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laurasauras's review against another edition
4.0
Great book. Loved the world that it was set in, so unlike anything I've experienced and yet grounded in a Melbourne I know. Emotional, but mostly in that restrained Aussie way. It'd be easy to be frustrated with the characters if they weren't so human.
pipnewman's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
punkinmuffin's review against another edition
4.0
Monkey Grip is difficult to describe. It tells the story of Nora, a single mother in her early 30s, and her intractable love for junkie Javo with the ridiculously deep blue eyes. It's also about the mid-70s bohemian milieu in which they live. Nora, Javo their friends live in various shared houses scattered around the inner north of Melbourne. They take drugs, drink, sleep with each other, go to each others' performances and exhibitions, raise their kids and reject the tired social mores of monogamy and mortgages. If Nora were raising her 5-year-old daughter in the way depicted in the book today, well, actually it wouldn't happen. But if it did, she's find herself falling foul of Child Protection. Possibly for good reason. That said, Helen Garner's use of language is nothing short of extraordinary. She was roundly criticised at the time of publication for "publishing her diaries instead of a novel." But this criticism, as Garner herself has said, embodied the very laziness of which she was accused. There is art, and hard graft, in putting words together that show how much unrequited, or unreciprocated, love is like heroin addiction. There is great precision in her writing, both for what goes on in the head and for what it felt like to live that life.
I got to know the Carlton and Fitzroy in the 90s, when I was in my early 20s. Although the book is set 15 years earlier, I recognised much of what was described, and felt pangs of longing and empathy, also of jealousy. The rampant gentrification which was already taking hold when I scuffed along Scotchmer Street in 1995, was still to come when Helen Garner, helmetless, rode her bike to the Fitzroy Baths, dinking her daughter on the back. These days, an Edwardian two-bedroom cottage in Carlton will cost you upwards of two million, that's if you can find one that hasn't been poorly renovated and ruined by commercial lawyers, tv stars and CEOs.
Anyway, that's by-the-by. And of course, bicycle helmets save brains, and lives. I've held back one star, because the book has left me feeling unsatisfied, though only in a small and unnameable way, and I may change it, later.
I got to know the Carlton and Fitzroy in the 90s, when I was in my early 20s. Although the book is set 15 years earlier, I recognised much of what was described, and felt pangs of longing and empathy, also of jealousy. The rampant gentrification which was already taking hold when I scuffed along Scotchmer Street in 1995, was still to come when Helen Garner, helmetless, rode her bike to the Fitzroy Baths, dinking her daughter on the back. These days, an Edwardian two-bedroom cottage in Carlton will cost you upwards of two million, that's if you can find one that hasn't been poorly renovated and ruined by commercial lawyers, tv stars and CEOs.
Anyway, that's by-the-by. And of course, bicycle helmets save brains, and lives. I've held back one star, because the book has left me feeling unsatisfied, though only in a small and unnameable way, and I may change it, later.
rouge_red's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
But Martin was unhappy, and to my shame I was not concerned with kindness.
A person might not be ashamed to wish for love.
It wasn't that I ached for a sight of him, or wished to seek him out. I'd just made a place for him in myself, and he needed it in spite of himself, and I needed someone exactly his size and shape to fill it.
I thought about Rita and the way she turned her face up and fluttered and shone; how she hid her own private fear and wretchedness; how she gave herself generously, without reserve, loved too loyally, without criticism; and how we all thrashed about swapping and changing partners- like a very complicated dance to which the steps had not yet been choreographed, all of us trying to move gracefully in spite of our ignorance, because though the men we knew often left plenty to be desired, at least in their company we had a little respite from the grosser indignities.
A person might not be ashamed to wish for love.
It wasn't that I ached for a sight of him, or wished to seek him out. I'd just made a place for him in myself, and he needed it in spite of himself, and I needed someone exactly his size and shape to fill it.
I thought about Rita and the way she turned her face up and fluttered and shone; how she hid her own private fear and wretchedness; how she gave herself generously, without reserve, loved too loyally, without criticism; and how we all thrashed about swapping and changing partners- like a very complicated dance to which the steps had not yet been choreographed, all of us trying to move gracefully in spite of our ignorance, because though the men we knew often left plenty to be desired, at least in their company we had a little respite from the grosser indignities.
e_j_cook's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sbkeats's review against another edition
3.0
The writing itself was absolutely the best part, but I had to hurry through this for class in 2 days and also reading on my laptop screen for 7 hours collectively made the experience hateful lmao
I would rate higher for the writing style alone and how Garner actually selects her words, but I just also didn't care about the story or the characters or any of their drama in any way
rip
I would rate higher for the writing style alone and how Garner actually selects her words, but I just also didn't care about the story or the characters or any of their drama in any way
rip
heathergillis's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed The Children's Bach by Helen Garner, so I was excited to read another book by her. This was originally published in Australia in 1977 and is now being published in the US. Once again, Garner's writing is gorgeous. Unfortunately the storyline is difficult, about a woman who is in love with a man who is addicted to drugs. I realize it was a different era, but I still felt frustrated with the characters, who repeated the same destructive patterns over and over again. I'm sure it's a very accurate portrayal of living with addiction, and it's a testament to Garner's writing that I felt so uncomfortable with it. But the writing is so good, it kept me reading. I'm amazed we haven't been treated to Helen Garner before this in the US! I look forward to other books by her.
druidinary's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Melbourne grit lit.
I have leaked myself away towards you for nearly two months now. I ought to put the plug back in, fill up the tub again for myself and other people; and I try, but all the time there's this stubborn little trickle running away, running away towards some unknown place where you are killing yourself.