Publisher Description

WINNER OF THE FICTION PRIZE AT THE EAST ANGLIAN BOOK AWARDS 'A terrific debut. Brave, unexpected... transfixing and captivating... full of hope, resilience and love.' THE SUNDAY TIMES"Holds the big within the small, the intimate within the epic" - Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies'A captivating read' THE SUN'GORGEOUS and original and captivating' - Marian Keyes, international bestselling author of Grown Ups'A story that is powerfully familiar and yet utterly original.' - Afua Hirsch'A captivating read... (a) beautiful, surprising novel' FABULOUS 'A novel that has stayed with me for weeks afterwards . . . Perceptive and unflinching' - Jessie Burton, author of The Miniaturist'A quiet, piercing contemplation on what really matters when it comes to the end of the world. Strange and beautiful' - Abigail Dean, author of Girl A'Beautiful and harrowing but also optimistic and extremely moving . . . a truly arresting depiction of an unlikely relationship' - Clover Stroud, author of The Wild Other'I didn't want this book to end. It blew me away, and moved me beyond belief' - Bryony Gordon, author of Mad GirlEVERY ENDING IS A NEW BEGINNING.Ruth is ignoring the news. Like most people, she has relationship problems, job stress, friends and family who need her. Ruth has a life.But the news is about to catch up with Ruth, and her problems are going to be swept away...along with the rest of the world.Only when the comforts and complications of her old existence are gone, does Ruth finally realise how she might be able to live to the fullest.

Author Biography

Kate Sawyer worked as an actor and producer, and wrote several short films before turning her hand to fiction. Her debut novel, The Stranding, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, won the East Anglian fiction prize, was adapted for BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime and is being developed for TV by Fremantle and Afua Hirsch's production company Born In Me.Kate is the host of Novel Experience, a weekly podcast where she talks to authors about their writing practices and the experiences that brought them to, through and beyond publication. After twenty years living in London, she recently returned to her native East Anglia, where, as a solo mother by choice, she lives with her young daughter.

Review

It's GORGEOUS and original and captivating . . . Beautiful writing and characters I cared for as if they were my own family * Marian Keyes, international bestselling author of Grown Ups *
The Stranding is a breathtaking book about relationships, love and human resilience at the end of the world; it's beautifully written and I know I'll be thinking about it for a very long time! * Lex Croucher, author of Reputation *
Powerful, atmospheric and utterly transfixing * Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne *
The Stranding is an original, compelling and brilliantly written story. I loved the dual timelines of 'before' and 'after' and could not put it down. It's a thought-provoking and timely read, about hope, survival and the human spirit * Aliya Ali-Afzal, author of Would I Lie To You *
I didn't want this book to end. It blew me away, and moved me beyond belief. I want to read it again and again and again * Bryony Gordon, author of Mad Girl *
Original, visceral, rich with themes of refuge and redemption, it's a beautifully imagined story about the hiding places in our hearts and minds * Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters. *
Beautiful and harrowing but also optimistic and extremely moving . . . a truly arresting depiction of an unlikely relationship * Clover Stroud, author of The Wild Other *
A quiet, piercing contemplation on what really matters when it comes to the end of the world. Strange and beautiful * Abigail Dean, author of Girl A *
Beautifully written, it's truly something special * Stylist *
A terrific debut. Brave, unexpected . . . transfixing and captivation . . . full of hope, resilience and love * The Sunday Times *

Long Description

WINNER OF THE FICTION PRIZE AT THE EAST ANGLIAN BOOK AWARDS 'A terrific debut. Brave, unexpected... transfixing and captivating... full of hope, resilience and love.' THE SUNDAY TIMES "Holds the big within the small, the intimate within the epic" - Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies 'A captivating read' THE SUN 'GORGEOUS and original and captivating' - Marian Keyes, international bestselling author of Grown Ups 'A story that is powerfully familiar and yet utterly original.' - Afua Hirsch 'A captivating read... (a) beautiful, surprising novel' FABULOUS 'A novel that has stayed with me for weeks afterwards . . . Perceptive and unflinching' - Jessie Burton, author of The Miniaturist ' A quiet, piercing contemplation on what really matters when it comes to the end of the world. Strange and beautiful' - Abigail Dean, author of Girl A 'Beautiful and harrowing but also optimistic and extremely moving . . . a truly arresting depiction of an unlikely relationship' - Clover Stroud, author of The Wild Other 'I didn't want this book to end. It blew me away, and moved me beyond belief' - Bryony Gordon, author of Mad Girl EVERY ENDING IS A NEW BEGINNING. Ruth is ignoring the news. Like most people, she has relationship problems, job stress, friends and family who need her. Ruth has a life.But the news is about to catch up with Ruth, and her problems are going to be swept away...along with the rest of the world. Only when the comforts and complications of her old existence are gone, does Ruth finally realise how she might be able to live to the fullest.

Review Quote

A captivating read

Promotional "Headline"

A award-winning novel of love, loss and hope about a woman who hides from the end of the world in the belly of a whale.

Details