The Thompson Gunner

by Nick Earls

A gripping tale of a woman caught between two worlds, The Thompson Gunner is a compelling novel of self-discovery that will intrigue, surprise and linger well after the last page. Australian comedian Meg Riddoch has made it to the Big Time. She's an icon to her fans, a darling of the media, schmoozed by television networks and an A-list guest at festivals abroad. She's a month and three countries into her current tour, a week away from home in Brisbane - though what exactly 'home' means is problematic these days. On a flight between gigs, a recurring dream raises disturbing questions. It's Northern Ireland Meg can't escape - a secret life in another time, a life of lies, pacts and forbidden alliances. Haunting flashbacks provide clues to a past long ago buried. Then there's her relationship with Murray and where it went wrong. Out of the spotlight and beneath the punchlines, Meg discovers that memory will find a way to break the surface . . .

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Novels

290 pages, Hardcover

First published January 9, 2006

About the author

Nick Earls is the author of twelve books, including bestselling novels such as Zigzag Street, Bachelor Kisses, Perfect Skin and World of Chickens. His work has been published internationally in English and also in translation, and this led to him being a finalist in the Premier of Queensland’s Awards for Export Achievement in 1999.

Zigzag Street won a Betty Trask Award in the UK in 1998, and is currently being developed into a feature film. Bachelor Kisses was one of Who Weekly’s Books of the Year in 1998. Perfect Skin was the only novel nominated for an Australian Comedy Award in 2003, and has recently been filmed in Italy.

He has written five novels with teenage central characters. 48 Shades of Brown was awarded Book of the Year (older readers) by the Children’s Book Council in 2000, and in the US it was a Kirkus Reviews selection in its books of the year for 2004. A feature film adapted from the novel was released in Australia by Buena Vista International in August 2006, and has subsequently screened at festivals in North America and Europe. His earlier young-adult novel, After January, was also an award-winner.

After January, 48 Shades of Brown, Zigzag Street and Perfect Skin have all been successfully adapted for theatre by La Boite, and the Zigzag Street play toured nationally in 2005.

Nick Earls was the founding chair of the Australian arm of the international aid agency War Child and is now a War Child ambassador. He is or has also been patron of Kids Who Make a Difference and Hands on Art, and an honorary ambassador for both the Mater Foundation and the Abused Child Trust. On top of that, he was the face of Brisbane Marketing’s ‘Downtown Brisbane’ and ‘Experience Brisbane’ campaigns.

His contribution to writing in Queensland led to him being awarded the Queensland Writers Centre’s inaugural Johnno award in 2001 and a Centenary Medal in 2003. His work as a writer, in writing industry development and in support of humanitarian causes led to him being named University of Queensland Alumnus of the Year in 2006. He was also the Queensland Multicultural Champion for 2006.

He has an honours degree in Medicine from the University of Queensland, and has lived in Brisbane since migrating as an eight-year-old from Northern Ireland in 1972. London’s Mirror newspaper has called him ‘the first Aussie to make me laugh out loud since Jason Donovan’. His latest novel is Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight, co-written with Rebecca Sparrow.

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best Nick Earls book. Very real. From the beginning, you are waiting for the hidden story to come out, but the journey there is interesting too, not arduous. The description of the countries and Meg's feelings all feel right. Despite knowing the book was by Nick Earles, I got into the character so much that I was surprised to see his face, not that of a woman (Meg) on the back inside cover. 4.5 stars.

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think the blurb on the inside cover of this book does the story justice. Saying that though, it's hard for me to describe what this book is about. It's not as dark as the picture painted in the blurb.

Meg's a pretty successful comedian. (I have Judith Lucy in my head.) She's kind of recognisable around Australia and is completing a gruelling tour, ending in Perth before going home to Brisbane. There is a bit more to it though with Meg's relationships unravelling, as well as being increasingly haunted by memories of her childhood in Northern Ireland.

I found this book warming and familiar, perhaps because it's a long time since I've read a book by an Australian set in Australia. Nick Earls does it pretty well, and if I'm to complain about inaccuracies I'd have to talk about the chemotherapy services and room sizes at RPH (which really aren't relevant). He's done his research well, right down to Qantas Club food. If you're into Australia-bashing, well sorry, but this book isn't for you. I found it a great homecoming after time overseas.

