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The End of the World

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Melbourne-based writer Paddy O’Reilly has both a great sense of humour and the tantalising ability to record the absurd.

Enlivened by a wry sense of humor, this collection uses narrative voices that express subtlety and experience in stories that place the characters in a variety of settings—from Japan and Australia to fantastical places where incredible things are possible—and experiments with different perceptions of reality, creating unique situations that span a broad range of experiences.

Shortlisted, Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards
Commended, Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

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About the author

Paddy O'Reilly

19 books27 followers
Paddy O'Reilly is a writer from Victoria, Australia. Her work has been published and broadcast widely both in Australia and internationally.

Paddy's short story collection, The End of the World (University of Queensland Press) was released to critical acclaim in April, 2007. The stories in the collection have won a number of national and international story awards including 'The Age', the 'Judah Waten', 'Zoetrope All-Story' (USA) and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (UK).

The End of the World was chosen as one of the year's best books in various publications from Australian Book Review to The Financial Review. It was shortlisted in the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards and commended in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards.

Paddy's debut novel, The Factory, was also in the best books of the year lists in Australian Book Review and the Sydney Morning Herald and was Highly Commended in the FAW Christina Stead Award for Fiction. It was broadcast in fifteen episodes as the ABC Radio National Book Reading during July 2009.

Her novella 'Deep Water' was published in 2007 as one of four in the novella anthology, Love and Desire (The Five Mile Press).

contact

Contact my agent:
Sophie Hicks at edvictor.co.uk

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news, events, new stories, stuff, click here

She has also written screenplays and worked as additional screenwriter for films which have been nominated for AFI awards and screened nationally and internationally.

Paddy has been Asialink writer-in-residence in Japan, a fellow at Varuna: the Writers' House, writer-in-residence at Kelly Steps Cottage, Tasmania, and The Lockup, Newcastle, presenter and reader at the International Conference on the Short Story in Toronto and a full fellow at the Vermont Studio Center, USA.

Paddy has spent several years living in Japan, working as a copywriter and translator.

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Profile Image for Ben Thurley.
493 reviews32 followers
March 28, 2016
There are so many stories to savour in this wonderful collection by Australian author, Paddy O'Reilly. When it comes to narrative voice O'Reilly is a ventriloquist, but that's not to imply anything forced or false in her writing. Even in the stories that are more obviously fable-like or sci-fi-influenced, she reaches a truth of character and emotion that is completely compelling. I'm not ashamed to admit that I teared up on the bus reading "Armadillo" and "Where We Come From". This last is a gorgeous reckoning of a fraught mother-daughter relationship, as well as meditation on the nature of fiction, truth and lies.
Jacinta takes a deep breath. I can see she is about to start another story. Each story contradicts the last, but they are not lies because she never tries to be consistent. What does it matter if the stories are only for her
Profile Image for Jen Ryan.
Author 2 books3 followers
May 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this collection and am so glad to have finally read such an interesting range of work from a fine award-winning Melbourne writer.
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