Cirrus@Austlit

'A powerful story of a mother's quest for peace and happiness for her children and herself against the odds.

'As a social worker, Lynn supports families in trouble, only to find that her own family is unravelling. Binding is an enjoyable read while shining a light on what is often the secret life of families, exploring the complexity of the relationships within. When her husband reveals his true colours, the strength and vulnerability of mothers is on show. As they move from Sydney to Los Angeles and back, Lynn and her daughters learn to write a new story and together they will have to triumph by doing things in unconventional ways.

'This evocative telling of a personal motherhood story connects to a broader narrative about how society views mothers, ultimately asking that we all be more caring and compassionate.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'It looked like beer o'clock in a city pub on a Friday afternoon. Suits, noise, movement. But it wasn't. It was 9 am in a suburban courthouse on a crisp April morning. So many men in suits, blokeing around, smiling, shaking hands, patting backs. Solicitors, prosecutors, perpetrators. I couldn't tell the difference. They were lit by the sun shining through the large round skylight above. Some suits were broader than the shoulders under them; others were worn like a second skin. My ex-husband looked comfortable in his, talking to his lawyer, 'I can't believe it...there's no grounds mental problems.' I felt the muscles in my body tighten, snapping back into familiar places.' (Publication summary)