Johan Gabrielsen

Well, despite my hesitations, I am very glad I've read this book and I think it's a good contribution to the ongoing analysis of Australian masculinity, which we seem to talk about a lot, as well as femininity.

Kate, what did you make of it?

This is the monthly Book Club on ABC Radio National.

I'm Cassie McCullough here with Kate Evans.

Also today, Swellnet editor Stuart Nettle and documentary maker Johan Gabrielsen.

Now, we're turning to our second book for this episode of the Book Club.

Tim Winton's novel from 2008, Breath.

Now, it won the Miles Franklin and it's a story told from the perspective of Bruce Pike as an adult looking back on his tweens and teens.

We meet him as a man, a paramedic with a failed marriage and quite a bit of damage, sadness and regret in his life.

He's revealing to us his formative experiences.

Yeah, totally a lust for danger and for edging each other on to further and further risk.

You guys aren't the only people who've read this book a number of times.

A few of the comments on the ABC Book Club Facebook group.

Here's one from Anita.

I have read Breath multiple times.

I don't know why it resonates so strongly for me.

I'm not a surfer or a young male or a predatory older woman.

I have no personal connection to the time, place or characters, but I snuggle down, float along each page.

I hear the waves, smell the forest, feel the crushing ribs as a body gasps for air.

Breath is my favourite book of all time and I don't understand why.