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Image: Pan Macmillan.
Our December book club pick is The Ghosts of August.
The Ghosts of August by Peter Watt is an emotive look at the somewhat overlooked aspects of our ANZAC history. Detailing the progression from before WWI to just after its conclusion. Watt chooses to explore the many varying situations Australians found themselves in, from having a loved one volunteer to join the fight, having a loved one on the opposing side, friends who are ultimately labelled as enemies, and so much more. The story centres around one particular family and their affiliations to people in certain parts of the world. There is romance, action and some very poignant messages within this novel and the story, particularly the descriptions of the action was done in a way that kept you on the edge of your seat.
I do have many questions for the author, on the choices that were made concerning certain characters. However, I feel it may have been done to keep the reader thinking about the content. Which I can confirm is a success, as these characters are still on my mind. Being an Australian story I feel added another level of connection for me. Watt references moments in history, and locations that I walk past every so often without knowing the history or significance of. This book has opened my eyes to exploring more of Australia’s history, past what we learnt at school.
I was overjoyed in parts, distraught in others, baffled in some and contemplative when it came to the significance of the small moments. This had to do with the way every path was woven together, the way that certain characters impacted others, in the negative and positive.
The Ghosts of August is available through Pan Macmillan Australia.
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