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Boy Swallows Universe
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Stig Wemyss
- Length: 16 hrs and 42 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Set in 1980s Australia, Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton is an awe-inspiring debut novel about a young boy and his journey to discovering the man he wants to become.
For 12-year-old Eli Bell, life is anything but ordinary, and his working-class Australian family is far from typical. With his mother in jail, his father lost, and his stepfather dealing heroin, Eli has no choice but to rely on his usually silent older brother, August, and Slim, a Brisbane drug dealer, to guide him. Their bad examples as babysitters mean Eli’s future may be an Aussie drug dealer. Living in Darra, a seedy suburb populated by refugees, his options are limited. His desires to pursue a career in journalism, follow his heart and become a good man are hindered by obstacles like Tytus Broz, Queensland’s legendary drug kingpin.
Trent Dalton’s fiction debut is a coming-of-age story set in a world filled with dangers that explores the themes of brotherhood, true love, family and unlikely friendships. As Eli navigates the complexities of adolescence and evades the threats around him, he’s about to fall in love, face off against bad guys and fight to save his mother from certain doom—all before starting high school. Filled with suspense, heartbreak, and joy, Boy Swallows Universe is a powerful and kinetic novel that will leave you exhilarated. Follow Eli’s journey as he discovers the man he is meant to be in this remarkable and unforgettable listen, infused with originality, charm, tension and heart.
Netflix is releasing an 8-episode limited series in 2023 starring Felix Cameron as Eli Bell and Lee Tiger Halley as Gus Bell.
What the critics say
“[A] marvelously plot-rich novel, which...is filled with beautifully lyric prose.... Exceptional.” (Booklist, starred review)
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What listeners love about Boy Swallows Universe
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- coach amanda
- 2022-04-17
Engaging and funny
What a great book! The story was told with humour that kept things moving along quickly and the narrator brought the characters to life.
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- David
- 2020-06-17
A beautiful adventure both on paper and in audio
This magical, heartfelt, rollicking, witty, powerhouse of a book just jumped way up to the top of my all time list. I enjoyed every second of the adventure, and despite the subject matter of crime, drugs, poverty, and trauma, and the people often being so cruel, the heart in this book enables you to have fun throughout the whole experience. So many lines were so exquisitely crafted it was at times poetic and philosophical while never losing its air. Thinking back on the entirety of the book now it feels like it took me so many places, through so many emotions, and the way that every single one of its elements comes full circle in the end is immensely satisfying. There’s unabashed mass appeal in that, but it loses none of its luster for it.
Eli’s voice is one of my favorite types of narrators. A young teenager with an extraordinary intellect, deep well of emotion, and curiosity describing a very grown up world through his eyes, unfiltered by the self awareness that comes with becoming an adult. Eli thinks like he talks, very stream of consciousness, so you feel like he’s always talking to you. His character is so endearing, winsome, and insightful. I found him almost inadvertently hilarious and poignant on the same page, often stopping to reflect on what I had just read or storing a quote for later. And it’s so full of terrific, fleshed out characters. Most of the adults are flawed, but it’s unusually easy to love them despite it. Trent Dalton helps you feel that unconditional love you’re supposed to feel for friends and family, and that Eli definitely does. His best friend, baby sitter, and mentor is a convicted murderer prison escapee. Even the sociopathic son of small time drug lord royalty who nearly takes Eli’s hand with a machete as the schoolyard bully becomes someone you and Eli both end up thinking of as a friend.
I literally wonder if I would have enjoyed this book as much as I had if I hadn’t listened to half of it with this narrator. He was spectacular. He gave Eli’s voice life for me that I distinctly remember lacking when I read the first chapter. But he did everyone flawlessly. I will consider any book he performs.
I used to think that I’m not one who typically likes flowering language and digressions, but I’ve found that my favorite novels all have that in common, while my least favorites do as well. It makes my tastes hard to nail down. Trent Dalton expertly toes the line, so that this novel takes on all the color and beauty of its cover, not a one feeling unnecessary. Dalton shows that it isn’t just that beauty is found in the details. The details have to matter, and he makes everything come alive and take on such depth with his lyrical waxing. He hides powerful prose in detailed stories filled with carnage and grit, alongside deep, abstract ideas.
This book yet again furthers my theory that debut novels are quite often the best from a good writer. I wonder if it’s the lack of deadlines, the care for their baby, the motivation of the fear of being rejected if it’s not perfected. I am sure that Boy Swallows Universe is the coming of age story of a spectacular new voice with Trent Dalton. I can easily recommend this book to anyone, but maybe I could say it’s best suited for fun and adventurous deep thinkers that like their page turners to glitter as much as any other work of art.
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13 people found this helpful
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- Nicole Pearson
- 2020-01-21
Listen to at a faster speed
Listening to this as part of a book club. I wasn’t into it at all until I sped up the audio to 1.25-1.5 speed. It made such a difference!
Maybe Australiens speak more slowly than Americans... I don’t know, but speeding up the story added a needed sense of urgency to the audio- which makes sense in a story of drugs, trauma, and what that means for someone with a youthful imagination.
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10 people found this helpful
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- Dolores Skowronski
- 2020-08-19
Four hours of sixteen left and I am simply done
While the story line is charming, and I want to know "how it ends", it is taking far too long to see this book to the end. There are more events than necessary of young Eli which has led to a loss of interest in getting to the last chapter. The narrator is wonderful, so speeding the Audible up, even just a tad, takes away from the feel of the story line. There is simply too much story line for me to devote any additional time.
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9 people found this helpful
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- Joli
- 2020-09-16
Boy Wows Reader
It amazes me when writers come up with phrases that speak right at me, but I’d never have been able to put those feelings into words myself.
Some have commented on the swearing, but to me, it always seemed “real” and appropriate to the scene. I guess if you are bothered by cursing, this may not be the book for you.
I LOVED Eli - it was sad to see his story end.
The narration was spectacular! Wow!
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7 people found this helpful
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- Lyn Hillsden
- 2019-07-25
Lovely
90% of this book is lovely, if painful at times. The ending turned from beautiful story into Hollywood Action Movie, and that was disappointing to me. But overall worth it. Excellent narration.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Eddie
- 2020-05-15
A wonderfully pleasant surprise
This was not at all what was expecting. I’m usually a mystery/thriller, science fiction, and fantasy listener. But the characters, relationships, and narration hooked me from the beginning.
What a GREAT listen.
I can’t wait until June for Mr. Dalton’s next book.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2019-05-29
What a stunning book!! Must read
Incredible prose, descriptions and characters. The performance only makes the book better. I am so glad I read it. One of the best novels I have ever read.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Priscilla
- 2020-10-25
READ THIS BOOK
started out a little slow but that changed fast. Beautifully written, lyrical, magical, gut wrenching, disturbing...Couldn't put it down. excellent narration. best book in a long time.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Midwesterner
- 2019-05-03
Loved it.
narrator was great. storyline was great. original and really clever. wanted something different and got it!
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4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2019-08-03
Are You A Good Man?
Young Eli Bell searches for the answer to this and many other huge questions in this coming of age story that mixes together elements of mystery, crime, family, love, forgiveness and universal truths. I could not put it down.
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3 people found this helpful