If there's any such subgenre as "working-class thriller", this debut novel from Anthony Ferguson would have to be considered a prime example. The author sets up his targets and gets only bulleyes. The dialogue is crude and to-the-point, befitting its suburban Australian setting and flashbacks of the Vietnam War. We are shown two worlds, one a jungle full of horror and inhumanity, and the other a suburban wasteland where the dream of backseat blow jobs provides some meaning after a day's work in a factory. Of course, the reader soon comes to understand that these worlds aren't so far apart. The lines blur as refugees and memories just keep coming. This novel is graphic and confronting. It examines conflict between generations, between men and women, and particularly between the racist mindset and a changing world. It is in some ways reminiscent of the film, Romper Stomper, in the way it illustrates dark issues in the Australian psyche. The climax is thrilling and inevitable and the ending is very apt, with just the right amount of teasing brightness. Recommended for the reader who likes to explore serious social issues through nasty settings, failing marriages, bad language, and various degrees of physical, sexual, and psychological violence. It's your call!
Reading updates
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Started reading
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29 November, 2020:
Finished reading
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29 November, 2020:
Reviewed
