Wimmera (Paperback) by Mark Brandi

Review 

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this read and found that Brandi simply blew me away. The unexpected plot developments made me gasp aloud and, despite dealing with some very difficult issues, this novel had me gripped until the very end.

Childhood innocence is a key theme within this novel and the darkness that surrounds it when it is unfairly taken away. The way Brandi deals with the character of Daisy in the beginning of the story sets the tone for the rest of the novel: there is no hiding behind words with this plot. Close to the edge at times, I did find this infrequently an uncomfortable read for the topics this novel addresses. However, its frankness and almost “truth” of what Brandi describes made me feel more curious to discover what happens to the key characters of Ben and Fab. Consequently, this is a novel that feels voyeuristic at times – you cannot help but continue to read on, despite the uncomfortable feeling it leaves in your mouth.

Ben and Fab are unusual characters in the way that they deal with their peers and happily isolate themselves. Both have found solitude at home and are drawn to each other for company, taking on the world against bullies and violence. The strange neighbour that suddenly arrives triggers warning bells in your head and it takes a while for the writer to explicitly confirm that which you cannot help but predict.

What I found most difficult about this novel were the time shifts. The narrative does flip between Ben and Fab’s perspectives, which was only a little confusing, but I did find the passage of time quite ambiguous. I was uncertain the age of the characters and how much time had elapsed between sections and sometimes characters. As a result, I do feel Brandi would have benefited from signposting this more clearly for the reader.

A relatively short novel, the Prologue is one that stood out in my mind throughout this read. This is quite uncommon for me as I generally forget the contents of the Prologue within a few chapters! However, the clues that the Prologue provides are so mystifying and important, that the content remained in my head for a while. It is not until the majority of the novel do we really find out what has happened. This, and the unexpected plot developments, really piqued my interest, despite the dark nature of the story.

If dark topics are not something that disturb you when reading novels, then I encourage you to try Brandi’s Australian offering. There is something that feels quite different about this read and I was really excited to have the opportunity of an early preview! Otherwise, if this suggestion of “close to the bone” themes is off-putting, you may wish to consider reading this book alongside a far happier offering. It’s a good read and one I am glad to have encountered in my reading adventures.

Condition

Preloved - good