Sofie Laguna’s misfit catches eye of Miles Franklin judging panel

Sofie Laguna scaled the heights of her third chosen profession when she won the $60,000 Award for The Eye of the Sheep.

Miles Franklin Award finalist, Sofie Laguna in Melbourne.

Sofie Laguna scaled the heights of her third chosen profession last night when she won the $60,000 Miles Franklin Literary Award for The Eye of the Sheep, a “raw, high-energy” novel about a developmentally challenged boy.

The Sydney-born, Melbourne-based Laguna, 46, took home the nation’s most important book prize with her second novel, realising a promise that glinted when her first, One Foot Wrong, was longlisted in 2009.

“The first thing I want to say is thank you to Miles Franklin for making this happen ... you were a visionary who supported the most important art form, in my book, the novel,’’ Laguna said at the awards ceremony at the State ­Library of Victoria in Melbourne.

Laguna studied law on leaving school, but abandoned that to pursue an ambition to act.

She graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts and in the 1980s and 90s had roles in television series inclu­ding Blue Heelers and A Country Practice. She turned to writing and has had considerable success as a children’s author, as well as writing plays.

One Foot Wrong, centred on a girl hidden from the world by ­religious parents, was her first foray into adult fiction.

Like that debut, The Eye of the Sheep is about a child who does not fit in. Set in 80s working-class Melbourne, the novel is narrated by Jimmy Flick, aged six when the story opens. He lives with his adored older brother, his devoted mum, who has life-threatening asthma, and a loving, violent father.

Jimmy’s mind and body move “too fast for my skin to hold”. His father calls him a “little retard”, but their relationship is complex. Jimmy counts sheep to help him sleep, thinking of the light in their eyes that signifies life.

As Jimmy navigates the world, Laguna explores issues such as domestic violence, alcohol abuse, chronic illness, economic inequality and the terrible history of trauma than can run through families.

Jimmy seems to be on the autism spectrum, though Laguna, who has two young sons, prefers to call him an “original boy”.

State Library of NSW Mitchell Librarian Richard Neville, speaking on behalf of the judges, said The Eye of the Sheep was “an extraordinary novel about love and anger, and how sometimes there is little between them”.

Laguna is the fourth woman in a row to win the Miles Franklin, which came under criticism for having all-male short lists in 2009 and 2011. The last male writer to win was Kim Scott for That Deadman Dance in 2011.

Laguna prevailed over a strong shortlist that included Sonya Hartnett for Golden Boys — her third shortlisting without success — Joan London for The Golden Age, Christine Piper for After Darkness, and the sole male contender, Craig Sherborne for Tree Palace. Each of the shortlisted writers receives $5000.