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Dustfall: A Novel
Dr. Raymond Filigree, running away from a disastrous medical career, mistakes an unknown name on a map for the perfect refuge. He travels to the isolated town of Wittenoom and takes charge of its small hospital, a place where no previous doctor has managed to stay longer than an eye blink. Instead of settling into a quiet, solitary life, he discovers an asbestos mining corporation with no regard for the safety of its workers and no care for the truth.
Thirty years later, Dr. Lou Fitzgerald stumbles across the abandoned Wittenoom Hospital. She, too, is a fugitive from a medical career toppled by a single error. Here she discovers faded letters and barely used medical equipment, and slowly the story of the hospital’s tragic past comes to her.
Dustfall is the tale of the crashing consequences of medical error, the suffering caused by asbestos mining, and the power of storytelling.
Thirty years later, Dr. Lou Fitzgerald stumbles across the abandoned Wittenoom Hospital. She, too, is a fugitive from a medical career toppled by a single error. Here she discovers faded letters and barely used medical equipment, and slowly the story of the hospital’s tragic past comes to her.
Dustfall is the tale of the crashing consequences of medical error, the suffering caused by asbestos mining, and the power of storytelling.
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First published January 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 6, 2018
Endlessly gorgeous prose; characters that feel real; a completely compelling story; I don't know what else to ask for.
January 22, 2018
Dr Lou Fitzgerald is a young doctor fleeing the tragic consequences of a medical error. She leaves Perth and arrives in Wittenoom, a town in the north of Western Australia, which is now abandoned but was once the heart of asbestos mining in this country.
Lou meets Dave, one of only a handful of people still living in Wittenoom, who asks her to write the story of what happened in the asbestos mines for his dying father. Lou begins to write, and pens the story of Dr Raymond Filigree, a doctor who arrives in Wittenoom during its heyday in the 1960s. Raymond's philosophical ideas and interest in the mind-body connection are misunderstood by the medical establishment and, after a tragic error, he leaves his native England for Australia and a fresh start. In telling Raymond's fictional story, Lou finds self-forgiveness and healing.
You could read this book just for the prose alone, which is exquisitely original and unique. But it's also an important story—of corporate greed and complete disregard for human life, as well as a story of the consequences of medical error and the healing power of story-telling. It's a beautiful book.
Disclaimer: I was in a writing group with the author and read this book a few times during its development.
Lou meets Dave, one of only a handful of people still living in Wittenoom, who asks her to write the story of what happened in the asbestos mines for his dying father. Lou begins to write, and pens the story of Dr Raymond Filigree, a doctor who arrives in Wittenoom during its heyday in the 1960s. Raymond's philosophical ideas and interest in the mind-body connection are misunderstood by the medical establishment and, after a tragic error, he leaves his native England for Australia and a fresh start. In telling Raymond's fictional story, Lou finds self-forgiveness and healing.
You could read this book just for the prose alone, which is exquisitely original and unique. But it's also an important story—of corporate greed and complete disregard for human life, as well as a story of the consequences of medical error and the healing power of story-telling. It's a beautiful book.
Disclaimer: I was in a writing group with the author and read this book a few times during its development.
April 17, 2018
Dustfall addresses an important chapter in Western Australia's history and tells a story of an industrial health disaster that demands to be told. It brings the events of Wittenoom in the 1960s beautifully to life through the tandem experiences of a doctor at the time and one revisiting many years later. It also explores the issue of medical error and the gut-wrenching experience lived by doctors when things don't go right. However... I found the writing style overworked, irritating and unnecessarily verbose. I got the feeling it had survived many drafts, each one determined to add another handful of obscure adjectives and made me wonder if the author had swallowed a thesaurus. More is not always more when it comes to the use of a wide vocabulary, but maybe that's just a matter of taste. Nevetheless, I would still definitely recommend this book for it's gripping storytelling and important historical content.
September 30, 2018
A gripping story with powerful political reverbrations told in a neatly structured, well-written novel - wonderful.
April 2, 2018
A stunning debut novel examining the disastrous health and social impacts of the Wittenoom asbestos mine by West Australian author, Michelle Johnston. The book examines the immediate impact on families rather than the long compensation battles we have all read about.
