Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey is a wonderful book. Oscar is the son of a preacher, with hydrophobia and noisy knees, while Lucinda is a frizzy-haired heiress who buys a glass factory. Set in the early 19th century, Carey shares a witty, sharp story that deals with many issues of the time, and issues relevant to today - gambling being one of them. The mutual affection of the main characters shows that loneliness can bind people together. It's a delightfully awkward and whimsical book, I would have been happy if the story had never ended!