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An Elegant Young Man
For a long time Western Sydney has been the political flash-point of the nation, but it has been absent from Australian literature. Luke Carman’s first book of fiction is about to change all that: a collection of monologues and stories which tells it how it is on Australia’s cultural frontier. His young, self-conscious but determined hero navigates his way through the complications of his divorced family, and an often perilous social world, with its Fobs, Lebbos, Greek, Serbs, Grubby Boys and scumbag Aussies, friends and enemies. He loves Whitman and Kerouac, Leonard Cohen and Henry Rollins, is awkward with girls, and has an imaginary friend called Tom. His sensitivity in a tough environment makes life difficult for him – he is anything but an elegant young man. Carman’s style is packed with thought and energy: it captures the voices of the street, and conveys fear and anger, beauty and affection, with a restless intensity.
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 23, 2014
I chose this randomly for a reading challenge and, having finished about ten minutes ago, am feeling a little underwhelmed by the experience. Starting with 'Whitlam and the Whitlam Centre', I was intrigued by the ease of writing and tight use of the 'everyday' in painting pictures that struck a relatable chord. The stories weaved by Carman focus on a type of grey, accidental friendship that sticks in the mind even though there is no potential love lost. He presents common racist attitudes that are alarming in their accuracy, and his references to authors, titles, events and literary opinions will, no doubt, please and entertain those within or surrounding the writing industry. Or perhaps just those who love to read the classics.
However, by the penultimate 'Rare Birds', I was confused as to whether I was reading short fiction or an autobiography separated into small, appetizer-size chunks. Recurrent characters linked the stories, which was all well and good, but the storyteller in each is either clearly or accidentally Carman himself; I found it difficult to engage with the narrator who, several times, came across as beige in relation to the potential narrative.
'An Elegant Young Man' is a pleasant read but I am not sure I find it purchase-worthy.
However, by the penultimate 'Rare Birds', I was confused as to whether I was reading short fiction or an autobiography separated into small, appetizer-size chunks. Recurrent characters linked the stories, which was all well and good, but the storyteller in each is either clearly or accidentally Carman himself; I found it difficult to engage with the narrator who, several times, came across as beige in relation to the potential narrative.
'An Elegant Young Man' is a pleasant read but I am not sure I find it purchase-worthy.
July 13, 2015
Seems like it would be really easy to mess up these stories of being an young bloke with intellectual aspirations growing up in a rough, angry, unemployed part of the world, and then of being a young bloke from a looked-down-on suburb trying out his intellectual aspirations among the gentrified. But I reckon Luke Carman does a really good job. Compelling and sympathetic stuff.
January 18, 2014
Loved this book.
At times confrontational, but always told with good heart, this is a great book of short stories about living in the western suburbs of Sydney.
Looking forward to reading what Luke writes next.
At times confrontational, but always told with good heart, this is a great book of short stories about living in the western suburbs of Sydney.
Looking forward to reading what Luke writes next.
April 21, 2016
Having grown up with Luke and knowing some characters by name, the pages filled me with both great affinity and a level of anxiety that one may rate a mention.
The early chapters have great engaging pace and the eccentric phrasing was a joy. Later it becomes more introspective and shows the different angles that can be taken next.
The early chapters have great engaging pace and the eccentric phrasing was a joy. Later it becomes more introspective and shows the different angles that can be taken next.
October 14, 2014
Reading An Elegant Young Man is like having your face pushed, not entirely unwillingly, into a laundry basket of sweaty gym clothes. Not designer gear either.
This speedy, uneven, intimate foray into life in the western suburbs of Sydney at all times feels authentic and interesting. It has the feel of a film; Carman is very skilled at creating visuals and pulling the reader into the drama that is unfolding, whether it's the violence of a methed-up boyfriend, a "You lookin at me' kebab shop confrontation or a spooky graveyard at night. At first it reminded me of Tom Cho's writing but Carman soon finds his own voice and style. Not elegant - but visceral.
It’s series of interlinked stories following the main character (also named Luke), a young guy just making his way in the multicultural and working class world of Western Sydney. One reviewer reminds us that “Sydney's greater western suburbs are home to a little less than 10 per cent of Australia's population - larger than South Australia, for example, or the Northern Territory, ACT and Tasmania combined. It is also the youngest and most culturally diverse part of the country (one in three residents is under the age of 24, while the suburb of Auburn alone boasts 100 nationalities) as well as being home to Australia's largest urban indigenous populations.” (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/...)
