The Wreck

by Déwé Gorodé

Translated and with a critical introduction by Deborah Walker-Morrison and Raylene Ramsay.

Young Léna's quest is to gain an awareness of a repressed childhood trauma. It is, she says, like the excitement of a detective sensing he's about to uncover the clue that will open the gates of truth.

"Naked, cruel, indecent - whatever. I must have the truth. And I will track it down until it blows up in my face."

Set against the fight for independence in New Caledonia, The Wreck is the first Kanak novel and a turblent examination of inter-generational abuse.

Déwé Gorodé is a poet, feminist and a prominent independence activist.

163 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Déwé Gorodey, or Déwé Gorodé, (born 1 June 1949) is a New Caledonian teacher, writer, feminist and politician. She was active in agitating for independence from France in the 1970s. She has published poetry, short stories and novels. From 1999 she has been a member of the New Caledonia government, representing the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front. From April 2001 to June 2009 she served almost continuously as Vice President of the Government of New Caledonia.

Reviews

[Suzesmum · Rating 4 out of 5]

94🇳🇨📖NEW CALEDONIA 🇳🇨This is an unusual story, supposedly of a young woman Léna coming to terms with her childhood sexual abuse before her marriage to Tom. I would describe the style as magical realism and let’s say Margaret Mead wouldn’t be at all surprised by the sexual promiscuity of Léna. Raped by an uncle at only 11, I was reminded of the horrors of Pitcairn Island. Unlike those girls, Léna enjoyed becoming a sex slave. This I found deeply disappointing from feminist writer Gorodé. Léna has a soell with Eva, who sums up the main thrust of the book with this simple line:

I’ll be waiting for you here, in the paradise of women, when you’re tired and weary from the violence of men.

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[Tessa Tribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the greatest book I’ve ever read

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is unbelievably difficult to get through and under 200 pages I️ have managed to get lost, disgusted, repulsed, and confused by the generational sexual abuse and trauma. Throughout the book is Kanak politics, history, culture and customs so I found that to be interesting and insightful. However I️ am still trying to wrap my head around the multiple wrecks that are within this multi-generational story. It’s dark and multi-layered and definitely worth a read.