Oracles and Miracles — Stevan Eldred-Grigg

A BRILLIANTLY ORIGINAL 'FICTION' NOVEL ABOUT TWO WORKING CLASS SISTERS GROWING UP IN CHRISTCHURCH IN THE 1930S AND 1940S. FAG AND GINNIE LOOK AT THEIR LIVES, DESCRIBING THEIR FAMILY LIFE, THEIR SCHOOLING, THEIR FANTASIES (A STRONG ELEMENT IN THE BOOK IS ITS EVOCATION OF THE POPULAR WORKING CLASS CULTURE OF THE TIME). FAG AND GINNIE ARE IN FACT THE AUTHOR'S OWN MOTHER AND SISTER, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT REVEALED IN THE BOOK ELDRED-GRIGG HAS TAKEN THE RESULTS OF MANY HOURS OF DISCUSSION AND TURNED IT INTO A RICH, FASCINATING, SUPERBLY EXECUTED NOVEL, IN WHICH THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS COME ALIVE AND THE READER IS INTRODUCED TO THE WORLD OF 1930 AND 1940. ORACLES AND MIRACLES IS THE FIRST NOVEL OF ITS KIND TO BE PUBLISHED IN NZ AN ORIGINAL PENETRATING BOOK WHICH IS SURE TO PROVOKE OTHER WRITERS TO PURSUE A SIMILAR PATH.