The first few pages of this novel were a bit rocky for me. Overly descriptive. But by the end of the first chapter the writing had settled into lovely prose capturing the Pilbara landscape in a story which is given even more authenticity by an author who is an emergency physician.
Told in two parallel stories, one set in 1966 and one in 1997, Dustfall delicately unfolds the impact of a corporate who knowingly places its workers and their families into a an unsafe work environment. Quite bolshy really. Beautifully handled with a balance of light and shade and enough mystery to keep you turning the pages well into the night. And as you would expect many of the characters that find themselves in a town like Wittenoom have their own demons to fight as well.
The first few pages of this novel were a bit rocky for me. Overly descriptive. But by the end of the first chapter the writing had settled into lovely prose capturing the Pilbara landscape in a story which is given even more authenticity by an author who is an emergency physician.
Told in two parallel stories, one set in 1966 and one in 1997, Dustfall delicately unfolds the impact of a corporate who knowingly places its workers and their families into a an unsafe work environment. Quite bolshy really. Beautifully handled with a balance of light and shade and enough mystery to keep you turning the pages well into the night. And as you would expect many of the characters that find themselves in a town like Wittenoom have their own demons to fight as well.
December 31, 2018
In short, this book was disappointing. I had such high hopes for this novel. Set in Wittenoom, WA, a town formally booming as a result of the asbestos mines, and written by an author who is actually a doctor, this book had such potential. Instead, I found the main characters to be poorly developed and two dementional, as were the supporting characters (what the hell was going on with Matron and Miss Rosa??!) and the plot weak and somewhat unrealistic. There was the occasional lovely phrase but overall the language felt forced and ungainly, like the author was just trying too hard.
The writer could well improve with more experience, and the subject matter certainly could have been interesting had it been written in a better way, but it was painfully obvious that this was a first attempt at writing a novel (and if I ever take it into my head to write a book, I will come back and read this criticism to make sure I don't repeat these mistakes!).
The writer could well improve with more experience, and the subject matter certainly could have been interesting had it been written in a better way, but it was painfully obvious that this was a first attempt at writing a novel (and if I ever take it into my head to write a book, I will come back and read this criticism to make sure I don't repeat these mistakes!).
April 19, 2020
I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle Johnston through work a few years ago, and was excited to hear that she has branched out from emergency medicine to writing. Being a damn fine ED doctor, I just knew that her experience would make the perfect basis for a brilliant medical thriller, and I was not disappointed.
DUSTFALL is set in Wittenoom, an abandoned asbestos mining town in the Hamersley Range in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Since 2006, the town’s name no longer appears on any official maps and road signs, as if it had been erased from Australian soil together with its dark history. As a physician, Johnston knows firsthand the terrible legacy of asbestos mining, and the toll on human lives. Her personal experience of being an emergency doctor also shines through in her two main characters : Lou Fitzgerald, a young ED doctor seeking refuge in the abandoned mining town after a medical error ended her career; and Dr Raymond Filigree, who is a doctor working in the town’s small hospital at the time when the mine is still operational.
It is not easy to find Australian medical mysteries based on the vast knowledge of an author who is also a medical professional – especially a “homegrown” one from WA. You won’t find any inaccuracies here, and all medical emergencies the two fictional doctors encounter are so well presented that I could feel my own adrenaline rush on putting myself in their shoes. As Johnston delves into Wittenoom’s dark history as seen from the perspective of one of the town’s physicians, the true scale of the crime committed there against its residents becomes even more palpable. With a rich cast of characters you would encounter in a remote Australian bush town, the story made for compelling reading.
DUSTFALL is the type of novel that showcases how a dual timeline can add both depth as well as tension to a narrative, and I felt equally invested in both as the mystery slowly unfolded. Atmospheric, with a constant sense of tension and foreboding, the story gripped me from the very beginning and kept me invested until the end. I felt that Johnston beautifully captured the atmosphere of the remote Pilbara region, an area I have spent some time in and which is always close to my heart.
In summary, DUSTFALL is the type of medical mystery that only comes around rarely: beautifully written, well plotted and based on the author’s own experiences and knowledge as an accomplished emergency physician. Set both in the present as well as exploring one of WA’s darkest chapters in history, the book made for compelling reading from start to finish. As a health professional, I appreciated and admired the authenticity with which Johnston explores both her subjects as well as the challenges presented by the remote Australian setting. DUSTFALL was a pleasure to read, and I hope to read more from this talented author in future.
