annethology
  • Home
    • About Annethology
    • About me >
      • A little more about me
    • About my books
    • Author talks
    • Contact me
    • Forthcoming events
    • World Mental Health Day
    • Privacy
    • Sign up for my newsletter
  • Sugar and Snails
    • Acknowledgements
    • Blog tour, Q&A's and feature articles >
      • Birthday blog tour
      • S&S on tour 2022
    • Early endorsements
    • Events >
      • Launch photos
      • Launch party videos
    • in pictures
    • Media
    • If you've read the book
    • Polari
    • Reading group questions
    • Reviews
    • In the media
  • Underneath
    • Endorsements and reviews
    • Launch party and events
    • Pictures
    • Questions for book groups
    • The stories underneath the novel
  • Matilda Windsor series
    • Matilda Windsor >
      • What readers say
      • For book groups
      • Interviews, articles and features
      • Matty on the move
      • Who were you in 1990?
      • Asylum lit
      • Matilda Windsor media
    • Stolen Summers >
      • Stolen Summers reviews
  • Short stories
    • Somebody’s Daughter
    • Becoming Someone (anthology) >
      • Becoming Someone (video readings)
      • Becoming Someone reviews
      • Becoming Someone online book chat
    • Print and downloads
    • Read it online
    • Quick reads
  • Free ebook
  • Annecdotal
    • Annecdotal blog
    • Annecdotal Press
    • Articles >
      • Print journalism
      • Where psychology meets fiction
    • Fictional therapists
    • Reading and reviews >
      • Reviews A to H
      • Reviews I to M
      • Reviews N to Z
      • Nonfiction
      • Themed quotes
      • Reading around the world
  • Shop
    • Inspired Quill (my publisher)
    • Bookshop.org (affiliate link)
    • Amazon UK
    • Amazon US
    • books2read

About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

TELL ME MORE

Two Australian novels to kick off the new #amreading year

4/1/2018

4 Comments

 
As 2018 started a few hours earlier in Australia than in the UK, it’s fitting that I should begin my reading year there. Or it could be the coincidence of kindly publicists sending me advance copies of two Australian novels published in the UK this month. The first namechecks various Sydney suburbs, while the second begins near Melbourne before circumnavigating the country. The first contemporary, the second set in the 1950s, they explore the socio-politics of Australian identities and their links to migration and colonialism.

Picture
Picture

The Life to Come by Michelle de Krester

Gorgeous writing, touches of humour, absorbing while you’re reading it yet afterwards a devil to pin down, The Life to Come is more a novel of theme and character than plot. But which characters? Which themes? Each of the five sections homes in on an individual life in, or in retreat from, Sydney over recent decades, highlighting connection and disconnection – within ourselves, between ourselves and others, and in relation to our geographical and cultural roots – and our inability to see ourselves as others see us. There’s a richness and diversity of characterisation, drawing on the author’s cultural background to bring Sri Lankan Australians to the page, along with a fair few writers and other arty types. One such, Pippa, is the common thread across all sections, although we don’t get under her skin until the fourth (and when she cropped up in the second section I had to check back to ascertain whether this really was the young woman I’d met before).
 
Of all the characters, Pippa is among the most self-deluded, and Michelle de Krester seems to have fun showing her from the perspectives of her friends and acquaintances. Although narcissistic, she is pleasant and sociable; the kind of person who might appear, initially, attractive as a friend. Her neighbour, Christabel, lonely after retirement and the death of her housemate, certainly warms to her, so is dreadfully hurt to find herself unattractively portrayed as a minor character in Pippa’s breakthrough novel.
 
Michelle de Krester does loneliness magnificently, not only in Christabel but in the more worldly Celeste, whom Pippa befriends in Paris. Celeste believes she’s content to have renounced material wealth to live where and how she pleases, until her brother and his snooty wife arrive from Australia. Most poignant is the realisation that her once-a-week liaison could never mean as much to her married lover as it does to her. Thanks to Atlantic Books for my advance proof copy. For a couple of other novels about writers,
see this post from November.

A Long Way from Home by Peter Carey

Irene Bobs wants a decent life for her family, and is prepared to stand up to her husband’s bullying father to get it. But old Dan Bobs seems equally determined to thwart her both practically and psychologically: blocking his son’s attempts to secure the Ford dealership franchise and undermining Titch as only a narcissistic parent can. When Irene and Titch decide to enter the 1954 Redex Trial in a Holden to publicise their nascent business selling the Australian-built car, Dan decides he’s going to enter too.
 
