Trent Dalton

An utterly wonderful debut novel of love, crime, magic, fate and a boy’s coming of age, set in 1980s Australia and infused with the originality, charm, pathos, and heart of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The mind can take you anywhere you want to go Eli Bell’s life is complicated. His father is lost, his mother is in jail, and his stepdad is a heroin dealer. The most steadfast adult in Eli’s life is Slim—a notorious felon and national record-holder for successful prison escapes—who watches over Eli and August, his silent genius of an older brother. Exiled far from the rest of the world in Darra, a seedy suburb populated by Polish and Vietnamese refugees, this twelve-year-old boy with an old soul and an adult mind is just trying to follow his heart, learn what it takes to be a good man, and train for a glamorous career in journalism. Life, however, insists on throwing obstacles in Eli’s path—most notably Tytus Broz, Brisbane’s legendary drug dealer. But the real trouble lies ahead. Eli is about to fall in love, face off against truly bad guys, and fight to save his mother from a certain doom—all before starting high school. A story of brotherhood, true love, family, and the most unlikely of friendships, Boy Swallows Universe is the tale of an adolescent boy on the cusp of discovering the man he will be. Powerful and kinetic, Trent Dalton’s debut is sure to be one of the most heartbreaking, joyous and exhilarating novels you will experience.

A Novel

Boy Swallows Universe

An utterly wonderful novel of love, crime, magic, fate and coming of age, set in Brisbane's violent working class suburban fringe - from one of Australia's most exciting new writers. Brisbane, 1983: A lost father, a mute brother, a mum in jail, a heroin dealer for a stepfather and a notorious crim for a babysitter. It's not as if Eli's life isn't complicated enough already. He's just trying to follow his heart, learning what it takes to be a good man, but life just keeps throwing obstacles in the way - not least of which is Tytus Broz, legendary Brisbane drug dealer. But Eli's life is about to get a whole lot more serious. He's about to fall in love. And, oh yeah, he has to break into Boggo Road Gaol on Christmas Day, to save his mum. A story of brotherhood, true love and the most unlikely of friendships, Boy Swallows Universe will be the most heartbreaking, joyous and exhilarating novel you will read all year. 'Trent Dalton is the most extraordinary writer - a rare talent. A major new voice on the Australian literary scene has arrived.' Nikki Gemmell 'An astonishing achievement. Dalton is a breath of fresh air - raw, honest, funny, moving, he has created a novel of the most surprising and addictive nature. Unputdownable.' David Wenham 'I couldn't stop reading from the moment I started, and I still can barely speak for the beauty of it. Trent Dalton has done something very special here, writing with grace, from his own broken heart.' Caroline Overington 'Enthralling - a moving account of sibling solidarity and the dogged pursuit of love.' Geoffrey Robertson QC 'Stunning. My favourite novel for decades. Left me devastated but looking to the heavens.' Tim Rogers

Kyler Phillips

A man can have many best friends and none any more or less best than the other.

‘You know what I realised in all that time with my mouth shut?’ ‘What?’ ‘Most things people say don’t need to be said,’ he says.

Remember what Slim always says about the four things: timing, planning, luck, belief. I reckon that’s like life. I reckon that’s like living.

That’s Slim’s favourite nugget of porridge wisdom. Do your time before it does you.

Your vision was so enhanced by the inactivity of all that concrete-wall watching that every single time you walked into that garden yard it was like Dorothy walking into technicolour.

Mums maybe too, I guess, but there ain’t no shit mum in this world that wasn’t first the daughter of a shit dad.

And I follow him because there was care in his voice just then, his love was in it and I will follow that feeling anywhere.

He gave a half-smile and he straightened me up with his hands on both my shoulders, stared into my eyes. ‘You’ve already got a dad, mate,’ he said. ‘But you got me, too.’

‘I read everything. Slim says reading is the greatest escape there is and he’s made some great escapes.’

The orb-weaver spider sits in the middle of the web like it’s parachuting sideways, suspended in the quest it keeps wanting to finish without needing to know the reason why, blown but not beaten by wind and rain and afternoon summer storms so strong they fell power poles.

August cared for Mum like she was a lost forest fawn learning to walk because August seemed to know some secret about it all, that it was all just a phase, a part of Mum’s story that we simply had to wait through

Lyle doesn’t believe in much, but he believes in the circumstance-shifting power of a broken nose.

Words don’t go so well inside. Always better out than in.

Cara 🤍

He walks out the sliding doors. And I follow him because there was care in his voice just then, his love was in it and I will follow that feeling anywhere

I did struggle a fair bit to get into this

Sam Uhe

Chourouk

when i first started this book i was so gawddamm confused like i didn't understand anything! And with that i just really mean the time in which something would be like i didn't quite understand when the character was 12 or if this was a flashback to his younger self, like i just didn't get that and it was so frustrating. But after a couple of frustrating looks and a day pauze i could manage to look past that and after i somehow understood the plot and everything i very much enjoyed the book. I felt the characters happiness and their sadness, i was so in to the story that i sometimes just wanted to read it the whole day long. a great book even though you need to hang on in the beginning 😭

Cassie B

Some book, fantastic story and great characters. One of the better reads.

