Review of Scrublands, an Australian novel

2018 seems to mark the role of the priest in Australian literature. For both Tim Winton in The Shepherd's Hut and Chris Hammer in Scrublands include clergy.

Winton's book assigns a member of clergy to a forgotten parish. Hammer’s book finds a member of clergy (deceased yet central to the story) who shielded his previous life. In both instances, the clergy are in hot, dusty and remote locations.

And, Scrublands has a publican (deceased) who was once an Army chaplain.

Where the former Army chaplain and deceased priest sought atonement through passage of monies to an overseas orphanage, Winton’s priest is beyond atonement but to serve his time in isolation.

Scrublands is a great read. The characters are richly developed, the town of Riversend is colourfully displayed and the story moves quickly. The reader follows the steps of a journalist. The journalist pieces together why the priest committed murders, then was killed. Official Police accounts and the facts diverge; the journalist works carefully to re-imagine the story.

The story has much intrigue. Many parties are involved including Australia’s spy agency, Police, media and a bikie gang. Destruction arises from car accidents, bushfires, abduction and fire. The story depicts how a small country town can be subject to many pressures. The drought, the waterless river and the limited business hours of the town all seem synonymous with the slow death of the community.

I borrowed Scrublands from City of Sydney Library. This post links from Goodreads.

Shalom,

Ozhamada

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