The Point

by Marion Halligan

Themes of destruction, loss, and desire are explored in this intricately crafted novel. On a cliff overlooking a scenic lake and city skyline rises an elegant glass confection that is home to the best restaurant in town—The Point. Here, in lamp-lit art deco splendor, the city's elite come to dine on the delicious concoctions of its celebrated chef. Nearby, in a ferry shelter that no ferry has ever visited, Clovis, an elderly homeless man befriends Gwenyth, a young heroin addict. Clovis and Gwenyth are not part of life inside the posh restaurant—until a man is brutally murdered and the paths of the "haves" and the "have-nots" cross. This entrancing book goes much deeper than surface perceptions, revealing the complexities of human relationships.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction

348 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

Marion Halligan AM was an Australian writer and novelist. Born and educated in Newcastle, New South Wales, she worked as a school teacher and journalist prior to turning to full time writing.

A long time resident of Canberra, she was a member of a group of women writers based in Canberra known as the "Canberra Seven" or "Seven Writers" (1980-1997).

She has won and been shortlisted for numerous significant awards, notably for The Point, Lovers' Knots, Spider Cup and The Golden Dress.

In 2006 Halligan was made a Member in the Order of Australia (AM), General Division, for services to literature and for her work in promoting Australian literature.

Reviews

[Susan Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much that I re-read it regularly. I love the characters and the way that Halligan intertwines their lives within a limited time period and limited location and resists the neat and expected plot lines. There is so much in this book. It is about passion and privilege and love and trust. The depiction of Clovis, who sleeps rough around Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, is one of my favourite characterisations in a novel. Halligan illustrates his sensitivity, compassion and intelligence through short but powerful vignettes, and by contrasting with the character of Gwyneth helps us understand some of the complexities of homelessness. People who have lived in Canberra (as I have) will enjoy the references to Canberra localities (some real and some imagined) as well as the type of people who populate the sometimes very odd city. More people should read this book so that the glass restaurant by the lake is actually built one day. Please throw in the willow sculpture too!

[Judith Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

334 pages of words but no real storyline. Disappointing.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written but not what it seems. The chief character is Jerome, an exFranciscan monk, now a computer expert: his voice conveys what might be called quasi-religious realism. Most characters too are not what they seem, but paradoxical. Clovis the once rich business man now contentedly homeless after being thrown out by his family. Gwyneth the heroin addict on the run, Flora the near anorexic cook, who works marvels with her ingredients, the psychopathic lawyer with the psychopathic sons. These characters are set on The Point (which doesn’t exist) on Lake Burley Griffin. Halligan probes all sorts of human nastiness with this caste: drugs, rape, extreme violence, destructive computer hacking, but also divine cooking by Flora and her happy customers, all grist to Jerome’s philosophical mill, who uses words to decorate with their colour rather than to communicate. The characters don’t react expectedly to events and traumas. Halligan is clearly trying to communicate hidden meanings, but like the book itself, the reader can construct what meanings they like: in political, in religious, or in any other context. I’ll leave that alone and just say it was an interesting journey to strange destinations.

[Susan Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written and complex book about good and evil people, Canberra, beauty, food and the list goes on. This was a difficult book to get into but once the relationship of Clovis and Gwyneth began to develop I was hooked.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for me.