Cosmo Cosmolino

This article is about the book. For the band, see Cosmo Cosmolino (band).

Cosmo Cosmolino

First edition
Author	Helen Garner
Language	English
Publisher	McPhee Gribble
Publication date	1992
Publication place	Australia
Media type	Print
Pages	221
ISBN	0747513449
Preceded by	Postcards from Surfers (1985)
Followed by	The First Stone (1994)

Cosmo Cosmolino is a 1992 book by Australian writer Helen Garner.[1] The book consists of three linked works: two short stories and a novella, though the author and critics have described it as a novel.[2]

It was first published in Australia by McPhee Gribble[3] and was shortlisted for the 1993 Miles Franklin Award.[4] It has been reported that the novel's title is Garner's favourite, and came to her in a dream.[5]

Short stories

In the first short story "Recording Angel", a woman goes to a hospital to see a gravely ill friend.[6] In the second short story "A Vigil", a man is forced to see the cremation of his girlfriend who suicided.[6]

Novella

In the novella that gives the name to the book, freelance writer Janet owns a terrace house in Melbourne. The house was previously inhabited by a communal household.[7]

Critical reception

The novel was critically well received.[8]

References

1. "NLA Trove – Cosmo Cosmolino – Helen Garner". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
2. Ramona Koval (21 April 2012). "Rewind to Ms Garner's angels: Spiritual belief and Melbourne trams provide rich motifs in the author's 1992 novel". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
3. Arnold, John (1 February 2005). John Arnold; John A. Hay; Sally Batten (eds.). The Bibliography of Australian Literature. Vol. 2. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-7022-3500-9. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
4. "Garner, Helen (1942–)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
5. Baum, Caroline (10 January 2004). "Title fight". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
6. Duguid, Lindsay (10 January 1993). "BOOK REVIEW / New Age in the land of Oz: 'Cosmo Cosmolino' - Helen Garner: Bloomsbury, 13.99". The Independent. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
7. C. K. Stead (28 January 1993). "At Sweetpea Mansions". London Review of Books. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
8. Neill, Rosemary (12 December 2006). "Malouf presses for novel reprints". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 22 January 2012.

External links

• Consider This: Helen Garner’s Cosmo Cosmolino - plot summary and review by Tegan Bennett Daylight in the Sydney Review of Books, 13 May 2016
• Garnering sales from The Sydney Morning Herald blog