The Shallow End

by Ashley Sievwright

"On a cloudless afternoon, a man dives into a crowded swimming pool and disappears. Is it murder, abduction, a staged disappearance, aliens, or the ghost of Anna Nicole Smith?"--Provided by publisher.

Genres: Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Yani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on my LibraryThing account:

This somehow feels like one of those books you should read over summer beside the pool (or maybe that would be too close to home given the plot of the book), but at some point where you can just dive into it (again, pun optional) with no interuptions.

It's kind of hard to classify, it's a mystery, but it's not the Agatha Christie type... it is however a really good read, and after I picked it up again this morning (after starting it last night) I couldn't put it down!

[Gavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very light, enjoyable & witty yet surprisingly profound. I loved the development of the central character as he obsessed over Matt Gray's disappearance, gradually emerging from his own failed relationship / life challenge. Explored a similar theme to Georgia's Blain's amazing " Between a wolf & a dog" - when does night become day, when does a relationship actually end? Also an engaging exploration of the Melbourne gay community. Overall a book with great heart & compassion.

[Alistair Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swimming, sun tanning and sex. That pretty much sums up this light concoction by Ashley Sievwright and I certainly have no problem with that. The Shallow End is light, entertaining and witty - its dry humour encapsulated by the narrator. The novel offers a snapshot into a world that will be familiar to many, while others, at least, should find it entertaining. Even the descriptions of the sterile Docklands apartment resonate with a well-drawn attention to detail, which creates an evocative landscape. The prose and dialogue are masterful - witty and quick - which are Sievwright's strengths as a writer.

Escaping a failed relationship in Spain, Sievwright's unnamed protagonist seeks solace in Melbourne’s Prahran gay scene and the local swimming culture of the city. This is all vividly portrayed. Slightly less successful was the storyline concerning the missing swimmer who disappears without a trace from the Prahran Pool. I found the theories espoused were less interesting than the main character’s angst and dry humour, which makes the point of view character so engaging. Still, his encounters with the enigmatic Matt Gray and the other regulars of the pool make this an enjoyable read. Even if it is built on the thinnest premise of a plot, The Shallow End is an engaging summer read. Perfect to take to the pool….

[Richard Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that has all the characteristics of a delightful read, witty, thought provoking, mysterious and with a degree of suspense…a little!

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

The promise of a mystery on the back cover of this book enticed me to read it. On that score I was frustratingly disappointed as there's no resolution to be had. This book is clearly written for a homosexual male audience - for given the amount of gay, anonymous sex secreted between its pages, who else but a gay male reader would be interested in this nameless character? I don't have an issue with gay characters as such, only those who graphically describe sexual exploits that contribute nothing to the plot - not that there is a plot: just a sex-obsessed man and a missing person who is never found.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work with Ash and recently attended his book launch. It has been interesting watching Ash grow into becoming a published writer.