It reminded me a little of where I live (in the western suburbs of Melbourne) but I suspect that Sydney’s west is a little edgier. The canvas of the collection also takes in the inner west, the world of inner city uni students and the disconnect that Luke feels with his forays into another milieu.
Of the structure, another reviewer writes: “Collections of short, intertwined stories are a distinct pleasure, offering a peculiar freedom from a narrative with a beginning, a middle and an end, at the same time as they take us gradually deeper into a specific fictional world. There is a deft balance in Luke Carman’s debut collection An Elegant Young Man between the form of the short story and the weaving of an extended narrative. It would be easy enough to assume that this collection was written as one integrated piece, given how well it works as one.” (http://www.sydneyreviewofbooks.com/be...)
Here’s a taste of the prose from the first story, ‘Whitman and the Whitlam Centre’:
“I found someone the other day. It was Walt Whitman. Under a broken cabinet outside the Whitlam centre. The Whitlam Centre is a place in Liverpool where they have swimming pools and boxing rings. It’s sort of a big deal. Anyway there was the complete works of Walt Whitman just lying there. It wasn’t the first time I’d come across him. He was in an Allen Ginsberg poem I read once. It was a poem about finding Walt Whitman in a supermarket. I liked the idea. I still like it. I took Whitman around Liverpool with me for a bit.”
Not to everyone’s taste but I loved the energy and life of the stories and suspect they will remain in my head in baffling glimpses.
The collection is packaged up as part of Giramondo’s shorts series – lovely book, small and square in shape. A pleasure to read. The series has this as a tagline: "it is time perhaps to cherish/ the culture of shorts" from Les A. Murray's poem Dream of Wearing Shorts Forever.
This speedy, uneven, intimate foray into life in the western suburbs of Sydney at all times feels authentic and interesting. It has the feel of a film; Carman is very skilled at creating visuals and pulling the reader into the drama that is unfolding, whether it's the violence of a methed-up boyfriend, a "You lookin at me' kebab shop confrontation or a spooky graveyard at night. At first it reminded me of Tom Cho's writing but Carman soon finds his own voice and style. Not elegant - but visceral.
It’s series of interlinked stories following the main character (also named Luke), a young guy just making his way in the multicultural and working class world of Western Sydney. One reviewer reminds us that “Sydney's greater western suburbs are home to a little less than 10 per cent of Australia's population - larger than South Australia, for example, or the Northern Territory, ACT and Tasmania combined. It is also the youngest and most culturally diverse part of the country (one in three residents is under the age of 24, while the suburb of Auburn alone boasts 100 nationalities) as well as being home to Australia's largest urban indigenous populations.” (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/...)
It reminded me a little of where I live (in the western suburbs of Melbourne) but I suspect that Sydney’s west is a little edgier. The canvas of the collection also takes in the inner west, the world of inner city uni students and the disconnect that Luke feels with his forays into another milieu.
Of the structure, another reviewer writes: “Collections of short, intertwined stories are a distinct pleasure, offering a peculiar freedom from a narrative with a beginning, a middle and an end, at the same time as they take us gradually deeper into a specific fictional world. There is a deft balance in Luke Carman’s debut collection An Elegant Young Man between the form of the short story and the weaving of an extended narrative. It would be easy enough to assume that this collection was written as one integrated piece, given how well it works as one.” (http://www.sydneyreviewofbooks.com/be...)
Here’s a taste of the prose from the first story, ‘Whitman and the Whitlam Centre’:
“I found someone the other day. It was Walt Whitman. Under a broken cabinet outside the Whitlam centre. The Whitlam Centre is a place in Liverpool where they have swimming pools and boxing rings. It’s sort of a big deal. Anyway there was the complete works of Walt Whitman just lying there. It wasn’t the first time I’d come across him. He was in an Allen Ginsberg poem I read once. It was a poem about finding Walt Whitman in a supermarket. I liked the idea. I still like it. I took Whitman around Liverpool with me for a bit.”
Not to everyone’s taste but I loved the energy and life of the stories and suspect they will remain in my head in baffling glimpses.
The collection is packaged up as part of Giramondo’s shorts series – lovely book, small and square in shape. A pleasure to read. The series has this as a tagline: "it is time perhaps to cherish/ the culture of shorts" from Les A. Murray's poem Dream of Wearing Shorts Forever.
