Through the eyes of a precocious young girl, Judy Pascoe brings us a magical tale of love and loss that is infused with lyrical beauty and spiritual depth. For ten-year-old Simone O'Neill, the death of her father is shattering: she blames him for running away, and has nightmares about him lying awake in his grave. It's been three months, but still her mother Dawn cries herself to sleep at night and cuts herself off from her children, unable to cope with the curve life has thrown her. Simone's brothers have also retreated ...
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Through the eyes of a precocious young girl, Judy Pascoe brings us a magical tale of love and loss that is infused with lyrical beauty and spiritual depth. For ten-year-old Simone O'Neill, the death of her father is shattering: she blames him for running away, and has nightmares about him lying awake in his grave. It's been three months, but still her mother Dawn cries herself to sleep at night and cuts herself off from her children, unable to cope with the curve life has thrown her. Simone's brothers have also retreated into their own worlds, and as tension overtakes the home, leaving each of the family isolated in his or her grief, Simone's sorrow begins to turn to hate. Then one day, soon after a visit to her father's grave that left her scared of the ants that worked the soil, something magical happens as Simone stands in her family's backyard. Don't worry about the ants, she hears, and it seems to be coming from a massive tree. They're everywhere. Why are there so many? she asks the air. They're busy, is the reply, and Yes, it's me. It is then that Simone realizes that her father is not trapped in his grave or up in heaven, but has gone to live in the large tree behind the house. At first she's terrified, spends weeks sprinting through the yard avoiding the tree's calls, but then one day she decides to face the truth, and climbs. And when her father begins to speak, she embraces his presence: I didn't hate him so much now for dying, because for the first time since he died I could remember what he was like when he was alive. With this discovery begins Our Father Who Art in a Tree, an enchanting and enchanted novel about life and death and all of the layers oflove, loss, family, belief and community that lie in between -- or in the way. In an effort to console her mother, Simone shares her secret and brings her into the fold, so Dawn can at last unburden herself of some of the grief that has consumed her and try to move on. In the tree, Simone's mother is able to share her pain with her husband, and also recapture some of the joy of their marriage. But when a new man enters her life, Dawn is faced with the hardest decision of all: whether to hang on or let go. In the unbearable heat and drought of a single Australian summer, Dawn's inability to choose torments both her and her children, and the tree begins to take over their home as well as their thoughts. The branches scratch a nightly warning on the sides of the house. Roots begin to fill the drains and attack the foundations. An errant limb crashes through the window and sprawls onto Dawn's bed, coming to rest on the husband's side. Gradually an entire community is pulled in by its force: extended family members arrive and try to help Dawn cope; neighbours intercede, withdraw. But it is not all anguish, here. The ladies of the Neighbourhood Watch, concerned for their suburban calm, face off against Simone's elderly aunts, who totter around on high heels and understand that Mr. O'Neill is just not ready to go, in an Us versus Them bridge tournament that puts the life of the tree at stake. Yet it is only when the weather finally breaks and a storm of cyclone strength and fury hits the neighbourhood that Simone's family -- and their faith in the future -- is put to the ultimate test. From the Hardcover edition.
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Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree to cart. $1.99, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Random House Trade.
Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree: a Novel to cart. $1.99, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Random House Publishing Group.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.
Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree: a Novel to cart. $5.83, like new condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Random House (NY).
Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree: a Novel to cart. $6.50, good condition, Sold by Montclair Book Center rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Montclair, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Random House Trade Paperbacks.
Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree: a Novel to cart. $6.95, very good condition, Sold by Book Alley rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Pasadena, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Random House Trade Paperbacks.
Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree to cart. $12.99, very good condition, Sold by A2ZBooks rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Burgin, KY, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Random House Inc.
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Very Good Condition. Text Appears Clean, Nice looking book. There is a sticker on the spine. Quantity Available: 1. ISBN: 0375759875. ISBN/EAN: 9780375759871. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 1560751647.
Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree a Novel to cart. $12.99, good condition, Sold by Russell Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Victoria, BC, CANADA, published 2004 by Vintage Books Canada.
Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree to cart. $13.99, like new condition, Sold by The Book Scouts rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hamilton, ON, CANADA, published 2003 by Random House of Canada, Limited.
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Fine in Near Fine jacket. Size: 7x5x0; We're happy to combine shipping to save you some money. We're also always buying collectible book collections. Contact us for details. We're happy to provide pictures of any and all books for you, please just ask! Canadian first edition, first printing. Contains number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Virtually no wear to jacket. Jacket is NOT price clipped. Covers are clean and bright. Edges are sharp. No tears or creases. The book itself is in Near Fine condition. The binding is straight and tight. NO remainder mark.
Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree: a Novel to cart. $18.98, like new condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Random House (NY).
Add this copy of Our Father Who Art in a Tree to cart. $20.00, like new condition, Sold by Between the Covers-Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester City, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Random House.
