Quality Australian Writing

  Amanda Lohrey’s, The Labyrinth, is a perfect example of quality Australian writing. The novel is entertaining and moving, but what stood out for me, was the skill and control with which Lohrey develops the plot, builds characters and presents a powerful setting, which is almost a character in itself. Just like it should be really, in a story which encompasses landscape as much as people.

   I won’t recount the plot as it has been done elsewhere, except to say it is set on the south coast of NSW in a small coastal down, where protagonist, Erica, decides to build her labyrinth as a way to come to terms with the past.

   Novels of this type don't have to actually be true, or be the real life experience of the author, but readers must find them believable and feel they are true. Writers usually take snippets from all over the place, their own life, tales they hear, gossip, research and so on. But it must all come together like one well rounded story and The Labyrinth achieves that beautifully. 

   Details, whether for the landscape or the characters or actions are chosen with care and the prose is sparing. Sometimes you don't want a book to end because you will no longer have the pleasure of reading it. The Labyrinth is such a book.