I initially thought, "not another difficult childhood" but ultimately found it a satisfying and fast read. Immigration to Australia of Romulus; deals with father son relationship with subtlety and forgiving understanding from much later in life. ( )

Raimond Gaita fled his home in his native Yugoslavia at the age of 13 and then a few years later came to Australia with his young wife Christine and their four year old son soon after the end of WW2.

Raimond's book is an extended elegy for his father. Romulus who after settling in central Victoria was forced to cope with his wife's deteriorating mental illness, unfaithfulness and her neglect in caring for Raimond.

What shines through the tragedy of his story is the great love between father and son where Raimond gathers strength to accept their circumstances. ( )

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4... ( )

Romulus Gaita fled his native Yugoslavia at the age of thirteen, and came to Australia with his wife and their infant son Raimond soon after the end of World War II. Mum does not look after little Raimond very well and there is a love/hate relationship between the parents. developed into a motion picture. ( )