Blizzard Lines

by Tim Hawkes

In the frozen wastes of Antarctica, expeditioners shelter from the howling winds in buildings anchored by chains and ropes. These security chords are known as blizzard lines. Inside one of the buildings is a man trying to stop his son from being whisked away to prison. The lines he writes seek to achieve what his parenting has not.

Blizzard Lines is a story set in two worlds. One is a suburban environment. It is a secure and comfortable community, but three photos, two sons and a fast car turn it into a dangerous place for some and a death trap for others.

The second world is an uncomfortable wilderness where people must work together in order to survive. This frozen land of ferocious winds and hostile landscapes, is also a place of intimacy and healing. It is a continent that grows heroes and births great tales of adventure.

Blizzard Lines describes the timeless conflict between one generation and another. It also describes the getting of wisdom and the growth of understanding.

225 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Callum Iles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timeless truths woven into an engaging story about the reconciliation of a son off the rails and a father off the grid. Tim Hawkes elegantly reveals what he has discovered in decades of educating young men. A book fathers and sons should read together so that no-one can get to adulthood saying, 'no-one ever told me that.'

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's hard to describe this book. It felt like it was based on real situations and had many lessons to teenage boys. I struggled with the lack of involvement and the possible influence of the father.