Willie Bachhuber is the Bobs’ next-door neighbour. Having abandoned his wife after she gave birth to a baby whose skin son suggests Willie is not the father, and suspended from his teaching post for his unusual punishment of a pupil who called him a “kraut”, Willie spends his time studying maps and winning prizes on a popular radio quiz show, anticipating the day the show will attract sufficient sponsorship to allow him to cash in the cheques. When his quiz show rival, and erstwhile girlfriend, finally beats him and he’s ousted from the show, it makes perfect sense for him to serve as the Bobs’ navigator on the Redex.
 
I didn’t expect I’d rave about a novel featuring an eighteen-day road rally. But then Peter Carey’s twentieth book is about a lot more than cars. Although the Holden team have no time for sightseeing on that dusty and dangerous circumnavigation of Australia, they do get to learn a lot about their country. Pardon the pun, but the road trip is the vehicle for a story about race.
 
Set a century after
Salt Creek, which tells the story of the whitefella’s takeover of aboriginal lands, A Long Way from Home shows the depressing consequences of ignorance for one group and poverty for the other (actually several aboriginal cultures treated as if their differences don’t matter). The cruelty and foolishness of the apartheid system is exposed: not only in the limits to freedom of movement but also in the removal of lighter skinned indigenous children from their mothers.
 
Admiring the light touch with which Peter Carey leads the reader towards these dark and painful moral issues, I’ve had a stab at analysing how he does it in the hope of it rubbing off on my own writing. The novel bursts to life in the first sentence as Irene introduces herself and her situation in a sparky – but not showy – voice. She reveals herself in relation to others: her family of origin, her husband, and her battle with her father-in-law. After six pages, Willie takes over, in all his flawed confusion until, quite quickly, the neighbours meet. The voices alternate, a relationship developing, but both also facing their own triumphs and trials as, in the course of 140 pages, the cogs are in place for both the surface story (the road rally, a fairly straightforward quest) and the deeper story of the shameful treatment of Australia’s indigenous people who might never see the inside of a car, never mind drive one. As the cultural strand develops, the story of the rally fades into the background; the novel becomes structurally unbalanced towards the end with the introduction of two new points of view, but I was enjoying the story too much to complain. To summarise, there’s a sequence of hooks: voice, character, relationships, quest, theme. If only it were that simple!
 
Thanks to Faber and Faber for my review copy. For my thoughts on Peter Carey’s previous novel, Amnesia, see my post
Political shenanigans in Australia.
Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
4 Comments
Norah Colvin link
5/1/2018 06:46:34 am

Happy New Year, Anne! I have to say there's no better place to start a new year than in Australia. These do sound like interesting reads about some issues in Australia that are not too pleasant. I have to admit that I have read only one of Peter Carey's many books. I really should read more. I love his writing style. I know I don't usually like the writing to get in the way of the reading, but throughout my reading of His Illegal Self I had to stop and marvel at his use of imagery - such well chosen words and beautiful descriptions. I think he's a very skillful writer and one from whom many of us could learn.

Reply
Annecdotist
8/1/2018 09:35:45 am

Thanks, Norah, and happy New Year. I’ve read a few of Peter Carey’s novels, although not the one you mention, but I think this is my favourite so far. Hope the year is progressing well in Australia!

Reply
Charli Mills
6/1/2018 09:20:47 pm

I'm looking forward to another year of your reading and reviews, Ann. It seems narcissism factors into both books, too, reminding me of how 2017 began in the US. A year later and our nation feels like a wrecked relationship.

Back to your Australian books -- both seem to elicit praise from you for skill in writing. "Admiring the light touch with which Peter Carey leads the reader towards these dark and painful moral issues, I’ve had a stab at analysing how he does it in the hope of it rubbing off on my own writing." I really like that you added this dimension to your review. I wish it were as simple as decoding the sequence of hooks. It makes me wonder how long it takes to master the complexities of storytelling in such a way that others think it looks easy!

A good start to 218!

Reply
Annecdotist
8/1/2018 09:33:32 am

Thanks for continuing to read with me, Charli. I’m trying to articulate for myself more clearly what’s going on in the novels I particularly enjoy, although it’s possible that the things that make it work and actually below the surface. But you’ll be interested that I seem to be coming round to the idea that a little bit of hero’s journey helps it along!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Free ebook: click the image to claim yours.
    Picture
    OUT NOW: The poignant prequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home
    Picture
    Find a review
    Picture
    Fictional therapists
    Picture
    Picture
    About Anne Goodwin
    Picture
    My published books
    entertaining fiction about identity, mental health and social justice
    Picture
    My latest novel, published May 2021
    Picture
    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
    Picture
    Picture
    My second novel published May 2017.
    Picture
    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
    reviews: 8
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Anne has read 2 books toward their goal of 100 books.
    hide
    2 of 100 (2%)
    view books
    Picture
    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
    Picture
    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
    reader, writer,

    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

    LATEST POSTS HERE
    I don't post to a schedule, but average  around ten reviews a month (see here for an alphabetical list), 
    some linked to a weekly flash fiction, plus posts on my WIPs and published books.  

