The Art Of Taxidermy

Description

Lottie is fascinated with death. She collects birds, lizards and other small dead animals she finds, trying preserve them, to hold onto the life they once had. Her aunt tries to put a stop to this worrying obsession, but her father can see a scientist's mind at work, and he introduces her to the art of taxidermy. For Lottie, the beauty and tenderness she finds in her preserved creatures provide a way for her to feel close to the mother she lost. The Art of Taxidermy is an exquisitely imagined verse novel about sadness and loss, and the way art and beauty can help us make sense of it all.

Sharon Kernot writes poetry and fiction. Her work has appeared in a variety of journals, magazines and anthologies including Island, Mascara Literary Journal, Best Australian Poems, and Australian Love Stories.

`Completely mesmerising, fresh and unexpected.' -- Diana Sweeney, winner of 2013 Text Prize `An intense exploration of grief.' -- Steven Herrick `[An] exquisite lyrical verse novel...[A] sharply evocative tale.' * West Weekend * `The work couples the swift, clipped charm of a verse novel and the unpredictable beauty of the Australian landscape in a captivating manner that showcases an author entirely comfortable with her form...Lingers in the mind for weeks afterwards.' * Tulpa Magazine * `Kernot has created an intriguing tale of mystery and the imagination with a haunting ambience that the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe would recognise and admire...this is a delightful story about grief transformed and the urge to resurrect and to re-create.' * Saturday Paper * `This book is beautifully written...while the novel is about grief, it is also about the importance of remembering and keeping the memory of loved ones alive.' * Magpies Magazine * `In lyrical language, Kernot draws a comparison between the Australian bush and death: both are beautiful and desolate at once.' * Readings * `Kernot's writing is imbued with life and grace and moments of infectious joy.' * SA Weekend * `[An] exquisitely crafted verse novel.' * NZ Listener, Best Kids' Books of 2018 * `A thoughtful exploration of rebuilding life after death, told in grave and tactile verse.' * Kirkus *