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DUSTFALL is set in Wittenoom, an abandoned asbestos mining town in the Hamersley Range in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Since 2006, the town’s name no longer appears on any official maps and road signs, as if it had been erased from Australian soil together with its dark history. As a physician, Johnston knows firsthand the terrible legacy of asbestos mining, and the toll on human lives. Her personal experience of being an emergency doctor also shines through in her two main characters : Lou Fitzgerald, a young ED doctor seeking refuge in the abandoned mining town after a medical error ended her career; and Dr Raymond Filigree, who is a doctor working in the town’s small hospital at the time when the mine is still operational.
It is not easy to find Australian medical mysteries based on the vast knowledge of an author who is also a medical professional – especially a “homegrown” one from WA. You won’t find any inaccuracies here, and all medical emergencies the two fictional doctors encounter are so well presented that I could feel my own adrenaline rush on putting myself in their shoes. As Johnston delves into Wittenoom’s dark history as seen from the perspective of one of the town’s physicians, the true scale of the crime committed there against its residents becomes even more palpable. With a rich cast of characters you would encounter in a remote Australian bush town, the story made for compelling reading.
DUSTFALL is the type of novel that showcases how a dual timeline can add both depth as well as tension to a narrative, and I felt equally invested in both as the mystery slowly unfolded. Atmospheric, with a constant sense of tension and foreboding, the story gripped me from the very beginning and kept me invested until the end. I felt that Johnston beautifully captured the atmosphere of the remote Pilbara region, an area I have spent some time in and which is always close to my heart.
In summary, DUSTFALL is the type of medical mystery that only comes around rarely: beautifully written, well plotted and based on the author’s own experiences and knowledge as an accomplished emergency physician. Set both in the present as well as exploring one of WA’s darkest chapters in history, the book made for compelling reading from start to finish. As a health professional, I appreciated and admired the authenticity with which Johnston explores both her subjects as well as the challenges presented by the remote Australian setting. DUSTFALL was a pleasure to read, and I hope to read more from this talented author in future.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
March 6, 2018
I was lucky enough to read a very early draft of this book several years ago, and am so pleased to say how much I enjoyed the final version!
The author uses beautiful, evocative language to describe the WA settings in which this book is placed. I loved the character of Lou, and Miss Rosa has a few surprises! As well as the writing, I loved the story set around the asbestos mining town, the consequences of which are now well known to us.
A wonderful read.
The author uses beautiful, evocative language to describe the WA settings in which this book is placed. I loved the character of Lou, and Miss Rosa has a few surprises! As well as the writing, I loved the story set around the asbestos mining town, the consequences of which are now well known to us.
A wonderful read.
March 14, 2018
I loved Michelle Johnston's Dustfall and highly recommend it for a thoroughly good read, as well as an account of a tiny slice of the social and medical history of Western Australia. For an extended review, please go to my website at https://wp.me/p45IjS-15M
July 17, 2018
Gave up on this book. Too cliched bush romance and not enough to keep me interested.
October 8, 2018
A excellent theme, but very tedious verbose book to read
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June 29, 2019I was surprised to find Dustfall seems to be the only novel ever published about Wittenoom. It's an excellent literary depiction of the asbestos town - evoking its ghostly ruins in recent decades and re-creating it convincingly in the 1950s. It's also a novel about doctors and the consequences of the making mistakes; the two vulnerable doctors, decades apart, are great characters. Add to all this, Johnston's prose is often beautiful, offering unexpected metaphors and expressing landscape and behaviour insightfully.
June 7, 2018
Every now and again I come across a book so deeply satisfying that I think to myself, Australian publishing is in good hands. So it is with Dustfall, the debut novel of WA doctor Michelle Johnston, and published by UWAP who consistently publish worthwhile novels. On a day that follows an historic decision by the ACCC to lay charges against senior executives of the ANZ bank, I finished this story of Wittenoom and wondered why corporate crime is so rarely held to account. The next day the ANZ story was buried beneath an avalanche of trivia, and the story of a negligent UK doctor is given great prominence. An interesting juxtaposition…
Johnston’s story is framed around two narratives, both featuring doctors who have made mistakes. As Michelle Johnston says in this interview with Amanda Curtin, there’s a world of difference between the way that medical errors and corporate errors are judged and yet the consequences can be equally fatal for individuals.