    Your comments are welcome any time any where.

    Get new posts direct to your inbox ...

    Enter your email address:

    or click here …

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Tweets by @Annecdotist
    Picture
    New short story, “My Dirty Weekend”
    Picture
    Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Popular posts

    • Compassion: something we all need
    • Do spoilers spoil?
    • How to create a convincing fictional therapist
    • Instructions for a novel
    • Looking at difference, embracing diversity
    • Never let me go: the dilemma of lending books
    • On loving, hating and writers’ block
      On Pop, Pirates and Plagiarism
    • READIN' for HER reviews
    • Relishing the cuts
    • The fast first draft
    • The tragedy of obedience
    • Writers and therapy: a love-hate relationship?

    Categories/Tags

    All
    Animals
    Annecdotist Hosts
    Annecdotist On Tour
    Articles
    Attachment Theory
    Author Interviews
    Becoming Someone
    Being A Writer
    Blogging
    Bodies
    Body
    Bookbirthday
    Books For Writers
    Bookshops
    CB Book Group
    Character
    Childhood
    Christmas
    Classics
    Climate Crisis
    Coming Of Age
    Counsellors Cafe
    Creative Writing Industry
    Creativity
    Cumbria
    Debut Novels
    Disability
    Editing
    Emotion
    Ethics
    Ethis
    Family
    Feedback And Critiques
    Fictional Psychologists & Therapists
    Food
    Friendship
    Futuristic
    Gender
    Genre
    Getting Published
    Giveaways
    Good Enough
    Grammar
    Gratitude
    Group/organisational Dynamics
    Hero’s Journey
    History
    Humour
    Identity
    Illness
    Independent Presses
    Institutions
    International Commemorative Day
    Jane Eyre
    Kidney Disease
    Language
    LGBTQ
    Libraries
    Live Events
    Lyrics For The Loved Ones
    Marketing
    Matilda Windsor
    Memoir
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Microfiction
    Motivation
    Music
    MW Prequel
    Names
    Narrative Voice
    Nature / Gardening
    Networking
    Newcastle
    Nonfiction
    Nottingham
    Novels
    Pandemic
    Peak District
    Perfect Match
    Poetry
    Point Of View
    Politics
    Politics Current Affairs
    Presentation
    Privacy
    Prizes
    Psychoanalytic Theory
    Psychology
    Psycholoists Write
    Psychotherapy
    Race
    Racism
    Rants
    Reading
    Real Vs Imaginary
    Religion
    Repetitive Strain Injury
    Research
    Reviewing
    Romance
    Satire
    Second Novels
    Settings
    Sex
    Shakespeare
    Short Stories General
    Short Stories My Published
    Short Stories Others'
    Siblings
    Snowflake
    Somebody's Daughter
    Stolen Summers
    Storytelling
    Structure
    Sugar And Snails
    Technology
    The
    The Guestlist
    Therapy
    TikTok
    TNTB
    Toiletday
    Tourism
    Toxic Positivity
    Transfiction
    Translation
    Trauma
    Unconscious
    Unconscious, The
    Underneath
    Voice Recognition Software
    War
    WaSBihC
    Weather
    Work
    Writing Process
    Writing Technique

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Picture
    BLOGGING COMMUNITIES
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from havens.michael34, romana klee, mrsdkrebs, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., adam & lucy, dluders, Joybot, Hammer51012, jorgempf, Sherif Salama, eyspahn, raniel diaz, E. E. Piphanies, scaredofbabies, Nomadic Lass, paulternate, Tony Fischer Photography, archer10 (Dennis), slightly everything, impbox, jonwick04, country_boy_shane, dok1, Out.of.Focus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Elvert Barnes, guillenperez, Richard Perry, jamesnaruke, Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, El Tuerto, kona99, maveric2003, !anaughty!, Patrick Denker, David Davies, hamilcar_south, idleformat, Dave Goodman, Sharon Mollerus, photosteve101, La Citta Vita, A Girl With Tea, striatic, carlosfpardo, Damork, Elvert Barnes, UNE Photos, jurvetson, quinn.anya, BChristensen93, Joelk75, ashesmonroe, albertogp123, >littleyiye<, mudgalbharat, Swami Stream, Dicemanic, lovelihood, anyjazz65, Tjeerd, albastrica mititica, jimmiehomeschoolmom