March 23, 2016
I read this book for uni and the fact that I am studying a book doesn't affect my opinions towards it, just to get that out of the way.
In my opinion the book tried to be really unique, really cutting edge and really honest about the author's experience in Western Sydney however it just turned out (to me) to be a fumbling mess with no plot (which can sometimes work, but not in this case) and no characters that I cared for. It kind of felt like a modern The Catcher in the Rye, except just not good. I almost did not finish it.
In my opinion the book tried to be really unique, really cutting edge and really honest about the author's experience in Western Sydney however it just turned out (to me) to be a fumbling mess with no plot (which can sometimes work, but not in this case) and no characters that I cared for. It kind of felt like a modern The Catcher in the Rye, except just not good. I almost did not finish it.
April 16, 2016
A collection of observations of growing up in the seedy world of western Sydney. Growing up and working around this area, a lot of the places and situations felt familiar but it got abit tiresome as he encountered so many undesirable situations again and again, not many characters had any redeeming qualities that made you root for them, I like how it was written with wry humour I felt in the beginning the narrative had the style akin to Salinger but within a modern contemporary setting, this book has some great moments but the stories didn't flow and I found the second half fell abit flat.
February 26, 2014
Capturing what it's like growing up in suburban Australia without holding back. These stories are confronting but honest in their portrayal of cultural tension, teenage rebellion, drug culture and university enlightenment. Whether you grew up in Western Sydney or North Melbourne there is something here you will relate to. Short and we'll worth the read.
Read
November 27, 2013I wish I could read this for the first time again.
June 2, 2021
Brutally raw, slightly depressing, but truthful and revealing of the life for outcasts in Western Sydney, and certainly started to enjoy it more the longer it went and more of the main character's relationships started to reveal themselves (particularly the last few chapters with his mother & brother)
By the end of the book, was definitely more invested in the main character ('Luke'), his nonchalant monologue and his journey & relationships. As the book has a type of stream-of-consciousness structure, anchored by different 'stories' of the same character and his life in Western Sydney, some may take a while to get used to it.
Read 'Down The Hume' earlier by Peter Polites and someone recommended this next, and definitely enjoyed this one more.
Would give 2.7 stars if Goodreads had that functionality, so rounding down to 2.5 (but doesn't have that function either), so perhaps controversially, it gets a 2.
By the end of the book, was definitely more invested in the main character ('Luke'), his nonchalant monologue and his journey & relationships. As the book has a type of stream-of-consciousness structure, anchored by different 'stories' of the same character and his life in Western Sydney, some may take a while to get used to it.
Read 'Down The Hume' earlier by Peter Polites and someone recommended this next, and definitely enjoyed this one more.
Would give 2.7 stars if Goodreads had that functionality, so rounding down to 2.5 (but doesn't have that function either), so perhaps controversially, it gets a 2.
December 25, 2017
This is a collection of short stories set in the very rough Western suburbs of Sydney. Luke Carman, who grew up there, writes of the melting pot of Lebs, fobs, skips, bogans, houseos, junkies and other sub-cultures that rub shoulders in these tough neighbourhoods.
Carman brings Western Sydney to life and laces many of these stories with mordant humour. His style is to cast himself as the central character in each, which adds to the sense of realism and makes some of them read almost like memoirs. (Maybe they are). Nearly all of these stories are good; the only miss for me was a quite over-wrought story about Kerouac.
With his ability to write about real people living challenging lives in the rough parts of town, Carman may, in a small way, be our own version of Junot Diaz, which is a pretty fair achievement.
Carman brings Western Sydney to life and laces many of these stories with mordant humour. His style is to cast himself as the central character in each, which adds to the sense of realism and makes some of them read almost like memoirs. (Maybe they are). Nearly all of these stories are good; the only miss for me was a quite over-wrought story about Kerouac.
With his ability to write about real people living challenging lives in the rough parts of town, Carman may, in a small way, be our own version of Junot Diaz, which is a pretty fair achievement.
August 5, 2021
This was probably the most exciting experience I've had as a reader, ever. It was just full of beautifully written Easter eggs for western Sydneysiders, but painted so beautifully that would appeal to anyone. It's precise relation to the local was so sharp it felt universal. I have a lot of thoughts but it's 2:30am and I should have been asleep 4 hours ago. Very good book. Also - the scene in Mulgoa was amazing. I grew up in that little place and we went to the church every Sunday. They were always talking about "youths" breaking in so it was nice to hear a story from the other side. Truly authentic. Excuse my ramble, I should be sleeping. Did I mention that I'm tired?? I ate two Oreos too late and now I'm dying but I'm wide awake. Brilliant.
