The Air that we Breathe

(Paperback)

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Description

Based on one of Australias worst industrial disasters, The Air that we Breathe is an account of ordinary people living through the catastrophic consequences of corporate greed and wilful blindness. In 1961 Italian immigrants Abele and Maria Moretti settle into life in Western Australia. They are promised a financially secure future working in an asbestos mine in the harsh and desolate outback. Despite health warnings to management, the mine continues to operate. Thirty years later, the unthinkable happens and the Moretti family begin an arduous journey to seek justice. At the same time Katerina, a lawyer, representing the mining company, makes a surprising discovery about her family that causes her to rethink her allegiances. The human stories weave between the narratives of the immigrant miner and mine manager, and later, the lawyer and the miners daughter. The impact of this story will stir emotions that remain long after the last page has been turned.

Reviews

I highly recommend people reading this book as a way of understanding this sad chapter in Australian history and it's ongoing sequelae. It is a good reveal of the behaviour of unscrupulous corporations and the heart-rending impact of their negligence for the workers and their families. It is a good read - educational, revealing, tragic and bittersweet. It kept me engaged right to the last page.

Author Bio

Kara Douglas grew up in Dunedin, New Zealand and then moved to Wellington where she currently resides with her husband, dog and cat. The Air that we Breathe is inspired by her birth fathers story of living in Wittenoom, Western Australia. For the past ten years Kara has immersed herself in researching the history of Wittenoom. She took a year out of fulltime employment to complete an advanced Diploma in Creative Writing. Kara ventured to the outback with her husband in 2018 to truly experience the essence and uniqueness for the Pilbara Region. Outside of researching and writing, Kara works full time in leadership development and is also a wedding celebrant. You can find out more about Kara, her novel and Wittenoom at www.karadouglas.com