It's always great when an author you really enjoy produces a book a year - it means you never have to wait too long for their next instalment. As for the past few years, Jenn's latest book was on my "must read" list for the year and, like the last three, The Other Side Of The Season did not disappoint. Given the "Season" in the title I thought it might tie in with Jenn's previous three books, but it is actually a complete stand alone with no connection to her other books. I didn't mind that, in fact I was intrigued in which direction Jenn's new book would take me. It turned out to be the Coff's Harbour region, a bit of a sea change after the more inland country town settings of Jenn's previous novels.
The dual timeline of The Other Side Of The Season switches between siblings Sidney and Jake - who are travelling to Byron Bay in Northern New South Wales - and brothers David and Matthew and their neighbours Tilly and Albie. Unbeknownst to Jake, their unscheduled stop in the small hamlet of Watercolour Cove has been engineered by Sidney in a effort to find out more about their family history - as their mother refuses to discuss the subject. The other storyline then merges in, with the same setting thirty five years before. Back then the Greenhill's family banana plantation was the biggest concern in what was then known as Dinghy Bay and brothers David and Matthew are making their way in the world with very different plans for their futures.
The dual timeline of The Other Side Of The Season switches between siblings Sidney and Jake - who are travelling to Byron Bay in Northern New South Wales - and brothers David and Matthew and their neighbours Tilly and Albie. Unbeknownst to Jake, their unscheduled stop in the small hamlet of Watercolour Cove has been engineered by Sidney in a effort to find out more about their family history - as their mother refuses to discuss the subject. The other storyline then merges in, with the same setting thirty five years before. Back then the Greenhill's family banana plantation was the biggest concern in what was then known as Dinghy Bay and brothers David and Matthew are making their way in the world with very different plans for their futures.
I won't say any more about what transpires within the storyline for fear of revealing too much, but suffice to say there is much suspense and intrigue as Sidney does her best to trace their mother's somewhat troubled past and we follow the journey of David and Matthew and Tilly, the troubled adoptee, who is determined to escape her small town confines and make her mark on the outside world.
As always Jenn delivers a wonderfully told Australian tale, full of warm and masterfully drawn characters as well as the beauty and diversity of the Australian landscape. Jenn's passion for small town Australia once again shines through in her writing and forms an important part of the storyline. Underlying all this is the theme of family in all it's forms and the way it can uplift and hold us back as each of us navigates our way through life.
Although a relative newcomer to the Australian literary landscape, Jenn J McLeod has cemented her niche as one of our favourite small town storytellers and I look forward to reviewing her next book in the coming year.
As always Jenn delivers a wonderfully told Australian tale, full of warm and masterfully drawn characters as well as the beauty and diversity of the Australian landscape. Jenn's passion for small town Australia once again shines through in her writing and forms an important part of the storyline. Underlying all this is the theme of family in all it's forms and the way it can uplift and hold us back as each of us navigates our way through life.
Although a relative newcomer to the Australian literary landscape, Jenn J McLeod has cemented her niche as one of our favourite small town storytellers and I look forward to reviewing her next book in the coming year.
