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Plum

By: Brendan Cowell
Narrated by: Brendan Cowell
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Publisher's Summary

The wildly impressive, raucously funny, and deeply moving second novel from award-winning writer, actor, and director for television, theater, and film Brendan Cowell, confirming the talent he showed in his best-selling debut novel from 2010, How It Feels.

Peter "The Plum" Lum is a 49-year-old ex-star NRL player, living with his son and girlfriend in Cronulla. He's living a pretty cruisey life until one day he suffers an epileptic fit and discovers that he has a brain disorder as a result of the thousand-odd head knocks he took on the footy field in his 20-year career. According to his neurologist, Plum has to make some changes - right now - or it's dementia, or even death.

Reluctantly, Plum embarks on a journey of self-care and self-discovery, which is not so easy when all you've ever known is to go full tilt at everything. On top of this, he's being haunted by dead poets, and, unable to stop crying, discovers he has a special gift for the spoken word. With spectral visits from Bukowski and Plath, the friendship of local misfits, and the prospect of new love, Plum might just save his own life.

From award-winning writer, director, and actor Brendan Cowell, Plum is a powerfully moving, authentic, big-hearted, angry, and joyous novel of men, their inarticulate pain, and what it takes for them to save themselves - from themselves. It's got a roaring energy, a raucous humor, a heart of gold, and a poetic soul.

©2021 Brendan Cowell (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"Exploring masculinity and the healing power of language with great humour, grace and whimsy, Plum is a bighearted, raw and joyous take on what it means to be a man in modern Australia." (Sunday Times)

"The audacious inclusion of literary outlaws ... the muscular viscerality of his language ... [Plum is] a Shire pastoral that yearns for a nostalgia fantasy of The Golden Days ... I wonder whether Plath was inspired by the great Peter Lum. Or if Whitman wrote Leaves of Grass observing a spear of summer grass while sitting in Shark Park one lonely Sunday afternoon." (Sydney Morning Herald)

What listeners say about Plum

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Loved it!

Brendan Cowell brings this book to life, his voice tapping into each characters personality.

Anyone who lived in NSW / QLD through the 90s and 00s will feel right at home, feeling as though this is a true story with many events echoing real life.

As bad / unfortunate as many of these 'events' were, it's also a a bit sad to think those times have passed and the current world (and future) will never be the same. For better or worse.

Thoroughly enjoyed!

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Utterly brilliant

I absolutely loved this book. It was magnificent. I was completely hooked and it was incredibly moving. It was a powerful topic to write about. Brendan Cowell also does an incredible job of narrating - more so than for any other audiobook I have listened to.
I would definitely suggest that others read/listen to this.

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Masterpiece

This book was beautifully unexpected. It had me in tears with it’s intensely accurate portrayal of living with an injured brain. The first few pages had me wondering if it was for me but it didn’t take long to be swept into Plum’s life. Highly recommended.

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Outstanding

Elegant entertainment marinated w laconic ‘stralian wit + mystic poets + urgent reflection on what passes for pastimes on the planet - beautiful ending crowned the work - a great pleasure to partake

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The book I needed to read

What a great book. Excellent narration as well. Didn't want it to end. Highly recommended.

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Great Australian story, excellently read.

This is great. Loved the mix of Aussie characters and relatable experiences and scenarios with the literary characters and their relevance to the story. You know you are getting the real story when read by the author. Another of the great Australian books of late.

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OUTSTANDING

Incredibly written and some deep plot lines. I Couldn’t stop listening. Brendan is a genius

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One of the best pieces of fiction

Brendan Cowel has written an Australian classic that is up there with The Shiralee. It is a brilliant exploration of the Australian male psyche.

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Completely recommend!

Loved everything about this audio book. Brendan Cowell, you strike again with another brilliant story!

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Buy the book for your shelf, but listen to it here

Brendan reads his book with equal parts passion and humour. He’s a gifted and natural storyteller. This book covers so much ground, the less you know going in the better. Just get it. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you might even wanna write a poem.

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