AustLit

'If you're looking for a real-life thriller that reads more like fiction than fact do not miss, The Boy in the Boat, a compulsive page turner that will have you burning the midnight oil. Brian O'Raleigh never knew why his family fled Ireland but he learned early to escape his father's demonic rages by slipping away from the Alexandra Private Hotel to the beach and the Kathleen R, the fishing boat that was to become his refuge and his sanctuary. At the age of 18, in trouble with the law himself, Brian left England for Australia seeking to overcome a growing dependency on alcohol and the damage it was wreaking on the lives of those he loved. In a style that is both raw and compelling, The Boy in the Boat tells the riveting story of Brian's childhood, his triumph over alcoholism, his inspirational journey towards recovery, and eventually to the profound revelation that he was moulded and shaped during his childhood years for the meaning and purpose of his life. This is a truly engrossing memoir. ' (Publication summary)