Author:Kathleen Winter
In 1968, in a remote part of Canada, a mysterious child is born: a baby who appears to be neither fully boy nor girl, but both at once. Only three people share the secret - the baby's parents and a trusted neighbour. Together the adults make a difficult decision: to go through surgery and raise the child as a boy named Wayne.
But as Wayne grows up within the hyper-male hunting culture of his father, his shadow-self - a girl he thinks of as 'Annabel' - is never entirely extinguished, and indeed is secretly nurtured by the women in his life. As Wayne approaches adulthood, and its emotional and physical demands, the woman inside him begins to cry out. The changes that follow are momentous not just for him, but for the three adults that have guarded his secret.
Shortlisted for the Orange Prize.
An uplifting exploration of love, parenthood, and all that we become
—— Daily MailRemarkable... at once deeply moving and a powerful rallying cry
—— The Times[A] powerful and important debut...about friendship, parental love and its limitations
—— Irish TimesThis haunting, powerful story is about much more than the problems of being a hermaphrodite...This is a remarkable first novel, an accomplished debut by an exciting new voice with a confident, mature style
—— Daily ExpressKathleen Winter has the steadfast clarity and quietly assured talent to make this difficult subject her own...Winter has a strikingly mellifluous voice, and she has created a potent story exploring gender categorization and humanity
—— IndependentAs an examination of a relationship between a child and his parents, this is a moving tale, told with precision and care. As a debut, it is almost faultless
—— Glasgow HeraldWinter clearly loves all her characters, even the hopelessly misguided men, and she lavishes compassion and metaphor on them.
—— ScotsmanIt's loneliness, not gender, that lies at the heart of Winter's novel - a confident, serious debut
—— GuardianThis is an astute examination of ordinary people confronting extraordinary dilemmas
—— Mail on SundayIt is the powerful sense of place that is the most successful element
—— Roz Kaveney , Times Literary SupplementBeautifully paced, sometimes shocking and never prurient
—— Maggie Fergusson , Intelligent LifeA powerful story...compelling and sensitively written
—— StylistA heartbreaking tale ...Winter's novel elegantly allows for the awkward ambiguities of the situation
—— Marie ClaireAnnabel is a beautiful book, brimming with heart and uncommon wisdom. Life is ambiguity and flux and mystery, and Kathleen Winter has written a gorgeous, searing love-letter to the possibilities that lie just below the surface of the everyday.
—— Michael CrummeyThe perfect childs' voice... I read Annabel in two days thus breaking all my rules about taking time with my reading and having 'thinking rests', and I can't tell you how much this book has filled my thoughts since... just occasionally I think I have to beg and grovel and say 'pleeeeeeeeeeeease don't miss Annabel' . It will be in my top reads of 2011 no matter how many good books follow...I am very much hoping to see this on tomorrow's Orange Prize short list
—— DovegreyreaderA mesmerising combination of crisp language, deep empathy for her well-wrought characters, and a world-savvy wisdom. Annabel is an unforgettable novel
—— The TelegramThe writing was very crisp and precise, with many beautiful descriptions
—— Farm Lane Books BlogKathleen Winter isn't afraid to tackle a tough subject head on. Annabel is an extraordinary novel
—— Daily ExpressWinter writes beautifully, and the sensational side of the story is handled elegantly
—— Saga MagazineFunny and tender, charming and moving...a genuine pleasure to read
—— The Lady
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