'For years, Amy Thunig thought she knew all the details about the day she was born, often demanding that the story of her birth be retold. Years later, heavily pregnant with her own first child, she learns what really happened that day. It’s a tale that exemplifies many of the events of her early life, where circumstances sometimes dictated that things be slightly different from how they might seem – including what is meant by her dad being away for ‘work’ and why her legal last name differs from her family’s.
'In this remarkable memoir, Amy Thunig narrates her journey through childhood and adolescence, growing up with parents who struggled with addiction and incarceration. She reveals the importance of extended family and community networks when your immediate loved ones are dealing with endemic poverty and intergenerational trauma. In recounting her experiences, she shows how the stories we tell about ourselves can help to shape and sustain us. Above all, she shows that joy and love exist in spaces that are often dehumanised or overlooked, proving that life can be rich and full of beauty even when things are – in many ways – terrible. Tell Me Again will captivate, move and inspire readers with its candour, lack of self-pity and insight.' (Publication summary)
'A moving memoir about identity, endurance and the formative importance of storytelling.'
Each month we celebrate an Australian debut release of fiction or non-fiction in the Kill Your Darlings First Book Club. For November that debut is Tell Me Again by Amy Thunig (UQP)—a collection of memoir essays in which Amy narrates her journey through childhood and adolescence, growing up with parents who struggled with addiction and incarceration. In recounting her experiences, she shows how the stories we tell about ourselves can help to shape and sustain us. Ellen Cregan spoke to Amy in an Instagram Live conversation earlier this month.' (Introduction)
'Amy Thunig wanders deep into her interior wilderness to bring readers her generous and courageous debut memoir, Tell Me Again. Born into a world programmed to decimate her people, Thunig’s enduring compassion, righteous refusal and vivid imagination transform the woodchippings that she was dealt into an abundant forest.' (Introduction)
'A moving memoir about identity, endurance and the formative importance of storytelling.'
Each month we celebrate an Australian debut release of fiction or non-fiction in the Kill Your Darlings First Book Club. For November that debut is Tell Me Again by Amy Thunig (UQP)—a collection of memoir essays in which Amy narrates her journey through childhood and adolescence, growing up with parents who struggled with addiction and incarceration. In recounting her experiences, she shows how the stories we tell about ourselves can help to shape and sustain us. Ellen Cregan spoke to Amy in an Instagram Live conversation earlier this month.' (Introduction)
