Review: Distance by Kingsley McGlew
“This is what I need. Time to work out where I went wrong. I need to close the distance between my dreams and my reality. I can’t walk away forever.”
Kingsley McGlew is at the forefront of innovative writing. Distance plays on elements of psychological fiction and sci-fi, with McGlew using skilful narration and a distinctive voice to capture the barrenness of the north-western outback and depict the awkward-but-necessary friendships that can arise there.
Ahhh Distance.
I tried to read it maybe fifty or so more times. I diligently carried it with me for months, hoping, praying, to get into it on the train and finally finish it but it took me about two months of sooking and sighing and getting frustrated and finally just finishing the damn thing.
It really wasn’t my thing.
Science-fiction elements aside, the heavy accented characters forced me to read slower as I had to process and work out what they were saying.
Saying that, it was kind of cool to see something so Australian – in accents, mannerisms and locations. Not much fiction is truly Australian, especially not Australian to the degree that this was. And that’s a real credit to him and the publishers for publishing something so unique.
It also surprised me that I enjoyed the dream chapters better than the regular chapters, as I usually don’t like dream sequences and skim over them.
I have to say, after a slow start and middle, I really liked the ending. It was sweet and thought-provoking.
As the title would suggest, distance is explored in the novella, distances in different senses of the word – physical and emotional. Ideas, thoughts, points of views.
Hans Angel falls from the sky into a gum tree and this control – or lack there of – is also explored, the need and want for control and the consequences of such control and distance.
It’s definitely a niche book and not for everyone.
Although it took me ages to get into, as I said, I liked the ending.
I can also appreciate the use of language and the inter-weaving story lines. It must have been difficult to write!
For more information,
Melbourne Books.
this sounds really interesting. i haven't heard of it before. i think i shall have to get me a copy. thanks for your review!
They're a pretty small publishing house so that's probably why you hadn't heard of it.
It was good, interesting, well-written, just not my thing – I'm sure you'll like it!
Hi Kate,
Adolfo here, the editor at Melbourne Books. If you'd like to order a copy of Distance, just visit our website: http://www.melbournebooks.com.au/mbooks/. It's the ninth book down, I believe.
Thanks for your interest!
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