An enjoyable debut novel that is full of heart and humour.
Julie Carbone’s debut novel is a fictionalised biography of her father’s life, from his downtrodden childhood to lead shearer in the Australian outback.
It’s a wonderful tale that can be likened in many ways to AB Facey’s much-loved autobiographical novel A Fortunate Life in that it is full of hope and joy despite the many hardships endured by the central character.
The story can be divided into three notable sections. The early years of Harry is told in short, rushed scenes that seem there out of necessity rather than part of Harry’s journey. The central character is the only one fleshed out and the speed in which the tale is told leaves no time to savour the events or their impacts.
Once Harry arrives as a young man at Mulgathing station in regional SA, the story changes considerably. It’s told at a more thoughtful pace and the country characters and relationships really come to life. This centrepiece of the story, which takes up the majority of the novel, is full of life, told through the antics of Harry and the people he meets on the way. It’s a great read with a parade of delightful characters, misadventures and deep friendships. It is not all light-hearted however, as Harry faces bullying, lost romance and his own inner demons.
The final part of Harry’s life winds up the story nicely but is a bit too evangelistic in its telling and once again rushes through those final reflections on Harry’s journey, making it difficult to embrace. It’s quite a profound ending that deserved the same respect as the central part of the story. While providing a satisfying ending to the novel, it also leaves a taste of disappointment that the final chapters are once again rushed.
Harry’s deafness is also represented unevenly: in an early scene, he’s walking along the tracks and doesn’t hear a train bearing down on him. Soon after, he can hear a group of girls whispering about him as he walks past with his head down. More consistency or better explanation is needed to understand the exclusion Harry felt for most of his life because of his hearing loss.
Despite the uneven pacing, Carbone has a nice style and really knows how to bring her characters and situations to life when she takes the time needed to tell the story. She is an author that will mature with each subsequent book and Harry is very enjoyable start for this budding author.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Distributed by: Self-published
Released: May 2020
RRP: $30
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