''Blood'' (2011) is a novel by Australian author Tony Birch. It was shortlisted for the 2012

Miles Franklin Literary Award The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin (1879–19 ...

Plot summary

The novel follows a family in crisis, breaking down under the weight of family violence, drugs, lost opportunities and general neglect.

Notes

* Dedication: For Brian and Debbie - with all my love, for taking my hand. *Epigraph: 'Then the boy, me and the boy
we walked for miles through stormy weather
hand in hand, we roamed the land
and held the gleaming heart together.' Kate Rusby, 'The Bitter Boy'

Bibliography

Reviews

Conrad Walters in ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' found the novel to build to a compelling last third but was let down a little by a hurried ending. Ed Wright in ''The Australian'' considered it an "absorbing and endearing tale of children in adversity"."The bind of blood ties laid bare in Tony Birch's debut novel" by Ed Wright, ''The Australian'', 7 January 2012
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Awards and nominations

* 2011 highly commended The Fellowship of Australian Writers Victoria Inc. National Literary Awards — FAW Christina Stead Award * 2012 shortlisted

* 2012 finalist Melbourne Prize for Literature — Best Writing Award * 2012 winner Melbourne Prize for Literature — Civic Choice Award

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blood 2011 Australian novels University of Queensland Press books