Limberlost is so beautifully written with richly developed characters, and while this novel is grounded more in realism than Arnott’s precious novels, the touch of magic and connection to land and sea is still deeply integrated into this novel. And the judges of The Age Book of the Year agree with me as they have awarded the 2023 Prize for Fiction to Arnott for this novel which they characterise as an ode to humble Australians.
This novel touched me deeply and I believe will resonate with every Australian as we explore family, connection to the land and the deeply held emotion of an undemonstrative man. The story begins with Ned, a young boy living on an orchard with his struggling father, recovering from one war while sending his two oldest boys off to another. We follow Ned’s life, jumping back and forth in time to see key moments that shape his character, his deep love of family that shape his life and his commitment to developing his land which ultimately leads to tragedy.
This novel is both a story of Tasmania, the land, the sea and the people but it is also about the deepest held emotions – of love, the fear of loss and about the joy that a young boy can feel when he has something he truly wants.
- Jane Cowell
Ned is loosely based on Arnott’s grandfather and I think this gives the depth and authenticity to the story, and the growth of a humble, decent man trying his best for his family and community. This novel is both a story of Tasmania, the land, the sea and the people but it is also about the deepest held emotions – of love, the fear of loss and about the joy that a young boy can feel when he has something he truly wants. And for Ned that is a boat.
We experience this joy in Ned’s wonder at the smell, the feel and the joy of the boat sailing on the water, all the more wonderful because he has done everything to achieve this dream himself. Ned is also an observer and we see his life through his observation, of himself, of his father and brothers who he struggles to understand, and the people around him. We are with him on his honeymoon, when his children are born and his confusion when tragedy strikes because of a decision made a long time ago.
The story is engaging, the characters richly developed and the writing is truly lyrical. What’s not to love? Five stars from me and if you haven’t enjoyed the magic realism of Arnott’s work before, this novel is very different and I really recommend that you give it a go. We have it in book form, eAudio, eBook and as an MP3 audio so lots of ways you can experience this wonderful novel.
Limberlost by Robbie Arnott
Also available as eAudio (Libby), eBook (Libby), Audiobook (MP3).
Also by Robbie Arnott
The Rain Heron: Also available as eBook (Libby)
Ren lives alone on the remote frontier of a country devastated by a coup. High on the forested slopes, she survives by hunting and trading - and forgetting. But when a young soldier comes to the mountains in search of a legendary creature, Ren is inexorably drawn into an impossible mission. As their lives entwine, unravel and erupt - as myth merges with reality - both Ren and the soldier are forced to confront what they regret, what they love, and what they fear.
Flames: Also available as eBook (Libby)
A young man named Levi McAllister decides to build a coffin for his twenty-three-year-old sister, Charlotte, who promptly runs for her life. A water rat swims upriver in quest of the cloud god. A fisherman named Karl hunts for tuna in partnership with a seal. And a father takes form from fire. The answers to these riddles are to be found in this tale of grief and love and the bonds of family, tracing a journey across the southern island that takes us full circle.