Fabulous book - really didn't know what to expect and then 'boom'. what a great book. Australian as they come and full of insightful and beautiful prose. Thank you, I wouldn't have bought this book but I highly recommend it.

Brilliant debut novel. This book will stay in my head for a long time. Eli’s life is a fascinating and interesting tale told by him. His description of life and those around him was a riveting read,

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Wasn't sure about this book when I started reading but..............I quickly become gripped. The way the story was told, the language that was used to tell the story. Excleelnt.

⭐️⭐️ 2 stars

Not for me sorry.

The writing had an unusual style, sentences and chapters were too long and I couldn’t follow the thread of the story most of the time.

I thought August was an interesting character but I struggled to engage with Eli.

Overall disappointing given the hype.

Boy Swallows Universe

A rummage around the depths of imagination

I’m not sure where to start with this one. At first, the weighty prose felt a bit of a slog and it was hard to relate the author’s voice to that of a boy. Despite the thickly layered language, it seemed like there was little beneath the surface. No fear, despair, sadness or hope, just an uncomplicated acceptance of this crazy world Eli was raised in. Then the book gets going, and ‘boy’ does it get going! That’s when you realise this is the story of a boy filled with determination and drive to be the best version of himself, who against all odds picks himself up and fights for it. Drawing on characters from all walks of life, the narrator has a real talent for seeing something special in people who may otherwise be written off.

The book is semi-autobiographical and perhaps ‘Eli’ was so used to this life, he didn’t feel anything. Maybe the fact he speaks like an adult reflects his lack of childhood. Perhaps there is a distance created between the character and the reader because that’s how Eli felt in the world - distanced from the norm and everyday folk. As Eli’s world unravelled, there were little moments of brilliance scattered through this book like confetti, sprinkled just at the right point.

The author’s note at the end is particularly moving and enhances the meaning of the story.

One thing is for sure, this book is wild, compelling and imaginative. It’s refreshing to read Australian literature as I’m so used to reading the work of UK and USA writers. It’s not a light read but I’d highly recommend it.

I think I just found my favourite modern literary book. Holy cheese balls, this book is incredible. How did Mr Dalton think up something to niche and interesting and wonderful but still heartbreaking? How is someone so talented allowed to roam this Earth?!

Okay maybe that was a little over the top, but to be honest this book blew my mind. To write from such a specific viewpoint and to do it so well and so thoughtfully is rare. It's a coming-of-age novel that you never knew needed to be written. I kind of want to do my degree again so I can write a dissertation about this book. To write such intense events through the eyes of a young boy is incredibly difficult, but Dalton manages it perfectly. He has the balance between what actually happens vs how the protagonist sees it down to a T. I felt the disconnect so vividly between what he sees and how he processes it. But not just that, he's also incredibly intelligent. He doesn't let these events affect him like they would an adult, yet he speaks about them intelligently and logically, and then moves on to deal with the next event. If anything, the protagonist is slightly too intelligent for a 12 year old at the beginning, but he's special. So I can wholeheartedly accept this.

The characters are all so individual and exciting and well-rounded. Slim is probably my favourite, but I think August is a close second. I also enjoyed the unexpectedness of the relationships, the step-father and step-son who get on, the written relationship between Eli and Alex, his school friends who are important at times when they need to be but not at others. Honestly I'm gobsmacked.

Literary books don't need to be these long-winded, complicated masterpieces that only the most intelligent can enjoy. They can be accessible whilst still being intelligent and interesting and original. Just like this book.

Highly recommend this to all who are thinking about picking it up. One of my favourite books of the year.

I’ve been looking for another great coming of age novel for a long time - and this is definitely great. Well written and absorbing, lovely characters and a lot of emotion. Well worth a read.

I started off not liking this book. Initially, I found it hard to get into and the style of narration awkward. But oh boy was I wrong! This is a fantastic read and one of the best books I've read this year. Once you settle into the narrative style, you sink into the rough, gritty world. I came to love the main characters and really root for them. As well as the grit, there's a lot of love and humour in this book. Definitely one to read.

This story is about Eli and August, brothers being raised around violent, drugs and poverty. Yet amidst all these dangers these boys have such a special bond and connection, helping each other through heartache and tragedy. Eli is the story's central character and his life is anything but easy. August is a drug dealer, and his father has long fled. Despite this Eli wants to be a journalist.

This story is wonderful, the characters are believable and emotive. I strongly recommend this book.

Great synopsis, interesting read, really makes you think. Appeals to many. Definitely recommend you try it! So glad I did!

I chose this because of the critical acclaim it's received in Australia but unfortunately, this wasn't something I enjoyed. Too bleak and perhaps it was also because while I enjoy reading books set in vastly different cultural/geographical landscapes, I am less comfortable in a setting which is almost but not quite familiar? I felt as though everything was just a little bit out of my reach - recognisable but not enough for me to empathise wih the characters. I did see potential if I had been willing to try harder - I think it probably deserves its awards, but it just wasn't for me at this time.

A well written, engaging and thought provoking book.
I loved the style of writing, the well written characters and the the plot.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Absolutely wonderful. 4.5 stars but rounding it up because it’s definitely a cut above other 4stars. Charming, convincing characters, grittily realistic and a little bit magical all the same time. Can be a little bit slow in places, but by the end those nostalgic flashbacks make more sense. But truly a glorious read, and a unique perspective

This is a book with a difference. It offers every speck of emotion within it. It’s based in Australia it certainly deals with very thought provoking topics.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Harper Collins uk for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

I couldn’t finish this book, the Australian slang and disjointed storyline had me re-reading several times to make sense of bits of it and it just wasn’t worth the effort for me. There was much to recommend it and I can see why some readers have loved it, especially those who can connect to the Brisbane background. The characters are very likeable if a little unbelievable but the downsides, added to the excessive bad language outweighed the good for me.

I didn't finish this book.
It felt like a slog to be honest.
I expected it to be more...
More funny
More gritty

I don't know. It had some good moments,but for me,not enough to keep me reading.

wow I am beyond words. What a moving and heart tugging book this. It isn't often that a book will stay with you long after you read it but this one will

I loved everything about this book! Drawn from childhood memories, Boy Swallows Universe recalls the tragedies, loneliness and heartbreak of Eli’s tough upbringing. With the onset of adulthood and his increasing control of life’s circumstances, Eli seeks answers to his family’s past tragedies and thus acceptance of who he is. As an ex-patriot, the colloquialisms and familiar geographical settings made this novel an absolute delight to read, not to mention more than a little nostalgic.

I am speechless, it’s hard to put into words such a book as this. Moving, thought provoking, heart breaking, intense, captivating, addictive read. The writing is almost lyrical and so imaginative it’s beautiful, I love writers who can do this. An amazing book that will stay with you long after you read it.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This book made me feel all the feels. It was profound and brutal yet inspiring and uplifting, closely following the authors own upbringing in Australia in the 1980s. It was a beautifully clever book and one I will not forget for a long time!