At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own.
It is a single act, but the slap reverberates through the lives of everyone who witnesses it.
Told through the eyes of eight of those present at the barbecue, this acclaimed bestseller is an unflinching interrogation of the life of the modern family. Poignant and provocative, THE SLAP makes us question the nature of commitment and happiness, compromise and truth. Whose side are you on?
The Slap
One of the most controversial books I have read in a long time. Written by an Australian and set in Melbourne, this is the tale of a man, Harry, slapping another man's child at a family BBQ and the uproar that follows. The mother sits at one extreme, taking Harry to court and charging him with child abuse. Family and friends sit at the other, believing that the child needed to be disciplined. Tsiolkas challenges our views on many other aspects of life family tension, culture, alcohol drugs, infidelity and this list goes on. An absolutely fascinating read. Warning This book does contain a fair amount of crude language. Reviewed by 30ti
QBD, 18/08/2014