Dustfall begins with Dr Lou Fitzgerald’s agonised flight from her medical mistake: in a car not suited to outback roads and without any plan except to get away, she hurtles inland from Port Hedland on the WA coast in the Pilbara. South east, three and a half hours away she stumbles into the ghost town of Wittenoom, notorious in Australia as the place which knowingly condemned its workers and inhabitants to cruel deaths from asbestosis and mesothelioma. After years in which the corporate owners of the asbestos mine and government authorities ignored health warnings, the mine was finally closed for economic reasons in 1966.
Along with incentives to encourage residents to leave, from 1978 town services and infrastructure were phased down and Wittenoom was de-gazetted in 2007. As in real life, Lou in the 21st century finds the site has not been rehabilitated because there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos, yet – also as in real life – there is someone living there despite the danger (reminding me of Lois Murphy’s story Soon, which though set in Tasmania, features a group of residents who for various reasons won’t leave a place that is highly dangerous).
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/06/07/d...
Johnston’s story is framed around two narratives, both featuring doctors who have made mistakes. As Michelle Johnston says in this interview with Amanda Curtin, there’s a world of difference between the way that medical errors and corporate errors are judged and yet the consequences can be equally fatal for individuals.
Dustfall begins with Dr Lou Fitzgerald’s agonised flight from her medical mistake: in a car not suited to outback roads and without any plan except to get away, she hurtles inland from Port Hedland on the WA coast in the Pilbara. South east, three and a half hours away she stumbles into the ghost town of Wittenoom, notorious in Australia as the place which knowingly condemned its workers and inhabitants to cruel deaths from asbestosis and mesothelioma. After years in which the corporate owners of the asbestos mine and government authorities ignored health warnings, the mine was finally closed for economic reasons in 1966.
Along with incentives to encourage residents to leave, from 1978 town services and infrastructure were phased down and Wittenoom was de-gazetted in 2007. As in real life, Lou in the 21st century finds the site has not been rehabilitated because there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos, yet – also as in real life – there is someone living there despite the danger (reminding me of Lois Murphy’s story Soon, which though set in Tasmania, features a group of residents who for various reasons won’t leave a place that is highly dangerous).
When she opens the car door and the interior light clicks on, she can see that there are scattered rocks near the front wheel. She picks one up, turning it over. It has a silvery seam cut through the middle, and the fibres pull off with little effort. They look like the grizzled hair of an old man, and she realises this is asbestos, right here in her hand. She knows how dangerous the filaments are; that inhaling a single fibre can sound the march of death, so she drops the rock and wipes her hands on her pants, but then thinks, what does it matter anyway? (p.9-10)
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/06/07/d...
March 11, 2018
A beautifully written book weaving together the two stories of Dr Raymond Filagree in the 1960s and Dr Lou Fitzgerald 30 years later.
April 4, 2018
An absolute 5 Star beauty. Great book.
Alternating chapters (always interesting). One time line (1966) is set during the Wittenoom asbestos mines operating period. The other time line (1996) is set long after the closure of the mine and the town...but a few residents choose to exist in the now derelict ghost town.
Interesting main characters .....parallel story lines......a really devastating period of history ....things that never should have been...... a really good read.....a cracking good first novel by another first rate West Australian author.
Alternating chapters (always interesting). One time line (1966) is set during the Wittenoom asbestos mines operating period. The other time line (1996) is set long after the closure of the mine and the town...but a few residents choose to exist in the now derelict ghost town.
Interesting main characters .....parallel story lines......a really devastating period of history ....things that never should have been...... a really good read.....a cracking good first novel by another first rate West Australian author.
October 23, 2018
This just did not work for me at all. The premise sounds interesting, a woman drives into the pilbara & finds an abandoned hospital, each chapter alternates to when the hospital was brand new. But then I started thinking Raymond was the story the woman was writing. Dave was just a big fat cliche & then came the Italian characters named Mr & Mrs Italiano. I was expecting Mrs Koala & Mr Kangaroo to pop out at any moment. I skipped forward a bit & the main characters single error was actually an unforgivable oversight. Yeah, pass.
