Before I Wake (Scott novel)

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Before I Wake
Before i wake john scott book cover.jpg
Author John Scott
Country Australia
Language English
Genre novel
Publisher Penguin, Australia
Publication date
1996
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages433
ISBN 0140256954
Preceded byWhat I Have Written 
Followed by The Architect  

Before I Wake (1996) is a novel by Australian author John Scott.

The novel consists of a sequence of five novellas and features poems by Melissa Curran, attributed in the story to the character Danielle. [1] The main character is Jonathan Ford, a failed writer who travels through Thirroul, Paris, Littlehampton, and Tasmania, reflecting on his difficult childhood before reuniting with his sisters. He seduces and abandons a poet named Danielle, who commits suicide. He also forms a relationship with a woman named Donna and her sister Rachel; the three end the novel in tentative happiness at a vineyard in Tasmania, which Rachel inherits after another character, Tardieu, is the victim of parochial violence. [2]

The core theme of the novel is the impact of abuse, especially child abuse, and the experience of personal damage and failure. [2] In addition to the characters' many experiences of abuse and violence, the novel discusses the murder of James Bulger, which occurred three years prior to the novel's publication. [1]

In 1997, the novel was shortlisted for both the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction.

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References

  1. 1 2 Anderson, Don (1996-07-01). "Don Anderson reviews 'Before I Wake' by John Scott" . Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  2. 1 2 ""Review, John Scott, Before I Wake", '"Westerly, Autumn 1977" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-14.