Gould's Book of Fish by Richard Flanagan

[Lindach]

Winner of the 2002 Commonwealth Prize for Literature this is a great book but not an easy read. It is full of amazing characters including aborigines and is imbued with great humour. Having said that it can be frustrating and annoying at times. The story is told by the convict Gould through a book of fish he is illustrating and most of the story takes place in the penal settlement in Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania in the early 19th century. It is colourful, imaginative and surreal at times.
I think this is not the book to take on a relaxing holiday!