May 15, 2019
In all honesty, I found this book really boring. And like 60% of it is just describing how hot it is.
July 8, 2022
In telling the story of Wittenoom, Michelle Johnston chooses not to give us a reenactment of one of the many court cases involving workers’ exposure to asbestos. Johnston instead focuses on the events that made this happen, the conduct of the government and the company officers that put the welfare and profit of that company above the health and safety of its employees. Johnston’s gives us a glimpse of the everyday events immediately prior to exposure of this public health catastrophe from the perspective of those that were there at the time and also from a family living with the consequences many years later. The dust from the mines was an ever present creeping entity in both stories.
It is a clever study of the duty of care an employer has to its employees, as well as the duty of care a government has to its citizens. The two main characters are both dealing with the fallout of apparent medical errors, or their alleged failures of duty of care.
Johnston is able to deftly explore issues such as intentionality, knowledge of likely adverse consequences and culpability. From my perspective the calibre of a person’s moral compass in such a situation can be assessed from the degree to which the person is willing to accept responsibility for their actions and decisions. History tells us that the company directors steadfastly refused to acknowledge or accept their culpability or error about the harm caused by asbestos. This contrasts with the two characters, who attributed way more blame to themselves than they deserved.
However, in doing this it meant they were ready to move on, and in circumstances where they were unlikely to repeat the error, professional or personal, that they may have made.
I enjoyed the story, and it was a very clever retelling of a shameful chapter of the history of corporate greed and state negligence in Australia.
It is a clever study of the duty of care an employer has to its employees, as well as the duty of care a government has to its citizens. The two main characters are both dealing with the fallout of apparent medical errors, or their alleged failures of duty of care.
Johnston is able to deftly explore issues such as intentionality, knowledge of likely adverse consequences and culpability. From my perspective the calibre of a person’s moral compass in such a situation can be assessed from the degree to which the person is willing to accept responsibility for their actions and decisions. History tells us that the company directors steadfastly refused to acknowledge or accept their culpability or error about the harm caused by asbestos. This contrasts with the two characters, who attributed way more blame to themselves than they deserved.
However, in doing this it meant they were ready to move on, and in circumstances where they were unlikely to repeat the error, professional or personal, that they may have made.
I enjoyed the story, and it was a very clever retelling of a shameful chapter of the history of corporate greed and state negligence in Australia.
May 9, 2023
2.5 stars. Fiction inspired by true history of the Wittenoom asbestos mines. I ended up extensively researching the history of asbestos in W.A and it was really interesting to read the parallels of asbestos history and the stories within Dustfall. However ongoing suspension with no final climax. And The double journey narrative never ended up interweaving?
My neighbour lent me this book and we share a 70’s asbestos cement-fibrous fence- touchè …
My neighbour lent me this book and we share a 70’s asbestos cement-fibrous fence- touchè …
April 28, 2018
An excellent book, full of well rounded characters and a slice of shameful history. The chapters alternating between the 60s and the 90s work well. The story of Wittenoom, interwoven with the stories of the two doctors, all show how difficult it is to fight bureaucracy.
An excellent first novel.
An excellent first novel.
October 22, 2025
3.5 stars
Depictions of Wittenoom brought back memories of living in a mining town and immigrant workers. The doctors’ stories were also interesting highlighting their responsibility and need to factor in more than just physical signs when making a diagnosis. Great debut novel.
Depictions of Wittenoom brought back memories of living in a mining town and immigrant workers. The doctors’ stories were also interesting highlighting their responsibility and need to factor in more than just physical signs when making a diagnosis. Great debut novel.
September 15, 2018
It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. I liked the way the story swapped between present day and past. I couldn’t put it down.
December 24, 2024
Great Australian story about an important subject that shouldn’t be forgotten
April 3, 2018
Poignant, thought provoking and wise. Michelle’s prose is beautiful and evocative. Highly recommend this debut novel.
