Rabbit Heart

by Tracey McGuire

Four ageing Braybrook boys make their annual pilgrimage to the Bluestone Hotel on the anniversary of the West Gate Bridge collapse. Even Dianne has scored an invite his time, but only because she has to drop her father home to Mt Macedon on her way back to the farm. It’s a chance to share a beer and laugh about work pranks, nobbled greyhounds and inflated sporting achievements, but today’s remembering is more urgent than usual. It’s last drinks at the Bluestone for one of them. As they journey individually to the pub, mythologies of Ted, family and mateship are fractured. The views from plane, train and taxi windows trigger memories of places that have disappeared from the western suburbs - Tracey Speedway, White City dog track, abattoirs and smoky factories. Dianne hopes she’ll get a better idea of who her father really is. But as tumours eat away at Ted’s short-term recall, is there a place in his memory where he can meet with his daughter to make peace...or is it already too late?

Paperback

Published March 1, 2016

Reviews

[Susan Chivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading Rabbit Heart and was sad when I finished it and had to leave everyone. The beautiful descriptions of the times, insight into the harsh working factory environments of the 70’s, 80’s, great Aussie humour, camaraderie and warmth. I was interested in their personal journey's and how they believed they are in charge of their own destinies.