Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca - but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can’t forget. Shooting for oblivion, he’s hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either?
An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again. [summary from Goodreads]
The upcoming US edition of The Piper's Son (already out in Australia) now has a cover...and my my my, do I like it! Is that you on the cover, Thomas Mackee? Mind turning around so I can, er, have a face-to-face conversation with you? *cough*
In all seriousness, though, Melina Marchetta is one of my favorite authors, and there is no way she will disappoint me with this book. No way. I'm looking forward to slightly revisiting all of my beloved characters from Saving Francesca, as well as learning more about Thomas Mackee, that endearingly sullen, wannabe-rebellious musician.
The Piper's Son will be released in hardcover from Candlewick on March 8, 2011.
Awesome pick! Definitely cannot wait to read this book! Love everything by Melina Marchetta. :D
ReplyDeleteI wasn't too sure about the cover at first (because I made the mistake of comparing it to the Aussie cover), but I'm liking it now. Can't wait to have it in my hands. :)
Ooh! Nice pick! I'm a big fan of Melina Marchetta, too. Can't wait to get this one myself!
ReplyDeletei LOVE this book (and melina marchetta), its not your usual YA but it's ah-mazinggggg :) i do prefer the aussie cover though (it makes a bit more sense aftter reading the book i think)
ReplyDeleteLOVE HER BOOKS!! Cannot wait to this!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, this one is just incredible! It's not your typical YA as Audrey said (I think it'd do really well as an adult novel, too). But it's just SO fantastically beautiful and amazing -- totally lived up to my expectations which were so high after Jellicoe Road.
ReplyDeleteGreat WoW pick!
I LOVED Saving Francesca! Unfortunately, that's the only book I read by Marchetta. I can't wait for this!
ReplyDeleteI loved Jellicoe Road and haven't yet picked up Saving Francesca. I've been hearing quite a bit about this book on Twitter lately so I just picked up a copy of SF to read so I can get to this one when it comes out.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful choice!
ReplyDeleteI finished my first Marchetta novel today, Jellicoe Road, and I loved it. It wil stay with me for a long, long time.
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ReplyDeleteGreat choice! This one is actually tied with Jellicoe as my favorite Melina Marchetta, and cemented for me that she is absolutely my favorite contemporary writer. I ordered this from Abebooks a while ago because I could not wait for the NA release! You will not be dissapointed, as you mentioned many of the SF characters are back, but there is a whole new group of characters whose stories are just as powerful and gripping, if not more so.
ReplyDeleteI much prefer the Australian black and white cover, but if this gets more people reading it, it is fine by me :)
I cannot cannot cannot stand this cover. It doesn't represent the book for me AT ALL. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteBut I love the book. Like all MM work, it's even better on the re-read.