Aussie Author Challenge: Book 9

The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood:

One of my great friends who is a lover of books praised this book and gave it to me as a birthday gift.  This recommendation alone had me intrigued. 

Also, it is receiving much praise from the Australian literary community, and it is on the shortlist for this year's Miles Franklin Award, which is Australia's "most prestigious literary award".  I must admit, I'm not always a reader/fan of these "prestigious" books...but I was still intrigued.

When I finished this book, I immediately wrote "So many thoughts.  So many questions.  So many emotions.  I need to digest."  After a couple of days, I still feel that way.  Adequately sharing my thoughts might prove difficult, but I will try.

First, I'll share this short clip from goodreads:  "The Natural Way of Things is a gripping, starkly imaginative exploration of contemporary misogyny and corporate control, and of what it means to hunt and be hunted."

Americans, do you remember the disappearance of Chandra Levy?  At the age of 24, she was reported as a missing person.  During the investigation, it was learned that she "allegedly" was having an affair with a married U.S. Congressman.  Reportedly, when questioned, this man seemed evasive and more concerned with saving his own face and reputation, rather than concern over Miss Levy's whereabouts and safety.

Hypothetically, in a fictitious world, what if it was arranged to just have someone like Chandra Levy "sent away"?  Removed from the society that she lived in and muddied the waters with her existence due to such a sexual scandal?  Punished for her promiscuous behaviour?  (Again, not my thoughts...this is for the sake of a work of fiction.)  That's the premise of this book.

Young women that are connected by a variety of popular, news-worthy sexual scandals (gang rape by football players, sexual harassment and relations with a judge on a singing reality competition show, an affair with a politician and more) are drugged and seemingly, kidnapped, taken to a place that I can only describe as similar to a concentration camp.  They live in horrendous conditions with no real knowledge of how they got there or what will happen to them.  What they do know:  "The reason for their captivity has a blank clarity: they are hated." (Pg 171)

The story is captivating.  The reader experiences the women's descent into madness, their quest for survival or revenge.  There are many, many passages that are extremely difficult to stomach, but they are an adequate description of the conditions these women were forced to face.  I couldn't help but question how I, personally, would/could handle such conditions.  I could see myself going either way...losing my sanity, becoming engrossed with revenge, doing what needed to be done to survive, or just wanting to give up.  While reading and following the journey, I felt such a range of emotions from anger and disgust to triumph and hopefulness. 

Without saying too much more, about the story itself, one of the lessons that shall stick with me from this story is this (broken down in simplest form):  Life can be tough and extremely challenging, but it is always best to be in charge of one's own journey.

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My working book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - COMPLETED 23 April 2016
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty  - COMPLETED 25 March 2016
• The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood - COMPLETED 24 August 2016
• Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 17 January 2016

Male Authors:

• I Hear Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty
• Life or Death by Michael Robotham
• Guilt by Matthew Nable - COMPLETED 3 February 2016
• The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman

Authors New to Me:

•  Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett - COMPLETED 12 March 2016
• This House of Grief by Helen Garner (non-fiction) - COMPLETED 25 February 2016
• Hades by Candice Fox - COMPLETED 21 May 2016
• Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic - COMPLETED 14 April 2016