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The Echo Chamber

A journey through sound, silence, and self-discovery

Luke Williams author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd

Published:6th Dec '11

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Echo Chamber cover

The story follows Evie Steppman, whose unique hearing ability shapes her life across different cultures and eras, revealing deep themes of sound and silence in The Echo Chamber.

In The Echo Chamber, we meet Evie Steppman, who enters the world in a remarkable manner, pushing her mother out of it. Born two months late, Evie's extraordinary gift of hearing shapes her perception of reality in ways that set her apart from others. Her experiences are deeply intertwined with the sounds around her, providing a unique lens through which she interprets life.

The narrative takes us on a journey across various landscapes, from Nigeria in the 1950s to 1970s America, and eventually to Scotland in the early twenty-first century. Throughout her life, Evie grapples with themes of colonialism and empire, love and loss, as well as the interplay of hope and fear. Each location adds depth to her story, revealing how her sensory gifts influence her interactions and understanding of the world.

The Echo Chamber is not just a tale of an extraordinary individual; it delves into the complexities of sound and silence. Evie's life is marked by a profound connection to the auditory world, and the inevitable silence that follows. This poignant exploration invites readers to reflect on their own perceptions and the unseen forces that shape their lives.

Beguiling, astonishing, rich * Guardian *

Rich and resonant . . . stuffed with stories, literary references and peculiar details, this beguiling novel is a work of astonishing synthesis

* Guardian *
Weaves a rich web of stories, while playfully questioning notions of truth, history, narrative, even the reliability of words * Scotland on Sunday *
Read this novel aloud. Read it wearing earplugs. But read it, and notice its aural effect * Sunday Times *

ISBN: 9780141019512

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 35mm

Weight: 500g

384 pages