Teaser Tuesdays (5 June 2012)

Kirsten wrapped up our month of author talks for the National Year of Reading, sharing her thoughts on the power of the book!

The surprising weight of the animal is the thing that strikes me most. My shoulders, neck, arms, all strain with the
effort of trying to lift it even an inch or two off the road,
enough to get any traction.

- A Common Loss by Kirsten Tranter

About the book:


four friends — four secrets

They were originally five.

Elliot. Brian. Tallis. Cameron. And Dylan – charismatic Dylan – the mediator, the leader, the man each one turned to in a time of crisis. Five close friends, bonded in college, still coming together for their annual trip to Las Vegas.

This year, they are not just bound by a common tradition, but by a common loss: that of Dylan, killed in a road accident the previous year. Yet what is intended as a celebration of Dylan’s life becomes a frightening confrontation with the past.

Upon arrival in Vegas, each of the remaining four friends receives an envelope, one that contains evidence of their most private secrets. These secrets haunt each of their respective owners, yet were only known collectively by one person – Dylan.

This man had another, hidden side – one which is now taunting them from beyond the grave. Why would Dylan want these secrets unearthed? Who is digging them up for him? And, more importantly, what is it going to take for them to be reburied? -from author



About the author:

Kirsten grew up in Sydney and studied English and Fine Arts at the University of Sydney. She lived in New York between 1998 and 2006, where she completed a PhD in English on Renaissance poetry at Rutgers University. She now lives in Sydney with her husband and son.


Kirsten’s first novel, The Legacy, was published to international critical acclaim in 2010, and selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Debut Novel of the year. The Legacy was shortlisted for the ABIA Literary Fiction award, the ALS Gold Medal, the Indie Debut Fiction award, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin award. Her second novel, A Common Loss, will appear in 2012


See her full profile.

Find a copy:

• The book is available at UTS Library
• In libraries across Australia

About Teaser Tuesdays:
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading! Everyone is welcome to play!

How it works:
1. Grab a book from your collection
2. Select 2 sentences that make an interesting teaser (avoid spoilers please!)
3. Post the sentences, along with author and book title in the comments of this post

This month's reading theme is DREAM which comes courtesy of the National Year of Reading 2012 program!