Grace [Hardcover]

I first discovered Robert Drewe five years back when I read his novel about Ned Kelly `Our Sunshine', which the Heath Ledger film was based on, and I enjoyed it as much as Peter Carey's `True Story of The Kelly Gang' as a piece of literature, which is really saying something. So much so that I hunted down a first edition for my daughter's birthday present.

Two years ago I came across a second hand paperback of Drewe's first novel `The Savage Crows', written in 1974 about the systematic extermination of Tasmanian aborigines. Powerful writing, a great first novel, awful deeds. Our P.M. Slim Howard should read it. History's an elusive concept eh? It happened so long ago....

`Grace' was handed to me by my old friend, Len H. with the comment `bloody good read, mate'. Coming from Len that was a sizable endorsement. Coincidentally this year I read `Enduring Love' by Ian McEwan, also a book dealing with `erotomania'/stalking. I had enjoyed his excellent writing skills, but I was uncomfortable with his introduction and development of the theme. Also I found little connection with the main characters, vapid professional types mostly, lifted only by some amusing drug dealing hippies. So my experience of this subject was not particularly warm. However I was pleased to find that Robert Drewe's novel has a number of themes, robust characters and a racy plot.

The character of Grace is well drawn, I imagined Rachel Griffiths in the role, or my beloved Cate Blanchett, which reminds me I should send her another letter.... Grace is a capable, intriguing, somewhat quirky young woman who comes under the microscope of Carl, the stalker/erotomaniac. No background to this wonky chappie, but you see his loony letters, glimpse his mind ticking off kilter. Deliberate, fused and confused. A product of some hefty bibles on the butt no doubt. Wow, good stuff, plotwise.

In Grace's attempt to escape this scabrous mutant/unfortunate deranged fellow she relocates to The Kimberley where the crocs, snakes, spiders, sharks and immigration ministers feed on illegal boat queue jumping opportunists/poor bastards who had to leave their homes. Here we meet close up an `Outback Identity' the owner of a wildlife sanctuary/ bush business bonanza, three `pearl and cattle' widows with their G&T veranda wisdom expelled with Dunhill smoke from the side of the mouth (you know them and love them), an ex police couple who run an outback pub, and a canny aboriginal leader, among others - without giving the plot away.

Apart from the stalking/erotomania segments, the book includes the subjects of `illegal' immigrants, detention centres, aboriginal rights, pop journalism, internet censorship, ecology vs. tourism, and anthropology. Another coincidence in that last night's news showed a couple of anthropologists, just like Grace's dad, discussing the latest find in Africa - read the book to check out your ancestry. You should enjoy Robert Drewe's poetic prose, his understated wisdom and his dab hand as a storyteller. Do yourself a favour - dive into it!

Robert Drewe is an accomplished author. This novel is about Grace Molloy and her journey as she attempts to reclaim her personal territory.

This novel is largely set in the Kimberley region of Australia, and this physical setting is central to Grace's journey. While many of the characterizations and issues will be recognizable internationally, the backdrop is purely Australian.

Worth reading for the prose alone, but on a deeper level this book is a triumphant tale.

I first discovered Robert Drewe five years back when I read his novel about Ned Kelly `Our Sunshine', which the Heath Ledger film was based on, and I enjoyed it as much as Peter Carey's `True Story of The Kelly Gang' as a piece of literature, which is really saying something. So much so that I hunted down a first edition for my daughter's birthday present.

Two years ago I came across a second hand paperback of Drewe's first novel `The Savage Crows', written in 1974 about the systematic extermination of Tasmanian aborigines. Powerful writing, a great first novel, awful deeds. Our P.M. Slim Howard should read it. History's an elusive concept eh? It happened so long ago....

`Grace' was handed to me by my old friend, Len H. with the comment `bloody good read, mate'. Coming from Len that was a sizable endorsement. Coincidentally this year I read `Enduring Love' by Ian McEwan, also a book dealing with `erotomania'/stalking. I had enjoyed his excellent writing skills, but I was uncomfortable with his introduction and development of the theme. Also I found little connection with the main characters, vapid professional types mostly, lifted only by some amusing drug dealing hippies. So my experience of this subject was not particularly warm. However I was pleased to find that Robert Drewe's novel has a number of themes, robust characters and a racy plot.

The character of Grace is well drawn, I imagined Rachel Griffiths in the role, or my beloved Cate Blanchett, which reminds me I should send her another letter....
Grace is a capable, intriguing, somewhat quirky young woman who comes under the microscope of Carl, the stalker/erotomaniac. No background to this wonky chappie, but you see his loony letters, glimpse his mind ticking off kilter. Deliberate, fused and confused. A product of some hefty bibles on the butt no doubt. Wow, good stuff, plotwise.

In Grace's attempt to escape this scabrous mutant/unfortunate deranged fellow she relocates to The Kimberley where the crocs, snakes, spiders, sharks and immigration ministers feed on illegal boat queue jumping opportunists/poor bastards who had to leave their homes. Here we meet close up an `Outback Identity' the owner of a wildlife sanctuary/ business bonanza, three `pearl and cattle' widows with their G&T veranda wisdom expelled with Dunhill smoke from the side of the mouth (you know them and love them), an ex police couple who run an outback pub, and a canny aboriginal leader, among others - without giving the plot away.

Apart from the stalking/erotomania segments, the book includes the subjects of `illegal' immigrants, detention centres, aboriginal rights, pop journalism, internet censorship, ecology vs. tourism, and anthropology. Another coincidence in that last night's news showed a couple of anthropologists, just like Grace's dad, discussing the latest find in Africa - read the book to check out your ancestry. You should enjoy Robert Drewe's poetic prose, his understated wisdom and his dab hand as a storyteller. Do yourself a favour - dive into it!