That Eye, the Sky

Australian author Winton, at age 26, has won his country's highest awards and critics' acclaim for An Open Swimmer and Shallows. His third novel is narrated by 10-year-old Morton (Ort) Flack in a distinctive voice that holds the reader's attention and emotions throughout this coming-of-age chronicle. The catalyst is a car crash that leaves Ort's father, Sam, paralyzed and precipitates tribulations for his family. The Flacksincluding Ort's weak mother Alice, his sexy sister Tegwyn and his lonely, senile grandmotherare poor settlers in the Outback. As the family's circumstances dwindle, Ort hopes for a miracle that will cure his beloved father, but is frightened when a stranger, itinerant evangelist Henry Warburton, insinuates himself into the household. Alice is attracted to Warburton, who helps care for Sam and preaches religious dogma even while he's having his way with Tegwyn. A crisis looms, and its unforeseen effects end the wrenching story that proves love like Ort's can prevail against hell itself. (March)