July 14, 2019
Dustfall is an exquisitely written novel: the kind of literary book you stumble upon every now and then and gasp every few pages at how sublime a metaphor is. Michelle Johnston is an excellent writer, weaving a masterful story of two doctors in two different timelines - one in the 1960s and the other in the 1990s - both dealing with the hideous repercussions of medical error. The repercussions, of course, are not felt just by the patient and their families, but by the doctors themselves. This beautiful tale of blame and recovery is set against the backdrop of the Wittenoom asbestos mining debacle of the 1960s - a story which is still talked about in hushed tones across Western Australia. The juxtaposition of the two doctors is mirrored in the juxtaposition of the way medical error is committed by corporations versus the way error is committed and felt by medical practitioners.
At times sombre and at other times funny and clever in its observations, Dustfall is a powerful Australian debut.
At times sombre and at other times funny and clever in its observations, Dustfall is a powerful Australian debut.
April 8, 2018
Turning the last page of Dustfall, the debut novel from Perth local author, Michelle Johnston, was like taking in a huge gulp of air after holding one’s breath for hours on end. Fear that poisonous Asbestos spores being written about on the page might jump from the book and down into one’s insides, causing respiratory system havoc, is not something most people ever really think about. Certainly, Asbestos Mining, and associated Asbestos hazards are not topics I had ever read about in any detail. I’m glad I did.
In addition to the horror of the asbestos tale, there is also a medical thread running from start to finish, throwing the spotlight on the stresses of medical workers and the consequences a mistake may have on a patient.
Magic weaves through the novel via exquisite use of multiple point of view and use of the English language, showcasing the literary talent of the author. There is also a wonderfully intertwined dual timeline, from the sixties to the current day, giving insight into a small town in Western Australia’s Pilbara region as it was then and as it is now.
How much has changed? Certainly not the endless red dust and the vastness of the dry land. But one has to believe that the safety and wellbeing of mining workers now holds a much higher priority position in the minds of corporate executives who are digging into the earth for a profit.
Heavy subject matter, lightened with the blooming romance of Raymond and Miss Rosa, who I dearly loved for her fierce pursuit of intimacy. This was a unique read.
In addition to the horror of the asbestos tale, there is also a medical thread running from start to finish, throwing the spotlight on the stresses of medical workers and the consequences a mistake may have on a patient.
Magic weaves through the novel via exquisite use of multiple point of view and use of the English language, showcasing the literary talent of the author. There is also a wonderfully intertwined dual timeline, from the sixties to the current day, giving insight into a small town in Western Australia’s Pilbara region as it was then and as it is now.
How much has changed? Certainly not the endless red dust and the vastness of the dry land. But one has to believe that the safety and wellbeing of mining workers now holds a much higher priority position in the minds of corporate executives who are digging into the earth for a profit.
Heavy subject matter, lightened with the blooming romance of Raymond and Miss Rosa, who I dearly loved for her fierce pursuit of intimacy. This was a unique read.
April 15, 2022
The novel tells the story of Wittenoon in Western Australia and the eventual closing down of the Asbestos mine.
It tells the story through two distinct time frames.
Raymond, a newly appointed doctor in 1966 to the medical centre in Wittenoon. He carries his own baggage of a death in London of a young girl when he was the supervising doctor. Lou, a doctor set in modern times, escaping her own demons of a failure as an intensive care doctor in Perth. She meets Dave the son of an asbestosis affected miner who wants her to write the story of Wittenoon, using some of his research.
After an initial read of about 80 pages, I had to begin reading each story separately as it was too confusing and served little purpose in that convoluted format.
The modern day story of Lou adds extraordinarily little to the book and should have all been deleted.
Set in Australia, investigating an interesting part of the National History, told from a medical viewpoint should have made this a must read. However, it fails because of story inconsistencies, implausible actions and muddled writing. An editing out of modern day Lou and greater depth to the 1966 actions could have seen this a best seller.
Of course, the shambolic ending would have to be changed as well.
Unfortunately, as part of our reading group, we have read much worse, but all things considered, it misses the mark, but is at least vaguely readable
It tells the story through two distinct time frames.
Raymond, a newly appointed doctor in 1966 to the medical centre in Wittenoon. He carries his own baggage of a death in London of a young girl when he was the supervising doctor. Lou, a doctor set in modern times, escaping her own demons of a failure as an intensive care doctor in Perth. She meets Dave the son of an asbestosis affected miner who wants her to write the story of Wittenoon, using some of his research.
