A review by husk
Amnesia by Peter Carey

4.0

Traditional narrative structures seem to be thrown out the window in a sometimes rag tag read. But it is affecting, and it is successful. The disconnect between the ageing protagonist (and a mirror held up to Carey himself) and the activism within the world of the dark web translates well against the traditional background of the Australian Labour movement and industrial action of the 1970s – both social movements ultimately proving a chimera to those wishing to press for social justice. Each narrative moving beyond the reach of the protagonists as the need to move outside of the traditional constructs of politics or to act legally on an increasingly monitored and controlled internet to pursue success becomes clearer and clearer through the novel. The generations are mirrored in their desire to fight corporate influence on both the environment and society through their own social tools, but anchored in a history of the Americans, all expensive uniforms and great teeth, coming to save the world with their parents/grandparents in the 1940s. The successful outcome of that war enabled the American corporate machine to pervasively affect the modern world (and its neutered politics, driven by corporate lobbyists and benefactors) is supported by the military stations (and spying capabilities) left behind as a consequence of military support – as was Coca Cola the very same benefactor of such global American military spread. The parallels are laid clear in this generational story in this book and, whilst not a classic, it is a really good work.