Fresh Fields

by Peter Kocan

Homeless and alone, coerced by strange voices and haunted by a history of family violence, a disturbed youth drifts between town and the Australian outback. Along the way, he grows increasingly isolated and distrustful in a society that lacks the means and seemingly the will to help him. The story of his descent into madness and violence provides a compelling picture of life on the margins of modern society.   Told with lyrical simplicity, Fresh Fields is a dark coming-of-age novel, offering readers an intimate account of the forces at work in the evolution of a loner. Its insights into parental neglect, homelessness, mental illness and the trials of adolescence are sharpened to a fine point. But in this exceptional novel there is also real humanity, compassion, and humor in the face of adversity.   Winner of the 2005 Fellowship of Australian Writers National Literary Award and the FAW Christina Stead Award for Fiction. Shortlisted for the 2005 NSW Premier’s Literary Award, and named one of the best books of the year by The Times Literary Supplement.

Genres: Fiction

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one intrigued me. The author had an unfair advantage though, since I am one who reads both sides of the jacket cover. His story, from failed assassin to Australian literary treasure is one of ultimate redemption. That said, I probably had more interest in this story knowing that it was autobiographical and knowing where it was leading than I might have without the backstory.

Fresh Fields is not a beach read. It is not an "I need an escape" read. It could be seen as a dip into Australian culture not usually discussed or written about, especially for American audiences. I enjoyed it though. My social life is at times too busy and I have no problem talking to strangers. So to read about someone so utterly different than myself in almost every way, but to find similarities between us nonetheless was a mesmerizing experience. I found times in the novel where I wanted to put the book down, I didn't want to keep reading. I felt so bad for the kid when things just didn't go his way, but alternately I felt so frustrated with him too when he let good opportunities just slip away from him.

One of the great things this author does is take his own personal experiences and from the very get-go makes the rest of us feel like we are right there next to him, experiencing everything he is just as he does and that level of intimacy lends much of the warmth in this rather cold and distant character study. It's not for the faint of heart, quite the opposite in that it requires heart from the reader. Whether you're thinking the character needs a hug or a swift kick, there's rarely any question that he needs SOMETHING from someone else.

Give this one a real chance and I doubt you'll be disappointed.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark, disturbing novel, all the more so since it is somewhat autobiographical. Kocan leads his reader ever deeper into a quagmire of hopeless and helpless emotions, experienced through the main character in the story. The reader knows before beginning the story what the ending will be, but the author keeps sowing seeds of hope and empathy in the reader's subconsciousness, compelling one to read on in the desperate hope that things will turn out differently. We have all travelled parts of the road traversed by the "youth" of the story and this is what does not allow you to escape completing the book. Peter Kocan pointedly omits names for the main character, his mother and his younger brother: the victims of the story. Lesser characters all have names, contrasting with the namelessness of the main character and his mother and brother, a stark message to the reader/society. Readers beware, once you begin this book, you will be compelled to complete it, your soul having been appropriately scored.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up on this book. I was bored.

[crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

took a while to get into this book, and it was kind of slow. however, by the end, i started liking the kid and the storyline was so unusual that i really wanted to know what was going to happen.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

An aimless plot and uninteresting storyline. I got half of the way through and couldn't even finish it.