A Loving, Faithful Animal

A Loving, Faithful Animal is a haunting and vivid novel that explores an Australia rarely seen in literature, following the mysterious death of the family dog and the disappearance of Jack, a Vietnam veteran suffering from severe PTSD.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2022
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

A haunting and vivid novel that delves into an Australia rarely seen in literature, "A Loving, Faithful Animal" takes place on New Year's Eve, 1990, in a small-town setting. The mysterious death of the family dog pushes Jack, a Vietnam veteran suffering from severe PTSD, into one of his periodic vanishing acts. His eccentric brother Les remains next door, a gentle fixer-upper whose loyalties are increasingly torn between Jack and his wife Evelyn. This time, Evelyn allows Jack to stay gone, but she, too, is rapidly disappearing herself, lost in recollections of a vibrant youth as her eldest daughter, Lani, seems intent on wasting her own. At the heart of it all is Lani's little sister, Ru, who sees everything but is overlooked.

"A Loving, Faithful Animal" is an unforgettable interrogation of ruins, redemption, and the reasons behind these profound emotions. Through the lives of the three main characters, the novel explores the complexities of family relationships, the scars of war, and the search for meaning in a world that often seems to be passing them by.

Jack, the Vietnam veteran, is a complex and troubled character. He has suffered from severe PTSD since his return from the war, and his erratic behavior is a result of his struggles to cope with the trauma he has experienced. He is a man who is haunted by his past and struggles to find a sense of stability in his present life.

Les, Jack's brother, is a gentle fixer-upper who is loyal to his family but is often torn between his loyalty to Jack and his love for Evelyn. He is a man who has a deep sense of empathy and compassion, but who is also prone to bouts of depression and self-doubt. He is a man who is trying to find his place in the world and to make sense of the chaos that surrounds him.

Evelyn, Jack's wife, is a woman who is struggling to hold her family together. She is a woman who has lost her sense of self and is lost in a sea of memories of a vibrant youth. She is a woman who is trying to find her way forward in a world that seems to be moving at a faster pace than she can keep up with.

Ru, Lani's little sister, is a character who is overlooked and underestimated. She is a child who is wise beyond her years and who has a deep sense of empathy and compassion for those around her. She is a character who is trying to find her way in a world that often seems to be closing in on her.

Through the course of the novel, the three main characters are forced to confront their pasts and their present circumstances. They are forced to confront the demons that have been haunting them for years and to find a way to move forward in a world that seems to be against them.

"A Loving, Faithful Animal" is a haunting and vivid novel that delves into the complexities of family relationships, the scars of war, and the search for meaning in a world that often seems to be passing us by. Through the lives of the three main characters, the novel explores the depths of human emotion and the resilience of the human spirit. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it, and that will continue to inspire and challenge you for years to come.

Weight: 144g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788169691
Edition number: Main