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A review by tasmanian_bibliophile
Bereft by Chris Womersley
4.0
‘On the day twelve-year-old Sarah Walker was murdered in 1909, a storm bullied its way across the western plains of New South Wales and unleashed itself on the flyspeck town of Flint.’
Who murdered Sarah Walker? Sarah’s 16 year old brother Quinn was found next to her body with a knife in his hand. He fled.
Ten years later – some three years after his mother had received a telegram stating that he is missing in France and presumed dead – Quinn is on his way home. Ex- sergeant Quinn Walker is one of the wounded Anzacs, his body damaged by gas, his face partially mangled by shrapnel. Quinn throws the medal he received overboard, but cannot so readily dismiss the Great War. He is haunted by memories of what he saw and experienced.
Once back in Australia, Quinn heads for Flint. He may be a long way from the battlefields of Europe, but the influenza pandemic is wreaking its own havoc on Australia. Quinn tries to remain hidden outside Flint, but his presence becomes known to at least two people. One of the two, Sadie Fox, is a twelve-year old orphan. Who is Sadie Fox, and how can she know as much as she does about the world around her, and about Sarah’s murder? Sadie herself is trying to hide: can Quinn protect her?
Quinn’s mother is dying of influenza. He visits her. She is unsure whether he is real, or whether her fever enables her to visualise him. She is also unsure whether he murdered Sarah, and there is some knowledge he cannot share with her. These visits are a critical part of the novel: two people suffering, each able to offer some comfort to the other.
‘Do you know, Quinn, there isn’t a word for a parent who has lost a child … There is a hole in the English language. It is unspeakable. Bereft.’
I found this novel haunting. While some elements did not work for me as well as others, the tragedy of Quinn held my attention and my sympathy. And as the story unfolded, and more information became available about Sarah’s death, I found myself thinking about the various ways in which one can become bereft. And Quinn? What chance does he have?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Who murdered Sarah Walker? Sarah’s 16 year old brother Quinn was found next to her body with a knife in his hand. He fled.
Ten years later – some three years after his mother had received a telegram stating that he is missing in France and presumed dead – Quinn is on his way home. Ex- sergeant Quinn Walker is one of the wounded Anzacs, his body damaged by gas, his face partially mangled by shrapnel. Quinn throws the medal he received overboard, but cannot so readily dismiss the Great War. He is haunted by memories of what he saw and experienced.
Once back in Australia, Quinn heads for Flint. He may be a long way from the battlefields of Europe, but the influenza pandemic is wreaking its own havoc on Australia. Quinn tries to remain hidden outside Flint, but his presence becomes known to at least two people. One of the two, Sadie Fox, is a twelve-year old orphan. Who is Sadie Fox, and how can she know as much as she does about the world around her, and about Sarah’s murder? Sadie herself is trying to hide: can Quinn protect her?
Quinn’s mother is dying of influenza. He visits her. She is unsure whether he is real, or whether her fever enables her to visualise him. She is also unsure whether he murdered Sarah, and there is some knowledge he cannot share with her. These visits are a critical part of the novel: two people suffering, each able to offer some comfort to the other.
‘Do you know, Quinn, there isn’t a word for a parent who has lost a child … There is a hole in the English language. It is unspeakable. Bereft.’
I found this novel haunting. While some elements did not work for me as well as others, the tragedy of Quinn held my attention and my sympathy. And as the story unfolded, and more information became available about Sarah’s death, I found myself thinking about the various ways in which one can become bereft. And Quinn? What chance does he have?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith