SHIMMER：A POWERFUL STORY OF LOVE, LIFE AND LOSS BY ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST DISTINGUISHED WOMEN

Book ID/图书代码： 04410008B25216

English Summary/英文概要： ‘Death is one journey you truly take by yourself. There is no one else beyond the skin of your hands, the toes of your feet, the sweat on your brow.’

This is the remarkable account of the last days of one woman’s life. As author Basia Bonkowski gathers with her brothers to watch over their mother as she lies in hospital, she gradually unravels the threads that have formed the rich tapestry of her mother’s life — and her own.

As a girl her mother fled the Russians as they advanced through Poland during World War II. As a young wife she came to Australia with her husband and infant son to forge a new life. Hers is a story of heartache and loss, of secrets and dreams. Her legacy is one of survival, of embracing the migrant experience. Now, as she reaches the end of her journey, the family is forced to face the hardest question of all: when the time comes, will they be able to let her go?

Basia’s lyrical prose and sharp eye for detail create an unforgettable account of her family over three generations. Shimmer is a moving tribute to the healing strength of the human spirit and the ties that bind.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 《微光》横跨一个女人人生最后十三天的时光，讲述一家人怎样来面对母亲的即将死亡。本书同时也对生命和母亲和孩子之间的亲情进行了讴歌。

这本小说精致地讲述了一个女人弥留之际的时光。当作者和他的弟兄们相聚在母亲病床前时，作者渐渐回忆过去，抽丝剥茧，向读者们展示母亲，还有自己绚丽多彩的人生。
少女时期，母亲在二战苏联进入波兰时四处躲避；成家后，母亲带这刚刚出世的儿子和丈夫一起来到加拿大开始新生活。这是一个有关悲痛和遗失，秘密和梦想的故事。她的生存和移民经历是一笔财富。而今，她的人生快要走到尽头，全家必须面临最严峻的问题：时候已到，可他们能让她离去吗？

作者优美的语言和犀利的笔触营造出让我们难以忘怀的一家三代的境况。《微光》一部对人类精神治愈能力和人与人之间的紧密联系进行高度赞扬的作品。(YM)

Awards/获奖情况：‘You don’t expect a book about a woman’s last days in hospital to be uplifting, but Shimmer serves as a reminder that all lives, however seemingly ordinary, are precious and surprising.’---Next Magazine, March 09

‘In this tender account of the final weeks of her mother’s life, Basia Bonkowski explores the complexities of mother-daughter love, writing with searing clarity about the challenges of the ‘sandwich generation’ — those who are torn between the needs of young children and ageing parents.’---Notebook Magazine, March 09

‘A remarkable, beautifully written account of the last days of a mother’s life — a woman who fled war-torn Europe years ago. Gentle, uplifting, it gives insights into life, death and the bonds that unite families.’---Bookchoice March 09

‘It is reminiscent of Simone de Beauvoir’s A Very Easy Death in that, regardless of your status, intellect or political bent, the death of a mother remains formative.’---Bookseller and Publisher, March 09

有这么一个旅程，你只能只身前行，没有人握住你的手，没有人与你并肩同行，没有人为你拭去额间的汗。

你不会期盼一个躺在病床上的女人在她弥留之际会多么的振奋，但是《微光》警示我们，不管看似多平凡的生命，也有宝贵和惊奇之处。--- Next Magazine，3月9日

在对母亲生前最后几周光阴的细腻叙述中，作者探索了母女之间的复杂情感，并以清晰的笔调阐述了三明治一代所面临的困苦—既要照顾年轻孩子的需求，又不能忽略年迈父母的需要。---Magazine,3月9日

这是对一个避过欧洲战祸的母亲临死前凄婉和不寻常的叙述，它温和振奋地洞悉了生与死以及那份联系家人之间的情谊。--- Bookchoice, 3月9日

About the Author/作者介绍： Basia Bonkowski is one of three children born to Polish immigrants. She grew up in Adelaide and studied Law at the University of Adelaide before transferring to Flinders University where she majored in English Literature and Drama. She moved to Sydney and joined SBS Television as a subtitler. Soon invited to be an on-air presenter, Basia enjoyed a highly successful career both on-air and behind-the-scenes as a writer and producer. She later worked for Channel Ten and the Seven Network as a presenter and journalist. Basia released Jesse’s World, a book about overseas adoption, in 2005 and completed a Master of Letters at the University of Sydney in 2006. She is currently working as a television producer and lives in Sydney with her husband and two children.

Format:TRADE PAPERBACK

Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE

Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE

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