At The End Of The Day by Liz Byrski, the author of eleven best-selling novels is a beautifully written novel of family, friendship, love and life!
Miriam (Mim) Squires and Mathias Vander find themselves stranded together when their flight home to Perth is disrupted. Reluctantly joining in conversation with Mim, Mathias discovers that she owns a bookshop and, like him, a writer in his 70’s, is at a turning point in her life.
Mim is finding life increasingly difficult as she ages and the fallout from polio she suffered as a child is taking its toll on her life. Is it time to let go of her precious bookshop?
Mathias currently lives in a secluded house in the Dandenong Ranges outside Melbourne, but is seriously contemplating moving to Perth to be nearer his daughter.
As their respective family members deal with their own issues, Mim and Mathias endeavour to face their own challenges. They need to adjust not only to the changes brought about by ageing, but also to face their past and the hidden secrets that continue to haunt them.
At the end of the day can they gather together the tenacity and foresight they need to make the most of the future?
In these unsettled times of the current COVID pandemic, this evocative novel reminds the reader of the debilitating effects of polio, which reached epidemic proportions in the 1950s.
Children, in particular, suffered from the disease, many dying and many more spending time in an iron lung to keep them breathing. Afterwards, they recovered slowly in isolation facilities away from their relatives and friends. These children, now adults in their 70’s, continue to suffer from the side effects of their illness.
How very grateful the population were when a vaccine was produced by dedicated scientists and administered to schoolchildren to save them from the same dreadful fate.
This perceptive novel also deals with the issues of allowing events that happened in the past to spoil relationships in the future. Events recalled from the past are not always the truth and maybe distorted by time.
However, the adages that life can begin at any age and it is never too late to find true love and companionship are indeed true!
At The End Of The Day is a marvellous, heart-warming read that will make a wonderful Christmas gift!
ISBN: 9781760781644
At The End Of The Day is available in paperback, e-book and audiobook
About Liz Byrski
Liz Byrski is a novelist, non-fiction writer, former journalist and ABC broadcaster, with more than fifty years of experience in the British and Australian media. She is the author of ten bestselling novels, including Gang of Four, Family Secrets, The Woman Next Door, and her most recent release, A Month of Sundays. She is also the author of a dozen non-fiction books including the popular memoir, Remember Me; Getting On: Some Thoughts on Women and Ageing and In Love and War: Nursing Heroes.
Liz’s books have been published in the UK, France and Germany and her articles and essays have appeared in national and international publications. She has won several awards for her work as a print and radio journalist. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry at Curtin University.
Liz was born in London in 1944 and lived in England until 1981, when she moved to Western Australia with her family. She now lives close to Fremantle and enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, writing, movies, swimming and walking her dog.
Leave a Reply