Fresh Fields

By Peter Kocan

Arriving in the city with no money, no job, an indifferent mum and brother, and nowhere to stay, a shy 14 year old boy drifts from the city to the bush and back again, doing what work he can, slowly becoming more alienated and distrustful. This book takes the reader down some dangerous turns to the conclusion.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0732279852
• ISBN13: 9780732279851
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.03 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Alone but not lonely

Maybe he is lonely. He fantasizes about having a good friend, and a sweetheart. He has absorbing conversations with people, but they are all in his head. He prefers to be by himself, is afraid much of the time. He retreats from human contact. He is not lonely. He is only fourteen, on his own in the world, voluntarily separated from his family, who were content to have him leave. Occupied by his thoughts, observing the world and reading, he thinks and matures. He is frequently moved to tears by seeing, at a remove, the actions of humanity. He experiences kindness from strangers, and he becomes more able to accept it. He finds some joy in life, though still by himself. But the hard reality of life is always there, and one of his imaginary friends may be giving him bad advice. If you can relate to loners, or maybe you, too, feel always outside, never accepted, wonder why you're not normal but would you want to be even if you could, then you should read this book. And you should see Jane Campion's film, An Angel at My Table - Criterion Collection