Bel Mooney

Another random 'Aussie' novel from the library, which I'm not sure how to rate. Maybe under 'Marmite' (or Vegemite), because overall I didn't enjoy the experience and only read the whole thing to move onto a better book, but some readers will no doubt find the cliched characters and woman's weekly prose entertaining enough. After getting to the end - finally! - I discovered that the story is based on true events, and that the author is actually English and writes for the Daily Mail. So.

'Tough nut' Irishwoman Bernie Malloy is living in her parents' old house in the outback, trying to get her life back together after trying but failing to destroy herself for twenty years. She takes on two lodgers, a young drifter called Eddy and a strange loner called John, who has emigrated to Australia to fulfil his dream of becoming a pilot. And that, bar a few clues that John is one stripe less than the full epaulette, is the whole book. We get backstories ad nauseum, including John's 'nan' back in Liverpool. and Bernie falls into bed with Eddy, but I was starting to despair until John cracked. I had to wade through a camping trip with the two lovers and a weird Aboriginal ritual over a dead baby, but the final few chapters were worth reading.

If you're into tortured souls, I'm sure this might read like a nuanced study of love, loss and lies, but I can't stand romance novels for this very reason. The three characters were all miserable, with deep dark secrets, but only John's was of any interest (perhaps because he was based on a real person). I couldn't stand their whinging, but was determined to see their story through to the end.

On a side note, I have ordered My Place by Sally Morgan, recommended by the author in her notes. Hopefully the source material will be a better read!… (mere)