Impossible Music

Description

Music is Simon's life - which is why he is devastated when a ministroke obliterates his hearing. He resists attempts to help him adjust to his new state, refusing to be counselled, refusing to learn sign language, refusing to have anything to do with Deaf culture. Refusing, that is, until he meets G, a tough-as-nails girl dealing with her own newly experienced hearing loss. In an emotionally compelling tale crackling with originality, Simon's quest to create an entirely new form of music forces him into a deeper understanding of his relationship to the hearing world, of himself, and of the girl he meets along the way.

Sean Williams was born in the dry, flat lands of South Australia, where he still lives with his wife and family. He is the author of over 40 novels and 120 published short stories. seanwilliams.com www.impossiblemusic.info

'A smart, authentic, brilliantly executed and sometimes blackly funny story' - Mike Shuttleworth, Readings 'The search for identity is a universal theme, yet Simon's story of confronting deafness and Deaf culture feels fresh... It avoids both condescending pity and inspirational fluff, instead offering an unpretentious look at the process of losing and finding oneself after a life-changing event... An honest, satisfying, and surprisingly original coming-of-age story."' Kirkus 'Williams deftly handles plotting that is constantly shifting in time, looking forward with Simon's bursts of energy and backward with his bouts of self-doubt to capture the confusion of his sudden hearing loss, as well as the elation born of creativity. The result is a profound slice of Simon's life as he comes to grips with his new multifaceted identity as a deaf person and musical artist. An inspiring read that is told with verve and depth.' - Reinhardt Suarez, Booklist