September 29, 2022
This is a remarkable collection of stories. It is not a traditional novel, and the collection of stories makes for a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
There is an adroit observational eye on suburban life in Western Sydney, in the suburb of Liverpool, but it reveals itself through the main character, Luke, and his interaction with life around him. It is life at its most mundane and ordinary but in its day-to-day normality it reveals what life really is. There are no great moments of revelation or catharsis in the characters; you are left with how life is, how it is seen, how is experienced, and that makes it remarkable.
There is an adroit observational eye on suburban life in Western Sydney, in the suburb of Liverpool, but it reveals itself through the main character, Luke, and his interaction with life around him. It is life at its most mundane and ordinary but in its day-to-day normality it reveals what life really is. There are no great moments of revelation or catharsis in the characters; you are left with how life is, how it is seen, how is experienced, and that makes it remarkable.
December 22, 2022
Carman's novel is like a tourist's journey through western Sydney. We meet everyone first by their ethnicity ('fobs, lebbos and serbs') and then his protagonist observes them at a slightly contemptuous distance that never much goes into them. And this seems the level that fascinates his protagonist as he figures out, and is curious about, himself and that perhaps Kerouac ain't so insightful. The many literary references also stick to the surface of quotes and biographical details and protagonist preferences the white male literary behemoths rather than more interesting digressions. There are really nice sentences, just Carman seems too interested in himself.
July 20, 2024
Favourite part was when the girl left him because he lost his gorgeous ass
December 31, 2014
When I read books like this with great reviews about its literary genius, I feel almost guilty that I didn't like it (see "The Old Man and the Sea" by Hemingway), but the truth and fact is, I just didn't.
I had to read this for a unit at uni, and while I can appreciate it for its post-modernism structure and unique writing style, I didn't much enjoy it.
It was drowning in similes and metaphors, to the point that it was annoying and the sentence would have been better off without three of them. The beginning of the book (or collection of short stories) is a little confusing with parts of the paragraph jumping to flashbacks that had nothing to do with the scene.
The book focuses on a bunch of different aspects from failed multiculturalism to drugs and violence, and is based in suburbs of Western Sydney, showing them in a more real and at times very dodgy light. However there were some parts of it that seemed over-dramatized, and were made to look a lot more down-trodden than they actually are. (Please note: this is not to say that there are not dodgy parts within any city, town or suburb, I'm just saying that not all towns in Western Sydney are bad)
The last quarter of the book (from West Suburbia Boys on wards) it got better, and I liked this part a lot more. A quote that stood out was:
"The tip of the Tower was blue as the burn of a birthday candle and nothing seemed amiss, and outside there was only calm and quiet. You could see the tail-light of a plane passing serenely over the night. It was hard to believe in that stillness and silence that the world was collapsing in a place far away." p.138
I had to read this for a unit at uni, and while I can appreciate it for its post-modernism structure and unique writing style, I didn't much enjoy it.
It was drowning in similes and metaphors, to the point that it was annoying and the sentence would have been better off without three of them. The beginning of the book (or collection of short stories) is a little confusing with parts of the paragraph jumping to flashbacks that had nothing to do with the scene.
The book focuses on a bunch of different aspects from failed multiculturalism to drugs and violence, and is based in suburbs of Western Sydney, showing them in a more real and at times very dodgy light. However there were some parts of it that seemed over-dramatized, and were made to look a lot more down-trodden than they actually are. (Please note: this is not to say that there are not dodgy parts within any city, town or suburb, I'm just saying that not all towns in Western Sydney are bad)
The last quarter of the book (from West Suburbia Boys on wards) it got better, and I liked this part a lot more. A quote that stood out was:
"The tip of the Tower was blue as the burn of a birthday candle and nothing seemed amiss, and outside there was only calm and quiet. You could see the tail-light of a plane passing serenely over the night. It was hard to believe in that stillness and silence that the world was collapsing in a place far away." p.138
March 15, 2016
The beginning of this book I really enjoyed, the ending not so much.
I attended a lecture where the author of the book spoke about the content, to which he said he was stating there was no books based on or in contemporary western Sydney.