A very deep book that calls for a lot of deep thinking. It is very long and only reaches the very climax of the story near the end of the book.

Millewa Trenowden

Emily Morgan

Richard Dawson

“What are you reading?”

I dread this question, making sure I sum up the plot in a succinct yet comprehensive manner without giving too much away or the wrong impression. ‘Boy Swallows Universe’ is perhaps the hardest book I have had to sum up in a while.

“Well it’s about a boy in Australia in the 80s who has an ex-con as a babysitter and a heroin dealer for a step-dad. His mother is an addict and his brother is a mute, who writes messages in the sky with his finger. It’s not depressing though, honest!”

You mention convicts and drug deals and people expect a heavy read about a troubled childhood, when in fact Boy Swallows Universe is far from that. It is funny, thrilling and an intimate look at relationships and how trauma can affect them.

The protagonist Eli Bell has spent his life surrounded by complicated characters, having to learn which Rolling Stones song soothes his mother after a drug binge and how to interpret his mute brother’s finger writing and the meanings behind his messages (Caitlyn Spies? Your end is a dead blue wren?). Aside from the occasional provocation of his step-father, Eli is presented as the more grounded member of the Bell family. It isn’t until later that you understand how the events of Eli’s past have affected him.

Loosely based on aspects from the author’s childhood, he really was babysat by an ex-con called Slim and his step-dad was a dealer, Boy Swallows Universe is a debut novel full of richly detailed characters, beautifully written prose and a fast-paced plot which remains on the right side of believable. I read a few other reviews which complained about the bleak subject matter, the graphic violence and regular use of profanity, but this did not even register with me because none of it felt gratuitous.

This is a truly unique coming-of-age novel that is equally touching as it is engaging, which makes the news that is has been bought by actor Joel Edgerton for TV adaptation even more exciting.

Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy of this book.

The bestselling novel that has taken Australia, and the world, by storm. 'Without exaggeration, the best Australian novel I have read in more than a decade ... A rollicking ride, rich in philosophy, wit, truth and pathos' Sydney Morning Herald Brisbane, 1983: A lost father, a mute brother, a mum in jail, a heroin dealer for a stepfather and a notorious crim for a babysitter. It's not as if Eli's life isn't complicated enough already. He's just trying to follow his heart, learning what it takes to be a good man, but life just keeps throwing obstacles in the way - not least of which is Tytus Broz, legendary Brisbane drug dealer. But Eli's life is about to get a whole lot more serious. He's about to fall in love. And, oh yeah, he has to break into Boggo Road Gaol on Christmas Day, to save his mum. A story of brotherhood, true love and the most unlikely of friendships, Boy Swallows Universe will be the most heartbreaking, joyous and exhilarating novel you will read all year - an instant Australian classic. 'Trent Dalton is the most extraordinary writer - a rare talent. A major new voice on the Australian literary scene has arrived.' Nikki Gemmell 'An astonishing achievement. Dalton is a breath of fresh air - raw, honest, funny, moving, he has created a novel of the most surprising and addictive nature. Unputdownable.' David Wenham 'I couldn't stop reading from the moment I started, and I still can barely speak for the beauty of it. Trent Dalton has done something very special here, writing with grace, from his own broken heart.' Caroline Overington 'Stunning. My favourite novel for decades. Left me devastated but looking to the heavens.' Tim Rogers

Natalie Noble

I had no idea what to expect going into reading this, but it was a bestseller with a beautiful cover by an Australian author so I bought it. I’m so glad I bought it. 

Set in 1980s Brisbane the story follows the life of Eli Bell and progresses from his childhood to his late teens. It’s one of those books where it sort of feels like little stories strung together along the timeline of his life but not in a “3 years later” kind of way. The flow is well paced, subtle and purposeful. 

It’s set in the very real city and suburbs of Brisbane but the characters add a sort of whimsy to the book that makes it feel mythical. The mute brother who writes ambiguous messages in the air, and the convicted murderer babysitter with a fondness for poetry. The relationships between the characters feels well developed and emotionally rich. 

The book tackles some dark themes of domestic violence and drugs but they don’t weigh down the story which still has moments of lightness and wonder. 

I would definitely recommend this book


FYI my star rating scale (because I never now what the stars mean to other people)
⭐️ DNF or finished but I had to push through and hated it
⭐️⭐️ It was ok or I didn’t like it but it had redeeming qualities, wouldn’t recommend and will probably donate mine to local library
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Liked it, would recommend, but I don’t really remember it months later. Staying on my shelf until I need more room
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Definitely recommend, it’s something that had impact or I couldn’t put down. I could tell you about it months/years after I finished reading it but I don’t think I’ll read it again
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ LOVE, will absolutely read again

Nadine 

Cleverly written tour de force in Brisbane’s underbelly. Just when you think it couldn’t get more unbelievable it does - and then you find it has semi-autobiographical elements. 
The comments on fatherhood were particularly poignant

Rebekah Holland

I don't think I can correctly express how absolutely stunning this book is. The depth and beauty of Trent's writing mesmerized me and I honestly did not want the book to end. For me, it's really hard to beat my all time favourite book but after experiencing this stunning piece of work and going through the life and troubles of Eli Bell, I think I may have just found my new favourite book. I can't wait to see what Trent Dalton has in store for us next.

Natalie Manuel

"A good story is alike a big ice berg. 90% of it is under water." 

I've just read two books full of 'tragedy' in a row, The Kite Runner and now Boy Swallows Universe. 

One of the mosts heartbreaking parts of any novel I've read occurs in The World According to Garp, and weirdly it's the ABSENCE of the explanation at first that makes your stomach drop with the knowledge of what has happened. 

BSU is similar - lots of absolutely horrific things happen to Eli and August, but just like in real life, we don't all walk around feeling terrible at it all day. The trauma and its effects can be found in everything Eli does, but it's not always present and it doesn't stop him acting like an everyday teenager at times. It doesn't define him. He still has moments of happiness, he's still full of love and hope, he's still a kid. I love the line in the book about door knocking, where Eli says that the kindness is the default of the human heart. 

This book is really a thingy of beauty - it's a testament to all things wonderful about humans, while not shying away from how horrible we can really be.

It's been so long since I found a forever book - a book you always remember, will always love, with characters that just become part of your life somehow. I really don't think I'll ever forget Eli and August Bell.

I simply LOVED this - beautifully written, beautifully constructed. This is what a novel is meant to be - full of heart, full of plot, full of fully fleshed out, complex characters that feel as real as we are. 

It's part coming of age, part crime, part family drama, part everything, book swallows universe!

Book of the Year by a mile.

Pam Sartain

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton is quite a harrowing read which tells the tale of the life of a 13 year old boy, Eli, and his mute brother August, set in Queensland, Australia.


There are other characters, like his mother and her boyfriend, Lyle, who are both drug dealers, a father who he can't ask about, and Slim, who is a convicted murderer, Eli's best friend and baby sitter.


A red telephone, prophecies drawn in the air by August, and drugs are key points in the book, and there's a hint of magic, but not enough to turn you off this book if you don't like fantasy. It's not a fantasy book. It's a coming of age tale, where you see everything from Eli's perspective, and sometimes he isn't sure what's happened. Or he is, but lies to himself.


Boy Swallows Universe is Trent Dalton's debut novel, but he's an accomplished journalist, having been nominated for awards in Australia.


This is partly based on Dalton's own childhood, and he talks about it in a post for HarperCollins. This put a whole new spin on the book for me!


I enjoyed Boy Swallows Universe, and if you like coming of age stories, with some crime mixed in, you'll enjoy this!



Boy Swallows Universe was published on 5th July 2018, and is available on Amazon to buy on Kindle and on Waterstones to pre-order the hardback, which is coming out on 16th May this year. I've found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!



I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins (the publishers) for this book.

Esme Chiverton 

An amazing example of how a story can be incredibly dark but still entertaining and enlightening. The 'dips' into other-worldliness were enough to keep it original without loosing me. 

Jan Talkington

I enjoyed this story of a boy in Australia in a highly dysfunctional family. The mom and her boyfriend are caught up in the heroin trade, his babysitter and best friend is a convicted murderer and an escapee from prison, his dad drinks too much and his brother has chosen to not speak. Eli Bell and his brother August though are special, at least that’s what their mom has always told them and as the story develops, you will discover that is the truth. The story is told through the eyes of Eli, a boy who just wants to be a good man.

The first chapter had me a little unsure, but I was quickly drawn in. Mr. Dalton has a way of describing situations in such a way that I could really see and feel what was going on. I felt at times as if I was reading a memoir instead of fiction. After finishing, I did a little Google searching and discovered that Mr. Dalton estimates 60% of the book is true. Wow – what a life! 

There are a few things I took from this book. One, as the escapee, Slim Halliday, says “Do your time before your time does you.” It’s a pretty deep statement when you think about it, but also pretty simple. Next, an observation by Eli, “Maybe we’d all be much more effective communicators if we all shut up more.” And last, love is truly the one thing that can get us through even the worse of situations.

Andrew Canion

A wonderful story from start to finish, capturing what surburban Australia was (is?) like.

I listened to the Audible version and the performance was outstanding.

Anyaconda

I really wanted to like this book, but the writing confused me and I had issues with either massive page-long sentences with 15 commas or very short jumbled up sentences. The sudden jumping between scenes also didn't make things easier to follow. There's a lot of "Slim says this" and "Slim says that". There's more telling than showing.
I couldn't get into it and gave up at 25%. It is probably me and not the book.

Thank you Harper and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

Boy Swallows Universe A Novel

Reviews

Highlights