LIMBERLOST - A REVIEW by Robbie Arnott

Robbie Arnott has captured the raw, untamed beauty and brutality of the natural world in his latest book, 'Limberlost'. Descriptions of the Tasmanian landscape, the animals that inhabit it, and the ever-changing seasons are striking and memorable. The "mad whale" at the beginning of the novel, sets the tone for the way nature will colour the story.The heart of the tale is a teenage summer. Ned - a coming of age; seeking acceptance of his father, distant, imprisoned by past wounds; his deep longing for a boat or "what he'd feel in the grip of the planks," all lived heavy under the shadow of war where two older brothers served in obscurity.

The story is simple yet profound. Ned's inner life is uncovered with sensitivity, tenderness, gentleness, displaying his longings and deep need for acceptance. The tale flows with sensory richness, crisp, poetic, fresh and contrasts to the fierce, untamed reality of Ned's wider world of encounters with animals and nature. Limberlost has many layers - masculinity, colonialism, family dynamics, grief, and connection to land and nature. The story is simple and profound.His descriptions are well written and give the reader a real sense of being present.

Movement into the future and back was confusing at first and made me work a little harder to orientate myself to the story

The author displays great skill as a wordsmith, fresh - nothing stale. Occasionally I found myself pausing to consider an unusual descriptive word to see if it was a 'good fit.' This process stopped the flow. My joy in reading a novel is to be so absorbed and swept along in the narrative, I almost forget that I'm reading! Arnott's language is rich and provocative with many memorable passages and sentences, including this quote from the final chapter,            

            "... when the summer died, it went quietly. There was no final exclamation of heat, no furious storms, no flourish of violence. The season just came to an end, and lay down."

A moving, elegant, beautiful, bittersweet tale of life, deeply connected to the natural world. Five stars.