Intriguing storyline, but a little confusing.
Feature image credit: Pan Macmillan Australia
Murray Middleton won the Vogel Literary Award (The Australian), for his first collection of stories, When There’s Nowhere Else to Run, and in 2016, he was named The Sydney Morning Herald‘s Best Young Australian Novelist. He is a daring author with a penchant for authentic dialogue and, although this narrative was not perfect, I look forward to his future works.
This is a great piece of fiction that will open up some readers’ minds to an entire new section of society they know nothing about. Set in the housing commission blocks of Melbourne’s inner west and the local high school, teachers, students, families, and the police are all part of the community. Incidents of violence between young migrants and the police have led to a full-scale investigation on racial profiling. In the meantime, this is the story where police are trying to create a level of trust by offering and preparing students to hike the Kokoda Trail with members of their local police.
The novel does contain some vulgar language, crudeness, and misogynistic dialogue, which may offend some readers. It also includes many quips that only youth use in conversation so you may need to Google some terms (if you don’t have teenage or young adults about the house!). I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel as it provided much authenticity, offering real insight into the minds of male youths. However, this may not suit all audiences.
The structure of this book consists of two main parts, with additional sections serving as a prologue and epilogue. The prologue, A Night of Fire and Noise, provides context and sets the scene. The first and smaller of the two main parts is set in summer and focuses on themes of renewal, introducing the main characters who feature throughout the novel.
The main crux of the novel then takes place in the next part, autumn, and comprises most of the content, aptly titled, No Church in the Wild. Finally, the epilogue, The Sky Is Falling, gives a brief rundown on some of the characters post-Kokoda. Author Middleton provides variety for the reader by alternating character perspectives and events throughout the text, rather than using numbered or labelled chapters.
Although the literary structure was useful, I found it hard to follow the plot and fully engage with all the characters. The dysfunctional upbringing of Tyler, the reasons for his rage, and his behaviours for example, hit at the core, evoking compassion from the reader. In contrast, Anna’s thoughts and behaviours at times seemed at odds; her story did not seem to correlate with her character development.
Consequently, although I was more or less able to decipher the entire narrative in a way that was less chronological and more like unpacking a mystery plot, I found there were many unanswered questions or gaps in my knowledge, leading me to feel like I only vaguely read it. If you to ask me what happened, I cannot say I know for sure?
Reviewed by Rebecca Wu
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Pan Macmillan Australia
Released: March 2024
RRP: $34.99
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