Publisher: 2nd September 2020 by Hachette Australia
Pages: 384 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: contemporary
My Rating: 4 cups
Synopsis:
This is what I want to do. I want to go home. I want you to come with me.
'I want to go from here . . .'
Finger on Cape Reinga.
'. . . to here.'
Finger at the bottom of Stewart Island, right at the bottom of the map.
It's been years since Alex was in New Zealand, and years since he spent any one-on-one time with his twin sister, Amy. When they lose their parents in a shock accident it seems like the perfect time to reconnect as siblings. To reconnect with this country they call 'home'.
As they journey the length of State Highway One, they will scratch at wounds that have never healed - and Alex will be forced to reckon with what coming home really means.
My Thoughts
I was enticed by this novel for two reasons. Firstly, it takes place in New Zealand and I love that country. So in these days of lockdown, it would be a perfect escape to take a road trip from the top to the bottom of these great islands. Secondly, it was the winner of the Richell Prize for emerging writers and I have respect for what they recognised. In essence this is a journey, a pilgrimage one might say, where the main character reminisces about the past in their search for answers or at least an understanding of what has taken place.
The main character, Alex, returns home after the tragic death of his estranged parents in a car accident. Finding it difficult to fly back to his workplace in Dubai, he makes the decision to travel with his twin sister, Amy the length of New Zealand. The story follows the State Highway One from NZ northernmost tip to the southernmost locale.
‘How many kids our age get to do what we get to do, you know? They’re all slamming doors and fighting with their parents, and us? We’re free.’ It never really feels like that to me. I’d rather be fighting with someone who’s actually here.’
The author has written a truly poignant tale - one of reflection, grief and even anger - as Alex embarks on a physical and reflective journey after his loss. Chapters jump about (keep track of the dates) from previous years to the present day. This is a tale of family, identity, loss and regret as the outcome of this pivotal event. Along the way there will be obstacles to overcome, detours and breakdowns (both literal and figurative). A definite plus is the author's knowledge of NZ and the glimpses he gives of tiny towns to sprawling cities. Even the Playlist is a careful selection that I believe is available on Spotify.
‘Do you really think everything happens for a reason?’ .... ‘Dunno. But I think you have to tell yourself something.’ The truth is I don’t know what to say in reply. Every word, the start of every sentence trails off in the space between my brain and my teeth, withers and dies on my tongue ...’
The ending, well ... I was hoping for something special and Sam delivered. This is a book with a rather remarkable, unique writing style and presentation. At times it is slow, events and characters are frustrating, but overall it is very cleverly written and most worthy of its award. A deeply moving tale about family and dealing with childhood scars and overcoming grief in its many forms.
‘Back to being me. Back to being the boss of my own life - not this kid in an old car who’s angry and sad all the time. But every time the sun comes up, that’s one more sunrise since I left - since I ran out. It's one more sunrise since the last time I saw my parents. And every sunrise, the number grows by one. I can’t stop it. I can’t even slow it down. I can’t do anything. I can drive like an idiot, sleep on beaches, fuck strangers, die on the side of a cliff in the middle of the night, but nothing I do is going to change the fact that every day that goes by is another day without them.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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