The Half-Burnt Tree

by Dymphna Cusack

Paul, a Vietnam vet disfigured by a napalm attack, has recently been deserted by his horrified wife. Day after day he camps at Devil's Head and takes his surfboard over the outer reef, hoping the sharp rocks will claim him and save him from his nightmares. From the shop on the beach, Brenda -- scarred by her brief marriage to an air-force pilot -- watches his crazy dance of death. A starving and homeless Aboriginal boy trying to find enough food to survive after his parents' death becomes an intermediary between the two misfits consumed by their own demons. One day the two are forced out of their introspection when tragedy intervenes.

272 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 1969

About the author

Dymphna Cusack AM (21 September 1902 — 19 October 1981) was an Australian author. Born in West Wyalong, New South Wales, Dymphna Cusack was educated at St Ursula's College, and graduated from Sydney University with an honours degree in Arts and a diploma in Education. She worked as a teacher until she retired in 1944 for health reasons.

Cusack wrote twelve novels (two of which were collaborations), seven plays, three travel books, two children's books and one non-fiction book. Her collaborative novels were Pioneers on Parade (1939) with Miles Franklin, and Come In Spinner (1951) with Florence James.

Reviews

[Krisz]

This book should have 100x, 1000x more reviews! It's wonderful, both its theme and its prose.

[Gina]

A compelling story about three people thrown together under unusual circumstances in rural Australia. Paul is a disfigured Vietnam vet who was abandoned by his wife. Brenda is young woman who has been betrayed by the man she thought was her husband. Finally, there is Kemmy a small orphaned Aborigine boy who is struggling to survive in a community where racism is rampant. The author offers a stark look at the ravages caused by the Vietnam War and the disgraceful treatment of Aborigines. The dehumanization of weaker groups of people is justified by those in power, a classic approach taken by colonizers throughout history.

[Димитър Тодоров]

А вие ще различите ли недохранено аборигенче с немарливи родители от гладно аборигенче сираче? А ще се сетите ли, че родителите са мъртви вместо немарливи, защото местната болница се гордее (!) с расовата си чистота и е отказала да ги приеме след злополука? В Австралия, през 1960-те. Ако беше в сочената с пръст за архи-расистка Южна Африка, то болница, може би – не най-добре оборудваната, щеше поне да съществува и за другата раса. На фона на съдбата на аборигенчето, личните драми на другите двама герои, потърсили усамотение между океана и лагуната далече отвъд затънтено обезлюдяващо се градче, – обезобразяване от приятелски огън в изначално погрешна и морално неоправдана военна мисия във Виетнам и публично разбиване на сърце по особено жесток начин – са бели кахъри. В буквалния смисъл.

Любопитен факт: В изданието от 1974 на Народна младеж английската дума sex е преведена като "пол" във всички случаи на употреба. Включително в изрази като "мислиш, че полът обяснява всичко", "любовта означава пол", "те правеха пол преди брака" ...

[Glenn]

Slow paced but rewarding and very moving.

[Trine]

3,5

[Bozs]

Második kedvencem Cusack-tól és ezzel kiolvastam az össze magyarul megjelent könyvét ha jól tudom
Három emberről szól, mint a mesékben.
Egy nő, aki kiégett lelkileg, egy férfi, aki túlélt egy vietnámi háborút és egy kisfiú, aki ezt a két embert egymás mellé terelte.