"Tsiolkas is a hard-edged, powerful writer....The novel transcends both suburban Melbourne and the Australian continent, leaving us exhausted but gasping with admiration." - Washington Post"This astute exploration of suburban aspirations and failings . . . . vividly demonstrates the wide-ranging effects of a single moment's rash decision. . . . Beyond simply igniting the plot, the fateful slap draws attention to generational and philosophical differences regarding family life and the complex political, social, and ethnic milieu of contemporary Australia." - Publishers Weekly"Radiates with vitality as it depicts the messy complications of family life." - Booklist"Complex and multilayered. ...intertwined lives and slowly revealed connections make for a singular reading experience." - Library Journal"Wildly energetic and fearless, thrillingly about our lives now." - Helen Garner, author of The Spare Room"A gripping suburban fable." - Men's Style
"Strikingly tender . . . it claws into you with its freshness and truth." - Sydney Morning Herald
