Title: Bruny
Author: Heather Rose
Published: October 1st 2019
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Pages: 424
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary
RRP: $32.99
Rating: 4 stars
The brilliant and explosive new novel from the author of the award-winning The Museum of Modern Love.
When the Bruny bridge is bombed, UN troubleshooter Astrid Coleman agrees to return home to help her brother before an upcoming election. But this is no simple task. Her brother and sister are on either side of politics, the community is full of conspiracy theories, her mother is fading and her father is quoting Shakespeare. Only on Bruny does the world seem sane. Until Astrid discovers how far the government is willing to go.
Bruny is a searing, subversive novel about family, love,loyalty and the new world order. It is a gripping thriller with a jaw-dropping twist, a love story, a cry from the heart and a fiercely entertaining and crucial work of imagination that asks the burning question: what would you do to protect the place you love?
Review:
‘My island home of Tasmania – and the brilliant community I live amongst – I wrote this for you.’
Heather Rose, Acknowledgements, Bruny
Bruny, by Heather Rose, is a tribute to the Tasmania – the land, its issues of contention and its people. Penned by the 2017 Winner of the Stella Prize, this hybrid political thriller, satire and family saga is volatile and meteoric meditation on our not too distant future.
A bridge is the centre of the action and it propels Heather Rose’s latest piece of fiction forward, in this rendition to Tasmania’s Bruny Island. After years of ferries, transporting passengers from the mainland of Tasmania to the quaint isle of Bruny, the construction of a bridge is finally underway. The Bruny bridge construction becomes the target of terrorists and when it is bombed, the Premier of Tasmania calls in his twin sister from the UN to assist in settling relations before his upcoming election. This is no easy feat, with family and political relations causing problems. The community is in uproar following the bridge attack, and the public are clearly disillusioned with what is happening on their doorstep. Meanwhile, the powerful Coleman family must deal with the swift demise of both their patriarch and matriarch. Bruny’s narrator, Astrid, must decide just how far she is willing to go for the sake of the government and to protect her home state’s future.
I was fortunate enough to be able to connect with the author of Bruny, Heather Rose, in person at an event in Fremantle, Western Australia. A gracious, observant and highly astute author, with her finger on the pulse in regards to the issues defining our country, Heather Rose has injected her own personal style into Bruny. What struck me most about Bruny, is that this novel represents a touching tribute to Tasmania, Rose’s home state. I felt a strong affinity with Heather Rose, and I completely understood her need to write about Bruny, Tasmania. Bruny is a force to be reckoned with in this novel, it has such presence and it is the prime character in this novel, directing all of the events that gradually unfold.
My favourite aspect of Bruny was the overwhelming sense of place that goes hand in hand with this novel. Rose correctly highlights the culture, environment, people, places, key sights and special features of the region. Tasmania has a strong place in the author’s heart and I felt the passion Heather Rose has for this very special part of our country. In fact, my desire to visit mainland Tasmania and finally get to Bruny was strengthened by Rose’s persuasive prose.
Bruny is a genre bender style novel, it crosses many categories. It could be read as a political commentary, a thriller, a contemporary romance, a family drama, a dystopian fiction and a satire. I usually shy away from books that are heavily influenced by world politics, terrorism, intrigue and international economics relations. However, I do feel that Bruny is an accessible piece of Australian fiction, it will resonate with many readers. Bruny raises plenty of thought provoking ideas about the current state of Tasmania and mainland Australia. Inserted with this reflective and very contemporary piece of fiction are issues of feminism, race relations, xenophobia, labour conditions, ageing and terminal illness.
A low key romance also defines this novel , but Bruny is mostly preoccupied with the pressing issues of the bridge’s attack and the process of rebuilding. I appreciated the romantic side narrative thread and I enjoyed overseeing Astrid and Dan’s relationship develop under the backdrop of this immense project. Rose examines the interesting dynamic of the Colemans – a political and ambitious family, who have strong ties to Tasmania. It is explained that six generations of the Colemans have lived, breathed and worked for the prosperity of the state. This proved to be an interesting angle to consider, especially how a twin brother and sister possess differing political ideas and world views. At the same time, the Colemans are dealing with the sad demise of their loving parents due to declining health. It is a sorry and complicated state affairs. However, there is a quite to awakening that transforms this novel into something quite poignant, especially on the part of our chief narrator, Astrid.
Bruny is a considerate and topical novel, that taps into our current trends, divisions, fears and possibilities. An advanced plot, connective characters and a staggering sense of place defines Heather Rose’s latest masterpiece. Bruny made me work hard, this was no swift read, but certain books demand this of us from time to time. I appreciated the points of issue this revolutionary book had to offer, and I can envisage Bruny opening up plenty of discussion channels.
Bruny by Heather Rose was published on 1st October 2019 by Allen & Unwin. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
To learn more about the author of Bruny, Heather Rose, visit here.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Bruny is book #129 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
