Stuart: A Life Backwards

Masters, Alexander

  5 Reviews

The story of a remarkable friendship between the author, a reclusive writer and illustrator and Stuart, a chaotic, knife-wielding beggar whom he gets to know during a campaign to release two charity workers from prison. Interwoven into this is Stuart's confession: the story of his life, told backwards. With humour, compassion (and exasperation) Masters slowly works back through post-office heists, prison riots and the exact day Stuart discovered violence, to unfold the reasons why he changed from a happy-go-lucky little boy into a polydrug-addicted-alcoholic Jekyll and Hyde personality. [Small font]

Comments from Groups

This book promoted a lot of discussion. Everyone in the group found it very moving and it opened to an indepth discussion of sexual abuse and substance abuse, and the injustices of 'the system'. A few personal accounts of personal experiences were shared within the group. Everyone felt it was a life changing book, which would alter our perception of society. We all enjoyed the book and would definitely put it on a 'recommended' list. Queenstown 010

This book was a real eye-opener.... It was funny, it was sad. It was a disturbing read and we had a very good discussion. Te Kuiti 002

We all found this book a very hard book to get into, but were all glad to have read it in the end. It caused such a great discussion and alot of life's lessons recalled. Hard to believe some people have such a raw deal in life. Whakatane 011

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