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The Infernal Optimist: Small-time Crime, Big-time Trouble
Zeki Togan may have been born in the Old Country, but he considers himself as Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi as the next bloke. More so, in fact, because he?s a crim ? since Australia was founded by convicts, he reckons he?s more Australian than people who were born here but haven?t committed even one crime in their whole lives. Unfortunately, the Department of Immigration sees things differently. And so the happy-go-lucky, wisecracking Zeki, a small-time break-and-enter artist who loves Australia even if he can?t stand Australian movies, finds himself in Immigration Detention, thrown in with asylum seekers, sex slaves, other criminals and visa overstayers. Immigration wants to deport him ? and his own father doesn?t think that?s a bad idea. Worst of all, although he adores his girlfriend, Marlena, he?s having a hell of a time proving it from the wrong side of a double fence.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2006
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About the author
Linda Jaivin
31 books182 followersLinda Jaivin is the author of twelve books, including the forthcoming (May 2021) The Shortest History of China and the novel The Empress Lover, published in April 2014 as well as the travel companion Beijing, published in July 2014. Other major publications include the Quarterly Essay: Found in Translation (late 2013), five novels and a novella, a collection of essays (Confessions of an S&M Virgin) and a China memoir (Monkey and the Dragon). Her first novel was the internationally bestselling comic erotic Eat Me. The Empress Lover follows A Most Immoral Woman, which is set in China and Japan in 1904 and based on a true story. She is also a translator from Chinese and a playwright. She was the winner of the 2014 New South Wales Writers Fellowship.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 13, 2015
This was the book that sparked my initial interest in the plight of asylum seekers in Australia. The author had researched life in detention centres, making the stories (potentially real) realistic and sad.
The main character's plight is light-hearted while looking at a very serious and sad reality.
Well worth the read.
The main character's plight is light-hearted while looking at a very serious and sad reality.
Well worth the read.
April 5, 2017
Fantastic concept, beautiful characterisation, painfully heavy patois.
This is a very Australian black comedy set in the unlikely comedy location of the Villawood Detention Centre - like Orange Is The New Black by way of The Castle.
The novel is narrated by an Aussie bogan crim, Zeki, who speaks in constant malapropisms reminiscent of Dale Kerrigan. When we meet him, fresh from 13 months in prison for petty theft, he's trying to convince his girlfriend that's the last time she'll have to deal with him being locked up. Next thing he knows, he's being arrested by Immigration. Turns out, Zeki came to Australia from Turkey as a baby and somehow never got around to getting Australian citizenship (couldn't be bothered standing in the queue), and with a sentence of more than 12 months, Immigration has grounds to deport him back to Turkey. He's placed in Villawood while his case is disputed.
Over the following months, we see Villawood through Zeki's eyes. The characters are fantastically drawn, hugely varied, and neither demonised nor glamourised. There are some starkly horrible things that happen, but Jaivin does a brilliant job at ensuring that the detainees are never reduced from whole persons to 'victims'. The plot meanders a bit in the middle, where I think Jaivin is a bit hamstrung by her first person narration to bring in much in the way of subplots, but really comes together with an ending that has closure but doesn't stretch credibility.
It is a difficult and sensitive topic, and one that is tackled here without being preachy or over-simplifying. The choice of narrator allows for a refreshingly pragmatic and de-intellectualised portrayal of the subject. Definitely recommended to anyone with an interest in what the inside of Villawood is really like. However, be warned that the narrative voice is laid on REALLY thick, like a joke that starts to get old fast. I think we would have got the point if she had just sprinkled in a few malapropisms here and there, instead of twice a paragraph. But I am glad I persisted with it - it's both a very original piece and one that gives you real insight into the realities of immigration detention.
I really hope to see it made into a film one day so that it reaches a wider audience.
This is a very Australian black comedy set in the unlikely comedy location of the Villawood Detention Centre - like Orange Is The New Black by way of The Castle.
The novel is narrated by an Aussie bogan crim, Zeki, who speaks in constant malapropisms reminiscent of Dale Kerrigan. When we meet him, fresh from 13 months in prison for petty theft, he's trying to convince his girlfriend that's the last time she'll have to deal with him being locked up. Next thing he knows, he's being arrested by Immigration. Turns out, Zeki came to Australia from Turkey as a baby and somehow never got around to getting Australian citizenship (couldn't be bothered standing in the queue), and with a sentence of more than 12 months, Immigration has grounds to deport him back to Turkey. He's placed in Villawood while his case is disputed.
Over the following months, we see Villawood through Zeki's eyes. The characters are fantastically drawn, hugely varied, and neither demonised nor glamourised. There are some starkly horrible things that happen, but Jaivin does a brilliant job at ensuring that the detainees are never reduced from whole persons to 'victims'. The plot meanders a bit in the middle, where I think Jaivin is a bit hamstrung by her first person narration to bring in much in the way of subplots, but really comes together with an ending that has closure but doesn't stretch credibility.
It is a difficult and sensitive topic, and one that is tackled here without being preachy or over-simplifying. The choice of narrator allows for a refreshingly pragmatic and de-intellectualised portrayal of the subject. Definitely recommended to anyone with an interest in what the inside of Villawood is really like. However, be warned that the narrative voice is laid on REALLY thick, like a joke that starts to get old fast. I think we would have got the point if she had just sprinkled in a few malapropisms here and there, instead of twice a paragraph. But I am glad I persisted with it - it's both a very original piece and one that gives you real insight into the realities of immigration detention.
I really hope to see it made into a film one day so that it reaches a wider audience.
November 1, 2011
One of my new favourites! The main character, Zeki, is endearing as your typical Aussie larrikin. Written from his perspective, it gives a comical account of his time spent in a detention centre but also a heart-aching insight to the pain, suffering, anguish and loss of dignity of the inhabitants. the detention centre.
In the current political climate, this book is enormously relevant. A highly recommended read!
In the current political climate, this book is enormously relevant. A highly recommended read!
September 13, 2015
On the poignant side but a different and well done story. To be consistent with colloquial language and first person perspective was well done. I got a bit lost with some of the detention characters (whom was from where) but it didn't hamper the story.
I thought the ending was clever, so too the improvement in speech i.e. less colloquial.
I thought the ending was clever, so too the improvement in speech i.e. less colloquial.
March 13, 2011
A funny look at a sad institution.
February 26, 2015
Disappointing. Kind of.. trite, overly simplistic and the ending was kind of sad and felt like a let-down.
Plus, preaching to the political choir.
Plus, preaching to the political choir.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews