Description
1999. Winter. Bondi. Harry's been on the streets so long he could easily forget what time is. So Harry keeps an eye on it. Every morning. Then he heads to the beach to chat with the gulls. Or he wanders through the streets in search of food, clothes, Jules. When the girl on the bus sees him, lonely and cold in the bus shelter that he calls home, she thinks about how she can help. She decides to write a symphony for him. So begins a poignant and gritty tale of homelessness and shelter, of the realities of loneliness and hunger, and of the hopes and dreams of those who often go unnoticed on our streets. This is the story of two outcasts - one a young woman struggling to find her place in an alien world, one an older man seeking refuge and solace from a life in tatters. It is also about the transformative power of care and friendship, and the promise of escape that music holds. An uplifting and heartbreaking story that demands empathy. Amid the struggles to belong and fit in, we are reminded that small acts of kindness matter. And big dreams are possible.
About the Author
Sarah Brill grew up in Perth and began writing at the age of 15. She initially focused on playwrighting but also wrote for film and radio. Her play Who the Fuck is Erica Price was first performed in 1996 and is still occasionally performed today. Her first novel, Glory, which dealt with anorexia, was published by Spinifex Press in 2002. After the birth of her children Sarah became interested in sustainability and permaculture. In 2017 she completed a Masters of Sustainable Built Environment and currently works for a local government council in resource recovery. Sarah lives in Sydney with her partner and three sons. Symphony for the Man is her second novel.
Reviews
Sarah Brill's Symphony for the Man has already been optioned for film, and this quiet, luminous book might just be perfect for a screen adaptation. A tale of two people from the margins of society united for a moment by music, by kindness, this short novel ripples along with gentle insistence towards a surreal but ultimately hopeful climax. - Sydney Morning Herald/The Age
Book Information
ISBN 9781925950069
Author Sarah Brill
Format Paperback
Page Count 225
Imprint Spinifex Press
Publisher Spinifex Press
About the Author
Sarah Brill grew up in Perth and began writing at the age of 15. She initially focused on playwrighting but also wrote for film and radio. Her play Who the Fuck is Erica Price was first performed in 1996 and is still occasionally performed today. Her first novel, Glory, which dealt with anorexia, was published by Spinifex Press in 2002. After the birth of her children Sarah became interested in sustainability and permaculture. In 2017 she completed a Masters of Sustainable Built Environment and currently works for a local government council in resource recovery. Sarah lives in Sydney with her partner and three sons. Symphony for the Man is her second novel.
Reviews
Sarah Brill's Symphony for the Man has already been optioned for film, and this quiet, luminous book might just be perfect for a screen adaptation. A tale of two people from the margins of society united for a moment by music, by kindness, this short novel ripples along with gentle insistence towards a surreal but ultimately hopeful climax. - Sydney Morning Herald/The Age
Book Information
ISBN 9781925950069
Author Sarah Brill
Format Paperback
Page Count 225
Imprint Spinifex Press
Publisher Spinifex Press