[Danielle Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable, easy read. One of the authors earlier novels and to my mind still one of his best. If you enjoy real life drama and emotion mixed with subtle observation, comedy and nuance set in some of the most beautiful places in the world then spend a few weeks in comedienne Meg Riddoch’s life. You won’t be sorry!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Nick Earls but this book just didn't quite work. The story is told by a woman and I had to keep reminding myself that it was woman.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. With the subject matter it could have been a really interesting story.

[Matthew Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

It all fits together like a Swiss clock, but from pieces that don’t seem related at first. Stick with it, it’s a keeper.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm, this was an odd one. I was keen to read this one as I like and have read most of Nick Earls' works, but I was disappointed? I think maybe even confused. It wasn't funny, even though it was about a comedienne, and it had a real wash of melancholy over it. I really didn't take to the character of Meg. It was obvious to me that it was a male writer using a female perspective, as Meg's actions and reactions were very general and somewhat masculine. That's what I felt anyway. I really did have to remind myself a couple of times that Meg was a comedienne! I felt some of the things she did - like the photoshoots and the NW expose - were an attempt to hammer home the author was understanding of a female perspective. It just didn't ring true for me. Meg was so dreary and dark, and not in a good way. I wonder if Earls was making some comment about the belief that successful funny people are often depressive? I really don't know, but I couldn't rectify the fact that in the novel Meg was supposedly this almost famous, well regarded star with the way in which her character came through on the page. The novel was short and easy to read, but that meant that it couldn't devote time to anything more than vignettes of her tour and life. As for the whole Irish struggle - I'm so confused. What was the point? I really feel like I missed something here. Things that were good were Earls' description of place - having been to several of the locations mention, his attention to detail is commendable. But overall I was unimpressed by this book, it was not for me and I had expected something else based on what I have previously read of his works. Oh well.

[Heather Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow burn. Well written. Satisfying end. But I kept thinking the main character was a male.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. The way it went from the present to the past helped build your interest to finally find out what had happened. Meg was a mess, her relationship in tatters, nightmares invading her sleep and memories of her past starting to come back. Her childhood in Ireland during the troubles exposed her to things no 8 year old should be expected to see or understand. She's been sworn to secrecy over things she didn't understand and been part of actions she had deliberately made herself 'forget'. She told no one, eventually she's so traumatized that she must face the truth and ask for help. A harrowing tale of a woman caught between her childhood experiences and the present where everything that can go wrong does and her life seems to be falling apart.

[Bella Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg is a successful comedian. The story opens as she arrives in Perth for the last stop of her tour. We also goes back and forth to a few weeks ago in Calgary, where Meg was performing, and 1970's in Northern Ireland, where Meg lived until she was 8 years old. The book is funny in parts, but there is a sadness and emotional depth through it. I particularly like the scenes at the hospital and the email interactions between Meg and her step daughter.
Overall, I liked the book. It was a bit meandering at times, but the ending is powerful and hopeful, and left me thinking.
On a side note, I don't know what it is about the "voice", I kept thinking of the character as a man.

[Kas · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I read this book I began to feel more and more frenzied. It was strange but understandable in the context of the novel. Kind of funny, kind of sad as stories go, and picking up a Nick Earls I wasn't expecting the sad, i.e. usually the sad happens to characters I think of as freaks, but here the sad was happening to someone whose life I recognised as familiar. Perhaps that's the difference.
I then went to the dentist and had my first rubber dam experience... and Nick Earls got this just about right.

[Meredith Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as funny or lighthearted as Nick Earls’ other works but it's not as dark as the picture painted in the blurb. Meg's a pretty successful comedian. She's kind of recognisable around Australia and is completing a gruelling tour, ending in Perth before going home to Brisbane. There is a bit more to it though with increasingly haunted by memories of her childhood in Northern Ireland. As observational comedy goes, it does a good enough job to keep you engaged.

[Felicity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick Earls is a talented witty writer, who has no problems entertaining his audience. It's not surprising then, how easily he assumes the life of a comedienne in this novel. Unlike his other books, this one isn't just funny, but it also deals with some darker issues. A strange mix, but he gets away with it. Nearly 4 stars.

[Toni Umar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some times this book was wonderful, mostly when the main character Meg returned to her childhood memories. But when she was in her present day or remembering a few weeks back, the writing was monotonous and really quite boring. This is the second Nick Earls book I have read and I am not convinced! I'm am not tempted to read any more!

[C.K. Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the sensibility of Nick Earls' writing and felt an instant connection to the Meg character.