I haven't read a lot by Winton, but I love him for this book alone. The language is so beautiful and I just love the focus on the ordinary. Very highly recommended. ( )

Only lost stars for being typical, predictable Winton. If you have read Winton, you have read this, although the stories are filled with complicated, deep characters. Most have something hidden away and Winton often only hints at what really happens or what is really thought. I loved the way the stories were interwoven, so that they are all connected by the same small town and are often stories about the same person at a different point in their lives. As Winton often is, this is very young man, very Australian-bush type fiction. ( )

This is a collection of short stories by Tim Winton, all about a loosely connected group of people. They are an eclectic bunch, with all sorts of intersecting stories, often told from different perspectives.

I loved it. ( )

My uncle sent this book to me with a post-it stuck to the cover that said, "If you want to write short stories, you must read these."

They are fantastic short stories, some of which share characters, at different stages in their lives. They all centre around a small town in Western Australia. They're amazing, wonderful little pieces, with characters that portray depression and ugliness and beauty in a way that makes it seem as if you're sitting in a cafe, watching them across the street. And yes, it's a big inspiration to read, especially if you're wondering about how to plot a short story in terms of length, and how to make a character live within the confines of a short story. Winton makes his characters live within two lines - what skill. This is definitely a five out of five book. ( )

Seriously talented writing : about the 'turnings' in our lives, and how we become what we are. Adolescence and middle age, damage and survival. ( )