Books

Pool

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Book review:

Review by: Anastasia Gonis

Readers reviews:

Sixteen-year-old Wolfgang Mulqueen has a summer-holidays job at his local public swimming pool. The pool is famous because the water is not level and it supposedly has curative powers. A regular at the pool is a blind girl named Audrey, who claims to be nocturnal and chases angels. Add to this, a mysterious black butterfly that is possibly a new species. What is the relationship between all these elements? How are they connected and why? This is what this book is about. What results is a fascinating, gentle, character-driven story that enthrals from beginning to end. DAth expertly takes you down a mysterious, winding path. You can never see where that path is leading, yet each time you turn a corner you find yourself saying Well, yes, of course. Until at last you reach the unexpected, yet inevitable, conclusion. I found myself really feeling for the characters. I wanted Audrey to find happiness. I wanted Wolfgang to prove the existence of the new species of butterfly. I wanted them to fall in love. I found myself cringing at Wolfgangs lies, yet understanding why he told them. I found myself hoping that he wouldnt accept the morally dubious offer made by Audreys father. I found myself hoping lots of things. Did the characters do everything I wanted them to? No! Did their decisions sometimes disappoint me? Yes. All of which made them more real& all of which made me care more for them. This book is hard to define or categorise. All Ill say is that its a young adult novel that is both thoughtful and thought provoking. Im not sure what I was expecting from it  certainly not what I got. Which is a good thing. I like it when a book takes me to unexpected ground, surprises me, then leaves me wanting more.
4 stars Posted by: George Ivanoff
Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia

Sixteen year old Wolfgang is working at New Lourdes' swimming pool over the summer holidays. As an avid butterfly collector he's thrilled to discover the wing of an unknown butterfly. Trying to capture a complete insect proves more difficult. And if that weren't enough to keep him occupied, he's been offered a lot of money by businessman Keith Babacan to befriend his blind daughter, Audrey. Audrey spends nights in the cemetery and insists she doesn't belong in this world. Wolfgang finds himself falling for this strange girl and soon discovers her very existence is bound up with the mystery of New Lourdes' swimming pool in a way he could never have imagined.

D'Ath has created a tale that oozes mystery from every page. This is storytelling at its absolute best. A highly recommended read for kids 12-adult.
4 stars Posted by: Jenny Mounfield
Deception Bay, Queensland, Australia

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