After an initial read of about 80 pages, I had to begin reading each story separately as it was too confusing and served little purpose in that convoluted format.
The modern day story of Lou adds extraordinarily little to the book and should have all been deleted.
Set in Australia, investigating an interesting part of the National History, told from a medical viewpoint should have made this a must read. However, it fails because of story inconsistencies, implausible actions and muddled writing. An editing out of modern day Lou and greater depth to the 1966 actions could have seen this a best seller.
Of course, the shambolic ending would have to be changed as well.
Unfortunately, as part of our reading group, we have read much worse, but all things considered, it misses the mark, but is at least vaguely readable
October 17, 2019
Quite gripping in parts. Strange ending though in respect of the 1960s storyline - disappointing and a bit weird!
May 15, 2022
The chapters alternate between 1966 with Dr Raymond Filigree, and present day with Dr Lou.
The connection is the town of Wittenoom with Raymond sent there and Lou ending up driving there.
I enjoyed the interwoven stories and the parallels. But I did not think that Lou visiting and staying in Wittenoom for a few days was realistic. As a Dr, indeed as anyone would know about asbestos, I felt it was unrealistic that she spent time there. So other than suspending belief about that, because she did it meant that she could explore the town and surrounds.
I also found the story had been a realistic portrayal of how hard life would have been in 1966. You can imagine how hot and dusty it was from the descriptive writing. But the hospital ending while it deteriorated was weird and made me wonder, did the town get packed up while they were in the gorge and they ended up living there for years? Or did they leave immediately and stay a new life elsewhere?
Both doctors made peace with their internalised failings. While they were terrible tragedies, they both focused on the one that went wrong not the thousands that went right. However the focus also meant that we could relate to them as damaged people and we could follow their parallel lives.
The sad part was that none of his letters made it through. But the parallel story was that Lou had written Daves dads story down and that was heard.
The connection is the town of Wittenoom with Raymond sent there and Lou ending up driving there.
I enjoyed the interwoven stories and the parallels. But I did not think that Lou visiting and staying in Wittenoom for a few days was realistic. As a Dr, indeed as anyone would know about asbestos, I felt it was unrealistic that she spent time there. So other than suspending belief about that, because she did it meant that she could explore the town and surrounds.
I also found the story had been a realistic portrayal of how hard life would have been in 1966. You can imagine how hot and dusty it was from the descriptive writing. But the hospital ending while it deteriorated was weird and made me wonder, did the town get packed up while they were in the gorge and they ended up living there for years? Or did they leave immediately and stay a new life elsewhere?
Both doctors made peace with their internalised failings. While they were terrible tragedies, they both focused on the one that went wrong not the thousands that went right. However the focus also meant that we could relate to them as damaged people and we could follow their parallel lives.
The sad part was that none of his letters made it through. But the parallel story was that Lou had written Daves dads story down and that was heard.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2020
This is a very nice piece of writing, and as a debut work, has me looking for the author's next book.
I related to much in this book - as an emergency physician, as a sucker for cross-time connections and travel, and as a bit of a writer, I thought this was a captivating and emotive read. The plot-line is so connected to contemporary issues of importance, that it draws out frequent "ahah" reactions.
The main characters are well developed, having warmth and reality, and their inter-relation and journey are palpably dramatic. Some of the support roles were a bit less developed and seemed to come out of the blue sometimes, but that is forgivable in the context of the tight focus on the pair of protagonists.
The language was prosaic and luxurious, but occasionally became slightly more than was necessary and a little distracting. Having said that, it was a pleasure to bask in some finely crafted words!
A delightful read.
I related to much in this book - as an emergency physician, as a sucker for cross-time connections and travel, and as a bit of a writer, I thought this was a captivating and emotive read. The plot-line is so connected to contemporary issues of importance, that it draws out frequent "ahah" reactions.
The main characters are well developed, having warmth and reality, and their inter-relation and journey are palpably dramatic. Some of the support roles were a bit less developed and seemed to come out of the blue sometimes, but that is forgivable in the context of the tight focus on the pair of protagonists.
The language was prosaic and luxurious, but occasionally became slightly more than was necessary and a little distracting. Having said that, it was a pleasure to bask in some finely crafted words!
A delightful read.
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