I found it to be a difficult contradiction as I think it was an adequate representation of the suburbs (particularly the part where the people in Newtown told him he was lucky to get out!) however, he did not shine a positive light on the suburbs… which I am not sure if that was the authors intention.
To be honest, I would probably not recommended this book to anyone, I mean I am glad I read it - I just don't think it's a life changing piece of literature.
I attended a lecture where the author of the book spoke about the content, to which he said he was stating there was no books based on or in contemporary western Sydney.
I found it to be a difficult contradiction as I think it was an adequate representation of the suburbs (particularly the part where the people in Newtown told him he was lucky to get out!) however, he did not shine a positive light on the suburbs… which I am not sure if that was the authors intention.
To be honest, I would probably not recommended this book to anyone, I mean I am glad I read it - I just don't think it's a life changing piece of literature.
Read
January 17, 2016Great book with a wonderful protagonist! Tells the weird, wonderful and terrible stories of Sydney's Western suburbs.
The story follows a bookish offbeat young man from Liverpool as he navigates through the dangers and lively characters of Western Sydney. This book ticks all the boxes for a great piece of literature, regular allusions to renowned writers and artists, a very colourful and turbulent setting that could be described as Dickensian.
It is really great to see Western Sydney being put on the literary map!
The story follows a bookish offbeat young man from Liverpool as he navigates through the dangers and lively characters of Western Sydney. This book ticks all the boxes for a great piece of literature, regular allusions to renowned writers and artists, a very colourful and turbulent setting that could be described as Dickensian.
It is really great to see Western Sydney being put on the literary map!
November 18, 2015
Had to read this for university and I will soon start my essay regarding this book. Some chapters for me dragged on longer than needed however some chapters ended too quick and I was left wondering what would happen after. This book was easy to read especially being someone who has grown up in the Liverpool area and been to various places listed as well as experienced a lot that the author has. Interesting read.
partially-read
November 4, 2013I just couldn't get into this.
For a review which seems to make sense of it, see http://plumeofwords.wordpress.com/201...
PS 17/2/15 See also this: https://theconversation.com/the-new-a...
I don't rate books I didn't finish.
For a review which seems to make sense of it, see http://plumeofwords.wordpress.com/201...
PS 17/2/15 See also this: https://theconversation.com/the-new-a...
I don't rate books I didn't finish.
January 29, 2014
A brief, effective collection of vignettes about growing up in Western Sydney. Carman's stories are light on plot but heavy on atmosphere and sharp observation and here he presents a snapshot of life in the multi-cultural, messy and ugly streets of Liverpool and surrounds. It's short, sharp and effective - looking forward to what Carman comes up with next.
September 21, 2014
Living in modern day Western Sydney seen through a series of short stories. An area of Australia rarely covered in books. The melting pot of cultures and nationalities show people who appear lost and look for relief in alcohol, drugs and violence.
The narrator is not a leader and not a hero. A bit of a loner, he observes and participates albeit reluctantly. Real, gritty life.
The narrator is not a leader and not a hero. A bit of a loner, he observes and participates albeit reluctantly. Real, gritty life.
February 2, 2014
Stunning short fiction.
March 16, 2016
I was excited to read this because I'm familiar with the areas Carman speaks of, but this just felt like he was vomiting out all his childhood experiences in a semi-digestible narrative.
December 17, 2017
I am usually a really slow reader, but I almost read this whole book in 2 hours. Unfortunately, I had to put it down for life stuff and then it was the end of the school year craziness, so I just finished the last few chapters today.
I enjoyed the pace of the writing and the textual play. I'm not sure if I liked the in your face grunginess. It made me feel uncomfortable, which I guess was the point. Certainly the stereotypes of Western Sydney were highlighted.
I found it really interesting the way race was so explicitly labelled, except for the white characters. The white characters seemed to be given other labels.
I am glad Kerry recommended this book to me and I would like to pass this recommendation on, please give this book a go :)
I enjoyed the pace of the writing and the textual play. I'm not sure if I liked the in your face grunginess. It made me feel uncomfortable, which I guess was the point. Certainly the stereotypes of Western Sydney were highlighted.
I found it really interesting the way race was so explicitly labelled, except for the white characters. The white characters seemed to be given other labels.
I am glad Kerry recommended this book to me and I would like to pass this recommendation on, please give this book a go :)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews