Books of the Month

'Breath' by Tim Winton

This is the third time I've chosen a book by Tim Winton as Book of the Month, but I make no apology for the recurrence of the theme. If I succeed in turning just one more reader on to this great Australian writer, it will have been worth it.

Breath tells the story of Bruce 'Pikelet' Pike, a young lad growing up in a small rural town near the Western Australian coast. Together with his more daring friend Loonie, he catches the surfing bug, but it's when the two youngsters come under the influence of surfing great Sando that things start to take a turn. Both have to confront the dangers of the deep, and the limits of their own ability and endurance, but the more they learn about Sando's world, the more risky - and compelling - it becomes.

The book is both a study of man's relationship with the powers of the natural world, and a coming-of-age story. Fans of Winton's won't be surprised that the descriptions of being out on the water are masterfully done. Surfing aficionados and surfing know-nothings (like me) have been equally enthusiastic about these sections. But in the latter, darker stages of the novel, where Pikelet finds himself draw into a much more disturbing world, Winton proves he's just as capable when it comes to handling difficult material with sensitivity and humanity.

If you've never tried a book by Tim Winton, I implore you to give Breath a go.

Also recommended: check out the EnCompass Author Interview with Tim Winton, and have a look at the promotional website for the book, featuring an interesting video trailer.

Susan Tranter

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