Paper Nautilus

"They wanted a love they could take into eternity." In a small town on the Australian coast Penny grows up to marry the boy who has waited for her. Few know the truth about her birth. Her uncle Jack is one, for he shared with her father not only his childhood but also the horror of their wartime experience. Jack and Penny's special bond is as rare and precious as the beautiful nautilus shell they find washed up on the beach - entwined with its history are the secrets of their past and the tenacious passions of the other people who have had a stake in their lives. "A novel of proportion that winds symmetrically back into itself like the exquisite paper nautilus shells of the title." - Peter Goldsworthy. "A disarmingly simple story, told with an elegance of style that immediately adds distinction - a feat not to be taken lightly. The no-tricks simplicity of the prose reveals very accomplished tricks indeed." - Thomas Shapcott. "'Paper Nautilus' reflects Jose's interest in the complex processes behind a single moment. It is surprisingly satisfying." - Susan Lever. "Moral strength, narrative poise, descriptive grace and historical sensibility make Paper Nautilus a splended experience for the reader." - Humphrey McQueen