critically acclaimed around the world and was shortlisted in the prestigious Miles Franklin Award, won the Dobbie Literary Award, and Favel herself won the ABIA Newcomer of the Year Award. Her second book is When The Night Comes (2015 in USA).

Favel has a passion for travel and loves to surf. She lives in Australia with her partner, David, and her two dogs...

... Full Biography
Author Interview
Link to Favel Parrett's Website

Name Pronunciation
Favel Parrett: FAY-VEL Parr-et

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