CLARKE by Holly Throsby

Clarke is the third novel by Australian writer and musician Holly Throsby, and the first of her books I have read.

Clarke is the third novel by Australian writer and musician Holly Throsby, and the first of her books I have read.

Clarke is set in the town of Clarke in 1991, and revolves around the stories of three people: first, Ginny Lawson, whose life and murder is very loosely based on that of Lynette Dawson. Second, her neighbour Leonie, who is mothering her nephew, four year old Joe (who was easily my favourite character in this novel). Third, Barney, who rents the Lawson home six years after Ginny’s disappearance.

The blurb suggests that there are several mysteries on foot in this novel, beyond that of Ginny Lawson’s disappearance. I consider that misleading, as the circumstances around Leonie' raising her nephew and Barney’s living in the house next door are only mysterious because it takes a long time for Throsby to tell the reader the stories. However, they’re not secrets or mysteries to the characters themselves - the only mystery for them is the disappearance of their neighbour.

Many reviews note that this novel is a slow burn. I’d call it a slow read because there is little burning happening here. Some have delighted in the celebration of the everyday mundaneness of small town life told in the novel - and mundane it is. But I would argue that while there may be value in those real lives, in a novel, the normality means there is little to hold the interest of the reader. I can only speak for myself, but I found myself finishing the novel and wondering what earthly benefit it provided. It wasn’t especially entertaining or enlightening. It was just a story.

I think there was an idea worth exploring in the writing of this novel, but it was ultimately not executed well. The writing quality itself is perfectly fine - sentence structure, grammar etc…it’s all good quality. It’s just the story itself. I personally like to read to escape the every day monotony of life, rather than slowly dragged through someone else’s (fictional) experience.

I don’t like to be a negative reviewer, but I am slightly bemused this novel made it to print: it’s just dull. Not in a charming way, not in a revealatory way - it’s just a kind of nothing story.

The 2.5 stars is very much in recognition is Joe, the four year old nephew of Leonie. This character is where Throsby got things SPOT ON. I could very easily see and hear Joe’s behaviours and words, and he was charming and sweet. For me, he was the highlight of this story. Throsby tapped into the thought processes and world of this little boy beautifully.

Not sure I’d recommend this one - there are many far worse novels out there but there are plenty of better ones too.