''Cosmo Cosmolino'' is a 1992 book by Australian writer

Helen Garner Helen Garner (née Ford, born 7 November 1942) is an Australian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist. Garner's debut novel, first novel, ''Monkey Grip (novel), Monkey Grip'', published in 1977, immediately established her ...

. The book consists of three linked works: two short stories and a novella, though the author and critics have described it as a novel. It was first published in Australia by

McPhee Gribble McPhee Gribble was an Australian independent publishing firm, based in Carlton, Victoria. It became an imprint of the Penguin Group. History Founded by Di Gribble and Hilary McPhee in 1975 McPhee Gribble was the initial publisher of works by ...

and was shortlisted for the 1993

Miles Franklin Award The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". The award was set up according to the Will (law), will of Miles Franklin ...

. It has been reported that the novel's title is Garner's favourite, and came to her in a dream.

Short stories

In the first short story "Recording Angel", a woman goes to a hospital to see a gravely ill friend. In the second short story "A Vigil", a man is forced to see the

cremation Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a corpse through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India, Nepal, and ...

of his girlfriend who committed suicide.

Novella

In the novella that gives the name to the book, freelance writer Janet owns a

terrace house A terrace, terraced house ( UK), or townhouse ( US) is a type of medium-density housing which first started in 16th century Europe with a row of joined houses sharing side walls. In the United States and Canada these are sometimes known as row ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

. The house was previously inhabited by a communal household.

Critical reception

The novel was critically well received.

References

External links

Consider This: Helen Garner’s Cosmo Cosmolino
- plot summary and review by

Tegan Bennett Daylight Tegan Bennett Daylight (born 1969, in Sydney) is an Australian writer of novels and short stories. She is best known as a fiction writer, teacher and critic, publishing both books of non-fiction and numerous short stories. She has also written ...

in the

Sydney Review of Books The ''Sydney Review of Books'' (''SRB'') is an online literary magazine established in 2013. According to the journal's inaugural editor James Ley it was created to address shortcomings in Australian book reviews. Awards In 2019 ''SRB'' co ...

, 13 May 2016
Garnering sales
from ''

The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuous ...

'' blog {{DEFAULTSORT:Cosmo Cosmolino Novels by Helen Garner 1992 Australian novels Novels set in Melbourne