The Hummingbird Effect

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An epic, kaleidoscopic story of four women connected across time and place by an invisible thread and their determination to shape their own stories, from the acclaimed author of The Mother Fault. One of the lucky few with a job during the Depression, Peggy's just starting out in life. She's a bagging girl at the Angliss meatworks in Footscray, a place buzzing with life as well as death, where the gun slaughterman Jack has caught her eye - and she his. How is her life connected to Hilda's, almost a hundred years later, locked inside during a plague, or La's, further on again, a singer working shifts in a warehouse as her eggs are frozen and her voice is used by AI bots Let alone Maz, far removed in time, diving for remnants of a past that must be destroyed Is it by the river that runs through their stories, eternal yet constantly changing - or by the mysterious Hummingbird Project, and the great question of whether the march of progress can ever be reversed Propulsive, tender and engrossing, this genre-bending novel is a feast for the heart as well as the mind and senses. For fans of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, Michelle de Kretser's The Life to Come and Jennifer Egan's The Candy House, it confirms Mildenhall as one of the most ambitious and dynamic writers in the country. 'Kate Mildenhall is such an exciting writer to read ... This generous, playful novel speaks to themes of climate change, survival and holding space for each other, as well as the enduring power of female friendship.' The Guardian 'Spellbinding, genre-defying, and powerful in its vision of the future ... The Hummingbird Effect is a devastating novel that exposes the ways the future is seeded in the past.' Australian Book Review Review: 'Spellbinding, genre-defying, and powerful in its vision of the future ... The Hummingbird Effect is a devastating novel that exposes the ways the future is seeded in the past.' aEUROc Australian Book Review aEUROc 'Kate Mildenhall is such an exciting writer to read ... This generous, playful novel speaks to themes of climate change, survival and holding space for each other, as well as the enduring power of female friendship.' aEUROc The Guardian aEUROc 'It's a blinder . . . I read it sideways and with clenched teeth.' - Helen Garner, author of Everywhere I Look 'I loved this book. It is urgent and questioning, concerned but ultimately hopeful. The writing remembers our past, honours our present and imagines our future. It is often sublime and sometimes astonishing. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.' - Pip Williams, author of The Bookbinder of Jericho 'Kate Mildenhall orchestrates this shape-shifting novel with extraordinary flair. Her imaginative range is astonishing. The Hummingbird Effect is audacious fiction that engages wisely and tenderly with pressing concerns.' - Michelle de Kretser, author of Scary Monsters The Hummingbird Effect is deeply grounded in place and character, and speaks to the interdependence of all living things. Mildenhall writes about these women and their relationships with empathy, wit, and ferocity. An exquisite, unforgettable read. - Grace Chan, author of Every Version of You 'An exhilarating page-turner ... The Hummingbird Effect is an immensely enjoyable read with some vital messages at its heart.' aEUROc Aniko Press aEUROc 'Cormac McCarthy meets Geraldine Brooks, Peter Carey meets Elizabeth Gilbert, The Hummingbird Effect is an ambitious, defiant, electrifying juggernaut. Kate Mildenhall cements her status as a titan of Australian literature by raising the bar to dizzying heights. An incredible achievement. I didn't want it to end.' - Chris Flynn, author of Mammoth 'The Hummingbird Effect is exceptional. Both highly creative and hugely readable, I loved it.' - Jane Harper, author of The Dry 'Such an astounding and accomplished novel. It was an absolute joy to read. Simply put, I loved it.' - Sarah Winman, author of Still Life