Earworm

Book excerpt: Earworm is a tale of grief, desire, infidelity and family secrets narrated bylove song. "Empty Fairground" is a hit from the nineties. Nicole wasconceived to it and now it dwells in her head - a living entity accessing herthoughts and dreams. When Nicole discovers her deceased father is not herbiological parent, certainties disintegrate and the song strives to separatefantasy from memory and myth from history, building towards an extraordinarycrescendo. Drenched in rhythm and the vividness of pop lyrics, "Earworm" explores thecomplexities of filial and romantic love, connecting us to our universalcommunion with music. Colin Varney is an entirely groovy new voice in Australianfiction." - DanielleWood, author The Alphabet ofLight and Dark.